Birthday Party

[peripheries]

Who: Paul Atreides and all his CR
What: Throwing everyone’s favorite Duke a surprise birthday party
When: Forwarded dated to April 1st
Where: Bone House in Gaze

Content Warnings: Drinking, underage drinking, drugs (both fictional and not), drawings of space worms, skeletons, will add further warnings if necessary



When you arrive at the house in Gaze, (affectionately known as Bone House), a skeleton will open the door and offer to take your coat if you have one. No need to take your shoes off or anything!

The large house has been decorated with black streamers and confetti. In the entryway and hung on the railing to the second floor that overlooks the entrance to the great room are large banners that say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL” (though one looks like it used to say “Jaune” but was just painted over? Whatever).

In the Living Room, there is a large board and various colored markers for people to write messages to the birthday boy. There is also a table full of bottled water and various couches, chairs, and beanbags to collapse into if the party gets to be too much and one needs a quiet place to rest or a place to chill if you’ve imbibed too much… well, whatever you had.

It is also where all the food and drinks are.

There’s an extremely large charcuterie board with the usual meats, cheeses, and olives as well as an extremely eccentric collection of snacks ranging from individual sized Cheez-it bags, to humungous bags of Doritos and salty chips, as well as nearly every kind of Oreo one can imagine.

There are also various cakes, all angel food. Some are misshapen, some have an attempt at being frosted with whipped cream and fruit, one even says “Happy Birthday Ka-” before that was hastily covered with a bunch of strawberries jammed really close together.

At the island, a skeleton is playing bartender. Surprisingly, it can seem to take and understand individual orders, but there’s always a constant flow of tequila shots being made and sent out to the great hall to be served by another skeleton.

And, no, of course it’s not going to check your age to see if you’re legal. It’s a skeleton. Why would it care?

The Great Hall is the center of activity and where everyone is encouraged to mingle and have fun. There is a skeleton on the grand piano in the corner gleefully playing piano covers of the hits from the Shrek Soundtrack with the occasional cover of “DaRude’s Sandstorm” when it has another one to help out.

In another corner, on huge piece of paper that spans nearly 6ft wide and 8ft tall is drawing of an Arrakis sandworm and it’s giant maw. The game is Pin the Tooth on the Sandworm and it’s… very easy… because the worm maw is most of the board. Even if the skeleton spins you as you’re blindfolded, it’s pretty hard to lose. If you manage to do it, which is likely, the skeleton running the game will award you a tequila shot! If you lose, the skeletons will award you a tequila shot (but it’s rail).

(It’s a drinking game, isn’t the point to drink?)

There’s also a table that has many candelabras on it, numbering up to seventeen. They’re still lit and burning even though there is a sign that says “make a wish!” even though it almost looks like a shrine for the dead.

…It’s maybe clear that the concept of “birthday candles” was greatly misunderstood.

There is also a skeleton dealing out small doses of “Spice”, a psychoactive drug straight outta the Duneverse. However, you must check in with this Skeleton to get a dose. There will be no “permanently melting your brain with ancestral memories” at this party!

Teacher’s/God’s/Jod’s/The Emperor Undying’s study, adjacent to the main hall, is closed and locked. Though, the lock is fairly easy to break if someone really wanted to get in. There’s not even skeletons guarding.

That said, many things are warded with eerie runes of blood and bone.

So, fuck around and find out.

The upstairs is generally off limits. Party goers can climb up the stairs, and it’s encouraged if they want to look over the Great Room from above, but all of the bedrooms are carefully guarded by more skeletons who will SCREAM VERY LOUDLY if you try to enter and will become hostile if done by force.

Of course, this won’t happen if you are with someone who lives in the house.

Enjoy the party! Mingle away!

((ooc: if you have any questions or anything, please hit me up at worldtype)) or via PM.))

Birthday Board | At the Party | The Morning After | IC Party Games | Spice Dealer

Comments

[floatsaway]

[Ochako shrugs lazily. Honestly, she has no idea. It could be just an easy mistake, or there could be more to it, but she's not going to be nosy and ask. It's really non of their business.]

Did I make the cake for my papa? Yeah!! My mama and I usually make easy ones from box mixes, or when we can afford the ingredients, we'll make one from scratch. Buying from from a bakery is really, really expensive...s-so we only ever got one of those for Christmas.

[Christmas/her birthday, which fall around the same time more or less, considering Ochako's birthday is two days after the holiday.]

[swellter]

[ The story draws on old memories when the world still made sense. Of warm cups of tea, his mother seated next to him on the tatami floor. He didn't think much of the flavor but when she smiled at him, it was the best thing in the world. ]

That sounds better than the store-bought ones.

