two 🔧 it's a pirate's (birthday) life for me

[midifications]

Who: Everyone who knows Cid!
Status: Open
Where: The Enterprise II on Eltrut, long before Cid becomes The Most Wanted Man
What: YO DAD, IT'S YA BIRTHDAY
Warnings: Probably? If people get drunk, or make out... but probably pretty general here.

Under the pretext of "I need some supplies" and Benedikta keeping Cid busy for any and all party business, and the help of Kaveh for some money to get said supplies, the Enterprise II is ready for a party! Another shellphone alert will have gone out to everyone but Cid with a time and place and a note that if you know Cid? Show up! Even if it's been a very brief meeting, it's likely Cid would remember you anyway; he's just Like That. Come for singing happy birthday, stay for some cake and dinner!

THE FOOD

Styled like what you'd find in one of the many taverns dotting Eltrut in a large buffet-styled table is plenty of tavern food and some casks filled (and marked appropriately) with alcohol and non-alcoholic mead, wines, and punches, straight from the Minstrel and Cask. Larger casks are found around the main area as well holding the same.

The cake itself is styled like a night in Waloed, long before any issues arose, almost as if taken straight from memories. Inside is a chocolate cake with some light lavender flavouring, and for those who want some lighter fare, some of the same cake has been made into cupcakes with mini lightning bolt-shaped cookies with some differing decor.

OUTSIDE

Outside has plenty of seating on the deck, tables, and places to watch the hustle and bustle of Eltrut, with some balloons hanging from some high-up strings above everyone's head. At night, the balloons will be lit up to look like stars, and the boat will pull out from harbor to at least circle the main island slowly. There aren't really any places for people to sneak off to (and if Mid catches you trying to break into crew quarters... so help her she'll tell her dad) but people can enjoy the sea breeze and some drinks under the stars.

As sort of a centerpiece is a small potted tree with many branches, and slips of parchment with ribbon ties, and quills for writing to act as a guestbook but also a memory tree. Even if you haven't known Cid for too long, you can still write something nice!



Overall this is very much a mingle post! Drink, eat, be merry, and wish Cid Telamon a happy birthday!

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GUESTBOOK

[midifications]

Write your cute memories or birthday wishes here :)

[midifications]

Dad,

I've missed you so much. I'm glad I can be here with you again, and build things with you again too. In true Telamon fashion though, I have a bit of a treasure hunt riddle for you, so you can find your birthday gift!

In musty darkness
Stale water stirs
There you'll find
A treasure hidden
Under new waves

[included is a little map as well, with some familiar areas in their new hideaway marked on the shore of one of the enclosed caves. When he's able and he finds the treasure, he'll find a new cigarette box waiting for him, encased in a little treasure chest, just as a true pirate would find.]

[garudas]

[Near the end of the night, once the festivities have died down and she is sure most everyone has put up theirs, Benedikta will come out from her hiding place in his quarters to sneak to the tree and write something from herself to tie to its branches. She's already given him his gifts, so a card will suffice, she's sure. It will have to. He should be thankful he's even getting this much from her—]

unfold.

Cidolfus,

Far be it from me that I could bring myself to write some disgustingly heartfelt message like all the others, or that I even could.

You and I both know that I am not much of a believer in things like fate, so I would not call us meeting here under the circumstances that we did that. I thought it a coincidence for a long time, but I would hardly call it one either. Not anymore, at the very least.

I would, however, call it luck.

Although we still share our differences, have our disagreements (gods only know if I could ever get you to put your work down for a few days), and have much to make up for, lost time chief among them, I do consider myself somewhat lucky to have been given this chance. A second chance which, funnily enough, I did not believe in until you hammered it into me like the stubborn old man that you are. More than that, even luckier that I have been granted a second chance with you.

I am trying, and I hope that we can spend more time together going forward. I wonder if we might ever make up for those years that we lost, and I know you have never been much for celebrating your birthday, but perhaps these past couple of days have gotten us a little bit closer to that?

And you better have enjoyed every last moment of it, or I might just have to kill you!!!

