[text]

[yep_stilldead]

Dear fellow passengers on the Voidtrecker Express:

I hope today sees you all in good spirits. I have been thinking a certain amount on the subject of birthdays - specifically, my own. The truth is, I don't remember exactly when my birthday was. It's been an awful long time since I celebrated one, so all that's left in my head is that it was somewhere in the spring. That may sound absurd, but if you think so, try spending twoo hundred years in the dark and see how much you remember afterwards.

In short, it is my opinion that at this point, I ought to be able to assign my birthday to whatever day I please. I've already missed out on hundreds of them, so in the interest of getting back on track, I'd like to make it as soon as possible. Incidentally, I do not wish to count those two hundred missed years towards my age, since I did nothing whatsoever during them and accordingly didn't age or mature at all. Furthermore, I don't think that being dead should mean I'm out of birthdays, in part because I'm still perfectly capable of celebrating them and in part because it would be terribly sad.

In conclusion, I would like to declare the 18th of Fiddlesticks to be my fifteenth birthday. Perhaps some sort of small party would be in order, but I'll refrain from demanding much, on account of my somewhat limited ability to help with the proceedings. To be perfectly honest, I would be perfectly happy even if all that happened was a few people dropping by to wish me a happy birthday.

I wish you all a good day.

Sincerely,
Ivy Wakefield

Comments

[les_magique]

I'm sorry I think I'm having trouble understanding this all. It almost sounds like you're some kind of ghost?

[yep_stilldead]

Dear Samata,

That is correct! I'm a ghost. I died years and years ago, but just happened to stick around afterwards.

Sincerely,
Ivy

[les_magique]

Dear Ivy,

Everyone I knew back home had a friend he knew someone who had seen a ghost, if you take my meaning, but actually finding a ghost was a bit trickier. I honestly didn't really believe in them.

Are ghosts common where you come from?

Curiously,
Samata

[Video]?

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Is Nita surprised? Yes. Is she bothered? Definitely not!]

Oh, you'd better believe you're getting a party.

[The council's literally getting a division for party-planning, it can't NOT happen now!]

You deserve to get to enjoy it! And future ones, for that matter.

[video]!

[yep_stilldead]

Yes, I quite agree! Just because I died doesn't mean my life has to end!

[That's literally what it means...]

Re: [video]!

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita grins.]

Wherever souls are a thing, kinda have to rethink what 'living' means.

If you can still have experiences, why would anyone want to waste them?

[maxwellsdaemon]

Don't know my birthday either. I either don't bother with the things or pick a date I like (usually April 1st because why the hell not?). Not even sure how old I am to be honest.

So pick a date. Any date. And celebrate! Have a party. Who can stop you?

[yep_stilldead]

Dear Mr.... forgive me, I don't have your name,

That's exactly the plan! That said, you must have lived quite the unusual life to not know your birthday while you're still alive. I hope it wasn't anything too dreadful.

Sincerely,
Ivy

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo. The names Duo.

Long story. But it basically amounts to the fact I don't know when I was born. So if I don't know that, I've no idea when my birthday is, or how old I am! Just gotta assume.

text

[pleple]

you can just do that?

Re: text

[yep_stilldead]

Dear stranger,

I don't see why not. Who's going to stop me? It's my birthday and nobody in the world remembers when it was.

Sincerely,
Ivy

[pleple]

Dear Ivy [ Why are they doing this so formally? When in Rome though... ]

I suppose there is no one to argue against that is there? Not when one doesn't know their own birthday.

Sincerely,
Ple Two

[alongtailtalltale]

Being dead sure is quite a thing to drop on people from out of the blue. But after being pulled here by an inter-dimensional train with a will of its own, and fighting a transforming robot hedgehog's army over control of a magic space rock, I guess I shouldn't be surprised ghosts are a thing.

But yeah! You rock it! You deserve a birthday same as anyone! Enjoy yourself!

[yep_stilldead]

Dear Ms. Stranger,

Oh, I'm terribly sorry! I forgot all about new people boarding the train; I thought everyone already knew. Nice to meet you, my name is Ivy Wakefield and I've been dead for a terribly long time.

Sincerely,
Ivy

[alongtailtalltale]

It's cool. My name is Tangle, by the way.

So what's it like being a ghost? Can you walk through walls?

[dredefulchilde]

I did it some months ago. I can't see why others wouldn't.

[yep_stilldead]

You mean you chose your own birthday? I suppose if you've beaten me to it, nobody else will find it particularly odd.

[runs_on_batteries]

What kind of cake would you like?

[yep_stilldead]

Oh! Er... sorry, but being a ghost I can't eat anything. Unfortunately, that includes cake.

Voice

[usernamesarecool]

You want a party Ivy, that's exactly what you'll get.

[yep_stilldead]

So it would seem! Everyone is quite insistent that a party happen.

video;

[flatteries]

[ Aww, Ivy.. After what he's seen in her dream back when those were happening, Inigo can totally get why she'd want to have a birthday. And who is Inigo if he wouldn't indulge all of his friends' every whim? ]

Are you kidding me? You deserve to have a huge party! I bet everyone on the train here likes you enough to make that happen.

[yep_stilldead]

Yes, everyone's been quite enthusiastic about the idea! It looks like we'll have a wonderful party in a few days. There will even be a cake!

I suppose I won't be growing any taller, but maybe I've grown a little as a person.

Voice

[laurefindil]

I completely agree that death is not the end, but merely a new phase in one's existence. It has been 4860 of my world's years since I started my second life, and birthdays should definitely be a thing. Especially if you are fifteen.

I would be happy to participate. Is there anything that we can do for you in your current state that would make your day more pleasant?

[yep_stilldead]

Four thousand years! Goodness. I thought that 214 years was a long time, but next to you I'm still a child. [She's still a child anyway, when you get down to it.]