72 Garden Lane--The Wright Residence

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

Shelby stuck her hands in the pocket of her deep purple hoodie as she watched Preston the Mustang Guy dig around in the antique desk behind him for some paper. He hadn't responded to the Sondheim quote, which was making her question whether his musical knowledge was really all he had led her to believe it was. You aren't one of those guys who lies about knowing about stuff like Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz and Broadway revivals and stuff just to impress girls, are you, Mustang? She knew his real name now, but she couldn't help wanting to keep her little nickname for him in her head. It seemed to fit him, even though he really wasn't anything like Colonel Roy Mustang at all. Hey, wait a second, why should I care if he's one of those guys, anyway? If he wants to impress me, well then, go right ahead, Mustang. Try all you want, it's not gonna happen.

"Thanks," Preston/Mustang said, scrawling out a phone number and his name across the paper. He had pretty neat handwriting, for a guy, but for all Shelby knew it could all just be a facade. Just like the rest of the world. It's all a masquerade, that's what it is. And who can name the face? A little smile crossed her lips at the reference.

Maybe this won't be so bad, this directing thing. Maybe Mustang's right.

He handed her the paper, which Shelby glanced at briefly, and the pen back. "Alright-y, then. I guess I'll go," he said with a little wave, which Shelby returned. "See you around," she said quietly, watching Mustang the Would-Be Murderer make the long trek down the formal staircase. Cassie's got some stupid little nickname for it, doesn't she? Something from Gone With The Wind, which is stupid since she hasn't even read the book, she's only seen the movie. What is it? The Tara Stairs? That's the name of the O'Hara plantation...no, that's not it. The Rhett-and-Scarlett Stairs? I don't even remember...how sad is that? I've practically forgotten my own sister.

Shelby glanced down at the paper once again. Preston Brailsford. With a shrug, she folded up the paper and stuck it into her pocket.

I wonder if he can sing.

Shelby's done here.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

It took him some time before he could speak. He didn't know if he had to courage to speak. Would he mess this up, just like he had before? Kagayaki wasn't sure he'd live through another broken heart... whether it was his or hers, it didn't matter. Hurting people was something he avoided whenever possible.

Was he setting himself up to lose again? Was he setting them both up to lose?

Maybe. But it was worth a try and he just couldn't ignore the fact that... they were giving it a try anyway, so he might as well commit. All or nothing.

“Of course I will.”

He saw a tear slip down her cheek, which he caught with his finger, wiping it away. "Really?" she asked, as if she didn't really believe he'd said it.

Didn't she know he would give this all he had? Did she not believe he could do it?

Of course she believed in him. She didn't know what he'd done, how he'd hurt people before. He decided it was worth one more try. He'd heard something about the third time being the luck or something like that. It gave him a little hope.

“Yes, yes, yes," he repeated, assuring her he meant it with all he could muster in a deep, desperate kiss. She relaxed and he wrapped his arms around her. “Yes. If you.... tlust.... me.”

Cassiechan nodded, and he saw one more tear slip down her face. This time, he caught it with his lips, kissing it and making it disappear completely with his gentle touch. 'Can I make all your sadness go away with a kiss, if I try? I will if I can.'

"I do," she replied in a whisper, and Kagayaki closed his eyes, placing another kiss on her cheek. "I'll try. I promise. I trust you."

'There's nothing you could do to make me not trust you. But, do you know how much I hurt? How much I have hurt? Would you still love me if you knew?'

'Maybe it's better this way. Maybe I can pretend that my heart is whole and you'll be okay, like I keep telling you will happen. Can wishing lead to joy? Can it really?'

He looked up, pulling her closer and closer. "Ah," he began, sighing deeply. "No listen." He looked down at her, his eyes sparkling. "Go try cleaned up." He laughed. "Take long times. Been fun!"

'Yes. I think that this is the best thing we can do. For now.'

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Wrapping this up, right? We need to commence with the other plottings! BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Really?" she heard herself ask, wanting to beat herself up for how stupid she sounded. Honestly, what kind of a response is that?! I fail at relationships. Of any kind. I should just stay in the attic and become a hermit, avoiding all human contact so I can stop situations and comments like that from ever happening again.

To Cassie's great relief, however, Kagayaki didn't seem to think her comment was stupid. “Yes, yes, yes. Yes. If you.... tlust.... me.”

Why did he say that? Does he not think that I'll trust him? I don't get it...why wouldn't I trust him? What has he had happen to him in the past for him to feel like he has to say that to me, to make him question whether or not I believe in him? Cassie didn't understand, but she knew now was not the time to ask him the questions that were whirling around her head. "I do," was all she said."I'll try. I promise. I trust you."