[ A bakery could never compare to the love poured into a simple box mix. ]

[floatsaway]

[Ochako blinks a little, thinking to herself about something. Right...Todoroki probably only ever had really fancy cakes and stuff, made by professional chefs and bakers, and stuff. Because his family is fucking loaded. She can't help the small twinge of jealousy that bubbles in her stomach, but it's easy snuffed out in record time. Ochako never really minded the box-mix stuff, or when her mama made things from scratch - her soufflé pancakes are, hands down, the best confection on the planet - and there just seems like something extra special about making something instead of buying it.

It actually gives her an idea.]

Mmhm!! They're pretty tasty if you get creative. Ne, Todoroki-kun...when's your birthday, again?

[Not at all subtle, but maybe it's close enough to plan ahead to make him a simple cake!]

[swellter]

She's not wrong, but the occasion was rare. He wasn't allowed sweets outside of special occasions growing up. But when they did it was usually expensive pastries delicately made. They had the money, but it was Endeavor's and he dictated what was done with it. Given the choice, he would choose to make a box cake with his mother - his siblings weren't allowed to see him - than any expensive sweet his father allowed him to have. Different worlds.

My birthday? [ The question throws him off balance and he looks a bit puzzled. It's odd someone didn't know the details of his life. Refreshing. ]

January 11th. [ It passed not too long ago. ] I'm 17 now.

[ And sporting a new set of Paleblood earrings on his left ear courtesy of Madame Generosity and an altered mindset that made him a lot more open and friendly. The two loops at the bottom and the cuff near the top of his ear are made from his blood and the major difference in his appearance. ]

[floatsaway]

[Ochako would absolutely make a box mix cake with Todoroki, or some cupcakes or something similar. She...would probably be doing most of the actual baking, but that's totally fine - a fun activity to enjoy with a friend.

But oh, that actually has Ochako pouting a little, shoulders sagging.]

Oh...I missed it then. [She sighs, wrinkling her nose because, once again, her peers are older than her. Even when she was in Nippon, she avoided having her own birthday roll over. Bakugou had it happen twice now.] Aah...I'm still a year behind everyone now!! I'm supposed to be older than you normally, at least!!

[Since her birthday is in December. She sighs, but blinks as she notices his earrings, tilting her head to one side and pointing them out curiously.]

Eh, Todoroki-kun...I never noticed before. You pierced your ears?

[swellter]

[ He could gather the ingredients if given a list which is about the most contribution you'd want him to make to said cake. At least, if you want it to taste any good. ]

It was two months ago.

[ Not even registering the sad expression just stating facts as he does. ]

Huh. [ A tilt of his head; looking at you, Ochako. ] I forgot about that. [ He's the second youngest in the class, not that he ever took note of it. ]

When is your birthday? [ Now, he's curious. Maybe he can get her a cake. Trade for a very nice one. As for the question - ]

Oh. [ He forgot about that. ] I guess I did.

[ Todoroki! Don't just leave it at that! Elborate! Sadly... he does not. ]

[floatsaway]

[Indeed, Todoroki is assigned Helper™ and helper only. Ochako learned her lesson with Momo, she won't make the same mistake with Todoroki.]

Mm? Oh, it's December 27!! [And what with all the world-hopping and time shenanigans she's gone through from back home, Nippon, and now Trench... Ochako should have been at least two, maybe even three and a half months closer to her birthday. Bakugou is technically having his twice within the span of a few weeks. She might be a little bit salty about that...and being the youngest now.....probably...]

But tell me when you got your ears pierced!! Was that recent? I never thought of you as one to do something like that, Todoroki-kun. It's really pretty...

[It's fine, Ochako is more than capable of asking 3000 questions and moving the conversation along. She missed her friends terribly, so getting a chance to talk to them is just...it's nice.]

[swellter]

[ Sorry about these rich kids being terrible at everyday tasks! But, like Momo he can make great tea! That can be his contribution! ]

December... near the holidays.

[ He had no idea. They all celebrated together before the holidays but most students went home during the week of Christmas and New Year's. ]

I'll make sure to get you something this time... if you're still here.

[ A better gift than the one he'll ultimately get Bakugou for his. He'll be better at gift-giving by then! Hopefully! ]

Ah... [ He touches his ear at the mention of piercing, thoughts winding back to that turbulent month. ] I don't remember much of that time. I was under the influence of my Patron Pthumerian, Madame Generosity.

[floatsaway]

[Ah--...Ochako really, really tries not to flinch when he says that. She does her damn best, but it takes her so off guard that she can't help the way she winces at the mention of possibly leaving. That's been a fear of hers since Nippon, the other world she was taken to, and Todoroki wouldn't know she went through a mild panic when arriving in this world, without hide not hair of Bakugou. They were all the other had - the only anchor in a world that they didn't fit into as Heroes, the only familiar face, the only other friend - and promises were made not to abandon the other after a...rough spot.

