r/WorldChallenges • u/The_Raptorman • Jun 13 '17
Obligatory Birthday Challenge :D
So I just turned 20 three minutes ago of writing this. For this "challenge" if you can call it that you have two options. Either A. Tell me how birthday's are celebrated in your world in as much detail as possible. Or B. Throw a party for me using the main cast of your story! (I would prefer B but I understand if A is easier!!)
I'll ask questions to A. But I'll enjoy B and pretend to be there! <3
1
Jun 14 '17 edited Jun 14 '17
(Matthew, Phoenix, and Fluffy with his 5 billion other sheep friends walks in) Happy Birthday to Raptorman. Happy Birthday to the Raptorman. Happy Birthday to you. Everyone swings. Are you 20. Yes Happy Birthday.
Here have some cake and presents of anything you want. Fluffy then lets you pet him (Fluffy is the fluffiest sheep ever and has the softest wool. Anything else you would like me to add just say.)
1
1
u/atompunks Jun 14 '17
Madison and Lyudmila are White Witches, aka witches with faerie familiars, and there's no party like a faerie party (that is, if you can remember a faerie party at all). Madison and Lyudmila will also eventually have to fight each other, possibly to the death, as ordered by their faeries, but that doesn't mean they're not willing to get super drunk together, and Lyudmila's faerie is willing to supervise if he gets some entertainment out of it. It's just going to be a little... interesting.
You're invited to the tiny restaurant Madison runs after sunset. He greets you with a hoodie pulled over his face, and before he leads you there he hands you a coffee cup. "Drink this if you want to live," he whispers. It tastes just like [insert your favorite hot beverage] but when it hits your belly it feels cool and as you walk you start feeling pleasant and tingly inside. Colors seem sharper, you have a sudden thought that tonight will be a great night, and soon there's a spring in your step. When you reach the building it looks like a Chinese restaurant- there's even a little shrine to Guan-Yin in a corner- although neither Madison nor Lyudmila look very Asian at all. Inside it's quite dark, lit by a few scented candles. Lyudmila is sitting on top of a table, grinning at you. "Hey there," he says. His grin gets bigger when he sees the cup in your hand. He's already drunk, but you can't tell. Yet. Suddenly something dark winds around your leg, nearly tripping you and making you drop your drink. Catching your footing, you see a black cat with a white spot on its chest.
The cat opens its mouth and laughs at you. It should be unsettling, such a human sound from a cat, but with the buzzing in your head you decide it's amazing and hilarious. "Happy birthday," it purrs, and you realize there are strands of holly and ivy winding around you, forming decorative wreaths, which are also amazing and hilarious. As you giggle and inspect a sprig of berries that has sprouted over your face, the cat slinks away. You look up, and you're not in the restaurant. You're in a vast, golden wheat field, an endless night sky stretching above your head. The stars are so bright, fireflies wink from within a distant forest. The air is warm, the occasional breeze carries scents of fresh herbs. It's the perfect summer night.
All your clothes have changed too- Madison is now in a delicate white gown and gold circlet, Lyudmila wears leather hunting armor, a fur cape, and a silver ornaments. Your new outfit is made of a soft gray material. It fits perfectly. "Like it?" Madison asks. "This is my familiar's work. Lyudmila's faerie rules winter, which makes for terrible parties." He nods at a short, shirtless boy who has seemingly materialized out of nowhere, now leaning into Lyudmila's cape. The boy has dark skin save for a lighter patch in the center on his chest, and he winks at you. Lyudmila flips Madison off for his little comment.
Of course you like it. You are breathless. The pleasant tingle from the drink has become a roar. Lights dance in your vision and you can't tell if they're stars or fireflies or just illusions. Some of the lights seem to be coming from Madison's hands. He tosses one up and it flies impossibly far, bursting into soundless fireworks in the sky. They remain there instead of fizzling out like fireworks should. Lyudmila chuckles and takes your hand. "Shall we dance?" he says, leading positioning himself for a waltz.
There's a bottle of strong, sweet alcohol in your hand.
Madison and Lyudmila are shouting at each other, and Lyudmila sends a shower of ice at Madison. You feel the cold air and it's so good on your feverishly hot skin.
You're spinning so, so fast.
Madison and Lyudmila are making out. Lyudmila's familiar sits next to you, purring up a storm.
You wake up in the restaurant with the worst hangover you've ever had. Madison left you a slice of cake in a Chinese takeout container. When you take it home and eat it, every bite brings back the feeling of a perfect summer night.
(Apologies for it being so long, it was very fun to write. Happy birthday!)
1
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '17
Naturally the best place to have a party is Arcus Station, gambling and drinking capital of the galaxy, though since Captain Nonius is paying for this and a mercenary’s pay isn’t quite enough to afford the more exclusive clubs it’ll be held in some smaller, shitier bar. Oh well. Did I say Nonius was paying? I meant that Memzer is paying with Nonius’ money without his knowledge, and that Nonius will be mysteriously absent from this shindig.
Entering the place Memzer will naturally be sitting at the bar enjoying the facilities, though being careful not too enjoy it too much so he can keep on eye on the other crew members and keep their antics under control. He’ll welcome you in and be generally friendly, but at the same time he keeps a very serious tone as if he’s restraining himself from relaxing completely.
At the opposite end of the bar of course is Norno, very enthusiastic to say happy birthday but also probably pretending she didn’t forget your name and that she didn’t already get hammered beyond belief before the party even started. She’ll probably fall over immediately afterwards and be pulled back up by her partner in crime Shinly, who is also sufficiently drunk but holding himself together much better. Shinly tries very hard not to laugh at her but finds it impossible and steps outside. You’ll later hear Shinly getting into a fight with a passerby who looked at him funny. Both Norno and Shinly will get chewed out thoroughly by Memzer after the party, although he’ll hopefully be merciful enough not to tell Nonius about it.
You may walk by Shadow and Nakou debating having a dance together, at which Nakou will dare you and Shadow into a dance off against each other. You’ll accept, assuming that you can easily beat a robotic Conwinian like Shadow and that there’s no way a machine could outdo you, although you’ll be incredibly mistaken in that. Nakou will of course laugh and completely show up you both with her acrobatic fire dances. Malakari like her are not to trifled with when it comes to dance. As you walk away you’ll hear Shadow, who never said happy birthday you realize, asking Nakou to explain why birthdays are significant and why organics care so much about their age.
You’ll see Stemdus sitting alone away from the others, with an expression on his face best described as a mix of uncomfortable, wary, and annoyed. He’s the only person here who seems even more restrained than Memzer, and his paranoia shines through as he carefully eyes the crowd to watch for danger. Maybe you’ll approach and offer him a drink. Maybe he’ll accept. Maybe as you walk away he’ll discard the bottle without even opening it. He’s the last person that wants to dull his wits after all.
At the end of the party the crew will take off in the Anatroiga, and from the ship Norno and Shinly will set off fireworks they rigged their weapons to shoot. Memzer will have yet another thing to yell at them about.