Birthday Hogs

[sonic_wachowski]

WHO: Hedgehaus and friends
WHAT: Birthday Party
WHEN: Hedgehog Birthday Weekend
WHERE: Hedgehaus
WARNINGS: A stupid amount of chili dogs. PROBABLY FEELINGS? Listen, some people have personhood issues. Maybe Boomdow.


Sonic new it was around his Birthday. Vaguely. Move around planets enough and its hard to track the date, he had a birthday not too far from when he arrived on Earth. So the BEarthday was very fitting. And, well, Shadow woke up from cyro the same day or day after, so Sonic figured he could share it with his Shadow.

But also explaining that to people would be weird, and telling WAY too much, and also Primedow and SonIDW had their birthdays around the same time and that's why the banners say Birthday.

Sonic was nothing, if not stupidly sentimental. He knew he was throwing a party for his Shadow because he deserved it and well, he isn't going to just ignore the others. Maybe talk about a week of celebration or something for next year.

The beauty of superspeed though is he can set up a party FAST. He just has to make sure Big Blue is busy upstairs for a few minutes and BOOM, party is set up.

First and foremost, the party is an explosion of color. Why? Sonic promised Primedow and SonIDW pride flags and he delivered. There are rainbows and all sorts of other flags scattered across the yard, on the walls, and over the first floor. He's even got balloons over pride flag colors.

There was a banner that said 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHADOWS AND SONICS!' Hand painted, so its a bit messy, and made with blue, red, and black.

There is SO much food. Most of it is cake and chilidogs. Mostly because Sonic knows how much Sonics can pack away, and other people should get to enjoy these foods. There is even a variety in the cake flavors! Chocolate, white, strawberry, even lemon.

There is also coffee beans. Just....just straight coffee beans.

And some chocolate covered espresso beans, and Tiramisu. Less of that, but still plenty. And burgers for those who think hotdogs are beneath them or something.

There is also fruit salad, and guacamole with chips for those who want something kind of healthy.

There is a table labeled GIFTs and a sign. 'Be sure you indicate WHICH Shadow or Sonic. Fluffy are the younger ones.'

The party activities are scattered in the yard and the first floor of the house. Its nothing too over the top, beyond the color explosion. There is music for outside hanging out, some dancing. There is also a television for people to play video games on. (There will be DDR at some point, thanks Eva.)

Inside, there is a large stack of DVDs to watch movies inside.

There are board games on the dining room table for people to play those.

There is also a sign at the stairs to the second floor. 'RESIDENTS ONLY. If someone is upstairs, you leave them alone, even if they're one of the Birthday Boys! Any non-resident attempting to go upstairs if not accompanied by a resident will be swiftly removed.' (He figures he should account for social batteries. Especially for his Shadow and Maria. Sometimes you need a space to retreat away from people.)

((Feel free to mingle!!!))

Comments

[roundandaround]

I dunno!

[Rinku smiles, clueless but confident.]

I guess this kinda thing is supposed to be complicated. Otherwise why would there be a million flags and things to call yourself? It's not like the cops are gonna come if you pick the wrong one. They're too busy yelling at each other over mayo.

[fauxbot]

I dunno if it's s'pposed to be complicated, 'zactly... more like, ehh -
'S normal to know what ya like, 'n there gonna be a flag out there for ya somewhere?
'Least, 's how my friends back home made it out like.

The first part's the one I got trouble with, but I'll figure it out. ... Prolly.

[Y'know. Maybe. Someday.
That said... he's still gonna reach down to grab a couple of others.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku smiles and nods happily.]

I think it's normal to figure out what you like? Just because some people automatically know doesn't mean everyone does. Sometimes it takes forever.

[fauxbot]

... Doesn't help when ya thought you knew, either.

[Said with the look on his screen scrunching up, of course.]

[roundandaround]

Huh... Maybe there's more people who thought they knew and didn't know. And some people change, right? And other people don't change but have exceptions! I heard that once too.

[Rinku gets out the urge to fidget by spinning the flag like a tiny baton.]

I dunno. Everyone's complicated, so everyone is just who they are.

[fauxbot]

Ouais, yeah... I know stuff changes. I guess for some folks it changes a lot, too.
Shit's a lot more difficult than it oughtta be, if ya ask me. Wish we could just know, y'know?

Grim Reapers like me - we got a lotta instinctual knowledge, us. Just built-in once we turn into a Reaper.
Why can't we have that kinda shit when we're human, too?

[Sorry, Rinku - he doesn't mean to subject her to his Issues:tm:... he just isn't too good with big changes like this.
You know, "I spent my whole life thinking I was one thing but I'm a grownass man now and discovered I am potentially not that thing."

Changes like that.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku tilts her head and hums, contemplating this. She nods and leans on him, still spinning the flag.]

I don't get it either. It'd be way easier if everyone knew automatically, like some people do. I mean, it makes sense that you love Neechan. Everyone loves Neechan! But it'd also be confusing, huh?

[fauxbot]

Aw, 's real confusin'!

[... And if she's gonna lean on him, he'll just go ahead and wrap an arm around her shoulders. Why not?
But, uh. She may wanna buckle up, because he's gonna go ahead and do that thing where he's far too blunt and open when he probably shouldn't be --]

I mean, I spent my whole life callin' myself gay, y'know? Dudes only.
Had a couple flings with ladies, but... it weren't any fun for me. Had to think o' somethin' else the whole time.
Like when ya washin' the dishes 'cause you ain't got any clean 'n you need to eat, but you think 'bout somethin' else to keep yourself occupied 'cause the dishes are borin' as hell.

