this year's birthday

[ringbearer]

CHARACTERS: Frodo and you!
What: It's Frodo's Birthday, along with his Uncle's. As they were born on the same day, Frodo celebrates them both quietly this year. It is not how he expected it to be, but he does as hobbits do and manage as they always have. Pipeweed helps too, just saying.
SUMMARYS It's Frodo's birthday, along with his Uncle's. This year he celebrates it quietly.


Whenever a Baggins had a birthday, it was a great event. Most if not more than half the Shire would come and there had always been lively parties of enormous size held in Bag End. Ever since he had come to live with Bilbo in his younger years, Frodo had never known a dull birthday--even the quiet moments were precious to him. That year when they had his Uncle's birthday (he had turned eleventy-one, himself, 33) most of the Shire attended. Gandalf had cast brilliant fireworks and there had been dancing, laughter and his Uncle's boisterous voice even at such an age. How he remembered hiding from the Sackville-Bagginses, before he'd sold his home to them for the beginnings of the Quest.

For a moment it didn't seem as long, as Frodo quietly sat in a chair in the oxygen gardens; smoking a pipe. As most might not know, hobbits are fond of things that are green, from vestcolors, doors and good earth. Anything remotely similiar to something found on solid ground was better than nothing, and so Frodo found himself near whatever was as the familiar date crept upon him.

While he knew it was his birthday, he did not feel it as keenly as he felt his Uncle's. How he'd have traded all the palaces in the world to see him again.

Yet he had not seen Bilbo since Rivendell and he had been younger then and not as tired as he was now. Still, with a fine pipe and two generous bags of pipeweed, he could not say the Ship had been entirely unkind.

So on this day, instead of declaring it openly as Bilbo might have, Frodo Baggins quietly smoked from his pipe, focusing on how many large rings he could make from each puff as they floated to the top of the cieling.

Happy returns, He thought to himself, and it was a little sadder than it ought to have been just the same.

Comments

[watashinonamaewa]

The date of someone's birth was not an important thing in The City. It was something that happened and passed, just like every other day. For a short time, you are a crying infant, then a somewhat overanxious teenager, finally you become a hardened adult fighting for your life in those dark halls. Cibo couldn't remember any of this, though. Her years of a human had faded, like human memories do, over the course of her three-hundred and fifty eight years.

What she did remember were the cold years she spent alone. 192,848 hours. Twenty-two years. Before she joined Killy on his missions, she served her punishment of the Bio-Electric Corporation's science facility in the slums of The Capitol. Her body decaying; hooked to machines to keep the body and mind barely functioning. There was nothing down there that pleased her to see or smell for those long years.

The oxygen garden was a vast contrast to the horrible things she remembered. Strange organisms able to survive without proper defenses and a diet solely of clean water and dirt. No wonder she never saw such things growing in the concrete. Besides, rarely was there a decent source of light peeking through the cracks and clearings for such a thing to survive long. Even humans hidden from light adapt in odd ways — or die.

Cibo held her hands gently to the plants. Cautiously. As if they would suddenly spring to life and bite at her fingers like ravenous monsters. After a time, they were still and she found it difficult to believe they could even be considered alive. And appeared to be hundreds of breeds within the garden. As she walked along to observe them all, she recognized Frodo sitting there with some strange object in his hand and fine wisps of smoke escaping him.

From her distance, she couldn't make heads or tails of the device or what he was really doing.

"Frodo." A small smile in greeting. She was happy to see him especially when she felt so much better than their previous meeting. She drew closer and gestured to the thing he held, "What are you doing with that?"

[ringbearer]

"Miss Cibo?" He looks up from his pipe as he slowly props himself up in his chair, small as it is. There is a smile of greeting on his face as he sets his pipe down for a moment.

"With this? " The hobbit's eyes go to it with a blink before lifting to her face. "Have you never seen a pipe before?" Clearly she hadn't. There were many things he hadn't known about Cibo still. How her world seemed empty and silent, and this Killy who carried the same burden he did which made Cibo sad when she looked at him. He felt he knew enough of her, that she was young with emotions and in many ways like a child, in other ways not.

Just the same he welcomed her, thankful for some company to pass this day. Strange how it had always been so many people before now. Where had those days gone?

[watashinonamaewa]

A shake of her head in response. Such a strange device Frodo held; Breathing from it and releasing smoke like a machine would project steam. Even up close, she was unable to figure its purpose.

"I haven't. At least, not one shaped and used quite like that."