I'll do my best. I promise you that much. I've been broken too, and I've seen how easily it was for my mother to throw everything away, to fall in love with someone else because she was unhappy...she made it look so easy. She made me think that love didn't really exist. I'll never be like her, but I have still been shattered. And kiss by kiss, you're putting me back together...I just don't know how long it will be before I'm really whole again.

"Ah,No listen," Kagayaki said, still pulling her closer. Before Cassie had a chance to say anything in response, he said, "Go try cleaned up. Take long times. Been fun!"

Cassie laughed. "Okay, I guess we should do that. I still want to show you the secret passage, but we can do that another time." Leaning forward, she pulled him in for just one more kiss. "Let's go."

Cassie is done here.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"If you.... tlust.... me.”

She looked a bit shocked, and he sort of wanted to try and explain why he had to ask that. He would only have to say one word.... 'Yumi.' She had acted like she'd loved him and had never loved him. Yukitokun had always been the one she loved. She had led him on and made him feel like he was worth it when he wasn't. He wasn't. But with Cassiechan, he felt like he might be able to be worth it. Just maybe. But, still... he had to be careful they both didn't end up too far into something they didn't want. Well, he knew he wanted it. But it had been him to make the first move too. Maybe this would become his relationship with Yumi all over again.

'NO. No it won't. I'll be better this time. I'll be worth loving. I'll be different this time.'

"I do. I'll try. I promise. I trust you."

Those short sentences made him feel so much better. So maybe he wouldn't have to try as hard as he'd thought to be worth loving to her. Cassiechan was definitely different from Yumi in that way.

Maybe she already thought he was worth loving.

"Ah. No listen," he told her, drawing her as near as he could. "Go try cleaned up. Take long times. Been fun!"

When she laughed, his face lit up and he kissed her cheek. "Okay, I guess we should do that. I still want to show you the secret passage, but we can do that another time." Cassiechan pulled him into a kiss, and he put as much into it as he could, slipping his tongue into her mouth with a smile.

To make her giggle.

To make her smile.

To maybe, make her love him.

"Let's go." she said. He nodded, following her back into the kitchen, still smiling.

'I know you've been hurt... but... please don't hurt me. I know you don't want to, but... I don't think Yumi did either. And she did.'


Kagayaki is done here

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Not gonna lie, some of this stuff gets pretty intense. Serious PG-13 rating here. It doesn't get too bad, but still...better safe than sorry. BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie sat poised on one of the antique couches in the formal parlor, her Phantom of the Opera script open on her lap, skimming the lines and lyrics for those spoken by her character, Meg. She came armed--blue highlighter for song lyrics, pink for spoken lines, and a pencil for underlining things she had questions over or writing in her blocking and stage directions in the margins. Usually she wasn't anywhere near this organized, but Shelby had recommended organizing their scripts in this way, and Cassie didn't have the heart to say no to this silent shell of her little sister. This means so much to her, even if she won't admit it...I know she wants this to be perfect. And how can I deny her that, when we've lost so much already?

The damp, muggy air blew in through the open window--the air conditioning had decided to break on them that morning, and no one would be able to come out and fix it until the next day--ruffling the damp hair sticking to Cassie's neck and reminding her of the days of plantations and Southern belles in Louisiana. All I need is a hoopskirt and a dashing young Rebel soldier, she thought amusedly as she turned a page. "Christine Daae could sing it, sir..." how should I say that one? The problem is gonna be not making her sound like an idiot like some actresses do. Like the one we saw--Meg's actually this strong character, since she defies her mother's orders and goes to the Phantom's lair with the rest of them anyway, but no one ever sees that. They just focus on Christine and the love triangle and pay no attention to the rest of the characters, even though they're awesome.

I'm going to make them see just how strong Meg Giry really is.

Page by page and song by song, Cassie studied her script, pausing every so often to sip the seemingly endless glass of lemonade next to her or walk around the room in an attempt to cool off. It was just after seven in the evening, but it was as hot as if it were noon, and the swimming pool in the backyard beckoned to her. No, I can't...I promised Shelby I'd work on it. I promised her I'd start memorizing this week.

Her studying was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Cassie got up slowly, the inescapable heat and humidity making her lazy. "Coming," she called as she walked over to the front door, opening it to reveal her mother's boyfriend, Mike Coleton.

A nervous smile appeared on her face at the sight of him. Lately, Mike had been making her incredibly uneasy--looking at her, following her with his eyes when no one else was watching, saying comments that Erin defined as "creepy" over MSN, always comparing Cassie to her mother. The comments, while unnerving, were never anything serious enough for anyone but Cassie to notice, but they bothered her all the same. Not again...why are you even here? Mom's not here yet, didn't she tell you or anything? Leave me alone...