The fear is still very real, especially knowing now they can be shot off to other worlds entirely. Ochako forces the smile back on her face, though it's frayed at the edges, and there's a slight quiver in her voice.]

Th-Thank you, Todoroki-kun! You don't have to do that, but...if you do, I'll treasure whatever you get me for sure. [She clears her throat, trying to calm her nerves a bit, or just distract herself.] Oh! That's the one I think I have, too. It's like a big ol' snake, right? Something like that? I heard they give gifts on your birthday and stuff sometimes.

[swellter]

[ That quiver in her voice draws his attention. Mismatched eyes settle on her, oblivious of her internal turmoil, nor his part in unsettling her thoughts.]

Is something wrong?

[ He asks, not exactly a detective when it comes to the range of human expression. Fortunately for her, he's gullible and is easily led astray by his friends. How do you think Deku got away with all his terrible lies? And when it comes to coincidences, it's even easier to distract him. ]

You do? [ Color him surprised. He nods at the description, somehow feeling a little closer to her than he did a few seconds ago. Patron buddies! ]

That's right. She used my blood to make these. [ A tap on one of the cuffs. ] I've started having visions ever since. [ Just gonna casually drop a bombshell. ] I don't remember much about it. I think I was under her influence the whole month. [ So, he's sadly lacking in details. ]

[floatsaway]

[Oh, thank goodness she's distracted him enough to divert his focus. Ochako really, really isn't prepared for that conversation right now - the fear of people just up and leaving this world and her not knowing if they went home or to a different world entirely. The fear of being alone, swept away suddenly and without anyone else. That fear was so, so real when she entered Trench the first time, before she met back up with Bakugou, and then with Todoroki. It makes her feel sick, but also shameful and embarrassed. Weak. Heroes shouldn't rely so much on others, not like that. She shouldn't either, it's...

It's pathetic, isn't it? And more than anything, Ochako doesn't want to be seen as weak, pathetic, or frail around the three strongest people in her class. So, she moves on swiftly.]

Mm, I'm pretty sure. One of the people that welcome you here told me. I'm not sure how they know, but...they said it was her - Madam Generosity. [And they seemed pretty happy about it? Apparently the snake god...thingy was relatively well liked in Trench.] Eeee, really?! Like about the future and stuff?! That's so cool... Does it work if you take the earring off? Or only when it's on?

[Is it like a second quirk completely, or like...equipping a magical item like in a video game?]

[swellter]

[ It's a valid fear, one he would understand as his time in Trench has stretched to half a year. He's seen people come and go, but he's never personally lost anyone from his world until Midoriya scuttled himself away, unwilling to accept his help. With Bakugou and Uraraka here, his world has grown by two. Suddenly, he finds himself a little more unsettled now that he has more people to lose. ]

She's well liked. [ He confirms. You don't want to know why... ]

I'm a Paleblood, so it seems to have kickstarted that part of my blood-magic. Shortly after receiving them, I got my first vision when you and Bakugou arrived during our mission to retrieve Midoriya.

[ Have another bombshell casually dropped in like an add-on accessory. ]

I don't think it works if you take them off unless you're a Paleblood. [ As it stands he doesn't need them anymore to generate visions of the future, but he's grown used to it and it's easier to leave them in than to take them out. ]

[floatsaway]

[It's certainly a very terrifying thing, especially for Ochako and Bakugou, who have been to another world before Trench as well. Because they know well that if they get spirited away...it could be to yet another new world, without the friends they found after so long. The illusion of returning home now is just that - an illusion.]

Wha--it happened during that?! Are you okay, Todoorki-kun?! That must've been really shocking... [It'd explain why he was a bit quiet, and looked kind of pale. Honestly, Ochako just thought it was due to...everything they went through with the rescue. That entire ordeal was harrowing, tiring, and emotionally draining. Add all that to her blood ailment, and Ochako was just...completely wrung out after it.]

Mm, I think i'm still figuring out the different blood types... I know if you have a certain kind, you can sometimes get a new qui--eh, sorry...a new power, I guess. I haven't found anything different with mine, yet. I still just have Zero Gravity - my quirk - as far as I know. [She pauses, looking first at her hands, then at Todoroki with a bit of concern.] It didn't hurt at all, did it? The vision...um. I-I mean, having a new qui--power. You're okay, right?

[When Izuku's new quirk manifested, it went wild, so...she's just worried.]