It was always an urge in the back of her mind to kneel down to Frodo's height when she was around him. Only because it made her feel strange to be looking so downward upon someone. She continued to stand, though. He was still a few feet away and her interest in the nearest plants continued to take her attention. The green and brown seemed to match Frodo in some way. It was pleased her in some way to see him there. He seemed much more relaxed than usual.

[ringbearer]

"It carries pipeweed. Something grown straight from the Shire. At least, I do not know how the Ship knew to bring it, let alone know of it, but here I will assume it's from. The taste is as I remember it. It tastes like Old Toby, " He remarked, smiling a little delightedly down at the pipe before raising it to her to inspect. It held only crushed leaves.

[watashinonamaewa]

She took the thing from him and carefully began to examine it, without turning it too much. Almost afraid that it would break if she were too rough. The material was nothing like she had seen before. Sturdy, but it wasn't metal. Instead it seemed hollow and light. So strange to her... She carefully handed it back to him with confusion in her expression.

"I don't entirely understand... What is it for?"

[the_infiltrator]

Cameron had been investigating the ship, trying to learn the layout, and giving John his promised handful of solitary hours per day. When she detected the smell of smoke, her first thought was of fire. It didn't smell anything like tobacco or the more pungent drugs she had come across, but neither did it smell like a fire.

Curiosity brought her over to the little hobbit, who she gazed down at in something like surprise.

"What are you doing?"

[ringbearer]

The sight of the woman finally come into view is enough to make Frodo lift his eyes with curiousity. For a minute he had tensed yet when he noticed her it fell away.

"Having a bit of a smoke, that's all. Good day to you." If it was even the afternoon in space, still, it was the polite thing to say.

[the_infiltrator]

Cameron takes things very literally, and there's a flicker of confusion in her expression before she remembers it's just an expression.

She settled beside him, kneeling in the thick jungle growth.

"My name's Cameron. I'm new here." And, in case Frodo hadn't noticed in all his years, "You're very small."

[ringbearer]

"Well met then, Miss Cameron. "
The words don't really surprise him, though he does smile a bit in response to them. "Yes, I'm told that quite often here. I'm a hobbit, if you've heard of them. I fear that few do save those from home."

[the_infiltrator]

"We don't have any humanoid creatures except humans where I'm from." She reaches out, stopping just short of the pipe. "Can I see it?"

[upheld]

The oxygen gardens were one of the places that Brienne had seen little of so far, each visit was short. She had spent so much time wandering the ship, this was the place to get away from the cold metal. With the trees, and creatures - most of which she was not familiar with, all about.

As she walked deeper in, she detected a strong smell of smoke, but she felt not any heat about her. The smell was ... different too, regardless. She did not have to walk long after that, before she spotted the Hobbit and pipe. She recognized Frodo from meeting him both jumps. "Hello." She tilted her head, frowning somewhat.

"What is that you are doing?"

[ringbearer]

The last face that he'd seen today was a familiar one, as Cibo's was. When he sees Brienne he offers her a friendly look of greeting. "Miss Brienne, " Frodo replies, brows furrowing as yet again another asks what he's doing. They've never seen a pipe before? If I ever doubted people from different worlds before, there is no reason to know.

"It's a pipe. Used for smoking pipeweed. Have you never seen one?"

[upheld]

Brienne inclined her head in a small nod. "Frodo." A much less formal greeting than she was used to giving, but found more people seemed comfortable with it.

"No, I am afraid I have not, although I am finding that happens often in this place."

[ringbearer]

"I believe I have another pipe. If you'd like to try it? It's not harmful. Very common for a hobbit to have at least one pipe on him. " He replies goodnaturedly, still baffled each time at how very tall Brienne is. Taller than most big folk, for certain. However she's gentle, and seems to have dear nature, so it's without fright that it comes to mind.

[upheld]

She shrugged. If he was doing it and said no harm could come from it, Brienne doubted he would lie about such a thing, or trick her. While she did not know him well, this much she could tell, one of the few she had met that she felt she could trust, even. "I suppose I could. Try it, I mean."

[tofindthesun]

It is not uncommon to see Frodo in the gardens; just as much as it is rare to see Legolas outside of them for any length of time. It's an immensely large facility, but the technical upkeep seems... simple enough. Compared to the size, in any case. He's learning, slowly.

But for now, he's finished his near daily examination of the jungle (as much as he can see in several hours, anyway) and is lounging in a tree when he actually notices the Hobbit. Or the smoke, in any case. It isn't a strange sight, and Frodo seems to be.. relaxed. Or tired, and trying to relax.