"Hello, Cassie," came his gentle voice, a voice that raised goosebumps up and down Cassie's arms. "I'm here to pick up your mother." Without Cassie inviting him in, he stepped over the threshold and into the house, brushing past her closely. She didn't like the way he looked at the house, as if it was his for the taking along with everything in it. Back off.

"Mom's not here," she said quickly, stepping away from the front door, which she kept open. "She's running late at the office. She texted me." She held out her cell phone with shaking hands, as if trying to prove to Mike that she was telling the truth. "Didn't she call you?"

Mike frowned. "No, she didn't. She's not very good about things like that. I don't like her to keep me waiting." A slow smile slipped over his face. "You, Cassie, would never be that rude, I'm sure."

Cassie tried to laugh, but the sound was weak as Mike leaned closer to her, his eyes roaming over her face unchecked. Oh, god, no, go away, don't touch me, don't talk to me anymore, just go meet Mom at the restaurant or the hotel or your house or wherever you're going tonight! Just go away!

"Eyelash," said Mike, reaching one finger out just below Cassie's right eye, on her cheek. He grinned. "Make a wish, Cassie." Cassie squeezed her eyes shut tight and blew the eyelash away, wanting to disappear, to be anywhere but where she was. I wish you would go away. She opened her eyes. It didn't come true.

He was still there, still smiling in that menacing way that made her entire body freeze up with fear...Cassie felt locked to the spot, unable to do anything as his hand slowly reached out and stroked her hair, lingering there. "It really is amazing how beautiful you are...how much you look like your mother. Because you do, Cassie. Just like Kristen..."

These words seemed to wake Cassie up from her shocked trance, and her eyes widened as she squirmed, trying to get away. His hands on her shoulders were like vice grips of iron, impossible to escape from no matter how hard she tried. "Mike!" she screamed, knowing it wouldn't do any good. "Stop it! Leave me alone! Let me go! Let GO!"

Shelby! Shelby was here, wasn't she? Cassie hadn't seen her, but summer school had ended hours ago, and there was no reason that Shelby wouldn't be in her room...was there? "Shelby! Shelby, help! Shelby!"

But her only reply was her own shocked screams echoing back at her, although whether she was really hearing her own frightened voice or whether it was all in her mind Cassie didn't know. Mike's hold on her shoulders refused to let up, and he was getting closer, still looking at her and smiling in that way, closer and closer...

"Stop it! Let go! Let me go!"

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. She couldn't do anything except fight the battle she knew she was going to lose, even as it unfolded before her eyes. And then there were his lips on hers, and her screams were cut off, muffled by her shock and disgust and fury--with him, with her sister, with her mother, with herself--though she never stopped trying to get away from the man she knew she couldn't escape from.

Help me.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

He wouldn't admit out loud to himself, but he knew it was his fault. There had been this whole, weird thing online between Erin, Aidousan, and Cassie. He hadn't really been involved, but he had started it. It all erupted when he had posted a Livejournal entry, and mentioned how he didn't feel quite right about Cassie dating Aidousan. There had been a lot of exclamation points and anger that left proof behind in the form of comments. He'd read them several times, unsure of how to react.

Then he had headed over to Cassie's house. He knew she would take it bad - almost as bad as Erin. But he had a feeling that any bitterness between Aidousan and Erin would work itself out. Cassie, however... He felt an odd sort of protectiveness over her that he hadn't notice developing. One of the few times it had been obvious was when they were all crashing at his place with the flu, and preemie pictures of baby Cassie had been shown. Yukito had realized then just how easily embarrassed and hurt she could get, and he didn't know how to fix that. She had an older brother...but he wasn't around to stick up for her. Shelby was emotionally absent, and he had the feeling her mother wasn't the type to deal with a weeping and broken teenage girl. Not that Yukito would be any better at that. But he had dealt with it before - to the worseness of a situation - but it had made him feel a little better, and hopefully, Cassie, too.

I've just got to tell her I'm not mad about her and Aidousan...it's actually a bit of a relief to me. But I don't know how to handle it. His hands rested easily on the wheel of the Volvo, and he went a little too fast around a corner. It's really weird. But I should let Cassie know somehow that it's okay. They've been hiding it, and that's stupid. Maybe if I just see her, I can make sure she's not taking it too badly.