I

Sincerely,

— Benedikta

[gruffier]

[ Clive is never one to be too terribly wordy so there, tucked in a neatly folded envelope resembling many of the letters from the Hideaway, Clive writes: ]

Cid,

You haven given us all a chance to live and die on our own terms, and now that we are given the opportunity to celebrate your life... I hope that those "terms" lead us to spend many more years together. Your influence has surpassed the far corners of our star and onto the next. And perhaps, even here, there would be room for a couple more outlaws.

Happy Nameday,

Clive Rosfield

[netherese]

[Gale of Waterdeep is hardly about to let himself miss such an occasion— he's made a fair few friends here, and Cid is one with whom he'd gotten on with quite easily from the start, especially given that they both seem to be of curious minds. Carefully balancing a cupcake in one hand while he writes, Gale leaves the following:]

Cid,

I wish you the happiest of namedays here on the high seas! Your crew could not ask for a more dedicated captain. It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to get to know you since finding myself at sea, and I quite look forward to any collaborative efforts we may continue in the future. As an aside, the ship is marvelous and whoever procured the wine has excellent taste! May this day be all that you wish of it, and may you go on to celebrate many more.

Ever at your service,
Gale of Waterdeep

[Naturally, as a gift, Gale also brought wine— but in addition, there's a little leather-bound field journal with some ribbon tied around it, Cid's initials embossed on the lower-right corner of the front cover. Given that they're both the sorts to explore with purpose, he figures it will come in handy!]

Re: GUESTBOOK

[yuezun]

Cid,

This venerable one is aware that birthdays - what this venerable one has now heard referred to as namedays - are important to mortals, who age very fast and usually do not see more than a century, perhaps two, before their deaths. You are already old, of course, but you are still powerful and, to some, should be feared. To others, both respected and feared.

To this venerable one, respected as his closest equal in this world.

May you continue to hold your power and grow it in your remaining years.

With all due regards,
Moon Supreme of the Moon Tribe, Ruler of Cangyanhai
Dongfang Qingcang

Cidolfus Telamon | The Birthday Man Himself

[ramuhs]

[In truth, Cid had completely forgotten about his birthday. Having various projects and never having been one to remember it to begin with will do that, especially as he gets older and the birthdays have less meaning to them. Which is why it wasn't until Benedikta surprised him with her own little date for him that he realized what day it was. Of course...that made him a bit suspicious because if Benedikta remembered, then his daughter dearest would as well. However, it was clear he had to not think about it, so he waited to see what his darling daughter would come up with.

And throwing a party like this was not in his expectations at all. Perhaps a dinner or a small gathering, sure, but of this size?

So upon arriving he's actually quite stunned, uncertain what to feel, really. All of which will fade as everything gets underway and he's caught in all the mingling and enjoying the food. And seeing all the people...it's also a bit bittersweet as it reminds him of everyone from the old Hideaway. However, he won't let such thoughts last for long or drag down the mood.

If anything, people need to make sure he doesn't get too carried away in accepting drinks—or just taking them on his own. What he's turning forty-five, he can drink however much he wants—but it's better if he stays at least mostly sober for the majority of this party.

Anyway, here is the "Come meet the man of honor" prompt! If someone doesn't approach Cid first, he will instead with his usual friendly greetings. However, sometimes he may be found a little ways away, such as just off to the side or on the quarter deck leaning over the railing with his goblet half empty and cigar hanging from his fingertips. Not too far, but far enough so that he can take a moment to watch and look over everyone, lost in his thoughts.]

[midifications]

[As he comes in and is blown away by how well she's done for all this... well, it wouldn't be a birthday without a hug, right?]

Surprise!

[Once she's gotten a nice hug in, she'll loop her arm with his, grinning ear to ear.]

So what d'ya think?

[ramuhs]

[Still in the middle of processing it, he actually staggers a bit when she comes in like a whirlwind for that hug before he laughs, turning around so he can wrap his arms around her and pick her up, spinning her around like he used to when she was little.]

You little scamp—! How the bloody hell did you pull this off?

[midifications]

[The spinning hug only makes her smile more, if it were even possible.]

Trade secret, can't tell ye. But it took a lot o' asking around, since I'm not too familiar with everything yet. But! It worked out anyway, eh? Figured you wouldn't want anything fancy and this was more... you, with the food and drink. You like it?

