[video] BACKDATED TO JAN. 19TH | un: newt

[groupiedrifter]

[Ah, yes, it's the half-dragon birthday boy!

He wastes no time in playing out the likely anticipated song of celebration.

Watch on YouTube

This lute is getting some mileage.

It ends on a smug, contented:]

Haaaappy biiiirthday to meeeee!

That's the second birthday in a row that we're stuck on a mission. Man. But at least this birthday wasn't me stuck on a western-themed planet where we literally ran out of food to eat. That was a real freakin' bummer. [... well, it was the worst part until the townspeople turned into ash, but we don't talk about our traumas, new bloods] You guys better tell me happy birthday by the end of the day, or I'll cast a spell on you.

.... Mmmmnah, that would be too easy.

I'll just follow you around playing nothing but the happy birthday theme.


But the point of this wasn't just to shout at the rooftops that I'm 37-years-old! I spoke with the barkeep, Fribbington? What a queen, guys; I'm so jealous of her beard. Do you know how hard it is for me to get one of those? It's borderline impossible.

Ah — Right. Like, I spoke with her, and she really does not like Jun Shortaxe. Something about being sure you and him are on the same side, because it's not always that clear. But she had a lot of good things to say about Dweyre — that he was smart as a tack, helped a lot of people while in their party, best in his group at the Knights of the Seven Sisters... that after he died, nothing was ever really the same for them. I wish I could say anything else about the conversation jumped out at me... but...

Oh!

She mentioned the heirloom was some kind of scepter.

Round and royal-like, passed down through the kings. So valuable to King Zaros that he was willing to send parties after it and into deadly situations. Apparently this kind of gig, it would have set up Fribbington and the Brigade for the rest of their days as adventurers.

Unfortunately, things went really sideways. You know.

But uh! Yeah, that's all I got. I gotta admit, I've never been very good at finding the little details when it comes to things like this — maybe that's the ADHD talking. Either way, I'm almost done with the Ballard of Dweyre, so make sure you stop by the tavern and give a listen.

... Also, like. Cake. I want cake this birthday.

Someone around here has to have cake.

And I've also got an important questionnaire for everyone, by the way; no rush to finish it, it's just a little something to pass the time. Especially you new people. New people are required to fill this out.

[Anyone who knows him knows he's full of shit. But the text file comes through:]


NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH:
FAVORITE MOVIES:
FAVORITE FOODS:
FAVORITE MUSIC:

What’s your claim to fame?

How do you like to spend your free time?

What skill would you like to master? 

What is your proudest accomplishment? 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

What is the most useless talent you have? 

If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

Are you a cat or a dog person?

Do you sing in the shower?

If you only had 5 minutes in a grocery store, what would you buy?

Which body part do you wish you could detach and why?

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

If police arrested you with no explanation, what would your friends assume you had done?

Can you touch your nose with your tongue?

Comments

text; un: harrington

[spikedbats]

[ Look, birthdays are a sore subject, okay? At least when it comes to his own. But he'll still celebrate everyone else's. ]

Hey, happy birthday man! I don't know about cake, but there's got to be something around here that's...cake...like?

[ He also had no intention of filling out the damn questionnaire, but as it turns out, he is easily bullied. ]

NAME: Steve Harrington
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/26/1966
FAVORITE MOVIES: Please don't make me fill this out it was hard enough coming up with any for my job interview
FAVORITE FOODS: Grilled cheese, pizza, anything you can order at a diner
FAVORITE MUSIC: Whatever was on the radio. I guess that's pop music? Rock is kind of growing on me, though.

What’s your claim to fame? Back home it was my hair. Yeah, yeah, shut up.

How do you like to spend your free time? Working out, I guess? To be honest I never really had much in the way of free time before, I guess I can add reading to that list now.

What skill would you like to master? I don't know, maybe how to actually win a fight for once?

What is your proudest accomplishment? As much as I hated working there, landing my job at this ice cream place back home. I think it was the first time I got something myself, not my parents getting it for me. It's stupid, I know.

What is your biggest pet peeve? When people have an entire conversation right in front of you knowing fully well you're not following a single thing that's being said.

What is the most useless talent you have? I...can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue?

If you had a warning label, what would yours say? This is going to hurt.

Are you a cat or a dog person? Can I be both?

Do you sing in the shower? In a safe place where I can't be bullied about my singing voice? You bet.

If you only had 5 minutes in a grocery store, what would you buy? Milk and a box of lucky charms, maybe some cheeto's.

Which body part do you wish you could detach and why? I...what...?

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? Eddie [ maybe...don't read into that too much. ]

If police arrested you with no explanation, what would your friends assume you had done? Got into a fight. You should've seen the other guy.

Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Wouldn't you like to know?

action;

[heroooic]

Did you post it yet, birthday-faker?

[Is he watching Steve like a hawk? You know it. They hadn't been rooming together as much as they did on the Ximilia, but Newt's birthday just happened to fall on a day where Finn was able to be an overbearing little brother about the whole thing. Thank Glob.]

