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

[thisisamazing]

I don't think it's messed up, I think I just don't like cake much. [He laughs quietly, shaking his head. The forked tip of Toothless' tongue darts out to taste the frosting, and he immediately reels back, tongue hanging out and eyes flattening.

Hiccup rolls his eyes.] None for you either, bud. It's bad enough you keep eating Val's leftovers.

[brotrips]

(Considering Noctis' dislike of vegetables, he can understand being a little choosy with your meals. It is kind of amusing to watch the dragon. It manages to take any edge away from Noctis' demeanor, and he realizes a lot more about Hiccup than he normally does around strangers.)

Don't give up on it already. There's a lot of different kind of cakes. Pies too, which are kind of different.

[thisisamazing]

I've heard there are kinds that aren't so sweet. Like carrot cake, I guess? But how does anyone eat frosting? [He feels a little bad because the lady at the grocery store had been so nice, but god, frosting is bad. His teeth hurt.] Of course pie is different. Pie is usually edible!

[brotrips]

Carrot cake is a waste of cake. (Vegetables are disgusting, even moreso than frosting for sure. Noctis doesn't eat a lot of sweets, but he'd eat a cake before a carrot, and never should the two cross.) But you can just have pie for your birthday.

[thisisamazing]

I don't know, I thought it sounded good. I'm going to try to bake one eventually. It actually sounds like it has real food ingredients in it. [Carrots are real food, unlike cane sugar and preservatives.] See, I was told the tradition is cake. If someone had mentioned I could have birthday pie, I would have gone for that option.

[brotrips]

Yeah, normally, cake is traditional, but it's no good if you can't eat. It's only tradition because normally, people like it, and birthdays are about treating yourself so if you like pie better, you should just get pie.

I've always had cake.

[thisisamazing]

I guess it makes sense if most people like this stuff. Well, now I know for next year, if I'm still around. [Not that he's necessarily planning to be, he is feeling pretty homesick these days, but well.]

What's your favorite kind of pie, then? I could use recommendations.

[brotrips]

There are sweet pies, like the kind that use berries and fruits, but there are meat pies, too. You can add all kinds of meats, and people usually don't feel like that need to add many vegetables. It's not really a birthday dessert, though. Just pick your favorite fruit.