PRESENTS TIME FOR THE OLD MAN! :3

[nutsornothing]

[After speaking with Midadol on the network about her fathers coming birthday celebrations, Denji was quick to pick up an appropriate present for the festivities at large. Unfortunately he wasn't really able to find anywhere with fancy pants boxes so the heavier gift in question was lugged within a simplistic burlap sack tied up with a spool of string.

It didn't take him long to locate the Enterprise II at the dockyard afterwards, sashaying onto the ship in question with a look of bewilderment as he notes the lavish spread of food and drink along with the hanging ornaments aplenty. Midadol surely went all out for the occasion giving her dad a big send off for his birthday! Grabbing a cupcake to munch on as he waltzed about the ship mingling with his peers he finally stumbles across the man of the hour, flagging Cid down with a grandiose wave of his hand high in the sky.]

Hey there old man!!

[Shit eating grin put on full display as he teased his elder a bit, giving the sack a shake in front of him causing its contents to jiggle about with the mild sound of clanging metal inside.]

Happy birthday!! I gotcha a little somethin'!!

[ramuhs]

[Well hello— Cid can't help but stare at Denji with an amused face, though he does try to place a face and name...]

Thank you kindly, though you needn't have. Especially when I'm not quite sure we've met.

[nutsornothing]

[Unlike Cid the teenager had the upper hand of assistance thanks in part to her daughter sharing the details of her father's likes and dislikes along with a picture to boot in preparation for the festivities. Denji shook his head promptly at the notion of not getting the other something for their birthday for he would have been a little choked if he didn't receive one on his own so he only thought it right after all!

When his counterpart mentions the fact they had yet to meet in person he had just the thing to introduce himself properly as he points a thumb towards the pull cord which protrudes out his newly acquired short sleeved button up after his little shopping spree with Rem, the boys original attire looking quite tattered after countless run ins with different bounties and monsters aplenty over his short time here.]

That's right we haven't actually met in person! But how could you not know your bestest art buddy Denji, c’mon man!!

[A shit eating grin splayed wide from ear to ear, hopefully jogging the old man's memory now.]

[gruffier]

[ For not being a party-person, Clive was certainly attending a couple of these as of late. Yet, despite his usual gruff demeanor, he was very happy to be attending this one.

And so, after the crowd had formed and left Cid's side after the initial surprise, the man eventually approaches with a soft smile. He holds a present tucked away in his arm but doesn't hand it over just yet. Instead he'll look around the room before before directing his attention back to the older gentleman. ]

Looks like Jill's inquiry didn't give anything away. I'm glad, else Mid would likely have had my head on one of those platters.

[ramuhs]

[Cid's still trying to...really process this for many, many reasons, so he's actually a little relieved when the crowd disperses a bit to let him breathe for a moment. And while his eyes initially darted around to wonder where a certain bird had flitted off to so he could ask questions, catching sight of Clive's approach makes him form a wry grin...

...

And then smack him hard on the shoulder. Good punch, really—but not with too much force.]

Have a mind of doing so, anyway. So you knew that whole time, did you?

[gruffier]

[ OH OKAY OUCH? He should have expected that, so the brief widening of his eyes and the soft cradling of his shoulder once the impact met his mark only causes him to smile. ]

Sworn to secrecy, I'm afraid. [ He half chuckles before giving a shake of his head. ] But I am glad you were genuinely surprised. Your daughters and a few others worked very hard to pull this off.

[tilfrosset]

[Jill's plan has gone awry. Not in the disaster sort of way; actually, she's quite amused that she managed to get Cid something both unique and simple enough to satisfy him. Regardless of what little Clive turned around and told her about Cid, it still wasn't enough for her liking until she found a little thing called a cheese cake in a thick, well loved tome in the used bookstore. No, not that kind of cheesecake, but cheese cake. More of a tower, really, but she managed to dress it up like the cakes of namedays celebrations she remembers.

With sliced meats rolled to look like roses and studded with fruits for contrast between the layers of cheese wheel, Jill looks right pleased with herself and her idea. Hopefully Cid wasn't putting on hope for anything doused in chocolate.]

You're quite the difficult man to glean information from, you know.

