It's a Cool Pool Party! [Completed]

[tenshinomakai.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Everyone! Come on down~
Content: Urd throws a pool party at Jogo da Crianca for everyone to enjoy.
Setting: Jogo da Crianca pool!
Time: Noon until night.
Warnings: Probably none. Maybe blatant fanservice of all the sexy (and not so sexy) characters.

It's been too long since the citizens of Paixao made use of the fairly impressive pool at the park. Like all of the landscaping and architecture of the city, the pool seemed ancient, almost in its appearance, wide and large and full of clear, glittering water. Equally sparkling trees provided shade all around the perimeter and comfortable outdoor chaises (made more comfortable by extra cushions today) and picnic tables dotted the area through out.

For the event, colorful balloons had been created and now floated peacefully in place as if held by an invisible hand. Crepe ribbons were strung from tree to tree and tiki torches, waiting to be lit once the sky started to darken, held their vigil in strategic points around the pool. Two long tables have been spread with snacks made by Belldandy and Genie, so they're sure to be the most delicious cookie/sandwich/chips you've ever had.

Most importantly, in one far corner of the area, a karaoke station has been magically created by Genie. The television is 42 inches, flanked by two 15 inch speakers. Four microphones and stands are available for any party goer to belt their favorites out. To add to the mood, there's even a disco ball above the microphones, hung from the nearest tree!

Don't have a swimsuit? No problem! Urd, Belldandy and probably even Genie will summon up something for you quicker than you can say "sudden public nudity." Be warned, though...each has their own sense of style and may end up dressing your character in something less than dignified.

Unbeknown to any of the guests, a special and invisible barrier has been set into place by Belldandy. This warding field will not allow any Heartless to enter the party, should anyone decide to summon them. Not that they would, though, right? This is a sunny, happy day!

What could go wrong?

OOC Notes: Much like the other large group logs here, this one will work via several small threads that people start in the comments. Everyone is free to jump into someone's thread, provided they don't have a note in their subject line claiming the thread is private (which you're totally allowed to do). Keep in mind that this party was created for characters to develop CR with more people, so don't be afraid to mingle!

Comments

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

Deciding the change the subject, Tifa smiled once more. "Well, Lenne, what kind of songs do you sing? There's a karaoke station over there; why don't we give it a try? Though, I don't think my voice will be any match for yours." She chuckled. Soft spoken Tifa was, and she never tried singing before. But she was sure that Lenne had a reason behind offering her service to her eventual Paixao branch of Seventh Heaven.

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

Lenne's reason, selfishly, was the desperate need to have a purpose here, to help someone somehow. She wasn't about to waste this second chance at life. And it just so happened she wasn't a terrible singer.

She smiled brightly, "All kinds of songs," she laughed. "Whatever seemed to fit the occasion. I think I could go for a happy song right now, but I really don't know that many," she laughed again, but a little sadly. "I'd love to sing a little. What are you in the mood for?"

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

"Hmm... anything, really. If you want, I could go first while you look through the catalog." She picked up a booklet filled with the codes for the songs, and handed it to Lenne. "I was looking through it earlier, but I don't know too many of the songs." Besides, it might set Lenne at ease... not to mention, Tifa didn't exactly want to go after Lenne just to be bad at it, not that she was too vain about that sort of thing.

With that, and a smile, she punched in a code, and prepared herself.

Putting the microphone down, Tifa blushed a bit. She definitely wasn't good at this sort of thing, much less was she a performer. "Well, your turn, lenne!"

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

Lenne laughed and applauded in admiration. It was a song she'd never heard before, but she couldn't imagine it having been sung any better.

"That was beautiful!" she complimented truthfully. She thumbed through the catalog a little while longer, trying to decide on a happy song. Truth be told, she muchly preferred the melancholy, but today was a good day, a happy day, and she hoped to inspire that in those around her. So, she took up the microphone and pressed all the right keys for this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFXy5bIiSA).

