Eirwen Walter - Birthday Gothic (Generation 3 #7)

 Birthday Gothic

    Eirwen's birthday was on Thursday, the twelfth day of summer. For her entry into young adulthood, she requested a spooky or gothic theme. Rose, of course, went all out- she rented out a haunted mansion venue in Forgotten Hollow, and spent the entire evening creating a spread of snacks worthy of a Spooky Day party.

    The morning before the party, as Eirwen freshened up, she reflected on her life so far. Her parents were good to her, she loved her brother, and high school wasn't so bad. 

    She felt a little bad that she was planning on leaving so soon, but it couldn't be helped. The life she wanted was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from her mother's.

    After the party, she would be moving out. She already had a place picked out- an apartment in Nordhaven with a shop underneath it. She could sell her nectar there during the day, and at night she could pursue her dream of entering the Criminal career.

    The family arrived at the venue early to set up and get ready. Everything was perfect- apart from a patch of allergenic mold in the foyer. Nasty! At least that was easily dealt with by a little bit of scrubbing. It was to be expected, in a mansion this old.

    Eirwen invited her friends Lina and Sterling to the party as well. Lina seemed absolutely delighted by Eirwen's choice of venue, gushing about how gloomy and spooky it was and seeming as equally enthused about it as Eirwen was. 

    There was definitely a reason the two were friends.

    Before she knew it, the party was in full swing and it was time to blow out the candles. It was like magic, in one second she was considered a teen and the next she was a young adult. 

    Eirwen's final core trait was Perfectionist. She took great pride in her work, whether it be her nectar making or her more... unconventional activities. Her parents' upbringing had also instilled her with a strong sense of Responsibility, somewhat at odds with her criminal inclinations.

    Stepping out to get some air as the party carried on, Eirwen was joined by Sterling. He recently celebrated his birthday as well, and would be graduating alongside her.

    "What are your plans now?" Eirwen asked him, beginning to shuffle her tarot deck.

    "Haven't decided yet." Sterling admitted. "Father and Judith want me to go to college, but I rather want to just get away for a while."

    "Where will you go?" Eirwen asked.

    "Maybe Granite Falls. I hear it's beautiful this time of year... maybe you should join me." The look Sterling gave Eirwen didn't quite seem to just be one of friendship. She wasn't opposed to it, but she wasn't ready yet either.

    "Not this time, Sterling. I'm moving to Nordhaven tonight. It's time to get myself established." Eirwen answered him. "But maybe in the future."

    She drew a card from the deck and turned it over. The World, reversed. "You want to get to know someone."

    "Yeah, that sounds about right." Sterling agreed. "You're getting good at that."

    When she went back inside, Eirwen took the opportunity to catch up with Leia, who she hadn't really talked to much since she graduated. Eirwen was intrigued to hear about Leia's new career as a Reaper, and eager to hear all the macabre, supernatural details.

    Philip was thankfully unbothered by this line of conversation and continued to enjoy his cake. You don't last in the Military without a strong stomach.

    Eirwen gathered Ava, Leia, and Liliana on the deck outside for a game of cards. There was much to catch up on, from Ava's studies to Liliana's recent engagement. It seemed all three of them had found love one way or another- Ava was dating Haikili, who had been the popular kid in high school when she was going to Copperdale. Liliana, of course, was engaged to Aukai, and Leia, well...

    "I had a fling with Grim." Leia admitted, cheeks turning red. 

    "Grim as in the Grim Reaper?" Ava gasped. 

    "As in your boss?" Liliana seemed more concerned by this fact than the fact her sister had an affair with the reaper of souls himself.

    "Well, how was it?" Eirwen asked matter-of-factly. The other two stared at her, and Leia laughed and blushed.

    "Incredible, actually. It probably won't last, but... it's fun."

    As the party died down and people started to leave, Eirwen shared a tight embrace with Liliana. "If I didn't already have Leia, I would've asked you to be my maid of honor." Liliana told her. "I hope I'll get to see you again before the wedding."

    "Well, I found my place in Nordhaven. You're always welcome to visit."

    "I will, then. Good luck, Eirwen, and happy birthday."

    "Thank you, Liliana. Goodbye."

    Eirwen's young adult makeover is polished and professional, entirely representing her shop-owner persona. Nobody knows yet what will happen in the shady hours of the night.