[ramuhs]

[Given a...recent experience with a cake, he's actually quite fine not having anything doused in chocolate. That said he is going to be absolutely enthralled with this idea because cheese?? And meat??? Yes???

So he's over there, looking it over with that amused shine in his eyes and just chuckles at Jill when she approaches.]

I was wondering why you were asking. So you were also part of this, were you?

[tilfrosset]

[Jill raises her non-slinged arm, palm out as if she's being called on by a Duchy tutor.]

Guilty as charged. [And if the grin playing at her lips say anything, she's not one bit repentant about it either. He can get revenge on her own nameday, not that anybody but the Rosfield boys know what it is.] You wondered, but thankfully didn't push too much. If I had let anything slip, I'm confident Mid would have introduced me to the bad end of her hammer.

Though I did feel like I gave up to easily at the end there, only because I felt like I asked anything else, you'd sniff it out. And that is how you ended up with that.

[On her last word, she points towards the tower of cheese, still unmarred by any daggers wielded by the intoxicated, but probably not for much longer.]

a totally not late greeting from the gay sons in law

[indispensable]

[For the longest time the notion of social gatherings was something that could be more or less said to be foreign to Alhaitham. It's not that he can't be sociable, but his desire to do so is all but nonexistent and there really can't said to be anyone at all who he'd want to be in the company of. It'd always been easier to just keep to himself and give little regard to anything else.

But now, in more recent times, that particular opinion of his has shifted a bit. Nowhere so drastic as to have a sudden hundred eighty turnaround, but he can perhaps start to see a little on why gatherings like these might not be as troublesome as he once perceived it to be.

Still, that doesn't mean that he's suddenly going out of his way to attend every party and gathering that happens overnight, but it does mean that he'd been more amenable to the idea of coming over to this party held for Cid's birthday. While Alhaitham doesn't put too much stock into the importance of birthdays, he does recognize the value that it brings for the others who do know him.

So perhaps to the surprise of others, Alhaitham is indeed present for this event, even if he has mostly elected to stay by his senior's side for this. But he does accompany Kaveh when he goes over to greet the man of the hour, giving the elder a nod of acknowledgement before Kaveh launches into his own string of greetings and well-wishes.]

hi dad we love you dad

[empyrean_mirror]

[Naturally, Kaveh is the one carrying a wrapped package, but make no mistake, he will not let Alhaitham wriggle out of credit for his part in the gift.]

There you are! I hope we aren't too late, are we?

[They're on time, Kaveh just has a strange idea of 'late'.]

[yuezun]

Daqiang was fashionably late to the party and did not announce himself. He simply arrived, took a moment to read over the guestbook request (and sign it), before casually walking in and slowly making his way around. He did not stop to speak to anyone, moving through the crowd as if he were invisible.

Which he was.

Until he appeared next to Cid where the man stood away from the crowds on the quarter deck. He had the courtesy to wait until Cid wasn't in the middle of swallowing anything, at least. In case his sudden appearance startled the man.

"How often do you celebrate your birthday? Every ten years? Five?"

[ramuhs]

Cid had just been slowly nursing his drink, mulling over things as he watched the crowd below with an expression mixed with fondness and contemplation when he starts upon hearing Daqiang suddenly next to him. It really was a mercy that he waited until he set down the bottle, though that didn't mean it wasn't shaken a bit when Cid gave a short yell of surprise and turned suddenly to him, staring wide-eyed before letting out a breath.

"Dammit, Dongfang, you 'bout near gave me a heart attack," he half groaned, half laughed with a shake of his head. "When did you get here?"

He somewhat missed the question from the the god's sudden arrival.

[vermilloci]

[ It hasn't been that long since she's officially joined the crew, but what perfect timing! That is, just in time for a party. ]

Happy Birthday, Cid!

[ She offers him a present: The Sea Farer's Current Atlas of the Seas, 14th Edition, by Sir Apila Pradan III.

A disclaimer is included on the first page, noting how no charter will ever be 100% accurate due to the leviathans being both (1) alive and (2) mobile. ]

[ramuhs]

Thank you, Rem.

[A warm smile at the young girl's words followed by a curious look at the gift she brings.]

And what's this...an atlas?

[Oh his eyes will light up quite a bit at that, already flipping through the pages.]