video; un: Maid-in-Mantle

[hacktivated]

[ The feed opens up to an aggressively cheerful young woman beaming at the camera. ]

Sal-u-tations, residents of Trench! I'd like to ask you a question!

It's been a year since I came to Trench, and I've met so many wonderful people since I've arrived - including Evelyn!

[ She gestures to Evelyn who is, by all appearances, and Omen in the form of a tiny flying humpback whale. ]

I've never had a chance for this kind of celebration, though, so I wanted to ask: how do you commemorate the anniversary of something?

Comments

video; un: harbinger

[bolstafir]

...I would've said having a special meal or going out for a drink, but I guess those don't really apply to you, huh.

[They've never talked very much when their paths crossed, but Qrow's gotten so used to her general presence that he forgets, sometimes, that she is in fact not human. Also, now he's a little invested in thinking of an alternative, considering how food-motivated he is. It's kind of a bummer for that entire category of experiences to be unavailable to her.]

There anything significant that sticks out from your first day? Maybe something you did on the beach, or the boardwalk?

[hacktivated]

[ Penny, similarly, has a more hypothetical relationship with Qrow than a truly established on. Still, he's Ruby's uncle, and Ruby speaks highly of him, and that's a lifetime worth of accolades in Penny's opinion. ]

My first day... I was a squid first. But then I met Ruby, and Ange and I defeated a stalker, and then I helped other people get out of the ocean and find their bags.

[bolstafir]

[...A stalker, huh? That sounds like some Shenanigans he missed.]

Guessing most of those don't exactly work on the fly for an anniversary.

[Except helping people on the beach, but Qrow does not count that as a celebration okay.]

What about something you want to do but haven't gotten around to yet?

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

A party! We should hold a big old party and invite all our friends.

Play video games!

Go shopping!

But better yet! What would be your favorite thing in the whole wide world to do? We'll make it happen.

[hacktivated]

[ Man, how does Ruby always have the best ideas? Penny brightens at each of the suggestions, but she takes the time to really stop and think about Ruby's question. ]

I like spending time with my friends! And I've always had a lot of fun dancing.

[ She doesn't get the endorphins rush from physical exertion that humans do, but it brings her joy anyway. ]

video; un: v

[mehanizovati]

Eh, I suppose it depends on if you wish to celebrate with a small group or a large one. Or no group at all, if you prefer it be personal.

[hacktivated]

All of my friends! But it doesn't have to be all at once.

[ After a pause she adds, more thoughtfully: ]

I don't want to force anyone to spend time with me, of course. But being alone sounds... well, lonely.

video | un: rin

[offinventory]

You do what you want and invite the people you want to do it with.

[ Murderbot shrugs. ]

If there's a movie you want to see, I can reserve the theater for you.

[hacktivated]

[ That's exactly the sort of answer Penny expected from Murderbot, and it has her grinning at it. ]

Do you have any documentaries about dancing?

Action

[threelayers]

[Fidget. She saw this, and she wanted to say something. She didn't, but she wanted to do it. Finally, instead of actually taking the chance and going there, she remembered what she'd said. Penny wasn't coming to find her, so she wouldn't contact her, but ... she could do this, right?

So, there was a small package left at the door, wrapped with a green bow. Inside was a pretty little green and black feather hair clip and a small note in elegant calligraphy written by a Trenchy she'd paid so it wasn't her handwriting.]

Happy Trenchday Penny

-A Friend

[hacktivated]

[ The present is very mysterious, and maybe that should put Penny on edge. It's also lovely, the exact sort of thing she would have bought for herself if she'd seen it.

She has no idea who gave it to her, but the next time Neo sees her it's neatly clipped into her hair. ]

video | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( Marking a year spent in a place like this can be.... strange, aching — but the young woman on the feed seems nothing but cheerful by the announcement. It's... not expected, and weirdly nice to see. Peter, who's still reeling quietly by his one one-year-anniversary a couple of months ago, finds himself smiling a little.

And that sure is a little humpback whale hovering in the air. )

Oh hey, that's the first whale Omen I've seen. She's really cute.

