Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kinsey had jumped out and yelled her 'surprise' and 'happy birthday', smiling wickedly at Alex's expression. Surprise parties really where the best when no one spoiled the surprise. At least the host managed that. (It was a good sign.) Before the young woman had a chance to go and congratulate Alex, she had already been swept away by a guy and...some friends of his? Well, one of them seemed to be in charge of the party, but. She'd have to figure that out when they came back.

Kinsey swept dark hair behind her ear and looked at the two other females left in the room. Huh. Alex was probably the only person she knew here! Smiling sheepishly, she leaned against the wall and regarded the pair of girls. "Hey. M'Kinsey. I don't think you're too late, no," she offered the girl who came after the surprise. She shrugged. "Friend of Alex?"

How could Kyou miss his newly employed part time worker's birthday bash? Even harder to miss when We`rika called him up personally to join it. Tempted by the prospect of strip poker too, Lazarus decided to tag along, though he wasn't too keen on hiding like an idiot waiting for the birthday girl to arrive.

As Alex socialize with people in the kitchen, Kyou popped up from behind Aphismet. "Happy birthday Alex!" he chirped up happily. "Look what I got!" raising a bottle in his hand, he showed the bottle of vintage wine to Alex. This bottle is one of Kyou's secret collection of wine. He's not an avid wine appreciator, but he had a few bottles stash away for occasions like these. Dating 20 years ago, this bottle of wine is promising to be in excellent taste and quality.

Lazarus doesn't really like close body contact, nor did he know Alex very well. Just that one time when he saw her talking with Kyou in the beach bar during the summer festival. So instead of going up to congratulate Alex, he chose to keep a little distance from the group gathering around Alex as he watched Kyou from behind.

Josh had never heard of Alex and the name We’rika was just a hazy memory from the beach bash. So when he received a call from the gruff Huichol, the teen couldn’t help but be a bit apprehensive about going to the surprise party. After some thought, more like three seconds of gazing at the homework piled on his desk, Josh decided that perhaps it was best to attend another Lab shindig. After all, what was the worst that could happen? He would meet a few more owners and possibility another raevan or two?

So here he was. Josh was propped comfortably against a wall with a stuffed dinosaur in his hands. The pudgy green creature was adorned with the perfect puppy dog stare and a pristine pink ribbon curled cutely around its chubby neck. He would hate to admit it, but his mom had picked it out. Josh had never been one to choose good gifts. The last time he was left to fend on his own at a gift shop, he had managed to buy the girl a pair of socks and snow globe. To say the least, he was no longer friends with her…

“Surprise!” Josh cried along with all the other guests.

His eyes flickered over to the crowd surrounding an ebony haired woman. A smile upturned Josh’s lips. So… she must be the guest of honor. He made his way over to the older woman and smiled sweetly, “Happy birthday Alex. It is a pleasure to meet you.” He donned his trademark smile. The kind that warmed your heart in a way that put basket full of kittens to shame. He held out his gift like it was some sort of offering to a goddess.

Kyou blushed a little as Alex hugged and kissed him on the cheeks, but somehow he just couldn't wipe that happy grin off of his face! It's a nice feeling when someone thank you so sincerely. "Yes I'm sure Alex!" He said, grinning wider. "I'll go and get this popped open while you get busy with your guests." Kyou said as he saw Josh coming in. Giving Josh a polite nod as he caught the boy's eyes, he waved the bottle at Alex for the last time as he headed to look for something to pop the bottle open.

As he turn around he saw Aphismet instead. "Hello there, you're Aphismet right?" Kyou remembered seeing him in a few occasions, and he also know that he is Chloe's boyfriend. Although he never really talked with the man directly before. "Nice to meet you, I'm Kyou." He introduced himself as he raised up his free hand.

"Hello, whu..? Huh??" Lazarus was halfway saying his greeting to Rivener when he was suddenly dragged away by him. He didn't resist however, and just let Rivener lead the way. "What's this about?" He asked as they reached the poker table. He know people play poker with these cards, he saw them on TV before. But he's not sure how to play it, nor did he intended to participate in the strip poker. He just wanted to watch!