Plus, he hadn't been to her house in ages - mostly because he was afraid of flipping her mother the bird and making things more difficult for Cassie as far as domestic peace - and he needed a bit of a drive. He pulled in at the curb and tried not to make a note of staring up at the huge house and wondering about how someone could live like that. It was probably an empty house. Hadn't Cassie mentioned it being creepy and haunted at night to her? He wasn't sure. Maybe Aidousan had said something to him when he hadn't really been listening. He slammed the door shut and automatically stuck his hands in his pockets, sauntering up towards the house, his eyes on the ground. He heard voices in the doorway, but he didn't really clear them into his head. Not until he heard Cassie's voice, risen up into a terrified scream. Telling someone to go away.

"Stop it! Let go! Let me go!"

He looked up - at last. He wondered later why he hadn't looked up sooner and seen it - and he saw a man forcefully pinning Cassie to a wall just inside the doorway. His lips were pressed to hers. Yukito felt a dizzy feeling, and in an instant he was unknowingly all the way up the walk and the man was on the floor with Yukito on top of him, wrestling him with every bit of strength he could muster. He liked it when he surprised himself.

Too late, he growled, "Stay the f*** away from her, you son offa-"

He was cut off by a harsh, rough hand on his chin. The sandpapery feeling, the forceful impact, sent him out of his mind. Yukito somehow found a way to punch the guy right in the face while simultaneously pinning him down. He knew he was screeching obscenities, and he wasn't aware of any pain - he knew that was a bad sign. It meant he was out of control.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Her feeble attempts to escape, her strangely quiet mind as she tried to fight back, the forcefulness of his hands on her shoulders and his lips on hers were the only things Cassie was aware of as they stood there. Mike held her so tightly it hurt, the cold plaster of the wall against the back of her head as he forced his tongue through her closed lips and into her mouth. She couldn't even think--her adrenaline was taking over, the fight-or-flight response the only thing on her mind. She had to get away. She had to, or he would win.

And if he won, she would lose everything.

One hand still forcibly grasping her shoulder, she felt his other hand move over her face as he kissed her, roaming down toward her neck, then her collarbone...wild fear seized her and she did everything in her power to break free.

Which is why she didn't see it happen until it was over.

Before she knew what had happened, she was free, watching a crazed figure she recognized as Yukito tackle Mike to the ground. Cassie could only look on, horrified, not moving from her spot pressed up against the wall. She was still overwhelmed to think.

"Stay the f*** away from her, you son offa-"

Yukito's words seemed to light a fire inside of Mike, and he fought back, the anger of the two seeming to radiate from them. Mike clearly had the advantage once he got over his initial shock of being attacked, and Cassie could only think of the difference in size and strength between the two, and how easy it would be for Mike to hurt Yukito, and her, and Shelby.

You're supposed to love Mom. You're supposed to want her, not me. She raised a hand to her lips, shaking violently but too scared and shocked to even cry, thinking of how different that kiss had been from Kagayaki's gentle ones.

You would never hurt me like that.

Cassie heard a clattering sound, and looked up to see Shelby racing down the stairs. Finally, she spoke.

"Shelby! What were you thinking? Didn't you hear me?"

Their eyes met for only an instant, but Cassie knew her baby sister well enough to read what was written in her eyes--that Shelby had heard her terrified cries, but had done nothing. Within the next moment, Shelby had fled back up the stairs to her sanctuary.

"You don't know who you're messing with, kid," Cassie heard Mike growl, and she turned just in time to see Yukito punch her mother's boyfriend in the mouth. Mike let out a howl that caused Cassie herself pain and attacked again, as if turned into an animal as blood streamed from his mouth and nose. With inhuman speed, Mike was pinning down a struggling Yukito as the two of them screamed at each other.

No, this can't happen, he can't get hurt because of me!

"Stop it!" she screamed again, her voice raw though still no tears showed on her face. She tried to take a step towards them, to do something, anything to break them apart, but her knees gave way beneath her and she fell to the floor, landing with a smack on both her kneecaps as she watched.

It doesn't even matter. Because whatever happens, he still wins.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"You don't know who you're messing with, kid," the man growled, and Yukito knew he couldn't really match a guy this size. But he was going to try anyways. Using whatever body weight he had he slammed his fist into the guy's face.

You don't know me. You don't know I can't give up.

"Stop it!"

Yukito was quickly pressed down, and he knew once he was down he would be out. On the floor in a tangle of sweat, limbs, and maybe some blood - whose, he didn't know yet. Everything was still blurry - he looked up with pure hatred at the man's face. He had hit his head going down, and there would be more bruises later in his back, he knew. He kicked and wriggled, struggling to get away, and felt the sudden impact of a thick fist against his cheek, tossing his head to the side and slamming him deeper somehow into the flooring. Yukito let out a groan, paralyzed momentarily. Another hit, another groan. He was going down and he would be useless again. That sucked.

