Multiverse birthday
While having a chill and quiet time as my birthday (really, I needed that), I started thinking about how my various characters would celebrate their birthday. Lately I've been working on adding small personal 'life' touches to each character, as it makes them feel more 'real', so below is a small exercise in frivolity while I wait for some of my new stuff to download.
++ Bold Venture Station, Sector 65 (Contested Territory) ++
They'd celebrated their decanting days together, in the barracks - if the civilians caught wind they'd no doubt try to wrangle them in some sort of ceremony involving mood music and alcohol - and none of them wanted to overcomplicate things. The gifts were suiting: a new Mk. IX Tacvest with nanofluidic inserts from his brothers, a toolset from Top and an extra ammo allowance on the next mission from Brains. They had shared some Garretson engine room hooch just before morning briefing, and then it was back to business as usual. Ready to serve the Emperor for another solar rotation.
++ On the outskirts of Telmond, The Old World ++
The birthday-party had been magnificent. A garish collection of men, woman, boys and girls had looked their best for the 'New World' theme party, crudely mimicking the stories that Gino's family had brought back. The implied familiarity was oddly relaxing, and the temptation to chat up to the absolutely adorable boys of the Vincere family - dressed up as a certain pair of priests - had been too good to pass up. The party had gone on to become even more interesting when the more prudish people had left, as Gino had hoped. The last party goers were even now awakening after a long night of debauchery, various garments and wineglasses scattered to and fro. And Kirsten seemed to have found an acceptably pliable nobleman to marry. Yes, definatively a good night.
++ Safe Haven, Realmspace World of Terra ++
The small common room was crammed with gifts, each more elaborate then the rest. Close to a hundred people had sent well-wishes and lavish presents, and each and every one has also found some reason or another to weasel themselves out of the party. As usual, a part from his circle of apprentices (who really did not have much of a choice, he reflected). It did not matter. Xandos preferred his own company and accepted the consequences of his dire reputation. He sat down with his small cake, and blew out the one candle on it. "Happy birthday to... me." he spoke with a smile, and retired to his bedroom with an expensive hooker, his spellbook and an incantation of warding for the door.
++ Sea of Amakusa, Higashigoku ++
He'd found the small box with the haiku on his bunk in the morning. As the Yukikaze-Maru was sailing around the Hokoshima peninsula his day of birth passed, and appearently a few of his family members had instructed the crew to place the box on his bed this very day. They never celebrated it obviously, but always exchanged gifts. A few small trinkets, including a lead mark clearly forged on the World of the 'Drachen' were arranged esthetically around a small bound volume on siegecraft, betraying Kio's sense of style. Thanking the Kami for his thoughtful family Masuo opened the book and started reading.
++ Eventyr, ruins of Laoghairnon ++
With the camp still carefully rebuilding the damage suffered from undead, goblins and barbarians gifts were scarce, and few people even knew when Bertrams birthday was. Still, there were a few toasts, a thoughtful trinket from some friends and a celebratory whack over the head from Reinhart during morning weapon practice. The best gift, however, had come in the form of a rather large package. With the end of the Undead war the postal services had been restored and his letters had finally found his family. They had survived. His father had even been able to secure a reasonably safe and comfortable position as blacksmith, for his 'war relevant skills'. He had sent a reply letter and what weapons and armor he had available to his son on the frontline. Armaments aside, though, Bertram did not stop smiling that day - he was no longer alone.
++ Bold Venture Station, Sector 65 (Contested Territory) ++
They'd celebrated their decanting days together, in the barracks - if the civilians caught wind they'd no doubt try to wrangle them in some sort of ceremony involving mood music and alcohol - and none of them wanted to overcomplicate things. The gifts were suiting: a new Mk. IX Tacvest with nanofluidic inserts from his brothers, a toolset from Top and an extra ammo allowance on the next mission from Brains. They had shared some Garretson engine room hooch just before morning briefing, and then it was back to business as usual. Ready to serve the Emperor for another solar rotation.
++ On the outskirts of Telmond, The Old World ++
The birthday-party had been magnificent. A garish collection of men, woman, boys and girls had looked their best for the 'New World' theme party, crudely mimicking the stories that Gino's family had brought back. The implied familiarity was oddly relaxing, and the temptation to chat up to the absolutely adorable boys of the Vincere family - dressed up as a certain pair of priests - had been too good to pass up. The party had gone on to become even more interesting when the more prudish people had left, as Gino had hoped. The last party goers were even now awakening after a long night of debauchery, various garments and wineglasses scattered to and fro. And Kirsten seemed to have found an acceptably pliable nobleman to marry. Yes, definatively a good night.
++ Safe Haven, Realmspace World of Terra ++
The small common room was crammed with gifts, each more elaborate then the rest. Close to a hundred people had sent well-wishes and lavish presents, and each and every one has also found some reason or another to weasel themselves out of the party. As usual, a part from his circle of apprentices (who really did not have much of a choice, he reflected). It did not matter. Xandos preferred his own company and accepted the consequences of his dire reputation. He sat down with his small cake, and blew out the one candle on it. "Happy birthday to... me." he spoke with a smile, and retired to his bedroom with an expensive hooker, his spellbook and an incantation of warding for the door.
++ Sea of Amakusa, Higashigoku ++
He'd found the small box with the haiku on his bunk in the morning. As the Yukikaze-Maru was sailing around the Hokoshima peninsula his day of birth passed, and appearently a few of his family members had instructed the crew to place the box on his bed this very day. They never celebrated it obviously, but always exchanged gifts. A few small trinkets, including a lead mark clearly forged on the World of the 'Drachen' were arranged esthetically around a small bound volume on siegecraft, betraying Kio's sense of style. Thanking the Kami for his thoughtful family Masuo opened the book and started reading.
++ Eventyr, ruins of Laoghairnon ++
With the camp still carefully rebuilding the damage suffered from undead, goblins and barbarians gifts were scarce, and few people even knew when Bertrams birthday was. Still, there were a few toasts, a thoughtful trinket from some friends and a celebratory whack over the head from Reinhart during morning weapon practice. The best gift, however, had come in the form of a rather large package. With the end of the Undead war the postal services had been restored and his letters had finally found his family. They had survived. His father had even been able to secure a reasonably safe and comfortable position as blacksmith, for his 'war relevant skills'. He had sent a reply letter and what weapons and armor he had available to his son on the frontline. Armaments aside, though, Bertram did not stop smiling that day - he was no longer alone.