Aphismet's eyes widened and he swallowed again as Dr Kyou came right for him, actually SPEAKING to him and offering his hand to shake! Aphismet flustered for a moment, falling all over himself and grinning stupidly. "I, uh, uhm... Er... I-I..." Clearing his throat, telling himself to get a grip before he completely ruined this first impression, Aphismet finally took the doctor's hand and shook it energetically. "Oh my god, i-it's so nice to meet you, D-Dr Kyou! I, erm... Y-yes, I'm Aphismet. Rivener's g-guardian." Gah, Aphi had fallen back into his stuttering speech pattern! Where had all his recent confidence gone?! Right down the crapper, that's where! "I, uhm... Th-thank you. For Rivener. A-and all the Raevans, really. A-and for erm, f-for Chloe. Just... Hahah, erm, say, could I m-maybe have a glass of that? I seem to b-be suffering from Nerves..." He smiled sheepishly, blushing profusely at actually asking for the doctor's alcohol.

Rivener stopped in front of one of the tables, turning a sparkling red eye to Laz and chuckling. "It's poker! I don't really know how to play either, but there's instructions here on the tables, see? Come on, let's play!" Riv sat, motioning for Laz to do the same. "We don't have to strip if you don't want to, let's just try out the game!" Although Riv secretly thought that it would be much more interesting if Laz DID strip, he would certainly not say that and get the fire Sigel mad at him.

Your guests. Alex wasn't sure if the term freaked her out or made her happy. Maybe it was a mix of both. With this in mind, she gave Kyou a wavering smile and exited the kitchen, just in time to be greeted by the cutest young man on the planet. She was momentarilly taken aback by his expression and lip-puckering cuteness; it should have been illegal, she was such a sucker for doe-eyes. "Hi Josh," she quipped cheerfully, her previous trepidation melting away in the face of such sweetness, "I...uh, it's very nice to meet you!"

Maybe it was the smile, or the adorable stuffed animal being offered up like the Holy Grail, but something was throwing her off, like a memory she couldn't quite recall. Gingerly taking the stuffed beast, she hugged it to her chest, fingers playing over one of the stuffed legs. "Have we met before...?" she ventured hesitantly. Josh looked awfully familiar, and she couldn't pinpoint why. It was possible she'd seen him at the previous events, but she couldn't be sure with all the faces that seemed to add to each celebration. "Thanks for coming!" she exclaimed, erasing the uncertainty. "I'm really flattered by everyone here. It's proof that random acts of kindness do exist, huh?"

Well, there she went again, rambling something inane. She supposed that was the small bit of anthropology in her talking, so it was easy enough to shut it up. She glanced for somewhere to put the cute plush for the time being (that Lorenzo would no doubt claim as his own the second she set foot in her home). Alex wanted to free up her hands to greet other people, even if she really did want to hide behind the adorable dinosaur. Easy to please? Unquestionably.

While looking, she spotted someone on the couch, looking somewhat forlorn. Tilting her head to indicate Josh could follow if he wanted, she moved over to the person, putting one hand on their shoulder. "Hey," she squeezed Chris's shoulder, "chin up. It's a celebration, we should all have fun, right?" Alex smiled warmly, feeling about as out of place as could be but trying her best to be social. Nothing like excelling at one's weak point!

Josh was gleeful that he had managed to hand off his gift with no snags. Alex seemed to actually enjoy the stuffed dinosaur! He was almost home free….

“Have we met before...?"

Josh faltered. He was positive he had never met this woman before. But how had she known his name if that was the case? Josh gulped nervously. Could it be that he had actually forgotten someone he had already met! He tried to shove the thought to the back of his mind. However, a touch of uneasiness still hung around him causing his cheeks to flush in embarrassment. Well, even if he had met he before, he would just have to reacquaint himself now! “Your welcome,” he paused to examine the woman’s face a bit more closely… just to make sure he had never seen it before. Auburn eyes scrutinized her features. Her wide green eyes that glittered with mirth…. the pleased smile spread on her pouty lips…. the smooth jaw line and tanned skin…. It was all unfamiliar. “I’m afraid that I don’t think we have met. I’ve been to a few Lab events before. You may have seen me around?” Josh chuckled. He followed after the woman and wasn’t too concerned when she allowed another person into their conversation. He peered down at the girl on the couch and purred at her, “Don’t worry none of us will bite. I’m Josh. It’s a pleasure to meet you Chris.”