[video] Happy Birthday, Laura!

[shoplifter]

[Laura has not really been on the network much, since the kidnappings had happened. She had been scarce in general; just because she was held captive all her life, after all, did not make it any easier to be thrust back into that terrible sort of world. But now she's back and has at least had some time to try and heal from those nasty little metaphoricalwounds, chewing on her pencil thoughtfully before lowering it and smiling a little from where she sits at a table in the community housing..]

I am twelve now... I have never had a birthday before, so I am not sure what to do other than to say so; since I have been here for a year now, I have decided that August is my birth month.

[She grins a bit, rather impish.]

And since I do not have the exact day, I guess every day in August will have to be my birthday. Gracias.

[LAURA NO—

Oh, the feed ended on that note.

Guess August is National Laura Month, so sorry.]

Comments

video

[armcollector]

Oh shhhhhh-- scissors. You should've said something before August started so people could prepare!! I can't believe it's International Laura Month and I haven't even baked a shitty cake.

[Well, so much for trying not to swear?]

video

[shoplifter]

It's okay. I only just decided it — someone said I should find a day that suited me.

In a way, it is like I was born into a new life here, so it only seemed — right.

[... A pause.]

You don't have to avoid cursing around me.

[ video | un: trickster ]

[dothelokimotion]

I'm not getting you gifts every day. Just pick one.

[ Though it is an Excellent Scheme ]

[ video ]

[shoplifter]

One bar of candy every day until August 31st.

[She's getting better at scheming — she's learning well.]

[video]

[compartmentalise]

I've never had a birthday before, either, though I've celebrated someone else's before. We did things he liked doing, so that's what you should do for your birthday.

[video]

[shoplifter]

You are very old to not have had a birthday.

Were you held somewhere for a long time, too?

video @lightemup

[umbrastaff]

Whooot, birthday month!

video

[shoplifter]

It is a good idea, sí. Then it is not a rush to appreciate your birthday.

video; un: hawke

[indigobird]

And just what do you plan on doing for your birthday month? Besides eating cake every day, of course.

video

[shoplifter]

I have not figured that out, yet. People have parties, but... it seems like a lot.

[video]

[breqintopieces]

[There's an amused glint to Breq's tone, though she keeps up a very solemn affectation throughout it. Birthdays are a Very Big Deal to the young, or so she's gleaned from the letters from home her Lieutenants always got, about young sisters or cousins or, very occasionally, children.]

You have twelve years to make up for. An entire month seems, after all, only just and proper.

[video]

[shoplifter]

[See, that's a great reply, there. Totally on her wavelength.]

It does feel like I have to catch-up sometimes. I am trying my best, though.

video

[democratically]

Happy birthday.

[A wide smile from her before she gives a little hum.]

Does that mean you'll be trying a different flavour of cake every day as well?

video

[shoplifter]

Thank you.

[... It's so nice to hear it out loud. The nurses would sometimes whisper it to children at Transigen, especially after the birthday incident that left them off the table... but someone openly saying it, and sounding so warm about it? A wonderful thing.]

There are so many flavors, I guess I should. I don't really have a lot of things I dislike eating.

... Except banana.

@serenity | text

[goblinemperor]

[ Maia wonders what kind of a life would lead a young child not to know her own birthday, and to never have celebrated it. His own celebrations had stopped when he was nine, and his mother died, but he had had the years before that, and knew the date. ]

I think you have chosen well. May I offer a small suggestion? You should also decide one day of the month, to be even more special than all the others. There are holidays like this, in my homeland.
Winternight is celebrated for a full week, leading to a fancy ball on the last night, which is the longest of the year. It can be great fun, when there is just one day that is the jewel, above all the rest.

text

[shoplifter]

I suppose that is the normal thing to do. How would you pick a day?

There are so many to choose from in a month.

[ video ]

[tempredmental]

That sounds like a good plan. Is there anything you wanted to do? I hear there's a new waterpark open in town.

[ video

[shoplifter]

[Oh, well! That's a good way to catch her interest.]

A water park?

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

I think this sounds like a great idea.

audio

[shoplifter]

I am glad you approve of International Laura Month.

[She grins a little. The name is totally Magnus' fault, though.]

text | @kestrel

[realists]

We have the same birthday.

text | @kestrel

[shoplifter]

Felicidades en el aniversario del día en que tu has nacido.

(It means, "Congratulations on the anniversary of the day on which you were born.")

[Oh look, she is learning! And adding translations! How polite.]

video

[thestoriesarereal]

[Cue to Lucy looking shocked, surprise and then grinning from ear to ear.]

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! [She's now making a mental note to get Laura a gift.]

Second, how are you going to celebrate? Are you going to do one big party to celebrate the entire month? Or mini-parties throughout the month?

video

[shoplifter]

Gracias.

[She feels nice, hearing that sort of thing. It's new and strange — but nice.]

... I am not sure. I've never had a party before. It is easier to just meet friends somewhere nice, I guess. But I am not used to having many friends in one place, here.

[dancingmd]

[Naturally, it's sad to think that Laura has never had a birthday, but this is a delightfully creative way to make up for it!]

Every day, hmm?

That's certainly a lot of presents!

[shoplifter]

[She looks so very pleased with herself.]

People do not have to get that many.

But International Laura Month is very long.

video }

[mannerism]

[ well then, here's a face she remembers from a little incident in the supermarket. ]

That is only logical, I suppose.

[ hello, little thief ]

video }

[shoplifter]

[Why hello there, nosy proper woman.]

Of course. It leaves a lot of room for cake.

text, un: s.uris

[stantheman]

You really don't know your birthday...?

text.

[shoplifter]

I do not. It's not something that was openly shared with me, or in my file.

It is too humanizing.

video; un: kirk

[winscenario]

[ This begs a very important question. ]

Does this mean we've gotta get you a gift for every day of the month?

video;

[shoplifter]

... I would not say so, no.

But I would not complain.

[She is truly learning how to game the system here.]

voice;

[volitaunt]

Can't promise cake in the fridge every day, but I'll do my best.

[ POE NO??? ]

voice;

[shoplifter]

[POE YES

She looks so... mischievously approving.]

It would be an enjoyable new challenge to face here.