Finally out of the closet writer presents...
Birthday Blues: Marks Another Year of Living
Happy birthday to me~ I'm a day before Silver's! ＼(^^)／ maybe it would be a bit sad for some? But the 1st years pop up here to celebrate along with Grim and the ghosts near the end ^^ GN! Yuu, Yuu is you Crowley mention jumpscare
Summary: Yuu celebrate's their birthday alone (not).
Note: Descriptions of drowning and dying in a dream, somewhat deep-dive to in-game Yuu's personality since I'm using this as base.
11:56 pm.
The candles swirled around in the dark, adorned on top of a cake slice you've saved that you've bought in the cafeteria.
Compared to the night sky outside, you stared at the artificial light, the fire danced out of rhythm as it shines brigther than the Moon.
The cricket's chirp, while the wind runs towards the window, accompanied by the tapping of the rain.
Calming to some, a nuisance to the rest.
11:57 pm.
You couldn't sleep. For unknown reasons to you, Grim had decided to ditch you for the day and went with Ace and Deuce for a supposed "study session" they excuse out.
So, you were alone in the dorm.
The candles slowly die out as the wax melts off on top, letting the smoke turn black at the edge of it's flames.
...It often felt like you were alone.
Once all the laugther dies out, once all the anger was lashed out, once all the tears were cried out– you remained an anomaly.
Standing amongst students like a sore thumb, everyone knew you weren't like the rest.
Magicless, out of this world, a person without a home to return to.
11:58 pm.
You steadily picked up the candles one-by-one as you blew out the ember, just to pass the time of being sober.
The candles rolled around the table's surface each time you did so.
...How many more days must you count?
How many more to hope that you can still return, grieve of lost time with loved ones, blame to onself that you shouldn't had went out that day– the day the carriage crashed onto you.
As it brought you here after, in this unknown world that everyone here calls "Twisted Wonderland". Their world, their home.
11:59 pm.
You pluck out the last candle on the slice, lifting it up to your face. All that remains is a glow, dimmed out as only one is left.
Like a similiar saying goes– "A blown out candle can only mimic what the others give to stand out, until it dies out once more, discarded and proven as useless."
The wind cracked the window kitchen open, flowing inside until the breeze entered the dining room.
It's cold.
You closed your eyes to brace yourself for anything else the air may gift.
Once the wind died down, the rain replaced it's absence as the sound cracked along the walls. The window wide open, yet it politely did not invite itself in cause of their friend's intrusion.
Things always felt so different at night.
You turned your head back to your candle, only to see it extinguish.
12:00 am.
...
Happy Birthday.
You greet yourself, you then lift up the fork next to the plate as you start eating the cake slice. The closest thing to your favorite flavor, you only scrap availability of your resources afterall.
About two or three more bites into the cake, you then stopped eating. The fork clattered to the plate as you brought your hands towards your face.
Oh...What are you even doing?
Did you expect anything new? What, that the bird-brain headmage found your home? That the constant stares of being different stop?
That everyone can understand your situation?
You massaged your forehead to prevent a migraine coming up.
Now you don't feel so hunrgy.
12:01 am.
If only Grim were here, he would've at least finished your slice. That weasel, your weasel.
The chair scraped across the floor as you bent down to lay on the table. Shame? Guilt? Pity? You couldn't put it to words what the feeling is.
You turned your head to watch the open window, the rain now slowing down to signal the end of it's arrival.
Even the rain can go back, why can't you?
Your eyes felt heavy as you tried to fight off your drowsiness to no avail.
And then, it all went dark.
12:02 am.
Snarkiness can only save you from hiding jealousy. Each overblot that ends, they somehow find a piece of themselves.
You were dropped onto a ocean of ink. Weighing down like an anchor to the very bottom.
Drowning, yet you couldn't feel that you were.
The feeling was cast aside instead.
The piece of yourself, removed.
12:03 am.
You may be blunt, but you can't even be honest with yourself.
Slowly, you felt multiple hands grip onto your body. Arms, legs, torso, neck. Pulling down even more.
You don't want this, yet you let it happen.
It's all pre-determined since getting here, huh?
You opened your mouth, yet not a shriek was heard.
12:04 am.
Kindness, the lack of thereof.
You were fortunate to receive even just a small amount.
Whether from people, or incidents.
This twisted world, isn't such a wonderland to you. It never was, the small moments of happiness were enough to conceal it.
The hands increased and starts to aggresively drag you down even more.
Your mouth and eyes were then covered as you felt a sharp pain in your stomach.
It hurts, oh it hurts.
But you need to keep going, no?
You started to care, started to be kind to the people that were mutual.
It lessens the heavy heart.
12:05 am.
You weren't sure if the liquid you were feeling now was your blood or the ink creeping into your insides.
The hands started tearing into your corpse, ready to discard right after.
This dilemma to continue trying at this point.
12:06 am.
When the only option is to follow. Until something new happens again to repeat the cycle.
12:07 am.
Then you heard the door slammed open.
"SURPRISE!!!"
Numerous shouts synchronized that almost blew your ears off. You heard the lights flicker open as you immediately raised your head up to see the commotion.
