Love and Deepspace x Reader

Chapter 29: Party Plan Pt.1

You pick up a crumpled piece of paper from the coffee table. It looks like it was torn from a sketchbook. You squint as you try to make out the messy handwriting.
____________________________________________________

Party Plan -
Date: X Xth,
Location: My House.
____________________________________________________

There are only three lines written on the paper.

Y/N:
So you wanted me to come over to give feedback on this?

Your gaze shifts to Rafayel, who's lounging in a deckchair. He's sunbathing while wearing a comical-looking eye mask.

Rafayel:
Yeaaah, feel free to point out any problems. Don't hold back.

Y/N:
It's perfect, actually. Good luck.

Expressionless, you put the "plan" back on the table.

Rafayel:
It's just a preliminary plan. I don't have any ideas right now, so I invited you to help me brainstorm. You're not just gonna watch me struggle, riiight?

Rafayel sits up, his eye mask's silly fish staring at you with its bean-shaped eyes. He seems to be telling the truth.

Y/N:
It's still weird. If you can't even be bothered, why did you agree to host a party?

You stand infront of Rafayel and lean forward.

Y/N:
Are you really Rafayel? If you're being held hostage, blink twice!

Rafayel pulls off his eye mask, his face under the sunlight appearing distraught.

Rafayel:
My body is free, but I'm shackled in spirit. Thomas asked if I wanted to have a small gathering at home. You know, to relax and socialize. But then he immediately went to my aunt. And they decided that I was gonna host a family gathering.

Y/N:
Your aunt? As in-

Rafayel:
Yeeep, Talia the Busy Multitasker. It wasn't until she contacted me to finalize everything that I realized they already made their move. They said it was a rare opportunity, and a few friends also wanted to join in. By the time I noticed something was wrong, our small gathering of three became seventeen or eighteen...

Seeing Rafayel's helpless expression, you can't help but chuckle.

Y/N:
If you don't want to do it, you should say no. Even if it's Thomas and Ms. Talia.

Rafayel:
Hmph... I mean, we haven't seen each other in a while, and it's not like everyone's free all the time. A small gathering wouldn't hurt. But do I really have to be the one to plan everything?

Y/N:
Isn't it just a family gathering? Do you even need to plan? You could also just hire a professional event organizer.

You were only joking, but you notice a flicker of emotion in Rafayel's eyes.

Y/N:
...You actually hired one?

Rafayel:
I got an online consultation. Sadly, the proposal was too fancy and tacky. It didn't meet my needs at all, so I figured I'd just do it myself.

Silently, you look at him and smile. It's not until Rafayel is about to explode that you speak.

Y/N:
You really want this family gathering to succeed.

Rafayel:
Thomas used my name. If it doesn't live up to their expectations, my reputation is going down the drain, you know.

Y/N:
So to save your reputation, you thought long and hard and came up with a blank plan?