Fifth Floor Common Room, Tuesday Afternoon

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo hadn't really paid much attention to the date, which was why she'd been surprised when she got back from her morning ride to find a delivery waiting for her. It was a pretty big box, too, but didn't feel like AT parts. There wasn't a return address on it, either.

With a thoughtful frown, she set the box down on the table in the common room and opened it up. Then her eyes shot wide. A cake! A really, absolutely beautiful cake. It took a couple of seconds for her to figure out why anyone would send her a cake, but as soon as she did, she was on the phone.

"You got me a cake!" she accused her sister when Rika picked up. "A really expensive cake."

"You couldn't be here with us, so we got you the same cake we got." Ringo could practically see Rika's smile in her voice. "So at least we could all share that much."

Ringo grinned. "You know I can't eat all of this by myself, right?" she asked.

"Guess you'll just have to find someone to share with. I mean, it'd be lame to spend your birthday all by yourself, so if we can't be there, make sure someone else helps you eat that cake."

"Yes, ma'am," Ringo answered, laughing.

"Happy birthday, Ringo."

"Happy birthday, Rika. And tell Mikan and Ume 'happy birthday' from me, too."

"They know, but I will."

So Ringo was smiling as she rummaged around for a plate and a fork and a glass of milk. She'd totally forgotten it was her birthday, but this was a pretty awesome way to be reminded.

Comments

[crimson_sister]

Lucille had been on her way to the roof when she noticed someone in the common room. Oh, it was Ringo. It might be a sign that she was bored, because she decided to actually talk to her, which she had never taken the initiative to do before.

Or perhaps it was the cake. Not that Lucille would ever dream of admitting that.

"Are we celebrating something today?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"That depends," Ringo grinned, always glad to see Lucille, "do you want something to celebrate, cause you can have some cake without having to celebrate, if you want."

[crimson_sister]

It was a little disturbing to Lucille that Ringo was glad to see her, as she never made any effort to be friendly. Well, at least Ringo didn't have a pig.

"A piece of cake would be lovely, thank you," Lucille said, offering Ringo a not very friendly smile and deliberately didn't answer the question.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Do you want anything to drink with that?" Ringo asked, slicing a huge piece of cake for Lucille and pushing it across the table for the other girl.

[crimson_sister]

"A cup of tea, perhaps?" That cake looked delicious.

[soniaroadsqueen]

It was delicious. Ringo's sister had totally splurged.

"I can make some tea. One second." She put on the kettle and found some loose tea leaves.

"So, anything in particular you want to celebrate? Or just want to enjoy some delicious cake?"

[crimson_sister]

Lucille just wanted cake, but she wasn't going to say that. "Our safe return from the trip, maybe? And yourself?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Birthday." Ringo's huge grin belied her casual tone.

[crimson_sister]

"Oh. Well, then I suppose congratulations are in order." Lucille gave Ringo a distinctly uncongratulatory smile.

She should have know she had walked in on some kind of birthday party.

"Sadly I didn't know, so I didn't get you a present."

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo laughed, shaking her head. "No worries. I forgot about it myself, to be honest. If my sister hadn't sent a cake, I still wouldn't remember."

She rolled her eyes and flushed slightly. "Which is kind of embarrassing since it also means I forgot my sisters' birthdays."

[crimson_sister]

"I am sure she will find it in her heart to forgive you. The cake is delicious."

At least the latter comment was sincere.

[I'll disappear for a while, biab]

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Rika's not one to hold a grudge. And while Mikan or Ume might, I think they'll forgive me this time. I just better remember next year."

The kettle began to whistle, so Ringo took it off and poured the hot water into a cup, adding the tea to steep.

[crimson_sister]

"You have three sisters then? Are they like you?" Because four of Ringo sounded horrible.

[spin_kick_snap]

Sometime after Ringo had hung up with her sisters, her phone would ring again.

Ring ring!

[soniaroadsqueen]

Huh? But no one ever called Ringo!

"Kathy? Is everything okay?" Because why else would anyone call?

[spin_kick_snap]

To burst into song when the person on the other line least expected it?

Well, at least that's what Kathy was doing.

"Happy Birthday to you!" she sang. "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Ringo! Happy Birthday to yooou! And many mooooore!"

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo blinked at her phone, then burst out into a fit of giggles.

"Who told you?" Was it Ringo? Because it totally might have been sneaky, sneaky Ringo.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Wait, you don't--" Kathy turned the rest of what she'd been planning on saying into a cough. "What? You doubt my ability to be brilliant and discover your birthday on my own? For shame, Ringo. I thought you knew me better than that."

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo kept giggling. "Hey, I forgot about it myself. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised you didn't."

With a grin, she shoved a big piece of cake in her mouth. "Too bad you had to go back home. You're missing some really good cake."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I should be home by Thursday," Kathy said, sounding amused. "Odds that any of that cake will survive until then?"

Well, not if she told Dante about it.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, so far it looks like word hasn't gotten around yet, but if you're not back until Thursday, it'll be on the radio." And then what were the chances of there being any leftovers?

Actually pretty good since Ringo was totally going to sneak a piece into Kathy's mini-fridge later on. There weren't many people she'd rather share cake with, after all!

[spin_kick_snap]

"You would have a cake on the radio when I wasn't there to enjoy it," Kathy huffed, like it was Ringo's fault the squirrels were lecherous little spies. "I see how it is."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Hey, I wasn't even planning a cake," Ringo objected, trying to sound innocent. It didn't work as well as it would have if she hadn't had her face stuffed with cake.

"Rika sent one since I wasn't going to be home to celebrate birthdays with everyone."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Rika intended for you to wait for me," Kathy declared, basing this on nothing true at all. "I'm her new favorite sister. She said so."

That time when nothing of the sort was said.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Nice try, but one of us talked to Rika today, and one of us didn't." Three guesses which is which, Kathy!

"Though if you were our sister, today would be your birthday, too, and you'd have your own cake!" Family tradition, you know.