The man shifted on him, until one hand was all that pressed him to the ground. Yukito stiffened deeply at the feeling of a hand on his stomach, and sucked in a breath. His leg somehow came up to hit something sweaty that had give to it. He heard a grunt and found himself slipping desperately away, his hands reaching behind him until they reached the walls, feeling warm and firm, and solid. His eyes were making things spin too fast but he saw the man coming towards him, saying something, and he saw Cassie nearby. I can't win this. I have to get away. I can't breathe in here. He still felt the sensation of a hand on his stomach and it made some vital organ do a few fancy gymnastic moves and he was seriously nauseous. He raced for the door, happened to bump into Cassie, grabbed at her hand frantically and with no question in any movement. Run, Cassie. Get to the car.

He pulled her into the Volvo and leapt over the hood of the car, almost fumbling up his attempts at doing something as simple as opening the door. He snarled a sharp obscenity in two languages and managed to open it and get inside, starting it up and nailing his foot down on the pedal.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie watched, transfixed, as Mike's large form overtook Yukito's, though, like her, he didn't give up without a fight. There was something inhuman about the way they were both fighting, attacking each other as if some primeval instinct had taken control of both their bodies. She wanted to help--the adrenaline still coursing through her veins was screaming at her to help Yukito, to call for help even though she knew in her heart no one would come, to do something besides stand there like a damsel in distress.

She wanted to do something to help. She wanted to be strong for once, and fight.

But she couldn't move an inch.

Having successfully taken down his opponent, a sick little smile appeared on Mike's face, a delighted grin of victory only slightly different from the one he had been wearing when he had advanced on Cassie. Oh, God... the very thought of it made her sick to her stomach, made her lips sting with guilt as if it had been her fault he'd kissed her--which, in a way, she felt it was. If I hadn't looked so much like Mom...if I hadn't been there to answer the door...if Mom had been around to give him what he wanted...

Then he wouldn't have decided he wanted me.

Cassie let out a scream as Mike punched Yukito hard in the face, and she came to life, running at him and attempting to drag him off of her friend. He swatted her away as if she were no more than a fly, and down she went again, limp as a rag doll. Which he'll use to his advantage...once he wins.

Another punch, and Yukito's cry of pain went through Cassie like a knife. I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're being hurt because of me.

Seeming to Cassie like it happened in slow motion, Mike moved slightly, giving Yukito the perfect opportunity to get away. "You little *******!" Mike yelled, lunging towards him, but Yukito was off like a shot, heading for the door and pulling Cassie along with him. Cassie raced out the open front door to the car parked in the long, curving driveway without a second thought, not feeling any sensation of her legs moving at all as she ran. It was like that dream where you're running as fast as you can but you can't get anywhere, except the opposite--she felt like she wasn't moving at all when in reality she was flying.

He all but threw her into the waiting car, but Cassie barely noticed--she just slammed the door shut and locked it immediately, her wide, frightened eyes staring back at her house as Yukito jumped into the driver's seat and sped away from there. She wanted to ask him where they were going, what he had been thinking, whether he had lost his mind, whether he really thought she was in any way worth saving, but her throat was locked.

Instead, she finally broke down, like a wall crumbling--huge, silent sobs wracked her entire body so hard her shoulders shook as she cradled her head in her hands.

Cassie has fled the Wrights'.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Sorry about the double post, but it's time for partyness! Enjoy! BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Her costume called for lacy stockings to be worn with it, but the late July Louisiana heat made that not only impossible, but also stupid. Even the hairbow on her head seemed to be wilted from the heat, but Cassie didn't care. This was her day, her birthday, and nothing was going to ruin this for her.

Not even Mike Coleton.

So far, she had done a decent job at avoiding him that day--ducking out of sight whenever he and her mother walked by in their Gone With the Wind-inspired costumes--seeing Kristen in a hoop skirt pretending to be Scarlett O'Hara was probably the funniest thing Cassie had seen in a while, and she couldn't help hoping that the costumes would somehow influence real life a little bit. After all, the ending of Gone With the Wind was pretty far from happy for Scarlett and Rhett--pretending to be engrossed in conversation when she felt his eyes on her. She knew how angry he probably still was about that day, and she wasn't taking any chances.

Shelby was also avoiding her, and most of the company as well--Cassie had only seen her once, ducking past Adele and her husband, who was manning the grill, in the backyard. She only had time to see the red cape-coat thing of her Alphonse Elric costume before her sister had vanished into the crowd of friends and family, some invited by Cassie herself, others by her mother. She, quite frankly, didn't care too much about the guest list, because the one person she had been hoping would come had told her the day before that he would not.

