HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[vrdr_mods]

[Visitors to the Velvet Room are in for an unusual sight.

Gorb balloons. Streamers. Banners that not only read, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GORO AKECHI! but also...

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FRIENDSHIP!

This particular banner has cutesy illustrations of a normal Akechi and Falcon. Yes, really.

There are multiple, multi-layered cakes. One is an angel food cake, decorated to resemble Robin Hood. Then there's another cake, fashioned after Loki, with lovingly decorated dazzle camouflage frosting. Inside is a heavenly red velvet.

Lastly, there's a purely chocolate delight, patterned after Hereward.

There are even little Gorb cupcakes, designed to look like the myriad Akechis resident in the Velvet Room. Fresh brewed coffee and Jazz Jin mocktails await those who seek a beverage, and there's even some curry. How thoughtful!

So... care to mingle?]

Comments

[the_flower_karasu]

Gogo blinked in surprise, taking several long moments to take in the decorations and rich-looking food. And it was even longer than that for one for the realization to click with her.

"It's...my birthday..."

It was not surprising to Gogo that she'd just viewed this as another day. Even when she was still alive, she'd only know it was her birthday when her more zealous fans had fobbed off gifts on her. And even when she gave grateful platitudes to those fans, she didn't see the difference between receiving gifts from fans on any ordinary day and receiving gifts to celebrate her being born into the world.

Still, the food did look good. The kind of good that she'd post on her food blogs for the likes and follows, without actually eating it in reality. But she was freed from that burden of fame...

She approached the food table, picking up the gorb-cake fashioned after her own likeness, and chewing it thoughtfully.

"...a little too sweet."

[fogboundcrow]

Raven was just going to poke around Sumaru City to test more rumors, but this? This gives him genuine pauses.

Three cakes. Drinks. Banners and balloons...

After a moment, he touches his chin. "...If I indulge in this party, can I still have a beach party later?"

Shiro manifests beside him, chuckling. "I'm sure we can convince them. After all, this isn't specifically our party."

[gorobo]

... What the fuck.

The moment Falcon enters the Velvet Room, he doesn't know what to say. His feelings are pretty scrambled in general, and he wasn't planning on actually celebrating his birthday, outside of inviting Magpie.

This is... well. Well.

"What. Why." He groans, putting his hand to his face when he sees the banner featuring him and-- it can't be anyone other than Magpie. "You can't be serious..."

[fledglingcrow]

He had completely forgotten it was his birthday with everything going on. He turned up for maybe a few cupcakes, one to take back to Ken. Then he saw there was a lot of other, older, versions of him. He really hadn't talked to much outside of his age group.

It wouldn't hurt to look around would it? Maybe he could make new friends. He got a pice of cake and looked around, not sure how to start any conversation.

Dove is back, baby!

[seekerofjustice]

When Dove steps into the room, he isn't expecting to see the myriad of cakes and banners. For a moment he doesn't quite realize it's celebrating the birthday of Goro Akechi, and perhaps wonders if he's stepped into some other kind of Velvet Room get together-- but no, it seems to be a birthday celebration. For Goro Akechi.

...That includes him, doesn't it? It feels... odd. Wrong, even. Has he ever had a party before? He remembers happy celebrations with his mother, or at least he thinks he does? But what of his real life? The one hidden behind the curtain?

...No, no. Don't get lost in the same old thoughts now, Dove. It's very kind for a party like this to have been set up, and at the very least he can celebrate his fellow Akechis' birthdays. It's the least he can do.

So Dove smiles, stepping into the room proper. Perhaps he can chat with everyone.

[wipingallout]

[At the party proper]

She's only come for a little bit - specifically, to deliver some goodies!!

Most of the variations of Akechi that she knows, she doesn't know terribly well - so she's gotten some advice on some nice generic gifts and has made birthday bags. Mercifully for them, she figures there's plenty of cake, so she's skipped adding even more sweets - instead, she's filled a good number of goodie bags with nice things.

Each bag has a copy of a murder mystery book she picked out, a little jack frost phone charm, a Mouse on the Keys album, some gemstone clasps and keychains that might have useful effects in the Metaverse or Tartarus...


[Finding Kou]

Of the few people she knows well, Kou isn't at the party... and given his demeanor, Hamuko isn't too surprised by that? For him, she figured keeping her little gifts in her purse rather than a birthday bag might go over a little better for him - but first thing's first, she has to find him.

And when she does, she eagerly tries to surprise him.

"Hi!"

[rookandhound]

Upon entering the Velvet Room that day, Wolf stood, staring uncomprehendingly, for several seconds.

... What? The fuck??

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FRIENDSHIP

Which... had to be some kind of invasive, really. "Did they even think to ask if people wanted this? What the fuck."

