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(( Diana -> Desserts Table ))

Diana almost wanted to laugh at the self awareness the girl showed. It can be hard work. She could easily imagine how much of a handful this sprightly and confident kid could be in a poor mood.

"I take it you were a bit of a terror sometimes, huh." She chuckled, clearly joking with the young raevan and reached for a snack for herself, choosing a small cup of fruit salad.

As Laurel piped up, Diana turned her head to him, noting his self-conscious posture and having to push down the urge to coddle the little thing herself. Give them lots of hugs and make sure they were comfortable.

Hearing all this normal, commonplace advice helped her breathe a little easier. They were still kids, magically/scientifically grown kids, but still kids.

Laurel's sudden alertness popped her out of her own thoughts and she tried to follow his eyes to see what had caught his attention, before he chirruped and sped off to greet another friend.

"He's an energetic little thing, isn't he." She mused taking a bit of her food.

(( Laz | BBQ stand - Xiu, Zeke, Vesna & Lorenzo ))

Of course he would be tasked with handling the BBQ stand. He was comfortable with the fire, able to withstand heat better than anyone, and he knows his way a little around the kitchen. He may burn the edges of a chicken wing a little, but he sure knows how the meat should look like when they are done. At first Lazarus wasn't happy that he had to work for a Lab event again, but over time he started to look forward to it when they got the fresh meat slabs and the other foods. If anything, he's a little nervous about how well received the food will be for the crowd, since it was his handiwork. Although Zeke was a real help too with the amount of food on the grill.

Lazarus was dressed simply for the occasion. Blue and white striped short sleeve t-shirt with a v-neck, and a grey and white paneled bermuda shorts. All underneath a black apron with the wordings 'Kiss the cook' printed in the front - Kyou's bright idea.

People had started to gather around the grill area as guests started to arrive. Lazarus was poking a slab of tri-tip steak when a familiar face came to the grill. "Xiu!" His smiling expression quickly turned into one of disapproval however, when he saw what the Valsaros was wearing. Brows furrowed as he looked at Xiu's cheeky expression. Is he wearing that on purpose? "Hello stranger." He said, sounding a little colder, poking fun at Xiu, pretending not to know this person that dresses horridly.

That was when Zeke drew his attention towards a Frei and her guardian. "Hello!" He waved back with a smile from behind the grill. Vesna was it? She looks familiar, probably seen her in a previous event but had never spoken officially. He wasn't able to hold the Frei's attention for long though as she apparently saw a close friend, another young Frei. Lazarus smiled as he observed the crowd, it was sure getting lively around here.

(( Sven Beyer // Chimera Playpen ))

He nodded at each introduction, putting each name delicately into their own folder. His eyes flicked to Pohl as the Raevan approached, noting the hand extended to him and taking it, giving it a firm handshake, followed by a smile.

"It can be." He answered, tilting his head towards the sand."I come here usually to collect sea shells to string up on the walls of my office." He noted Fisher's call, nodding faintly in acknowledgement.

His attention drifted to Isobel, releasing a soft chuckle in response. "I am indeed, yes." And it was true, the company was enjoyable and the faint chatter of those within the area soothed him. It was better than holing himself up within his house, which he had been doing for the past few weeks as he stared listlessly at an empty page. His editor was right, going to this event was doing something positive in the end.

He laughed faintly as Isobel questioned if he was a guardian, head shaking sheepishly. Not quite yet, but perhaps soon!

"I'm not a guardian, no, but I've sent in my interest to be." He paused for a second, deciding to finally unleash the question he had been holding onto. "Do you.... have any advice for someone looking to be a guardian? I've never...." He trailed off as he reached for the words. "I've never met a Raevan or their parent until today."

He briefly glanced as a rabbit-eared Raevan bounced over, giving an agreeable nod. The creatures were absolutely strange, but adorable as well!

Brolis

shushida

Smerdle

Tasinei

((Xiu ->BBQ stand -> Lazarus, Zeke, Vesna and Eden))

“Actually, it is just beyond the curve over there. Where they sell all the tourist paraphernalia,” chuckled Xiu as he pointed to a row of distant shacks selling similar seaside souvenirs. “I got it at a discount too. Curious really but I think the shopkeeper was really eager to get them off his hands. Perhaps they were last season’s design,” mused the Raevan before turning to Vesna and Eden and beaming with delight. “Vesna it certainly has been a while. How have you been? And it is a pleasure to meet you, Eden. That’s a really lovely name,” said Xiu with a polite nod.

