Robbie's Day pt.1
"Make it three tiers with chocolate flowers. Robbie likes chocolate, right?" Marie, the beheaded queen, was commanding. Well, in more honesty, she was mumbling to herself as the current cooks of the kitchen heeded no mind to her opinions, "Oh! How about strawberry's adorning the rims? Fluffy cream covering the top... maybe a layer of jam between the cakes? Sprinkles are too taboo, caramel drizzle will have to do instead."
Nervously, Emma whispered to Jose, under the guise of handing him a whisk, "We aren't really doing all of what she says... right?"
The first officer shook his head much to Emma's relief, "she doesn't know what she's talking about, just let her run her mouth for a bit longer."
The pair were donning an apron messed with flour and raw batter, a small price worth paying for this after-noon. The had woken up especially early to get the batter in time to bake for the event. What was the event they were so rushed for? Why it's April 25th, Robbie's character day! It wasn't quite his birthday as no one, not even Robbie, knew when it was, so this just had to do. After all, he is a kid and kids deserve to get spoiled, especially a child as cute as Robbie. Sure, the survivors may have had their heads bonked against the dull head of his ax, but it was the rules of this land. There was no helping that.
Even so, when he injured a survivor more than intended to, he would leave them alone for the rest of the match. After the game, that said survivor would find a half eaten candy bar, the kind that Robbie always saved for when he experiences something nice or generally any occasion. It was his favorite chocolate."This day was sweet, so I'll end it on a sweeter note with a bit of chocolate," the smile could be heard through his tone, even when a sack was covering most of his body.
On gloomy days, he'd end up eating the whole bar and cry about his favorite candy being wasted. Then the next thing he knew, a new candy would appear. Candied apples, chocolate covered strawberry's, homemade chocolate and rock candy. Who could have they all come from? As much as he tried to figure it out, everyone was a suspect and he couldn't pin-point on who he should share his favorite candy bits with. The mystery itself was enough to make the boy forget his troubles and play detective for a day.
Whenever he actually did find the culprit, he would offer the best he could to them. The Bloody Queen wasn't too sneaky when she dropped off a knapsack of a few bonbons by Robbie's pillow once, and subsequently, she found a small bouquet of 5 or so paper rose bundled together by a transparent purple ribbon. But on the days he couldn't find his candy supplier, he would give everyone a paper carnation, just in case it was one of them. Even to Mr Grouch Riley.
Morton and Norton were on decorating duty, since they both were good at throwing vibrant things. Mike would later help in the kitchen to decorate with his artistic talent and knowledge of things that kids liked. However, for now, he was working with Norton, chucking streamers over pole and arch structures, blowing up balloons and shaping some into animals or swords.
The boys made sure to watch out for for some of the ladies, Doctor and Priestess, whom of which were setting up the tables. They made sure confetti would not coincide with their pretty arrangements of flowers on the long dining table or for any streamer rolls to end up on their head. It was quite the dance as they busied themselves in the hall.
Outside of the dining area, where Robbie's party would start, everyone were trying their part. Even some sourpusses too. Kreacher Pierson was in the library with Tracy and Helena. He was covered in ribbons and beads around him, trying to cut a rigid pattern from paper to form a crown. Once he rolled and taped the paper, he held it from a distanced and looked content with his hard work.
"Here!" He snapped out from the small moment of pride to see the dirty blonde offer him a handful of fake jewels, "I found them while gathering the ribbons for gift wrapping." Kreacher let out a happy hum as he graciously accepted the gems and scrambled around his mess for a glue bottle. Tracy giggled happily went back to the corner where she left Helena to tie ribbons. They were on gift wrapping duty, but it was only a few as they were gifts from the people who couldn't contribute or didn't want to; a small painted doll from Aesop Carl whose anxiety got the best of him, a giant lolly form Freddy Riley who didn't want to admit that he didn't know what kids liked, a book on butterfly's from the Entomologists who is too new to understand what Robbie would've liked, and various other gifts from hunters and survivors alike. With time, Robbie seemed to have warmed enough hearts to earn him such a surprise on his special day.
Robbie got to sleep in earlier than usual with the help of Dream Witch and her followers. She made sure nobody lingered in the halls and even had a follower see to that he would rest more comfortable, like a few extra toys to cuddle against or an extra blanket, while the rest patrolled. Anything to give the working members of the manor a few extra moments with preparations.
Of course, it was getting more and more difficult with Kurt getting messier on his runs. He and William were gathering any lacking supplies and rushing them to their respected places. Extra cutlery that Emily and Fiona needed, a certain fabric that was out of Violette's catalog, extra honey that the Entomologist would offer to the kitchen. Anything really, they were the errand jockeys for the morning and soon their hard work would offer them delicious cake and treats. That's if they don't wake up Robbie with their hustling and bustling among the halls.
But of course, all good things come to an end as the great grandfather clock echoed its chimes in the halls. It's midday, good afternoon! It says.
Robbie yawns through the grainy fabric of his sack, yarn stretching over his abnormal mouth. Much to the followers dismay, she rushed to whisper through the cracks of the door, "Robbie is awake! Warn the others, quickly!"
Yihdra, internally screaming, sent the memo to the rest of her followers whom of which alerted the workers.
Emma pushed a cart filled with food through the kitchen doors whilst Mike rode on top, decorating the cake that had just been pulled out of the oven. The aroma of the fresh chocolate cake filled the room, enticing Fiona to take a good whiff, "my, that cake that Jose made... I feel like I can already taste it just by smelling it!"
"Fiona!" Demi snapped at the daydreaming priestess. She was in the middle of setting up cups while the barmaid poured juice in unison, but currently their rhythms aren't in check with each other.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Now picking up the pace, everything was coming along last second. Appetizers on the opposite end of the drinks, cake right in between the two. Mike had just finished placing strawberrys around the cakes white icing rims, surrounding chicken scratch that meant to spell Happy Character Day Robbie!
"I thought you were an expert on decorating?"
"Oh, I am. Just not so much in writing."
"Oh," the two stared at the cake in silence together. Surely Robbie wouldn't mind, right? He doesn't seem to be one that's picky on details like that when there's great cake in front of him! Chocolate too, on top of that.
The ones who weren't there for preparations funneled into the dining hall, all with a party popper in hand to surprise Robbie. Kevin helped Tracy and Helena with dragging the gifts since they couldn't trust the Thief to not swipe any. But that's where they misunderstood Kreacher, he would never dream of swiping anything from a child especially when he risked it all for an orphanage. He was a real sweetheart towards children, just held a deep disrespect to those who believed children held no value if they were disabled in any way. That's why he was so excited to give his handmade crown to Robbie, the look on his face will be worth dealing with sticky fingers for the while.
Now the food was in place, decorations adorned, party goers hidden around the entrances double doors. All that is left is for Robbie to come in for his late breakfast.
... any moment now
...
"Is he actually awake?"
"Most definitely! He was out of bed and everything."
"Maybe he's looking around for everyone?"
"Taking an awful lot of time that is now..."
"Can somebody check on him?"
"Right," Seer left the door ajar for his owl companion to slip through and soar among the halls, searching for the child of the hour.