video, @hiccup

[thisisamazing]

[When the video clicks on, Hiccup comes into focus, leaning back from where he was propping up his phone on the table. He's softly casual in a loose t-shirt bearing the logo of one of the Riverview University science clubs, probably biology or engineering, but it's difficult to make it out. He's sitting at the table in the communal kitchen of Floor One, with one of those small, round layer cakes so ubiquitous in grocery stores in front of him. A birthday cake for one, with swirls of white frosting and colorful sprinkles, and 'Happy Birthday' written in red icing across the top.]

So, the nice lady at the grocery store seemed amazed I'd never had a birthday cake. I had to tell her we don't have this kind of thing on Berk. [He laughs a little, quietly, and a black blur from the side indicates Toothless slipping into the frame, seating himself on the floor next to Hiccup and planting his head on the edge of the table to peer at the camera. The dragon purrs out an inquisitive noise as Hiccup cuts himself a thin slice of cake and tries it.

He's immediately making a face, setting it back down on the plastic tray.] Oh, wow, that's- sugary? That's so sweet. [His palate is accustomed to sparing amounts of honey as sweetener, not modern processed white sugar. Toothless leans in a little more and sniffs at the sliver of cake, then wrinkles his nose.] Yeah, I probably won't finish this. It'll be in the icebox if anyone on my floor wants it, though!

What kinds of birthday traditions do you have in your worlds? Anything fun? Something better than cake, hopefully.

Comments

[bluechampion]

Honey can be hard to find in Hyrule too, but there is cane sugar you can get from merchants. I think it grows mostly in the western parts of the kingdom, so there are quite a few sweets you can make there.

If you want, I know a few recipes for stuff that's sweet, but not overloaded with sugar. Have you ever tried baking apples with butter and cinnamon?

[Link gives a shrug.]

Well, I don't. I uh...kind of lost my memory not too long ago, so I can't remember if birthday celebrations exist in Hyrule.

[Link's pretty good at masking his emotions. It troubles him that he has so little memory, but he's not going to show it now.]

[thisisamazing]

We don't really have that at all, just honey, or sometimes fruit. I haven't tried baked apples, that sounds like it would be a lot better! [He does prefer fruit and things with fruit in it to straight sugar-bombs like this, apparently.

At the news that he lost his memory, though, Hiccup frowns slightly.] Oh, that's- uh, sorry, I didn't mean, uh. That- that sounds like it's been difficult.

[bluechampion]

It'll definitely be a lot less sweet than that cake. [If you don't like it, then Link is going to have to question the quality of your taste buds.

He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.]

It's not too bad. Not here, at least. More awkward than anything really.

[thisisamazing]

I guess it would be awkward. It's not... unsettling, not remembering anything? I think something like that would keep me awake at night.