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Birds sung and chirped outside the window of a treehouse rested high among Jungle biome trees, sunlight peeking through curtains that swayed to the gentle breeze that came through. A groan escaped the lips of a purple stick within the home.
Purple stirred awake with a huff, eyes groggily opening to the warm welcome of sun. They sat up and reached over to their phone, rested on the bedside table. The two charms attached to the dark phonecase clinked and clattered together as they brought the phone to them.
' January 23rd, 9:40AM '
Oh, right.
Today is their birthday.
They noticed beneath the date, was a handful of messages. From their few friends, and Mango. Various birthday messages sent direct to them. They hummed, a small smile on their lips. The simple acknowledgement enough to lighten their morning of the usually empty day.
They never did anything for their birthday, either their father simply didn't care enough to divert attention to it, or they just lost the motivation to care for the day they were supposed to celebrate.
Their feet hit the planks of the wooden floor with faint thuds, going about their day as normal. They planned to visit their mothers grave, maybe treat themself to a small cake from the grocery store, or perhaps baking a minecraft one would be easier (and cheaper..)
They brushed their hair out, before braiding it. Fingers fumble in attempts to get it right, they scowl in mild frustration. Green and Mango are always so good at this. Mango taught them how to braid their hair way back when they met because apparently it was supposed to be better than their messy ponytail, it'd help them fight better or something. Purple had grown used to it, but could never get it as good as those two did.
They stepped out of their treehouse, before launching off the ledge, using their firework to propel themself with their elytra to the nether portal. They cautiously passed through, and was about to use a different to pass back through to where Mango lived, since he had the easiest portal to the outernet.. When a voice called out to them, catching their attention.
"Purple! Purpleee!" They turned around to see Green, yelling and waving at them from the nether portal that led to Alans PC. Had he been waiting for them or somethING-
OOMF-!
Purple yelped as Green crashed into them, having leapt from the ledge and onto them excitedly, tackling them into a hug. Both sticks landed on the rough nether floor, Purple on their back, dazed from the impact but not hurt.
"Happy birthday dude!!" Green cheered, sitting up and letting Purple breathe. They huffed, and propped themself up on their elbows.
"Thanks..?" They spoke. They didn't mean to sound upset or anything negative, but did Green really have to tackle them? (Yes, he did. They should be used to such behavior from the other sticks at this point.)
A moment of silence echoed around the nether before Green shot up, clearly excited as he offered a hand to the fallen stick, who took it with a hum of appreciation. Purple patted themself down, wiping small particles of dirt off their clothes. Green continued to hold their hand, dragging them back up to the nether portal that led to Alans PC. They opened their mouth to protest, to say they had plans, but did they really? They decided Greens excitement was enough to keep them hooked.
The two reached the portal, and stepped through.
Purple wondered what could possibly have Green so excited, perhaps he discovered something new about minecraft music? Another Concert to announce? Maybe they found a new game, and needed another player?
None of Purples ideas matched up to what they saw as they stepped back out of the portal, and the noise of confetti poppers blasted their ears, and the source of the noise sprinkled in front of them. Confetti fell around them as their eyes met the rest of their friends, alongside Mango who had a warm smile on his face. In front of them all was a cake, decorated with an illustration of a cherry blossom tree, no doubt the work of Orange and Blue. Two candles reading their age lit atop the cake. Purple was stunned, still as a deer in headlights as everyone waved at them, various voices saying Happy birthday at once, but Purple couldn't really focus on that.
A smile finally found its place on their stunned face, as Green gently squeezed their hand to comfort them out of their frozen state, he was always so observant of them. Speaking of observant, the amount of eyes that were on them should've frightened them but the familiarity of all the comforting gazes made a warm feeling flutter in their eyes and fluster their cheeks. Despite the smile that they presented, silent tears found their place beside it on their cheeks. This, fairly so, startled the group at first, until it was followed by laughter, soft and quiet, almost nervous to escape.
Purple slowly came to terms with the fluttery warmth in their core, elytra flicking behind them as they honestly didn't know what to do first. Luckily, Green gently tugged them along to the table, nothing but support in his gaze. They looked at the cake, and then everyone around them. It was the most people they think they've ever seen look at them with such care.
They finally found their voice. "You guys.. Thank you. This.. is already the best birthday I've ever had." They chuckled awkwardly at the pitifulness of their own sentence, and the wobble of their voice. They expected mockery after such a sad sentence, but only got familiar laughter, not mocking or cold, just familiar.
The flicking of the candles reminded them that they didn't have forever to simply memorize this moment, and instead should be living in it. With somewhat childish joy, they stepped close enough to see the cake closer, and it made them want to cry again. They held that thought back, and simply smiled lightly at the familiar pink hue of the cherry blossom trees depicted on the cakes art.
The fire reflected in their eyes before with a small hum, they moved to blow out the candles. Their wish? Well, they're not gonna tell you, now are they? How silly. It won't come true if they say it. (It already came true, it surrounds them right now.)
They took a step back and looked up at Mango, who was the second closest to the knife & cake, aside from themself.
"Do you want to cut it?" He asked, moving aside somewhat. Purple shook their head
"Nah.. I think I'm still shaking." They laughed, hand covering their mouth politely as they gestured for Mango to do the task instead, trusting he could cut it evenly.
. . .
Hours went by of various party games, and birthday activities Purple had never really heard of. They were currently sat on the floor, against the couch where all the other sticks were, except Mango who had headed home to let the sticks celebrate Purples birthday together. Purple was only on the floor because Green was braiding their hair, after Purple had begged Green to fix what they attempted earlier that day (Even though Green thought it looked adorably clumsy, considering clumsiness wasn't a common sight on Purple.)
Yellow was sat next to Green, searching for a movie to put on and Red laying on her lap, as well as Oranges lap too. Practically taking up both their personal spaces. Blue was sat against Oranges other side on the other end of the couch, the two were talking about Pokemon.. Purple didn't really know much about the series, but the conversation seemed like a debate of some kind.
Amidst the various conversations, Yellow groaned. This wasn't working how she wanted.. She didn't know what films Purple actually liked, but she hated the idea of asking, cause what if she was supposed to know already???
Luckily, it seemed Purple practically read her mind, and spoke.
"Could we watch Guardians of Ga'Hoole..? I think that'd be nice."
Yellow internally cheered. With a nod, Yellow typed away to find the film on whatever available site they could use, preferably without giving Alan another virus.
Purple smiled, leaning back against the couch as Green continued to braid their hair. Which Green honestly wasn't doing, he was just playing with it, running his hands through their hair. Purple didn't mind, and certainly wouldn't call him out on it.
Blue leaned more into Oranges side, who huffed and was pushed more onto Yellow, who had finally pulled up the film, displaying it big for all of them to watch. Red shot up, kicking Blue in the side who yelped as Red was all of a sudden alert, and hadn't been listening until they recognized the film.
"I love this one!!" They excitedly exclaimed, and then laid back down, getting more comfortable and moving to be able to see the movie tab better (Whilst still using Orange and Yellow as Pillows.)
Everyone eventually, with lots of kicks, yelps and shoves.. got comfortable. Purple found themself unable to focus despite their enjoyment of the film, their cause for joy was more than what played in front of them. Warmth still running through their body as they glanced around. Maybe the others didn't realize it, maybe this was normal for them, to spend birthdays surrounded by friends and unconditional love. Maybe they didn't realize this was the world to Purple. They'd do anything to never lose this. For the first birthday night in the last few years, they dozed off comfortably instead of being rocked by dread of the future. Only surrounded by love and care and thoughts of the comfortable present.
<3