[fogbornphantom]

This is... excessive. So excessive that Crow can't help but snicker as he steps into the Velvet Room.

Then he sees the banner. "...I have a distinct feeling that neither Falcon nor Magpie will approve of this."

But Hiro doesn't answer, because he's much too busy fawning over the cupcakes.

"Oh, but how could I ever eat you?" Yes, he's holding one themed after Crow. "You're just too precious!"

Crow snorts. "There are many things I could say to that, none of which are appropriate for public gatherings."

So for now, he'll settle on a slice of regular Hereward cake as he beholds the lavish surroundings.

back at home

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Bye!! Have a grreeeat day you guys!!"

As soon as Goro and Crow are out the door of their house, Ren closes it. Dramatically. With a bang.

"What do you MEAN," he gasps, sliding to the floor, mind racing a million miles an hour. "What do you MEAN today is his birthday?!?"

His older self, the dumb fartbreath, just chuckles. "It's June 2nd. Goro's birthday...according to this world, anyway."

"No shiz!!" Ren grasps at the door. "That still means it's his b^irday!! And you didn't tell me!!"

Oh god. Oh god. His voice cracks. It cracks so bad it hurts.

Joker, freaking JOKER, thinks it's ok to crouch down next to him!

"We celebrate it later, little guy." Why is he so smug?? Why does he know EVERYTHING?? I'll kill you with my eyes. I can!! "You can take a breath."

Joker reaches out and-- and-- just SCREW HIM!! RARGH!!

Ren's foot flashes out and he nails stupid freaking JOKER. Nails him where it hurts on guys like them.

With a yelp, Joker crumples, faceplanting on the floor. It's what you deserve, you stupid dumb fricking frick!!!

"Hah-- ow--"

"Do I really grow up into such an idiot?" He's gotta roll his eyes and sigh.

"Listen. Dude," Joker wheezes, between gasps and little wiggles. Ren tucks his foot back by his side. "I do try to give you. Priva- privacy."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Yes, really."

A beat.

"Ow..." Joker rolls over on his side. "God...you have a strong kick."


Ren flicks the top of Joker's head, unimpressed. "Better than you."

"Gah." Joker can't even manage a flinch, curled in on himself. It's better when he hurts too much to be a smartalecky teen. "Ok. Lesson learned...tell you birthdays."

"Tell me our BOYFRIENDS' birthdays," Ren corrects. "I don't give a rotten husk 'bout anyone else's."

"Ain't that right, little gu--" Ren interrupts him with another flick. "Not little guy. Ok...me."

"Bout time you stopped with that nickname anyways," Ren grumbles.
Grump, grump, grump. Arms crossed in pouting position.

"Y...y'ain't chosen one fer yerself, kiddo."

"I don' need one, seein' as yer a stupid sonofacow."

"Ego don't make good fertilizer, dude," Joker points out, grimacing. "It ain't make no good crops, either."

"My ego don't make good fertilizer... wise words, Cropfucius."

"Yer jus mad 'cause the clouds bring rain," Joker huffs.

"And my boyfriend's birthday!"

Joker lets out a long sigh. "And our boyfriends' birthday."

Another moment passes. Ren's heart beats slower, but it still thumps loudly in his chest. He can even count the beats.

Several heartbeats later, Joker groans again, into the silence.

"Old man."

"Young whippersnapper." Cringing something mighty, Joker rolls over, delicately protecting his...delicate bits, wincing as he sits up. "We can't just lie here forever."

Immediately, Ren digs in deeper. "Maybe you can't--"

"You really wanna force Raven and Crow and Hiro and Shiro to crawl in through the window?" Joker deadpans. "On their birthday?"

Frick. He's gotta point.

"Listen." Even in his compromised state, Joker holds out a hand. "I'm sorry, ok? We really don't celebrate it now. It's in a few more months...me and Crow and Hiro didn't even have much planned for today. But. We can...still do something. And that starts with you getting off the floor."

Reluctantly, Ren takes Joker's hand. He doesn't even pull him down to the floor when he uses it to help himself up.

"See? That wasn't...so bad."

Hmm. "I'm taller than you right now."

Joker gives him a strained smile. "What I was trying to say is...I'm...happy to help with whatever I can, ok?"

Grumble, grump. "Ok."

"Why don't I go get some painkillers and you think over your master plan for today, little...me." Joker pats Ren's head.

Ren freezes. "Uhh." My master plan. Right.

"Just get thinkin'." Joker straightens up as much as he can, leaning on the wall for support. "You'll have a good one in no time..."

Yikes. Joker's shuffle is so awkward...a twinge of pity plucks at Ren's heart, and...yeah, he grabs Joker's arm and slings it over his shoulder. "Not without you, old man. So I think first..."

[paradisefraught]

"Huh." Morning blinks. "How come we didn't get a birthday party like this?"