[Sfw] ♡ Birthday Room ♡

[awuka]

[Everyone on the ship receives a pink envelope sealed with a red heart sticker under their door. Inside it is a card that says "Happy Birthday Alluka! Dear (insert your character's name here), you have been invited to the birthday party taking place on September 14th at this location. There will be cake, icecream, games, and kitty magic all day. Please think hard about the gift you'd like to give before arriving! See you there!" On the other side of the card is a map with precise instructions on how to get to the room from the receiver's exact location.

Newly freshened from brushing her teeth and hair in Killua's bathroom, Alluka feels ready enough to pursue the room in the birthday invite. Hidden behind a door decorated in pink balloons and streamers, the room invites her inside.

Beyond the door is a big parlor decked to the teeth in ribbons, flowers, and colorful balloon animals. Alluka steps inside and looks around. There's a wide table at the back with a big, gray Pusheen cake on top of it with a tray of gray kitten cupcakes, a big cake knife, and bags of party favors and candy on either side of it. There's a long table for guests to sit at as well as a comfortable area for guests to play games.

Alluka runs to the cake and starts inspecting it. It doesn't look like any cake she's seen before. Is something so cute really supposed to be cut into?]

Comments

[awuka]

[Alluka lowers her voice down to a quiet whisper the likes of which she hasn't used since the days where she got yelled at and punished for speaking up. She's still a little confused about the doll, wondering how it works.]

Hello there, little doll. I'm Alluka..Can you let me talk to Kalluto? [She says, stroking its face.]

[descendsanathema]

*Kalluto giggled through the connection, covering his mouth.*

You don't have to ask, Alluka.

*He thought about it for a bit, trying to think of how she could understand. Straining a little, he tried to imagine his voice at a much higher pitch than normal.*

Touching me is just the same as asking, and the answer's always yes. It's my job to let you talk to him!

*Kalluto was a little surprised at the pride that shone through his pretended doll's personality.*

[awuka]

[She's surprised when the doll answers her. So it really can talk, too! Her initial fear of Kalluto is offset by the fact that he showed up and even gave her a gift. When she's shown kindness, her young mind is easily swayed.]

Thank you, little doll! Hi again I guess, Kalluto. This is kinda weird! You really can hear me, and you're not just reading my lips? Thanks for the cool gift! I had no idea it was alive! I'll make sure it doesn't get creased or damaged, ok?

[descendsanathema]

*As Alluka mentions reading her lips, Kalluto closes his eyes, though his reply is with the "voice" of the doll.*

I'm more robust than you think! I'm made of Nen! But I really appreciate you taking care of me. We're gonna have so much fun!

[awuka]

[The more the doll speaks to her, the more excited she gets. It's a new friend, plus it gives her access to her sibling. She was gonna talk to it lots!]

What's your name then, little doll? Surely you have one!

[descendsanathema]

*Kalluto is just about to answer, before thinking better of naming it Alluka, who is the person it's modelled. A few seconds pass, and he is flustered, taking a little too much time to answer, and almost loses the doll's "voice" when he finally transmits-*

Um... I don't... have one. Kalluto didn't give me one yet.

Maybe you'd like to name me? I'm your doll after all!

[awuka]

You don't have one? Hmmm..

[Alluka cups her chin and looks up in thought. She loves naming things. It was a paper doll, so it was thin and white...]

Blanca! Your name can be Blanca. Tell Kalluto I named you that, too! So he knows your correct name when he talks to you.

[She still doesn't get it, but she loves her new friends Blanca and Pepsi. Reminded of Pepsi, she holds Blanca with her pinkie while she maneuvers the blue buttons on her pink watch. Pepsi pops up, and she holds out her hand so Kalluto can see her. She's just a teal blob right now, taking a nap in the middle of the room. She stops whispering, almost forgetting about it completely.]

Oh, she's sleeping! Look, It's Pepsi! Oniichan got her for me!

[descendsanathema]

*Kalluto nods at Alluka's instruction, smiling gratefully even though his sister was not looking at him. When she speaks, he braces this time, expecting Alluka to suddenly raise her voice in excitement after he seeing her face light up in response to the tamagotchi.*

Wow, amazing! That's very nice of Killua to give that you. How long have you had him?

