[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

[indigobird]

So a flashy gambling den. Certainly a quick way to get rich, yes. But more likely a very quick way to go broke. Luckily when you do it among friends usually you're out, at most, a handful of sovereigns.

[shoplifter]

I was not allowed to stand in there for very long. I guess it is illegal for children to gamble there.

But it seemed enjoyable; it just smelled bad.

[indigobird]

Like alcohol, smoke, and other unpleasant human odors?

[shoplifter]

[She nods, wrinkling her nose.]

I have a very good nose.

[A little too good.]

[indigobird]

Next time, might I suggest a plug for your nose?

[shoplifter]

But sometimes it's important to have a sense of smell.

Like when someone has blood on them.

[Violent child problems, man.]