[VIDEO]

[demonicbeauty]

[The feed is shaking and not completely centered. Odds are, it's Airy. And, in fact, after a moment, she manages to almost frame her face.

She's in her Human form today. And looks a bit sheepish.]

I don't know how, but it completely slipped my mind. Yesterday was the anniversary of my birth. I think.

[If her math is correct, which it almost certainly is.]

I feel terrible. Were there any local rituals I was meant to observe? Did the gods expect some kind of sacrifice or fast? If so, I'll do that right away!

Comments

[Video]

[theprezident]

Uh-- Last I checked, the gods didn't have any strong opinions on sacrifice, and I haven't seen any Asgardians doing it for their birthdays. So I wouldn't worry about that.

[ A pause. ]

Happy birthday!

[demonicbeauty]

Sacrifice can be...strange around here.

[She sighs, before shaking her head and smiling slightly.]

Thank you, I suppose.

[theprezident]

Just around here? It's pretty strange to me anywhere, I'll be honest.

[demonicbeauty]

Well, it depends on what you're sacrificing. And why. And to who.

[theprezident]

Oh yeah. I was just thinking about the animal sacrifices ...

[ His gaze turns distant for a moment, before he shakes his head. ]

I guess they accept plenty of other sacrifices, but I think that's mostly for when you want to talk to them.

[ Video ]

[dataset]

Happy birthday, Ariadne.

[ A pause. ]

I am not aware of any local traditions in Asgard, but I do know of birthday customs that humans had where I come from.

[demonicbeauty]

What were they like?

[She starts to prop her chin in her hands, before realizing that it turns the camera away, so she quickly readjusts.]

I love hearing about rituals.

[dataset]

The tradition seems to depend on how close you were to the individual. If you were family, you might host a party on their behalf with balloons, cake, and gifts. If you were friends, you may get them a gift that you think they might appreciate.

[demonicbeauty]

[She laughs.]

Well, I like the cake part.

[dataset]

[ He puts a hand to his chin and considers for a second. ]

You'd prefer cake over gifts?

Video;

[madcuriosity]

You could celebrate your unbirthday then, or a belated birthday?

My birthday is in 3 days, do you think we age here?

[demonicbeauty]

[That's...something she hadn't considered.]

I...don't see why we wouldn't age. We do everything else like normal. We eat and breathe and...get sick.

[madcuriosity]

But also do things that aren't normal, like have powers we mayn't have before, or those who had them no longer do. So something must have happened to our bodies.

[demonicbeauty]

That's true.

I don't know. How do you tell if you're aging?

[A pause.]

I mean, I know how to tell. But it's a slow process.

[madcuriosity]

Mnn, well, I've been told growing among children is quite quick! Whenever I visit relatives I always hear "why Alice, how much you've grown" and I could have seen them only the week before! So perhaps we can wait a week or so to see if I've done so?

video;

[tealeafs]

I really think we've had enough sacrifice after that one time..

[ Please, let's not slaughter anymore innocent animals, okay. Chizuru's heart can't handle it, hence why she sounds so awkward as she says that. ]

So far it seems the gods haven't really had any rituals though that stem from before we showed up here..? And I don't think they've ever brought up birthdays.

[demonicbeauty]

Oh! Gods, no! I didn't mean that kind of sacrifice.

[Not that she disrespects anyone's beliefs. But it's really not her style.]

I've never been to a place that didn't have some kind of ritual...

[tealeafs]

What kind of rituals did they have for it then where you come from?

[ She can't help but be a little curious, considering the kind of importance Ariadne seems to place on it. ]

[demonicbeauty]

Well...

There's a race called the Daruc. And when they celebrate the anniversary of their birth, they present a gift to their mother or mothers.

And if they're not alive, they make a symbolic offering in a temple.

[tealeafs]

.. that's a rather sweet ritual.

[ And a sad one, considering that last part. But she manages to smile about it all the same. ]

It's probably to show your gratitude towards your mother for bringing you into this world and raising you, right? I like that idea.

Video

[beefaroni]

Why... do you feel a need. To do anything? This is not... your world.

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne smiles gently.]

Well, no. But it's always polite to honor the traditions of a place when you're a guest. Especially for a long time.

[beefaroni]

We are not "guests."

[demonicbeauty]

...then what are we?

[beefaroni]

... Not prisoners. But... not guests. Something... in-between.