*He absolutely did not feel like the younger brother in this exchange.*

[awuka]

He just got it for me a little bit ago! It also has a communication feature, isn't that neat?

[She presses the pink button camouflaging on the side of the watch, enjoying its ridged texture on her fingertips. It was the perfect little watch, making her hand look even daintier.]

Hi, Oniichan! I'm showing Kalluto the watch! Can you bring us some cake, pretty pleeease~?

[devil_or_angle]

*killua's tail stands on end when one of the voices he'd been eavesdropping on suddenly blares loudly from his wrist, startling him into almost dropping his soda. he scrambles to answer her, pushing the button and clearing his throat before replying with a grunt of,*

roger.

*he's charmed that the two of them seem to be getting along, and proud that alluka had wanted to show off his gift, even if it wasn't exactly necessary right now. barely a minute after her call, he's striding over to them with two plates of red velvet cake, offering one to each of his little siblings.*

having fun over here?

[descendsanathema]

We're-

*Kalluto catches himself in the middle of using his mouth to speak as the doll's voice, then roughly clears his throat. He nods gratefully, then takes one of the plates.*

Alluka's presents from us are getting to know each other.

[awuka]

Thank you, big brother! You're the best~!

[Alluka giggles at Kalluto's slip-up, wondering why he sounded so strange. She sets the paper doll down neatly on a clear section of the table and takes the plate, sitting down with it and cutting off a piece of the sharp red velvet and gray fondant corner with her fork. Popping it into her mouth and smiling as she chews, she looks to Kalluto to gauge his reaction to it, especially the gorey strawberry innards.

She's having lots of fun and warming up to him in the process. That yearning for not just a little brother, but her little brother comes back in full swing and she can't resist regressing back to when they were little. She swallows her cake and pats the space not occupied by the doll.]

Sit next to me!

[devil_or_angle]

*chuckling, killua pulls the indicated seat out for kalluto to sit in. seeing the two of them together is so nostalgic, somehow, even though he doesn't have anything but vague inklings of his past with alluka.*

i see we had similar ideas, *he mentions to his brother, gaze darting over to the communication doll on the table.*

[descendsanathema]

*He sat in the offered chair, though he still eyed the cake neutrally, opting to first respond to his brother.*

Well, I thought if I could... uh... if Blanca could help us talk, I could get to know our sister properly.

*He breathed a sigh of relief when he realised the cat ears and tail were both on his two siblings, presumably because of the cake. After seeing Alluka take her first bite, he followed suit, delicately carving a chunk by digging and twisting his fork. He did not want a huge stomach again.

Kalluto unconsciously tilted his face down to meet the fork, breathing in the strong strawberry scent before biting the chunk off his fork. He shifted in his chair, adjusting his position as a tail emerged from the base of his spine. Smiling at Alluka, he wondered whether he'd take a catnip cake if offered.*

[awuka]

[Alluka watches her brother eat, her consumption of the cake secondary to her curiosity. He ate so carefully, his wrists maneuvering the fork with a delicate prestige befitting of someone of his class. Alluka was hardly taught any tableside manner before she was cut off from the world, so she continues eating overzealously like a spoiled child.]

Now you're a kitty too!

[She sniffs at the air. Kalluto's scent changed slightly when he transformed, reminding her of that scent on her beanbag in the cat room. Remembering this, she doesn't feel the same fear or helplessness that plagued her heart at the time, as it gave way to her desire for closeness.

A cat with friends and family to snuggle with is a cozy cat, after all.]

What do you think of the cake? Someone really nice made it for me!

[devil_or_angle]

i think that's a great idea.

*killua cracks a crooked grin as he reaches out to ruffle kalluto's newly-sprouted ears, mussing up his perfectly-manicured hair. his heart swells at the thought of the two of them talking and playing together as siblings, providing alluka with the closest semblance to a normal family she could have, in their unique circumstances.*

i wonder if this was someone's idea or if it could all be the airship's doing. no one knows her birthday unless... maybe you, kalluto...?

