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Erebus was never really one to celebrate her birthday much. Sure, as a child she would eat cake with her parents and receive gifts, but the idea of throwing a party, where she would be the center of everyone’s attention, seemed rather unappealing to them. After moving out from her parents’ house, it simply became one of the few reasons to have a day off, or at least take it easy.
Their friendship with Aphrodite most certainly changed that status quo, with the pegasus centaur insisting on making the occasion more festive by at least hanging out together. As time went on and she also grew closer with Ares and later Achilles, she found spending her birthdays with more people than ever before.
This year, however, things were going to be different. Erebus did not expect Aphrodite to team up with Songbird, since the two never really spend much time together, but the duo managed to pull her coworkers to their side and eventually the group managed to convince her to throw a small birthday party.
That’s how she found herself in a room in Pandora’s Box high ups living quarters, half of which has been transformed into a genuinely impressive pillow and blanket fort. She was relieved to notice that all of the snacks were placed outside of it. The food thankfully wasn’t a problem, since she had fruit muffins from Apollo, her student, and biscuits with seeds, walnuts and raisins from Icarus, both considerate enough to make their gifts relatively healthy.
“So, do you like it?” Achilles asked with a hint of nervous laughter in his voice. “We know you think pillow forts are unpractical, but since we had time to prepare, and we’re going to be here all evening, then we might as well be comfy, right?
Songbird rolled her eyes. “You worry way too much flea-furball" It teased, then turned their head to them. “He checked it like fifteen time to make sure it’s perfect”
“Songbird! Come on!” Responded the deputy, visibly embarrassed.
“It’s nice Achilles, I appreciate the effort” She reassured, placing a hand on the others shoulder. Still, they had to admit, the two’s antics were quite amusing to watch and a quick glance at Aphrodite confirmed she felt the same way, although Ares seemed more exasperated with their continuous scuffles.
After that, they moved on to the traditional birthday activities, and she cherished the way hearing all her friends sing her happy birthday, including Ares’s very over the top version, made warmth blossom in her heart. While she refused to have cake, deeming it too unhealthy, the baked goods she was gifted with were mouthwatering, and she eventually ate a bit more than she initially intended. It was her birthday after all, she could afford to spoil herself a little.
When they were done eating, it was time for opening gifts. Ares got her some expensive nail polishes and tea blends. From Achilles they received a hefty book titled ‘Mythology and Its Impact on Civilization from Ancient to Modern Times’. Songbird surprised everyone by presenting her with a dress tailored exactly their measurements, that nobody, including its significant other, had any idea how they knew. Although that did explain the mirror the fact that “I have my ways” didn’t do much to satisfy the group’s curiosity, the dress, long, mostly pitch black with dark maroon and even darker navy-blue elements and silver accents, elegant and flowy, was gorgeous. It was specially made for her by one of Songbird's best-liked tailors, one that, apparently, always had the most interesting gossip. Aphrodite’s gift included some self-made potions for sleep and relaxation, a keychain of a gecko and at the very bottom, away from prying eyes, a fantasy romance novel.
The rest of the party was spent in the blanket fort, joking, sharing anecdotes and plans for the future or talking about interests. Achilles eventually dosed off and neither of them had the heart to wake the sleep deprived deputy up, so they all hushed their voices. Ares too, was obviously tired, if the fact that she didn’t notice Songbird completely messing up his hairstyle, absentmindedly running their hands through it while nagging Aphrodite to spill the tea about relationship troubles she was helping her clients with was any indication.
Erebus let herself enjoy the moment. Turns birthday parties weren’t so bad after all. They truly should repeat that next year.