Is that—
"Surprise!" Grim ran up to you with the biggest smile his "w" mouth can muster.
"Sorry we took so long, those idiots over there took longer on getting out their dorm than getting the cake ready!" The feline complains while dragging out you out of the chair with his paws.
"Hoi! Mind you foul beast, most of us here actually asked for permission from our house warden's rather than sneaking out!" You could tell it was Sebek even though you were still in the hallway.
"That's true, I even went past my bedtime for the occasion."
"Man you curfew yourself?"
The volume lessened, but you could make out the voices belong to Jack and Ace respectively.
Is everyone else here? What are they doing here?
Your eyes adjusted to the light, to see the sight of everyone in the lounge right after.
Oh.
The moment you stepped in, confetti poppers flew on all directions, some even getting onto you.
The culprits being Ace and Ortho, even with a mask you could tell blue fireball had a smile as wide as the orange head.
A background music akin to the birthday song starts playing, blasting on the robot's built in speakers.
Deuce and Epel both held balloons, each with different design and color. They also had party blowers that they used along with the previous two after the confetti.
The only ones not having one are Jack and Sebek, as they held an opened box that revealed– a circular cake with frosting that was all over the place on top.
Before you could process what's happening properly, you felt a weight on your head.
You reached up to feel the texture of a top hat.
"Sorry we weree out too, Yuu. We were makingg enough food for everyonee." The ghost that gave you his hat chortled before flying off with the other two ghosts, holding a banner.
The words were...
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YUU!"
Everyone shouted.
Oh, wow..
"Heh, we got my henchman speechless!" Grim plucked a fish shaped candle on his fur before blowing fire on it.
Ortho picked it up for him to place into the middle of the cake, illuminating everything else on the cake.
Multiple swirl attempts at the side, small biscuits circled with frosting of multiple sizes and pipe skills at the top, and the letters "Happy Birthday!" on the whole cake.
"Well, it was a surprise. Bet ya didn't have a single clue!" Epel smirked out.
"Grim wanted us not to say a thing, but let's talk about that later– about time you blow to make a wish on your candle!" Deuce ushered you to where Jack and Sebek were, still holding the cake.
"My arms is getting tired– hurry up, Yuu! So we can start eating and giving your presents!" The light green head huffed out.
There, you were on a standstill.
You couldn't believe it.
They remembered?
You hardly talk about your home life since becoming a student. Heck, you don't even remember if you ever mentioned to any of them.
Tightrope walking around responsibilities and occurence's that are unpleasant. There's no room to even introduce yourself.
And yet–
"Prefect?" Your thoughts were popped out once you felt a hand your shoulder, Ace's.
"You look like you've seen a ghost. I mean you did but–" he gestured with his spare hand.
"What? You mad at us for taking too long?" He snickered out as he patted your shoulder.
"Dude you bought a last-minute present, of course they'll be mad." Deuce snitched out.
"Be quiet! You didn't hear that– I'll treat you to something nice by the afternoon!"
"Yuu! Yuu! Hurry! I'm getting hungry!" Grim climbed up to your shoulders as he rubbed his paws together.
Everyone then stared at you, the candle still burning bright.
... Something warm started running down your cheeks, and everything you wanted to say clogged into your throat.
"Woah hey! Are– are you crying?" Jack was the first one to point out.
Were you?
Ahh, you don't want to dampen the mood. Not like this.
All those joyous looks, now welcomed in worry as you tried to wipe them out. Ortho turned off the music as he floated to you.
"Scanning... tear duct system currently draining older tears. Suggested course of action, cheer the person up." His robotic tone changes back to his boyish voice at the last sentence.
"Here, Yuu." Sebek pulls out a napkin on his pocket while still balancing the cake before handing it to you.
"Told ya'll a surprise party at mi'night is a bad idea." Epel murmured out.
The ghosts puts the banner down before the smallest of the bunch slides through the students to face you.
"Aw, don't be sad Yuu! It's youur special day." The transparent hand pats the side of your face as comfort.
The other two puts up a warm smile, spinning around you. "Alll that gloom won'tt be necesarryyy."
"Today's where the speciall person shoould always smilee. Can you smiile for uss?" The skinny one asks while adjusting the top hat on your head.
"That's right, Yuu! Even if crying can help regulate emotions, smiling reduces stress and anxiety, increase mood-enhancing hormones, and release neuropeptides to improve your neural communication!" Ortho lists down.
"And I don't like seeing you sad all the time! Especially today" Grim wraps his paws around head while standing on your shoulder.
"Cheer up, Yuu!" He smiles out while repeating the words.
Everyone joins along. Each with their own timbre and emotion to it, with one of them hesitating before joining along.
"Prefect of Ramshackle, if you're not feeling so blue now, come on and blow your candle!" Ace uses his magic to rekindle the doused candle.
"Ortho! Hit back the music, were singing happy birthday!" He announces, his bright scarlet eyes twinkling with mischief.
"What?! I am not singing Happy Birthday!" Sebek shrieks out. Already defending his last bit of pride.