When Vesna recounted their adventures with the death god, Xiu’s smile still held but beneath the facade, the white raevan was cringing at the memory. Bad life choices had been made in the past and the white Raevan was all for keeping it there. Nevertheless, acknowledgement should be given where due. “Yeah, I would have been in a lot of trouble if Vesna had not arrived with her 3DS when she did,” said the raevan with a small, if worried, smile. “Thank you, Vesna,”

Lazarus’s lackluster greeting was not lost to Xiu and the Valsaros cast a sideways glance at the Fiery one. “My, aren’t we being distant today,” said Xiu as he walked over and stood beside his boyfriend. Picking up a large plate, the Valsaros began to select several choice pieces of meat to try, some of them still rather rare in the middle. “After being pooped on twice in lab events of the past, I think my choice of attire is justified,” said Xiu with a chuckle. “Especially since beach goers here have been known to have the occasional run in with a rogue gull,”

((Zeke --> BBQ Stand w/ Laz, Xiu, Vesna, and Eden))

It seemed he inadvertantly opened the flood gates when it came to Vesna, but it was hardly a dampener on his day. In fact, Zeke lit up all the more as she went on at lightning speed about all the things she had learned and done since he last saw her, making the appropriately awed, amazed, and amused expressions at each little thing.

"Anime huh? I love Dragonball Z!" It had been ages since he had seen that show however. Maybe he was due for a rewatch. "But my goodness you've really got your plate full! And speaking of - you brought food? What'd you make? I'd love to try it, whatever it is!"

He was aglow with laughter by this point, but at the mention of Anya he stemmed that tide and chewed on his bottom lip. Ah yes, Anya.

"She's well but we'll see, sweetheart. Anya's one for being fashionably late to things, but I hope she won't be too late." He hoped he didn't disappoint her with that.

"Actually I think his swimsuit is pretty cool! You don't see that kind of style anymore and hey, I love the Addams Family." He snickered as she gave her opinion on her Guardian's fashion choices, certain that when Anya decided to reveal herself that she and Vesna would get along on that subject alone. He himself wasn't totally oblivious to her displeased and once and a while disgusted looks at his choice of attire, which amused the hell out of him to no end.

"Oh good you've met Xiu!" He raised a curious brow at Xiu with the mention of giving a 3DS to a god, but before he could ask for more on that Vesna was squealing at the arrival of a familiar pink-haired lady and Zeke nodded enthusiastically. "I do know Eden! It's great to see you again! And wow, best friends huh?" He held his hands up so he could frame the pair together, then gave a nod of approval.

"Like two peas in a pod, I'd say! Eden, have you met Laz and Xiu? Laz is the one behind the stand with me today and Xiu is wearing that sweet freakin' shirt and hey, did the guy say how many he had left in stock because you can bet I'll be headed over there after the party wraps up!!!"

(( Laz | BBQ stand - Xiu & Zeke (mentioned) ))

Lazarus is actually glad Zeke is helping him at the grill. If anything, being how sociable he is, Zeke can be a shield for him to interact with guests that comes to their area. Seeing how the BBQ is the focal point for this event. This way he can focus on handling the food. Lazarus had not really been the sociable type anyway.

He quietly watched Zeke chat up a storm with the younger Raevans when Xiu walked up to his side. The Valsaros threw a sideway glance at the other when he picked up the plate. "I still can't look at you in that shirt." He said jokingly as he turned his eyes back onto the meat on the grill. "Bird poop doesn't justify your choice of clothing." He laughed as he poked the tri-tip steak with his finger again. Seems like the perfect firmness.

Using a tong, he moved the steak from the grill to a cutting block. "Let it rest for a minute or so, then I'll cut the best sliced beef for you."

(( Dani → Beach | Nell + those who have requested to be tagged for BEACH BALL! ))

"I think our best bet is going to be getting things set up and calling people over," Dani replied, grinning. It was nice to find someone who was as enthusiastic as she was for once! "I brought a little net, too, but it's been forever since I set one up, so I don't know how good it is. I appreciate the extra hands getting it going!"

She hoisted her bag a little higher on her shoulder, turning and scoping out a space on the beach that wasn't occupied and had the poles already set up for a game. The net she'd bought wasn't particularly expensive, but it was the standard size and would be able to hook to most poles, so --

Hah! There they were.

"I think people will be a lot more eager to get involved if the prep work is already done," She added, and lifted a hand to point. "But that doesn't mean we can't try. Hey! We're setting up a net for beach volleyball!"

A few heads turned her way, probably because it was an instinctive reaction to look at someone when they were shouting, and Dani smiled sunnily, making eye contact with each of them in turn. "Come on! We need more players."