"I hope I don't disappoint!" And at that she began to move, dancing just a little with the music. She just couldn't help it, this song always got her moving, and for the next few minutes, she was lost in the song.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

Tifa returned Lenne's performance with an applause, genuinely impressed. "It's the perfect song for this party, I think!" She chuckled. When she was singing her own song, her thoughts obviously went out to Cloud... where was he? Was he eating all right? ... did he miss her at all? ... Tifa felt a bit melancholy, but the tune of Lenne's song as well as the words definitely spoke to her. She was here; no changing that, so she may as well experience what she could, and when she saw Cloud again, it would make for a good story, wouldn't it?

"You must have had quite a following in your world. So... do you sing for anybody in particular?"

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

Lenne smiled, but the sadness behind her eyes wasn't as veiled as she meant it to be. Yes, she'd had quite the following, indeed. Did she sing for anyone? Oh, yes.

She laughed softly, looking gently into Tifa's eyes. "I do, I suppose. Long lost love, if you will," she laughed again, just as sadly as her eyes smiled. Love found, and lost, then found, then lost just as swiftly.

"It is my profession to sing, but there is a part of my soul that dies if I do not express it through song. So I suppose I sing just as much for myself as..." she trailed off, motioning with her hands to try to convey what she couldn't say, unwilling to mention Shuyin by name. She'd been doing so well moving on without him, trying not to hope too hard that he might return some day.

"As selfish as that sounds..." she tried to cover the soft crack in her voice, then laughed again, her last defense, shaking her head to try to clear her thoughts. She was going to be happy. He would want that for her.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

Tifa shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with being selfish in of itself." She commented. "It's wrong when you don't express it correctly." She attempted to explain. Like she was to talk. It seemed so long ago, but Aerith still had a very firm hold on Cloud's mind. Cloud's guilt regarding Aerith's death... it was something Tifa couldn't compete with at all. And she didn't want to. Aerith was her friend, too, and... Tifa could only imagine that Aerith would have felt some jealousy against Tifa as well, Tifa being the one who was staying with Cloud and living with him.

The brunette wasn't the best at expressing herself, either; if she had been better at it, perhaps the entire Jenova War could have been avoided if she simply spoke up earlier. ... or, at least, Aerith wouldn't have had to die. Maybe. But Tifa knew that was in the past. What was important was pushing onward toward the future.

"I wish I had an outlet like that, myself."

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

Lenne smiled sympathetically, reaching out to touch Tifa's arm lightly, unsure of how the gesture would be received. "You'll find a way. Maybe this restaurant of yours will give you an outlet? Or at the very least, a distraction," she grinned.

She wouldn't have even guessed at the guilt or jealousy that Tifa carried, but every woman had something like that, she would have thought. It seemed impossible to find a man who hadn't left a part of himself with another woman.

"Do you want to try another song? Maybe we could find a duet?" she laughed, hoping to lighten the mood, but completely sincere. She hoped that she didn't come across as uncaring, as she was more than willing to continue on the subject if Tifa wanted to, but the last thing she desired was to pry, or make her uncomfortable.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

[ooc: Does this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgAKsdfpgkc) sound like a good duet piece to you? If not, feel free to pick whatever <3]

"I do feel most comfortable in that sort of setting, I do admit." Tifa laughed a little, being thankful for having somebody like Lenne who she could talk with. "A duet sounds lovely!" After all, they would be working together eventually, wouldn't they? Seventh Heaven, featuring the singing of Lenne as entertainment... that had a nice ring to it. Flipping through the catalog, she really was enjoying herself at this party, as was evident with the smile on her expression and having made a new friend.

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

"Oh! I know that one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgAKsdfpgkc)," Lenne remarked, pointing out the song in the catalog. She grinned mischievously and began punching in the code without a second thought. When the familiar melody began to play she handed Tifa a mic, and took up the other herself.