"I just need to get away," Cassie's father had explained on the phone. "I'm gonna rent a little house in Italy for a month or so. I'll be back by the time school starts, maybe a bit later." Neither of them had said a word about Cassie's birthday.

Oh well. Doesn't matter anyway...

"Cassie!" a familiar voice called.

"Tink!" Cassie replied, running to embrace her cousin Caroline, so nicknamed because of her obsession with Peter Pan. The nineteen-year-old had become pregnant two years earlier and had been all but shunned by her parents for it, Kristen's sister Susanne and her husband John, and because of that Cassie rarely saw her favorite cousin and her daughter, two-year-old Tiger-Lily.

"You got your hair cut again," Cassie said, prompting Tink to run her hands through her shortly cropped red hair with a shrug. "Great costume," she said, gesturing to Cassie's Sweet Lolita Alice in Wonderland getup. Cassie grinned. "Thanks. Yours is great too, if a little cliche."

"Shut up," said the older girl with a laugh, shoving Cassie a bit and then straightening the fairy wings on her costume. Cassie was about to retaliate when a little voice reached her ears.

"'Sie, 'sie!"

With a grin, Cassie reached down and scooped Tiger-Lily up into her arms. "I missed you!" she said, spinning the toddler around and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Lily giggled and hugged Cassie back just as she saw a familiar car pull into the already crowded driveway. Her smile widened. "Hey!" she shouted with a wave, still holding onto her little cousin.

This is my day. And nothing's gonna ruin it.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Cassie was already running out to meet them as Erin and Yukito pulled up into her driveway.

"Aww, Cassie's outfit looks so good on her!" she squealed, clutching the gift she'd made for Cassie in her lap. She wanted it to be a complete surprise to her, so even though Cassie probably already had a huge, professional cake or whatever, Erin had made her own version of a birthday cake. It had taken a lot longer than Erin had hoped-- she was more a fan of the fifteen-minutes-or-less baking recipes, but she had her mom prodding her on to finish it. And it looked really pretty when she was finished, too, even though now the artist's palette-style cake lay sheltered by a large plastic cover.

Erin herself was happily dressed in her some-assembly-required version of Jasmine's wardrobe: a pair of blue gauchos (the closest equivalent she could find at the thrift store), gold flats (that would probably come off as soon as she was inside Cassie's home), a blue sequined headband nestled in newly re-dyed and ponytail-ed hair. Her top had to be customized a bit more, though, because it had to be the same shade of blue to match. And so she'd found a shirt that could work with the color if she just altered it right. Only, she couldn't sew to save her life, much less alter something, so Erin had begged her mom to fork over the money for a real alteration, and now it looked pleasantly similar to the original. The gold jewelry was the easiest, though Erin traded out the original large gold necklace for the one Yukito had given her instead. And the bracelet he'd given her, too. She hadn't really shown Cassie yet, and it was so special.

As soon as the car stopped, Erin was out of the car, carefully balancing the closed cake in one hand and pulling Cassie into a hug with the other. "You look so good, Cassie! Happy birthday!" She handed over the cake with a bright smile.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

Can she really handle this right now? Has she told her mother yet? Is he going to be there? Cassie looked happy enough on the outside, but how long did it take for anyone to know what was going on wrong inside his head after the attack? She knew he thought she should tell someone. But he had promised not to tell. He had decided he couldn't do that to her, it would feel too much like exposing Cassie, pointing a finger and saying, “This is what happened to you, so own up to it!” She had to be the one to tell. And he would be there for her when she was ready. He tried to keep a light-hearted face on so no one would see – least of all, Erin – what shouldn't be said yet. Cassie is stronger than I was, I think. And she had a witness, so she can't do what I did and try to pretend it didn't happen. Maybe she can admit it to the people she needs to trust sooner than I would have. He stifled a sigh, and plastered on a smile as Erin gushed.

"Aww, Cassie's outfit looks so good on her!" Erin squealed as they exited the Volvo. Yukito looked around a little skeptically, looking at the amount of cars and people milling around. He should have known the Wrights would have a huge party thing, but he hadn't been thinking much about it. His parties were always very, very small. Yukito wondered if this was the sort of thing Cassie liked, or if it was one of those “that's how my family does it”kind of thing.

