Video | HAPPY... LATE... BIRTHDAY??? | @p.parker

[madeupnames]

[The feed is mostly full of textbooks, the spines all turned enough that they're legible; it's math, chemistry, social studies, all the fun things nobody misses from high school. And on the right side of the screen is Peter, sitting with his cheek on his palm and his elbow pressed beside a blank page of paper. He looks kind of sleepy, like he'd just nod off if he didn't have the feed to focus on.]

So I've got this essay I need to write by tomorrow, and I'm having a hard time getting — personal, and all that. The prompt's asking about what inspires you, specifically. [He looks to read it word-for-word:] 'What motivates you in your day to day life?' And I mean, I've got a lot of motivations, but trying to put it to paper is giving me a wicked case of the fogbrain.

[He tucks his pen under his nose, holding it with his upper lip for a moment before letting it fall pitifully to the table. He sighs.]

What motivates you guys? Into doing what you do? What makes you put your shoes on in the morning, huh?

And don't just say 'to avoid stepping on pointy stuff barefoot'. That's a cheap and obvious answer—

[Peter startles violently as birthday music blares behind him, so much so that his pencil goes flying through the air and RIP's somewhere off-screen. Pam the pancake making robot seems to be flying onto the scene in the background with freshly made pancakes and festive lights blinking all over her.



A little lighter arm pops out, preparing to light a lone candle on the stack of flapjacks.

Peter mutters, mortified:]

...I thought I disabled Birthday Mode for repairs...

[He looks back at the robot with his hand pressed to his temple, and clears his throat.]



... Pam, uh. My - my birthday was two days ago. Two days. It's August 10th. And, uh, it's... it's the 12th now.

[Peter watches as the AI seems to try to process this, tapping his finger on the table and thinning his lips at the awkward silence. Pam's little plate-holding robo-arms lower slightly, the generic birthday MIDI file slowing to a depressive stop as the party-themed lights and lighter are shut off together. A pause of nothing. Then she turns and dejectedly wheels away into the community kitchen with her plate of pancakes.]

Wait, Pam — Aw, c’mon, I can still eat them! Hey—

[Peter drops his arms.



... Note to self, fix her internal clock...]

Comments

[madeupnames]

[He opens his mouth, closes it. Opens it again.]

... Recently!

[Nice cover. Really nice.]

[madeupnames]

[His ears redden a little.]

I wouldn't be too sure.

... But since you're putting your faith in me, I guess I just gotta try my best to prove you right?

[winscenario]

[ Jim chuckles, ducking his head sheepishly. ]

Right, sorry. Force of habit, I guess. [ This'd probably be child's play for Scotty. But the guy's on a totally different level than a teenager, obviously. ]

I'd offer to help, but I'm not that great at robotics. [ Better than the average person, but nothing like this. ] Have you thought about asking around for some lessons? A couple of names come to mind. You know Tony Stark, right?

[yakyuuman]

I believe in you! At your age I could barely build up a class project without setting it on fire by accident! [ He laughs at his dumb high school years... ] But you're clearly a genius and if there's someone who can do his best and succeed it's you!

[ He probably should get a degree in Praising at this rate. ]

[indigobird]

And yet another thing to brag to your fellows about at your robot club.

Re: Video.

[like_quicksilver]

We don't have things like antibiotics or vaccines. A baby living long enough to have its first tooth was a big deal.

The day I arrived here. I can't remember the exact day, just it was in December, but I can get the record somewhere, I'm sure.

Oh, and the idea of giving presents christmas, that was one of our ideas-but instead of stockings, children would leave shoes by the fire for Odin to put small trinkets inside.

[citharede]

Okay but Shakespeare has the best dick jokes though.

[11calls]

[Oh Pete. Just Oh Pete. Alex is going to shake her head at him.]

From one person who has sleep issues to another, that sounds like bullshit to me, Peter. What's going on? Do you need to talk about it? I'm a good listener.

video;

[madeupnames]

There's a Pokemon game where they live in some... field in the Pokeball? I think?

... Is there a pretzel-type Pokemon yet?

[childofaxios]

[ And that gets a genuine smile out of her. She approves of a systematic approach to learning. ]

That's very practical. [ A pause, then, because she's learned some humility here: ] It's better than I could do. I have absolutely no training in robotics of any kind.

[ TRANSLATION: NERDS ARE USEFUL. ]

[madeupnames]

Heh, yeah. He's my mentor. Kinda?

I'm part of a program he's doing, back home. Science stuff. Pam definitely wouldn't be as good as she is now if he hadn't had the stuff to improve on her microcontroller. Most of it is just recycled parts from basic gadgets, like old computer systems or phones.

[madeupnames]

[Seriously, you're trying to give him a heart attack. He smiles down at his bed.]

To be fair, I've almost set a few things on fire before. What's a good experiment without a few hiccups?

[madeupnames]

Hey, I'm not a bragger. That's not the Parker way.

We like to stay humble in what we do!

... But I won't say no to some 'oooo's or 'awww's if I get them.

[madeupnames]

[He sighs, rolling his eyes to the skies.]

No matter what year it is, someone has to make a joke about boners.

Video.

[madeupnames]

[He smiles.]

It's an awesome tradition. Maybe you should get people to do that this year — leaving presents in shoes.

[madeupnames]

[He bites his lip and shakes his head.]

Nothing! Nothing worth talking about, I mean. I've just been working really hard on some stuff.

... I know I need to sleep more, m'sorry.

[yakyuuman]

That's the thing! I gave up at my first attempt, but you wouldn't, right?

[ They're so different. He gave up, and that's why he became a NEET. But he can still help youngsters like Peter find their ways to success with his weird pep talks. ]

I trust that you won't set Pam-chan on fire if you run into some fails!

[11calls]

[Alex knows that placating statement. She's made it more times than she can count herself actually. So she's just going to stare him down for a second before clearly saying that she doesn't believe him with a single word.]

Okay.

Re: Video.

[like_quicksilver]

[She returned the smile, this time with a knowing expression.] My brother held one last year for Yule. The celebration lasted several days. He gave me some rainbow hair bands so I could practice braiding.

[citharede]

That just makes it the perfect thing to read in high school.

[madeupnames]

... You're saving a lot of money on fire extinguishers.

[madeupnames]

[A huff, though not unkind in the least.]

Sometimes not giving up can be a problem. But in this case — I'll say I definitely won't.

[madeupnames]

[#record skip]

Okay?

[He looks caught off-guard by how easily she accepts this, bless.]

[yakyuuman]

Atta boy! Do your magic and I'm sure Pam-chan will be loved for it!

[ He tosses the comic aside and abruptly stands up, flexing his arms without prompt whatsoever. ]

Hustle, hustle! Muscle, muscle! Come on now Peter, open up the cake! I want a slice! I'm getting hungry!

Video.

[madeupnames]

Then we definitely gotta do it this year, too.

How's your braiding practice been, by the way?