[spikedbats]

Stop calling me that!

[ There's no bite to it, but Steve does give Finn an eyeroll (affectionately) for good measure. ]

Yeah, yeah, I posted it. You happy now?

[heroooic]

No. [In response to both Steve's request he stop and the question about happiness.] We still totally missed your birthday, man!

[spikedbats]

[ There's a heavy sigh from Steve, and he is definitely avoiding Finn's eye contact right now. ] It's not a big deal, man, wouldn't be the first time.

[heroooic]

That doesn't make it suck less! [Finn was emphatic, hopping off the pile of hay on his side of the shed they'd made camp in last night. He seems to be standing specifically to gesture more emphatically.] I know things are kinda nuts right now, but you gotta let us do something when we're back on the ship.

[spikedbats]

[ Steve sucks in a shaky breath, because he's not used to having anyone who cares that much about something so seemingly inconsequential, especially when it comes to Steve. Just because he's never really enjoyed his birthday before doesn't mean he's doomed to always have a shitty birthday. ] Okay. When we're back on the station. But nothing too big, okay?

[heroooic]

[Finn smiles. The smiles of innocence. The smile of babes.]

Oh yeah, man. Nothing too big.

[spikedbats]

[ How is it Steve falls for this every time? Henderson, Finn, hell Robin could have gotten away with it and she's not that much younger than Steve. ]

Okay...Okay cool. [ Maybe he should have made Finn pinky promise. ]

text; un: romanoff

[deaddrop]

Just how many fights are you losing?

text; un: harrington

[spikedbats]

Uh...probably easier to count the number that I've won.

Which is one, by the way, I have won a fight before.

[ Against a Russian, no less, but...maybe he shouldn't mention that to Natasha. ]

[deaddrop]

[It might raise her opinion of him. Or she might ask who the Russian was.]

That's not a very impressive number, but not everyone is a fighter.

You're not a fighter, right?

[spikedbats]

[ A couple years ago, that might have made him bristle. But compared to everyone else? She's right, it's not. ]

Not really. Only out of necessity. Had some kids I was looking out for, it was the only way to keep them safe.

[deaddrop]

That's a good reason to learn to be better.

When we get back on the station, Itachi and I have both been helping teach people how to fight.

Might be worth stopping in a few mornings.

[A pause, and then she adds:]

If you have other people you want to protect.

[spikedbats]

Yeah? I'd appreciate that. Anything to avoid ending up with another concussion.

[ It hadn't taken long at all for Steve to find himself with a new group of people he wanted to protect at all cost.

Plus it'd be nice not to end up in the infirmary when his self sacrificing instinct kicks in. ]

As it turns out, I do have some of those. People to protect, I mean.

[deaddrop]

I generally try to avoid giving people concussions while I'm teaching them.

Generally.

Looks bad when I get reviews.

[spikedbats]

Well that's a relief. Pretty sure I've had enough of those to last a lifetime.

[deaddrop]

You might want to bring that up with Dr. McCoy.

Just saying.

[spikedbats]

...

You think so?

[ It's not like he hasn't had check ups in between the numerous concussions, but those doctors probably weren't armed with the knowledge and technology that McCoy would have, so: ]

Okay, fine. A checkup probably couldn't hurt.

[deaddrop]

Speaking as someone who's had more than one concussion? Yeah, I do.

[Now has she brought that up with any medical professions on the station? No. But that doesn't mean she can't give good advice.]

text;

[groupiedrifter]

My next epic question: Journey to Find the Cake Castle. Or something. You do have some really AWESOME hair. Not to brag, but my hair is pretty sweet, too.

I just envy your volume.


Wait, you didn't TELL us it was your BIRTHDAY?

dude!!!

[newt was literally in the infirmary at the time but still]

[spikedbats]

Volume? That's an easy fix.

[ As easy as getting their hands on some good ol' fashioned Farrah Fawcett hairspray. ]

Ugh, not you, too.

Look, I'm used to it. It happens a lot when it falls right after Christmas, it's really no big deal.

[groupiedrifter]

YES me TOO
Are you that surprised? Look at how this network entry started!
What kinds of stuff do you like? We're doing this late!
I need BRANDS. SPECIFICS.

[spikedbats]

...
Touché
Um, shit.

[ It's not that there isn't stuff that he likes, but it's been so long since anyone has even bothered to ask that he doesn't even know where to start. ]

I guess, uh. Okay, if this were happening in Hawkins? Nothing fancy, just burgers, fries, it would drive my parents nuts. Which, you know, perfect.

This is going to sound really stupid because, you know, turning twenty and all, but.
I always wanted to be that kid that had the stupid birthday party at the bowling alley or whatever.

[groupiedrifter]

Hey, that's a cool birthday at any age. It's timeless!
We really gotta find a way to get some bowling done, in that case. D&D land, maybe not the best place to find a lane. But I'll figure out something!!!

[and he sure the fuck will, guar-an-teed]