"You take the first verse!" It was almost cruel of her, but really, it was all in good, clean fun, and the song had beautiful harmonies, and was all about the kind of friendship Lenne hoped the two of them might grow to someday. Someday. It didn't hurt to be hopeful about some things.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

Tifa didn't view it as cruel at all, taking the microphone and beginning. "Day after day I must face a world of strangers / Where I don't belong / I'm not that strong / It's nice to know that there's someone / I can turn to / Who will always care / You're always there..." It certainly was a beautiful song, and at that moment Tifa couldn't think of anybody else she'd rather be singing it with. Lenne looked a little young, but Tifa didn't think she'd mind fixing her a drink or two during her performance breaks.

Tifa certainly didn't have an ear for harmony, but Lenne's voice was adjusted to perfectly compliment her own amateur singing. It was amazing, she thought.

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

Lenne couldn't help but grin at Tifa as she began. She really had a lovely voice, it may not be trained, but that was hardly something to be ashamed of. Lenne was still young at 19, but she'd seen a whole lot more in her short life than many twice her age. And there were some days she tried very hard not to think about that.

She lent her harmony to Tifa's melody on the chorus, enjoying how their voices seemed to work very well together.

"So many times when the city seems to be / Without a friendly face / A lonely place / It's nice know that you'll be there if / I need you / And you'll always smile / It's all worthwhile..."

She could help but wink at Tifa and motion with her free hand as she sang, allowing the music to draw her in.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

The song went on, and Tifa teared up a bit at the bridge. "If all my friends / Have forgotten half their promises / They're not unkind / Just hard to find..." It was very true; while all of her friends may have gone their separate ways (some more reluctantly than others), they were all still tied together, weren't they? Tifa couldn't fault them, not to mention when you took away the Jenova War, they really had not much at all in common, did they? In any case, the song went on, Tifa smiling as she wiped the tear from her eye.

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

When the song was ended, Lenne couldn't help but feel that she wished it was longer. But singing like that could easily take an emotional toll on her, and she didn't want to exhaust herself just yet, the party was still just beginning!

She smiled brightly at Tifa, noticing the tear, but knowing better than to say anything directly. She could tell that Tifa was a strong woman who probably didn't express these sorts of emotions in public very often.

"That was beautiful, Tifa," she complimented the other woman sincerely, still smiling widely. A well-written song would always be pretty, but it took a true, sincere emotional connection to make it beautiful and make it real. Tifa brought emotion to the music, and Lenne admired that greatly.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

Blushing a bit, Tifa smiled as she thanked Lenne. "Thank you very much, Lenne; I think your presence alone would bring in much business to the restaurant!" She winked, hoping to take some of the attention off of her. "But more than that, I can tell you really do enjoy your craft; I hope to create an environment you're comfortable in, in any case... not as a business owner, but as a fan of yours." She added, making sure that Lenne knew that she considered Lenne as a friend, and not a subordinate.

[lyricalsummons.livejournal.com]

Lenne laughed, a high, musical sound, one of those laughs that usually could dissolve any tension in a room. Not quite contagious, but it had yet to fail at bringing a smile to those around her.

"I am looking forward to it more and more the longer I spend around you," she told Tifa truthfully. She was really enjoying the idea of a smaller, more personal venue. Not to mention the blessing of working for a friend instead of someone that planned to abuse her talents, as it were.

"I think that you'll do very well in the business here. You sincerely want to make a place people will enjoy returning to. I'm honored to be a part of it," she gushed.

[glovescomeoff.livejournal.com]

Things were going smoothly; Tifa still had to venture about for a possible location for Paixao's iteration of Seventh Heaven, and find a way to secure supplies, but with Lenne's encouragement Tifa knew she could do it. It would take a bit of work, obviously... but she also needed a project to work on in order to keep her mind off of things such as Cloud and the others. She hadn't met anybody else from Gaia here yet, unfortunately, but she was certain that if she ever met her friends again, she'd want them to see her successful and happy.

Continuing to talk with Lenne, putting business aside for now, she enjoyed the everyday sorts of conversations with her first real friend here in Paixao.