victory_road | [text | action for housemates]

Entry tags:

[text | action for housemates]

[Action]

[Another year in Johto a month ago...and now, another birthday. Which is a strange thing to think about. Up until a few years ago, he hadn't even known the date of his own birth, hadn't even thought to wonder what it was. Back in Amestris, a homunculus' birth isn't something that anybody really wants to remember or celebrate, after all. But here? People have found it out, wheedled it out of him...people have remembered it, asked after it, thought that the fact that Envy was born was something important.]

[And for two years now, he's awkwardly accepted the couple of gifts and the well wishes he's gotten, but it had still felt strange to even acknowledge. But now, the third year he's known about the day...it feels a little more natural. He actually remembers what day it is without being reminded, and if any of his patched together little family brings it up, or does something for the occasion?]

[Well, maybe this year he'll react a little less like a cat who's just encountered a vacuum cleaner for the first time.]

[Text]

Hey, I've got a question for anyone who feels like answering. When you do things for somebody's birthday, what is it that you're celebrating about them? Is it that they managed to survive an extra year or that they were born in the first place or just because parties are fun or what?

What is it about a birthday that makes it something important?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[This whole birthday thing is still rather new. But Lust has come to appreciate the symbolism of it. She still remembers they very long and passionate conversation she and York had on the whole subject.]

[And when Envy's rolls around - nearly forgotten, because she can barely even keep track of her own and they fall so closely together - she has to acknowledge it. He's her brother. As much a brother as if they'd been born to the same families.]

[And because it is Envy, she goes to a little extra effort to tailor her 'gift' to him. So at one point, when Lust finds him in the kitchen, she sets out on the table a terrible looking homemade cake.]

Happy birthday.

[And doesn't she look so proudly pleased of her atrocity?]

Parties are always awesome, but birthdays are like - OH MY GHOUL, YOU EXIST??? That's SO COOL! You celebrate that this person is, like, there!

I always felt birthdays are a good time for reminding people how grateful you are that they are in your life. You never know when they might be gone, after all.

If you find out, let me know.

Huh.
You know, I've never actually sat down to think about it.
But personally, I believe a birthday is an excuse to celebrate the person in question - so probably the fact that they were born at all.
And it's important because of the person who was born, and their relation to their friends and family. If someone's my friend, I'm happy to celebrate the fact that they exist.

i guess it kinda is all of that. parties are fun sure but the most important thing is that you're celebrating the day that they came into the world. it's about how important their life is to yours.

You know... I never really thought about it that way. Then again, people who have done things that make them worth remembering to history occasionally have festivals in their honor, so really, it seems like a smaller scale version of that.

[The look on Envy's face when he sees that...cake...is absolutely worth the effort she put in to make it.]

[It's an expression caught halfway between alarm at the creation on the table (does she expect him to eat it right here and now and can he find a way to not??) and happiness that she'd remembered the day.]

That's....thanks?

I hadn't thought about celebrating the memories part. I guess that makes sense

[And...hm, he kind of likes the idea, come to think of it. Celebrating the memories that belong to him, and not the ones from the life that had come before.]

[Oh he recognizes that 'Gear number, it's that girl from the sweater party. NOT SURE HOW MUCH HE SHOULD WATCH OUT HERE...]

Cake and presents I can get behind. especially chocolate cake.

although I guess when you're my age the actual year older part starts to matter less

I'm not actually sure EXACTLY how old I am, I just round up

yeah, that's what I like to think of them as

it's nice to have people glad that you're alive

You know...that's a good way to put it. especially here.

[Envy's been in this world long enough to lose more friends than he can count. Although...he thinks he recognizes this number, that kid who didn't know about Halloween. He hasn't been here that long, has he? Not long enough to be that jaded about the disappearances yet, at least. Hmm.]

when you put it like that, I wonder if it'd be a good day to remember people who've gone, too. doing something on their birthdays in their memory, I mean.

feeling grim, huh?

mostly the answers are about celebrating the person's life, being happy that they're around and all.

Yeah, that's what I figured.

I've heard a lot of people before just say that it's a 'good job for surviving another year' thing, and sure that's a big deal. but surviving's not that difficult here.

I like the idea of it being glad the person's around better.

My birthday was never celebrated.

But that answer makes sense.

eh, neither was mine

never too late to get some friends here who'll celebrate yours

[It's okay. When you come from a world like Armin's, you learn very quickly just how fragile human life is. If any of them had felt young and invincible, Trost had put an end to that.]

I think it would be. I don't know what it is like when someone disappears from this world and how I would feel about that... but a few months ago a good friend of mine died. Taking some time to remember him would be a comfort. I'm not sure if I'd want to do it on my own birthday, but definitely on his.

Edited (I completely forgot to add his time in route.) 2016-11-07 22:25 (UTC)

[He snorts as he's set down, making a show of indignantly turning up his nose and brushing off the licked spot on his arm.]

Hey, you can't call me a loser on my birthday! I'm pretty sure there's gotta be some kind of rule about that.

[But he cracks open one eye to look back at her, a pleased little quirk at the corner of his mouth in spite of the show.]

But the happy birthday part I'll accept.

Yeah, isn't it great? I love a good party, and a good birthday party!

Honestly, it IS really easy to survive here - and not just that, but thrive!
I think the "surviving another year" camp is mostly cynical and sarcastic on that front, though, because a lot of people would say that where I'm from.
It was not exactly difficult to grow up in the suburbs.

I made it myself! From scratch.

[Oh yes, this entirely worth it. That mix of distress and shock and the determination to appreciate the effort...]

[It's everything she'd hoped for. Enough so that she can't keep the facade up any longer. She snaps a picture with her 'gear, laughing, needing to preserve this moment.]

Oh for god's sake, don't touch that terrible thing, it's likely to land you in the Center. Your real cake's in the fridge, it's from a bakery.

I'm your girlfriend. I get to call you whatever I want.

Which includes the gross stuff, so be glad I went with 'loser'.

_{[Because it could have been 'punkin' or 'booty ninja' something equally vomitous.]

[But INSTEAD she bends down to pick up what she had CLEVERLY set down on the floor before she launched her Birthday Pickup. IT'S A BOX wrapped in shiny paper, with a green stick-on bow.]}

Here.

For you.

yeah, a smaller scale version where the person is still alive at the time. important distinction there

that seems to be most people's thoughts on it

I used to think it all sounded pretty pointless, just some dumb excuse for a cake, but it's nice, being important to people.

[That description sets off a WHOLE HOST of alarm pings in Envy's head. Created inhuman monster? Check. Found by some ancient lady who wants to be someone's master? Check. "Didn't kill me when she could've" as leverage for good behavior? Check and check.]

[He's not entirely sure he wants to open up that can of worms right here and now in public text; he may have talked to Maurice now and then, but not on the level of wanting to get very far into something that personal. But you can bet he won't forget it any time soon.]

yeah I've heard your accent, the one I was told about has a whole lot more v's in it than yours though.

anyway you don't have to call me sir, Envy works just fine

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 2 of 5

[text | action for housemates]

Action

text

Text;

[ Text ]

[Text] If you'd rather plain text let me know

text;

[text]

Action

text;

text

text

Text;

[ Text ]

[Text] It's fine!

[ Text ]

[ Text ]

Text;

[Action]

text

[Text] aight cool

no subject

[Action]

[text]

text;

[text]