But then I ended up here in Ellipsa...

[That's followed with a pause as he thinks about that for a second.]

... Maybe 's because I love'er.
Thinkin' 'bout it, I ain't ever cared 'bout anyone back in my world like I do the folks here in Ellipsa... like Nenett 'n Eveé.

[roundandaround]

[Rinku nods along. Dishes are boring! She looks up at him and thinks as he processes it.]

Huh... So maybe some people, you're only attracted to them if you love them? Or it's different if you do? Maybe with guys, it's fine right away, but with anyone else, they gotta be special.

[fauxbot]

-...!

[That's a little gasp, almost in realization, as he leans back juuuust a touch so he can look at her properly.]

Mais, yeah! 'Zactly - that's it exactly!
'Cause it's true... Nenett 'n Eveé, they special-special.

Ain't felt about anyone the way I feel 'bout them!

[roundandaround]

[Rinku stands up straight again. She bounces on her heels a little, looking back up at Chipp.]

Yeah! So all we gotta do is find one that means that! If Sonic-kun hasn't made it yet, I bet he will.

[fauxbot]

Ouais, yeah -

[Hmm. Hold on, thinking about that.]

Wait... is there a flag for that? Feels kinda... I dunno -
Specific?

[roundandaround]

I dunno either. Maybe? Maybe not, but probably some other people like one gender all the time and other ones when the person is special.

[fauxbot]

To be real honest with ya, I dunno if there even a word for that...
'Course, I ain't know most o' those words 'til a friend back home started drillin'em into me - told me "if you gonna go all in on bein' gay, you gotta know 'bout the other stuff, too".

Still, though. Don't remember nothin' like that.
Think Sonic would know?

[roundandaround]

Maybe! It sounds like he did a bunch of research. It kinda reminds me of me when we first formed Happy Around. I went home and learned everything I could about DJing and dance steps and stuff we could do!

...He did say he was like me. How our brains work. He must've found something important to him too.

[fauxbot]

Somethin' important...?

[He thinks on that for a second -
Only for that eye on his screen to widen just a tad in understanding.]

... If ya get in a conversation 'bout all that with'im, tell'im I'm someone he can talk to 'bout all that. Ouais?
I'd just do it myself, but, ehh...

I already got that Katsuki kid on my case for talkin' to the boy he likes, so. Don't need to do that to Sonic, too!

[roundandaround]

[giggle fit]

Katsuki-kun told me about that! He was kinda lecturing me for trying to help other people get dates and stuff.

[fauxbot]

[That manages to get a little wheeze-laugh out of Chipp, too, of course.]

I ain't surprised in the least, no! Kid's so uptight, I don't think he'n the boy he likes'll ever talk if someone don't help'em out...
But y'know. I already been chewed out for helpin', so I'll leave that to other folks.

[😇]

... Ain't dates 'n stuff somethin' you been havin' a hard time with, though?
Why you helpin' out other folks when ya got your own stuff to figure out?

[roundandaround]

[Busted. Rinku points her fingers together and looks away.]

I kinda thought it was easier to help other people and then everything would just work out...

[fauxbot]

[Busted!!
But that means she's getting a headpat.]

'S easier, but not in the way ya think... sure, you ain't gotta worry 'bout your own stuff, keeps shit easy that way -
But it ain't gonna untangle itself, neither.

What all you been havin' a hard time with?

[roundandaround]

I dunno. Hm... how do you get people to take you seriously? I feel like maybe everyone who hears me say I love everyone thinks I don't get it. Or most people.

[fauxbot]

... I mean, honestly, I dunno why they ain't take ya seriously in the first place... ain't hard to believe, if you ask me.

[Give him a second, he's gonna think on this.]

Maybe... hmmm.
You got any limits to it? That might be what makes it kinda hard to believe - folks hear ya say that 'n think ya mean it literally.
But, I dunno... I can't picture you fallin' for someone who's eighty or somethin'.
Or someone who murdered a shitton o' people.

So... if ya got limits, maybe that the angle you oughtta focus on when folks don't take ya seriously.

[roundandaround]

Yeah, I guess I definitely wouldn't fall in love with a really old person. That'd be kinda weird. And not someone who's a jerk, like Spiky Shadow-kun, he has something against Neechan for no good reason. Which is weird 'cause the other ones are really good to her.

Hm... I dunno. If someone killed a lot of people, even if I wouldn't like that, that still might not mean they're a bad person. Like there's people who were in war, or people who got forced to kill and die a whole bunch in those places I told you about. But I wouldn't like someone like those guys who kidnap otherworlders who aren't human and do experiments on them, making sure they don't die so they won't come back safe. They don't even have a good reason, and they hurt my friends.

[fauxbot]

...

[There's a LOT he could say to that whole latter half of what she's said, and man, he visibly has to stop himself from saying anything - turning his head to look away and shut his eyes for a moment.

And then he'll look at her again, that eye on his screen going just a little more stern than usual.]

... 'Member what I toldja 'bout talkin' to me if anyone seems weird. Ouais?

But... that means ya do have limits; you got lines ya draw in the sand 'n say "okay, anyone past here ain't to my tastes".
So if someone ain't take ya seriously next time, you got somethin' you can clarify with. Make it more real to the folks who don't get it.

[roundandaround]

[she doesn't mean to worry him, it just happens..........]

I'll try that! Thanks a lot! You have answers for all kinds of things, Chipp-san.