riverview | video, @hiccup

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not going to finish it anyway, haha. My teeth already hurt. And Val's threatening to send me a picture of her behind so I'm inclined to just let her have whatever cake is left.

The door is open, when you get here.

You should really consider moving out.

I'll be there soon.

I'm looking at a place, actually! It's near the University and would have room to build on that loft, but I'm still working some things out.

[Acquiring building materials and the like, because he prioritized land over a ready built house. It's not like he hasn't built his own place before.]

I'll see you then.

[ At this point, Loki is perfectly used to appearing in Hiccup's room, dodging any empty bottles and casually mussing up Hux's bed (for no real reason beyond Val telling him to) ]

Hiccup?

[There is a reason Hiccup mostly sleeps in the common room or on the roof, wherever Toothless is. Several reasons. The people on his floor that he's really met are nice enough but lord the place is a disaster.]

Here, in the kitchen. Hey!

[ Loki ambles towards the kitchen, making note of the surroundings. ]

Are you hiding the cake?

[Hiccup laughs, but shakes his head, pulling the rest of the cake (all but one very thin slice) out of the fridge, and grabbing a knife.] No, it's right here. Not that I know how you can eat this stuff. [He probably shouldn't have started with a sprinkle-covered confetti cake.]

[ Loki squints at it. ]

Are you sure that is a cake.

[A snort.] That's what I was told it was. The lady at the grocery store was very insistent I try a birthday cake. It's very, um. Colorful.

I suppose as long as it tastes like cake, the ... frivolities do not matter.

[ Loki has seen some of the things that Taako makes, after all. ]

I'll let you be the judge of that. I'm still not used to white sugar. [Maybe it's just his tastebuds that are fucked. He slices off a piece of the cake (which has sprinkles inside too, as you do), and hands it off on a plate to Loki with a fork.] It could just be I don't know what cake tastes like.

[Except this is grocery store cake so it's. It's not fantastic.]

I've gotten used to sweetness.

[ Loki's always had a sweet tooth, though it dulled for a while. Taako had helped with that, making him test out any new treat and concoction. And over time, Loki had regained his sense of joie de vivre. With his fork, he cuts a small part and bites into it. ]

It is not too shabby. Though if you want a better one, I have connections.

Then clearly I just don't know what cake is supposed to taste like. [A laugh.] I think it's the frosting I can't get through.

[He smiles fondly at the offer, but he shakes his head once.] No, that's okay. Steve- uh, Steve Rogers- is coming by sometime in the next few days and we're going to try to make a carrot cake. He says it's less sweet.

Is he now.

[ Ah, Steve. There's a tiny twitch to his lips. ]

That's nice of him.

Yeah, it'll be fun. I've never really done much baking before, besides, you know, bread. [Which is really just part of a viking's life and not so much an art-form.] Steve seems really nice, though. You guys know each other?

You could say that.

[ He'll let Steve answer that. ]

I have no doubt he'll aid you well.

[He snorts.] That phrasing tells me something is going over my head right now about the two of you.

You can give him the intrusive questions then.

[ Because Loki's terrible like that. ]

video, @hiccup

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