Rise and Shine, Birthday Boy PV Rafa Closed

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Interacting With: @Alan Vanes
Mentioning: Anastasia Beckett • Willow Anderson

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[font=Segoe Print]Rafael stepped briskly, his footsteps decisive and his stride proud.

Birds were fluttering about in the breezy summer air, fluffy picturesque clouds covering the expanses of the morning sky like a warm blanket as the young Captain escaped from his tent, apple clutched in-hand and a bright smile dancing upon his features. He knew full well what was at the source of his euphoria, a fact that never ceased to bring a grin to his features – after all, today just wasn’t any old day. The July 4th of every year marked a happy date in the Argentine boy’s life, the day he was born, a day that was automatically marked by perfection and festivities. He was, as of 2:50 am, twelve years old – a good look on him, he might add, as he certainly looked as old as he felt. Was that fuzz on his lip? Was he finally growing some hairs on his chest? [If he squinted hard enough, he could surely make some out. Right?] That aside, the universe seemed to have granted him a break from the doom and gloom it typically peltered at him on a daily basis, instead blessing him with a small birthday gift, particularly the friendly acquaintance of Alan Vanes. What better way to start the day?

It had, granted, come as a surprise, Alan’s invitation to meet up. Where the boy had learned of his birthday, perhaps he’d never know – maybe from a close friend, Ana, or maybe Willow. But the means certainly didn’t matter at this point. Whatever the reason be, the young Captain had been looking forward to their meet-up for quite some time, specifically the past 18 hours since they’d last talked. It was funny, how words dwelled on the mind. It was even stranger, how he’d set his manual alarm clock the night before [non-electronic] – a world record, it was, as he honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d done such a thing. It was six in the morning, rather early for the Captain’s tastes, but he could do little to be groggy, his mind instead set on meeting the upperclassman, exchanging conversation and pleasantries. It had been a good long while, after all, since they’d properly talked, had a conversation. It was something the boy was looking forward to doing.

Which is why the Captain was trekking through the Campgrounds so early to find him. Locating the fourth year certainly wasn’t difficult – the boy had been sitting on a hill at the brink of the campsite, back facing the young captain as the blazing sun silhouetted his form. Quite the lovely sight, if he did say so himself, the very image only causing the smile on his face to grow. Without waiting a moment more, the boy jogged up to the upperclassmen – “Alan, how are you, mate?” he asked, plopping himself down Indian-style right next to the fourth year. He would continue to stick his hand out behind the third year, offering him a manly pat on the back, an understood ‘hug’. “Early, isn’t it?” he commented absently. “Looking to be a pretty hot day.” [/font]

He would hear steps and saw Rafael approach him so he would offer him a light smile. It was a nice morning and it lifted Alan's mood, especially because it was not just an ordinary day but the other kid's birthday. "I'm well! Th-The weather is supposed to be nice t-today, yeah,", he agreed with in a chirpy spirit. He would lightly bump his shoulder against the other, returning the greeting Rafael had given him in an equal manner.

"But I'm not here t-to t-talk about th-the weather," he mentioned with a light chuckle as he turned to grab the parcel he had gotten for the younger yet taller boy, wrapped in dark red paper. He would hand the present to the other kid, holding it out. Red paper bound together with a cord, simple yet pretty and effective. It was not difficult to guess what would be hidden within, since Raf probably saw a dozen of brooms about every other day he would train and practice. "Happy Birthday!" he said solemnly as he handed over the present with a grin. He would watch the other kid curiously as he waited for his reaction. He had asked around what brooms were good for a second year, which he knew Rafael would be once the summer was over. This one seemed to be quite an amazing one.