They had gone for the Aladdin and Jasmine costumes; Yukito really couldn't say no after having spent an afternoon enjoying the characters for the first time with Erin. But it had been a personal battle for him to actually wear the costume. Seriously...there were characters in full robe getup in Arabia, but she had to pick the character with the skimpiest outfit. The idea amused him enough to make him laugh and try to pretend it was because she found him sexy enough to pull it off. The bruise on his lower cheek and jaw had been covered by makeup, and he hadn't told Erin about it. Hopefully the heat wouldn't make him sweat everything off, because it was an ugly green color by now. The other bruises were on his back, and that was easily hidden by the vest thankfully.

Poofy white pants with a tilted yellow patch to give it a more 'just like from the movie!' look sewn on, and a very simple purple vest. He had thought such a basic getup would be easy to find, but he had gotten picky. He had even acquired some sewing skills, but he wouldn't tell Erin about that. Let her ask or guess or something. It was more fun that way, and less pompous. He had said no to the red hat, and messed up his hair enough to make his mother roll her eyes as he had exited out the door. Yeah, as soon as he had left his bedroom he had felt like he was completely naked in front of a crowd. He still felt shaky and out-of-place, but he kept telling himself it was a good thing. This was something fun Erin and him were doing, and it wasn't that bad. Plus, it was still so hot, he was kind of grateful for the lack of layers. At least she hadn't suggested they do something like Mr. And Mrs. Claus or whatever. Woah. That would be weird.

He looked over with a smile peeking through his thoughts at his girlfriend. Erin was bouncy and beautiful in her Jasmine costume, an array of light blues and her hair made up just to match. He had been seriously surprised to see her wearing jewelry that he had given her. She held a homemade cake she had created for Cassie in her lap, and she was quickly out of the car as soon as they had stopped. When he managed to get close enough to her, he absentmindedly ran his fingers down the long ponytail-style hair of hers, freshly blackened and soft.

"You look so good, Cassie! Happy birthday!" Erin leapt to Cassie's side and handed her the cake and a hug. Yukito followed slowly after, smiling at his girlfriend's cheer and holding a smallish box and a gift bag. The bag had been from his mother, was about the size of his head, and was striped in white, green, and blue.

“Omedeto gozaimasu, Cassie. Happy birthday.” he said quietly, coming to a halt within arm's reach of them and wondering if he should offer a hug, too. And not thinking he could. Not to Cassie, not yet, probably. Not yet.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Yukito's words were echoing through her mind as she watched him and Erin approach. "You won't want to be touched."[/b] Cassie had endured the hug from her cousin without much trouble, and Lily's hug had also gone down without any problems, but now Erin was headed in her direction. Erin, possibly one of the huggiest people Cassie had ever met. Unless you count me...I hate this! I seriously love hugs...but I'm not sure if I can handle them right now...

Bouncing little Tiger-Lily on her hip, Cassie couldn't help the grin that came over her face at Yukito and Erin's costumes. I seriously can't believe he let Erin talk him into that...you've got him totally wrapped around your finger, don't you, Erin? You're ridiculous.

Sure enough, Erin gave herself enough time to squeal, "You look so good, Cassie! Happy birthday!" before pulling her into a hug. Cassie felt her entire body tense up at this, and felt instantly thankful for the fact that holding onto a small toddler made it impossible for her to return it. "Thanks!" she said once her friend had pulled away. "You guys look awesome too--what a cute idea!" She was then handed what looked suspiciously like a cake tin from Erin. She passed this to Tink, standing behind her, who grumbled, "Hey, what am I, a pack mule?" with a laugh.

“Omedeto gozaimasu, Cassie. Happy birthday.” Cassie smiled at Yukito. "Arigato! But you didn't have to get me all this stuff, you guys...gosh, you're gonna spoil me!"

Her eyes met Yukito's for just a second before Tink cleared her throat behind them. "Oh! Erin, Yukito, this is my cousin Caroline. And this," she said, nodding her head towards the child in her arms, "is Tiger-Lily. Lily, this is my friend Erin. Can you say Erin?"

Lily looked up at Erin with wide eyes. "E--Ehwwin," she said happily before turning her attention to Yukito. She gasped in delight. "'Waddin! 'Waddin!"

Tink and Cassie burst out laughing. "That's right! It's Aladdin!" Cassie told the child before grinning at Erin and Yukito. "And I'll bet you thought you wouldn't have any fans."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

“You look so good, Cassie!” Erin burst, excitedly pulling her friend into a hug as Cassie carried along a tiny girl that Erin had never seen before. Probably her cousin or something, which made Erin really excited about meeting Cassie’s family. She didn’t get much opportunity to meet Yukito’s.

“Thanks!” Cassie chirped. “You guys look awesome too—what a cute idea!”