[swellter]

[ He won't go into the gritty details of having his omen tackle him to the ground to snap him out of it or how frightened he was after the fact, aware of visions but never having experienced them. Uraraka can probably piece together why he was late to their orchestrated attack. They were supposed to hit Midoriya together, catch him off guard, but he hadn't been in place, and Midoriya had broken free and was on the run before he finally found his footing and made his presence known. ]

I've seen others have visions before. I know what to expect, but knowing something is different from experiencing it.

[ He kept referring to them as quirks for the first few months. He understands where you're coming from. As for the concern, it's been a while since he's been on the other side of this. His expression changes faintly, kinder. ]

I'm okay. The second one was easier than the first. [ And his third will be easier still. ] You don't have to worry about me.

How are you and Bakugou taking to Trench?

[floatsaway]

[She is certainly putting the pieces together as she thinks back, yes - the slight delay in his actions, how he would hesitate, or even looked fatigued or slightly off from the start - but until now, she assumed it was the same blood sickness as herself and the other boys. Ochako never would have thought Todoroki's blood was different, or that he'd develop another quirk on top of his existing one. That sort of thing just never seemed possible...even in Nippon and stuff - magic existed there, but it seems primarily to flow through the existing yokai and locals there. No one else really changed?]

I can only imagine...

[She still looks a little concerned, worrying her lip between her teeth, and wringing her hands together. Ochako just cares a lot, okay? She hasn't seen her other friends in months, so she's far more protective of them now.]

Mm, it's harder than Nippo--oh! Actually, Todoroki-kun...did Bakugou-kun already tell you this isn't the first world we've been to?

[swellter]

He mentioned it.

[ But as usual, he gave no details, so he's completely out of the loop there. ]

How was it?

[floatsaway]

Much easier than this.

[Ochako gives a wry smile and motions for them to go and find a place to sit and talk a little better.]

It was called Nippon, and before you ask...yeah, it was technically just Japan, but less modernized. It was kinda like stepping back in time, where things were just getting built... Like, steam power, and um...magic was a thing, too!! And yokai and ayakashi were actually real! There were good and bad ones, it...it's weird to say I actually kind of miss it a little.

[Ochako rubs the back of her neck.] Other than one time, it wasn't nearly as scary as this place. And we were given a monthly stipend to use on food, and housing was provided for free. It was actually kind of nice...e-even if there weren't any Heroes, and...f-finding a job was a little hard.

[swellter]

[ Catching on, he leads the way out of the crowded room, making way for them through the heavily trafficked area to a more secluded spot away from most revelers. ]

Would you like to sit?

[ He asks, unsure if she'd rather stand instead. When she starts up, he immediately opens his mouth to ask exactly that only to close it again when she explains it a little more. He watches her closely as she gets into a rhythm, looking a lot more animated when she gets into the magic. He'll question the yokai and ayakashi part - yeah, that's a little much there - and ask a little more about the 'magic' and if it's like the blood magic here. He looks rather interested in that comparison. Though, a little surprised to hear she misses it. Would he miss Trench? He's not sure. ]

You were given a stipend? [ A crease of his brow. ] There was a monetary system there? [ Well, look at that. Ochako and Bakugou living it up with such modern concepts, NOT having to sell their blood! Okay, the free rent he can relate to. He did arrive early on and got a rather nice place he spent half a year fixing up. ]

You were together. That must have made it a little easier.

[floatsaway]

[Ochako nods, taking the offered seat and motioning for her friend to do the same if he wanted. It's quite a lot to talk about, and Ochako is glossing over a big part of her experiences in that new world - the homesickness, the fear of never seeing her family again, that shitty curse Bakugou got put through, the loss of her sense of purpose without there being any need for Heroes as defined by their societal norms - but she keeps the conversation light to fill Todoroki in. It's good to just talk to him, really, she never got much of a chance to back in Musutafu, and Ochako always valued him a friend just as much as anyone else.]

Mm, yeah, there was. Like I said, it was like a less modernized version of Japan...so everyone used yen. And if we agreed to help with some experiments and stuff, we got a monthly amount to use on food. Just food. Me n' Bakugou-kun had to work and do stuff to get money to buy tools and clothes and stuff for where we were staying.

[Nothing was really furnished other than some futons, blankets, and pillows and the absolute basics. A sitting table, cushions, a small TV...and that was really it. Anything else they had to get themselves.]

I--...yeah. Yeah, if Bakugou-kun wasn't there, I, um...I-I don't think I'd be able to handle it. We helped each other out a lot. [Her smile is fond, gentle, and Ochako sighs a bit. It was stormy, but being in Nippon together definitely made her and Bakugou feel like way better friends now. She appreciates that much.] I bet it was the same for you, too...having Deku-kun with you, ne? No one wants to really be alone.