"Come on– you said you wanted to give Yuu a better present right? I bet hearing you sing will brighten their day." Deuce snickered out, on board of singing.
"Ye! If ya sing in groups, it won't sound it's a chicken cry." Epel joins in the agreement train.
"Why you– Jack, do something!" The half-fae cried wolf.
"Don't people usually sing happy birthday? It would be awkward to be the only person silent." He insists.
"There's no getting out of this one Zigvolt!" Ortho laughed out as he grunted in defeat.
"Guys settle down! I'm choosing the music already."
Wait, devices can bluetooth to Ortho?
"Devices can connect if I permit it, Yuu!" He answered your self question.
"I'll sing better than anyone here just for my henchman!" Grim cheered out while hopping into Sebek's shoulder.
"Alright on the count of three. One, two, three..."
To say that they were alright was an understatement. It was the most off-key happy birthday singing you've ever heard, they were on beat but– the hitting of notes was not it.
Nevertheless, you feel content.
The candle light danced to the tempo as you stared at it.
Even when the light is running low, you couldn't help but wonder– how would you muster the courage to continue living in this unknown world, without all of them?
Even with their NRC spirit, they are the closest to family since being here.
Only but a thought as you brush it off.
Once they hit the final note of the song, you blew out your candle.
Even in pitch black, they are with you in the dark.
You couldn't have it any other way.
"Mwaha! Let's go eat!"
"Hoi Grim! You can't stuff your face onto the cake! Have the birthday person have it first!"
"Hey where's the plates at? I'll go set the table."
"2nd cabinett topp, Jack."
"Yuu, go sit down, we'll take this from here."
"I brought a game board with me, up for a round after eating?"
"Oh you're on! I'll tear the floor ya'll be cryin spoiled malk!"
"Do you guys want me set a projector while eating? We haven't finished that series we were watching last time."
...
"Thank you, everyone."
10:56 am.
You groggily wake up first out of everyone still fast asleep.
The sun light seeps through the curtain, drying off the rain from last night.
You look around the lounge. Ace and Deuce on the other couch infront of the window, Jack on the floor cluttered in pillows and blankets along with Epel, Ortho in sleep mode sitting the couch you were in, and Sebek snoring at the rocking chair.
Some game pieces was sprawled on the table too, with one of the mini cars flipped over with a piece still on it. The cards were saved and remained still stack nicely at the table, forgotten to clean but not also to tidy.
You then look down to see Grim curled on your stomach, explains why you couldn't get up right away.
You pinch his side, earning a hiss at the pressure.
"Nghh... that hurt a ton, Yuu!" He grumbled out as he rolled out of you, you were then able to stand up and stretch your arms out.
"Henchman, are you gonna go to the kitchen? Can I come, I wanna check for the leftovers!" You knew he mean't to eat them rather than check, and you weren't planning to go to. But then again, you felt a bit hungry.
You nodded as you started walking, the feline right behind you.
"Did you enjoy the surprise? I The Great Grim planned it out!" He announced.
You smiled at the pleasant memories. With one of the main one's being watching the plot twist villain on the series, having the pillow fight of your life, and dashing everyone's face with frosting.
At the kitchen, you opened the fridge and grabbed the tupperware with the food.
"Grab the apple tarts one for me!" The feline went grabby paws for it as you do so and set everything on the counter before closing the fridge.
"It took a lot of convincing to get everyone out, especially with Riddle–" Grim's face contorted to what looked like he ate a lemon to you.
"But they agreed to in the end! I remember their sending in gifts also, you should definitely open Trey's up immediately for food!"
You microwaved the roast chicken while eating the apple tart with Grim.
"...I'm sorry if I scared you." Your companion's voice suddenly turned apologetic.
"I wanted to do something awesome for your birthday, something to blow you away. Then you started crying and then I thought..." his ears droop down as he held the tart on his paws.
"I'm sorry, Yuu."
...
You sigh.
You opted to pet Grim's head while offering a smile.
"It's alright."
His eyes light up, still guilty, but happy.
The microwave beeped right after. Carefully scooping it out with a cloth before opening the insides.
The smell is still amazing, even if reheated.
"Yuu."
You lift your head up to Grim while chewing on a chicken piece.
"Let's celebrate more until then!" He raised his paws up before clenching them in a determined manner.
"Let's." You accept the promise.
Emotions will take a turmoil every once or more in awhile, and maybe the future will take a u-turn.
Even so, you've been reassured. That tomorrow, you'll be with them. Together, until then.
After eating, you've put back the dishes on the dry rack back to their respective cabinets.
You were about to start washing the tupperware, when you noticed the dining table had a dirty plate and fork on it.
That's–
"Was that yours? I already ate the slice while Jack throwed out the candles. But Sebek grabbed me by my scruff before I could place it on the sink!" Grim admitted while turning on the sink.
You bore holes onto it, before picking it up and washed it along with Grim, who was already playing around with the dish soap on the sponge.
Only time will tell what happens from here.
"Grim?"
"Yeah, henchman?"
"Let's get more cake later."
"Sounds like a plan!"