Erin turned to Yukito with an elated smile, moving closer to him with her hand on his shoulder farthest from her. “Told you you look great,” she softly told him with a smug expression. Then she held out her gift to Cassie, who passed it on to some other girl who poked fun at Cassie’s actions… probably another relative. I like her family. It’s big.

“Omedeto gozaimasu, Cassie. Happy birthday,” Yukito voiced, Erin still beaming at him, still happily resting her hand on his shoulder.

“Arigato!” But you didn’t have to get me all this stuff, you guys… gosh, you’re gonna spoil me!”

The comment resulted in an eye-roll from Erin. “Am I the only person left in America that likes getting gifts? Seriously? It’s your birthday, Cassie, that’s what it’s for!” She laughed brightly as Cassie piped up, "Oh! Erin, Yukito, this is my cousin Caroline.”

“Hey!” Erin greeted with a wave to Caroline. “And this," she said, nodding her head towards the child in her arms, "is Tiger-Lily. Lily, this is my friend Erin. Can you say Erin?"

Erin’s eyes brightened at the little girl and her name. “E—Ehwwin,” she repeated, kind of making Erin want to melt a little. “Awww, Yukitokun, she’s totally adorable!” she announced with a little squeeze of his arm. “Cassie, I kind of think I’m in love with your family.” She grinned at Tiger-Lily still in Cassie’s arms.

Tiger-Lily’s eyes must have registered Yukito then, because she gave this cute little exaggerated gasp that little kids love to do when they’re excited about something, and she started chirping, "'Waddin! 'Waddin!". Immediately Erin collapsed into laughter, wrapping her arms around his, her forehead by his shoulder.

Both Cassie and her friend/relative Caroline Erin could hear laughing, too, as Cassie affirmed the small one in her arms, “That’s right! It’s Aladdin!” Then toward them, “And I’ll bet you thought you wouldn’t have any fans.”

Pulling Yukito to her with one hand around him in half a hug, Erin gave him a smug smile. “Actually, I knew we’d be the hit of the party the entire time.” She looked back at the cute little thing with Cassie and told her, “You are too cute.” She pointed her index finger at Tiger-Lily. “Don’t ever change.” Then to Cassie, “She’s so adorable! I want one, can I keep her?” The comment was punctuated with more laughter from Erin.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

There were the usual 'oh you shoudn't have's, which Yukito only smiled at, and then Cassie decided to introduce the people flocked around her, "Oh! Erin, Yukito, this is my cousin Caroline.”

“Hey!” Erin greeted with a wave to Caroline. Yukito gave a little wave of his own, but said nothing. He was feeling very aware of the lightness of his outfit, and he wasn't going to throw himself wildly into a conversation anyways. He never did.

“And this," Cassie indicated the toddler in her arms, "is Tiger-Lily. Lily, this is my friend Erin. Can you say Erin?"

The girl gave it a real try, “E—Ehwwin,”

Yukito started to smile, turning to Erin and seeing a similar look on her face as Aidousan had worn when a baby had been brought before his eyes. “Awww, Yukitokun, she’s totally adorable!” He felt her hand tightening on his arm, and he refrained by an amused eye roll. “Cassie, I kind of think I’m in love with your family.”

He looked over at Erin, then back at the little girl just as she locked her eyes on him. What? A little gasp from her, and he wanted to ask in a dark, serious voice, "Have we met before?" just to make them laugh and stop watching him.

"'Waddin! 'Waddin!" She sounded the alarm, and his eyes widened. Everyone rolled into laughter, and Yukito smirked down at her. Haha....I have been recognized...

“That’s right! It’s Aladdin!” Cassie said through her giggles, “And I’ll bet you thought you wouldn’t have any fans.”

Yukito gave a little snort as if he disagreed, and Erin clung possessively to her street rat. “Actually, I knew we’d be the hit of the party the entire time.”

He didn't respond to Erin's comments, reaching out to take the girl's hand and smiling warmly at her. Quietly, he whispered, "Hi, Tiger-Lily. It's nice to meet you."

“You are too cute.” She pointed her index finger at Tiger-Lily. “Don’t ever change.” Then to Cassie, “She’s so adorable! I want one, can I keep her?”

Yukito gave a laugh and pulled back to look at Erin's infatuated face, "Ha...haha..." his face went serious, "No. We can't kidnap a kid because you think she's cute. The rules are you have to make your own." He arched an eyebrow at her, "And there are issues with that."

He leaned over towards Tiger-Lily, holding his hand up to 'hide' his lips as he whispered, "But I think she would love to borrow you for a week. What do you say?" He grinned, "Naw...your parents wouldn't like it, would they? Ah, well..."