Legolas sees no reason to disturb him, but he does drop down to perch (meaning that he manages to somewhat cross his legs) wordlessly in the chair next to Frodo and start humming. Softly and lightly, like sounds being carried on a breeze; a song meant to comfort, to soothe, but with a touch of Silvan wildness that seems a bit out of place in a floating metal vessel, even among such a forest.

[ringbearer]

Indeed, if anything the greeting should hardly be a surprise to Frodo as his friend comes into view. Rather, he hears him beforehand. The soft singing almost sounds like a faint, song of celebration, gentler and soothing. A very quiet birthday song.

He says nothing, though the smile on his face says a hello, a good day and a thank you as he continues to smoke. Perhaps in a moment he'll tell Legolas how he knew to sing him a birthday song, but for now he'll be glad to enjoy his friend's singing.

[tofindthesun]

Perhaps he pretends not to notice Frodo's attention. Perhaps he knows and does not care. He tries not to let the pipeweed smoke bother him, nonetheless, and only when the song has trailed off to an end does he give a small cough. He doesn't move away, though; it's only a little smoke, nothing he can't deal with.

If neither of them says anything in the next minute or so, he'll start humming again, this time some nondescript tune may or may not be reminiscent of rustling leaves or rolling waves, strange as it is.

[ringbearer]

Frodo does speak up, and it's softly spoken. "I think that was an excellent way to spend my birthday. " He says it lightly, without much exultation only a quiet gratitude. "I did not expect to have a song and company as well. Thank you. " He pauses for a minute at the coughing sound.

"Does it bother you? " Frodo removes it from his mouth with a look of concern. It seems burning things would bother him, wouldn't it.

[tofindthesun]

"Your birthday?" He looks a tad surprised. Partly because he hadn't known, and partly because his people haven't had begetting day parties in.. well. A very long time. They get kind of old after the first three centuries. "Why have you not said so before? I would have picked a more appropriate song for you, Frodo."

Not that he knows any particular begetting day songs fit for Hobbits. Well. He supposes he can still wish him the best, even if eternal life part would not apply.

It does, but not enough to ask he stop. If it was, he could simply relocate elsewhere. Instead, Legolas shakes his head, laughs, and switches to a more festive song, merry, jovial-- or as jovial as a Wood-Elf might be (which is quite jovial, actually).

[tailcrook]

Despite numerous times where the gardens hosted such things before, it's a strange smell for Konoe to catch when he's there, never around for it until today. And initially he's a little worried. Something is burning, and particularly so in this cat's eye, an unknown kindle is a dangerous thing.

But at once, it can't be a fire, too faint.... At first he wonders if it could be Netherlands with his pipe, smoking something different than he had when they met. He decides to follow it, nose in the air, just to see if his guess is correct, until eventually spotting a ring floating up towards the hanging leaves. He's surprised to find someone much smaller than he anticipated as he looks down again, but he's not at all disappointed.

So coupled with a smile and a slight cant of his head, he speaks up from some steps away, "Frodo?"

[ringbearer]

Frodo lifts his head, turns to wonder who's speaking to him and notes who it is. He remembers him. Friendly face, strange features but no sign of hostility. The hobbit offers a smile in response with a greeting. "Good day to you, Konoe."

He wonders if maybe his smoking has disturbed him and he parts it from his lips. "I haven't bothered you with my smoke, have I?"

[tailcrook]

"Well, I haven't come to complain, so I suppose not." He ducks his head in turn, tail swaying without agitation to it. "I just didn't know it was something you liked...."

He's known different indulgences in his lifetime, after all, most of them edible. But he considers that maybe he's the disturbance here, and the end of his tail give a lopsided flicker as he looks up again to ask, "Am I interrupting?"

[ringbearer]

"I can only think it comes straight from home." Frodo replies softly, still smiling a small little smile. He doesn't look as tired today, content for a moment to be near something green for just a moment.

He looks startled at that before he shakes his head. "No, rather, on this day I should be glad for company."

[tailcrook]

It's a similar comfort for the cat, his home rich and verdant even in its state of decay. He tilts his head some at Frodo's words, calm and thoughtful in this quiet place.

The thought of celebrating particular days is a still a bit lost to Konoe, after so many years living unsure he'd see tomorrow, let alone the same time a year later. But he's heard of enough birthdays over the network by now to guess that if anything special is going on, there's a good chance it's one of those.

Or it could simply be a day where seeing a friendly face is just what's needed. Certainly he's had those, and Konoe is glad to offer one for Frodo.

"Has something happened today?"