A lot of people like to make a kind of event for anniversaries. It doesn't have to be huge; lowkey stuff is nice, too. Like getting together with your friends or loved ones, having a special dinner and hanging out.

Maybe tacking on something you especially like to do. Like uh— I like stargazing, so I could go do that with someone. Or having hot chocolate. ( His shy smile becomes more of a grin. ) Around here I know chocolate's kinda a big deal.

[hacktivated]

[ Penny's aware that her behavior is pretty odd, and just as aware that her reasons for it (i.e.: being dead otherwise) are kind of a bummer. She'll let people think she's weird.

Especially people that compliment Evelyn. ]

Isn't she? It's hard to hear when she's small, but she can sing!

[ Apparently it's a whale thing. ]

Oh, I actually haven't ever been stargazing before! Not really.

You can see the Moon Presence some nights, right?

video | un: 🐟 wanda

[explosion]

Happy Trench-iversary?

[ is that what the cool kids say? she has no idea. as someone who lets her anniversary pass by as any other day, wanda's not exactly the most equipped to answer such a question. ]

Did you get any good suggestions?

[hacktivated]

Thank you, Wanda!

[ 'Trench-iversary' may not be what the cool kids say, but Penny thinks it's cool, so she adds it to her vocabulary right away. ]

I got a lot of them! A party, stargazing, and watching interesting movies!

Have you ever done anything like that?

Video | un: justafarmlad

[justoscar]

Happy Squiddiverdary, Penny!

[Have a farmlad beaming into the camera, Penny. Oscar was always glad to see his friends being happy. ]

I never thought to celebrate these anniversaries before, but a big birthday party also just makes me feel weird.

Have you ever had a birthday party before? You can do a lot of the same things for both occasions.

[hacktivated]

[ Squiddiversary is an absolutely delightful term, and Penny giggles the second she hears it. ]

Thank you, Oscar!

My father and I have had birthday parties before! Usually it's just me and him, but last year Winter was there as well!

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Talk about the sort of topic Ange would have been near-completely clueless about before only a few years ago. But she's sure had to endure experience a whole lot of parties ever since arriving in the dream, and then here in Trench.

And this girl-- well, she's nice, and she's important to Ruby, so it's not like Ange can just ignore her when she asks something. ]

Well, doesn't that depend on whether you want a big or a small celebration?

[ She may be chanting 'please don't say big, please don't say big' in her head right now. ]

[hacktivated]

Yes, but it depends on what my friends like, as well!

[ Don't worry, Ange, she's got your back. ]

I like big parties, but I like spending time with my friends more. If a big party would make a lot of them not come, then I'd want to do something else.

[chenqing_player]

I've never celebrated being in a strange place for a year. Birthdays, weddings...those kind of happy occurances are better cause for celebration. There might be good mixed with the bad but...never thought I'd celebrate being away from home.

[hacktivated]

It sounds strange, right?

[ Penny's certain most people here would want to leave at all costs. But... ]

I don't think I'll ever be able to go home, however, so I want to make the most of the time I have here instead.

voice; un: clarke

[romancekiller]

I think that depends. Usually people celebrate by throwing a party or spending time with friends.

[hacktivated]

Parties do seem to be a very popular choice! I don't really have a birthday, so perhaps I should start celebrating this anniversary in its place.

video. un: erwin.smith.

[theomachy]

I suppose it depends on what it's the anniversary of and if the event being commemorated is solemn or joyous.

[ he tilts his head, considering. ]

Things where I'm from were rarely there for pleasant remembrance, so having that would certainly constitute a party of some kind. I've never been the 'partying' type, nor had the means, but many of the young people I oversaw had their own ways of celebration. Loud and raucous, usually.

[ he sounds fond. then: ]

Personally I'm a homebody, I enjoy having a quiet celebration with those I'm closest with.

[ his husband boyfriend partner blood-husband. yes, that terminology works. ]

[hacktivated]

[ Pleasant or joyous, huh? Penny knows that this isn't exactly anyone's idea of a vacation, but: ]

I'm not able to go back home, so even though this place is dangerous, coming here is something I want to celebrate.

I think both types of party interest me, so maybe I'll just try both!