[descendsanathema]

Mmm, *is all Kalluto can offer about the cake, his pace picking up, the stilted and redundant motions of upper-class dining looking a little ridiculous when performed at quadruple speed by a child whose trained face is brimming with delight and impatience.

Upon his brother's touch, Kalluto gulps his mouthful and tucks his chin, giggling and nuzzling his head into Killua's hand.

Kalluto smooths his face over before peering up at Killua to reply to his question, trying to keep the lack of emotion under his skin as well as above it.*

I... should know it? *He turned to Alluka.* Sorry. I must have been to half a dozen parties in that little room. Every day was just... whatever the butlers or Illu told me to do, so...

[awuka]

[Kalluto's motions become quicker and quicker and Alluka notices he doesn't look so refined anymore. Giggling, she feeds herself a big, gooey-centered chunk of cake.]

I think someone really nice is behind the airship! They gave me the cat room, a perfect cabin, the witch house and a birthday party..

[Of course, she's casually forgetting the negative places she's been, blocking them out in favor of her own comfort. Seeing Killua petting Kalluto, she leans toward them with a needy look.]

Pet me too!

[devil_or_angle]

*killua's disappointed by kalluto's response, but not surprised that he doesn't know much more about her than he does, with the way the family kept her locked away from everyone. they'll just have to get to know each other here.

his hand is still rubbing into kalluto's eagerly-nuzzling head, and at alluka's request, he reaches the hand he was leaning on the back of kalluto's chair over to pet hers as well, snorting,* so this is why i've got two hands.

[descendsanathema]

*Kalluto takes a contented breath and roughly shakes his head up against Killua before moving it out from under his hand. Taking the chair with both hands, he scoots it closer to Allukas, then curls his fingers around the back of her hair, running his nails lightly along her scalp just under her headband.*

It's her birthday... so we can give her double.

[awuka]

[Alluka's face melts into a buttery smile as she takes affection from both of them. The nails on her scalp feel excellent, so she nudges her head into them, her tail curling happily.]

I love my brothers!

[She pulls her chair out and rises from her seat in order to hug both of them. First, Killua, and second, Kalluto.]

Hehe--Thank you for making my birthday so good!

[devil_or_angle]

*the warmth of alluka's hug radiates from killua's smile as she throws her arms around kalluto next, literally embracing both of them as her family.*

it's your first proper birthday, so we have to make it a good one.

*he reaches out to ruffle her hair some more, catching kalluto's eye over her shoulder.*

i'm glad we're both here for it.

[descendsanathema]

*When Kalluto feels Alluka's arms around him, there's a flash of primal terror. The warmth of the last half hour or so, and of the last few days with Killua too, can't dampen his reaction to the touch, which somehow felt like two presences. It's a reaction which only Killua notices as Alluka and Kalluto's chins are on each other's shoulders, their heights well matched.

He tilts his gaze downwards, trying to lose himself in that warmth again. Kalluto knew he'd have to ask Killua how he can forget what Alluka and the other Alluka are capable of doing. How he can relax at all.*

I'm where I need to be right now, *he says to the both of them.*

[awuka]

I'm so happy...

[She squeezes Kalluto flush to her chest, embracing her little brother for an inordinate amount of time. Being a big sister fills her with an indescribable joy that she sorely missed, having no idea that this Kalluto was technically older than her, who had just turned twelve.]

As long as you don't side with our parents or big brothers, I like you a lot...!

[devil_or_angle]

*there’s a bit of fear in the backs of kalluto’s eyes when they meet killua’s, and he watches him dutifully bury it down, letting his sister hug him despite it. unseen to either of them, killua gulps, confronted with the sobering realization that kalluto is still fundamentally uncomfortable around alluka, and is likely only doing all this to please killua, who’d asked them to get along. maybe he was foolish to think that things could ever be easy between them, but for alluka’s sake, he has to hope.*

hey…

*his voice cracks somewhat when he speaks again, and he waits for them to part before continues.*

do you two want to check out some of the party games? i can show you how to play.