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]

... I mean, I guess that's true...

[He's quiet for a moment though, clearly at war with the idea of telling Jyushi anything that'll cause a birthday-related thing to happen. Bless. Still, he's too polite to try and skip around the question for long.]

I like chocolate. But, like, most cake is good cake. That's a law.

[yakyuuman]

Chocolate cake it is then!

[ He clasps his sleeves together, satisfied that Peter didn't skirt around the question or something. Jyushimatsu is incredibly stubborn when he wants to be. ]

I could have it sent to you, or maybe I'll go to your place myself! I'm totally free today!

[madeupnames]

Whu — Noooonono. No. You're not gonna just send it over!

That means you don't get any. And cake's meant to be shared. That's another law.

[yakyuuman]

But you could use some more calories! A whole cake might help you!

[ You look like such a scrawny kid, please eat a little more.

But there's also a chance Jyushimatsu might get hungry thinking about buying cake, so he relents. ]

Okay, I'll be the one delivering the cake myself! You live in the communal house, right?

[madeupnames]

Dude, c'mon. I'm not that bad off that I need calorie donations.

... But yeah, I do live there. On the second floor. You coming over?

[yakyuuman]

Hai hai! In fact I'm going to the pastry shop now! Prepare yourself!

[ Why is he saying that like it's a threat??

Anyway the camera turns into a blur as he speeds his way out of the house. ]

[madeupnames]

[.......................

God save him.]

[yakyuuman]

[ Please do save him from the hurricane that is about to slam into your house, Peter.

A yellow hurricane with a box of chocolate cake that had miracolously survived his rampage, nonetheless. He'll almost shove it into Peter's face as he yells with a voice that'd cause any ear to ring. ]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETER PARKER YOU'RE NOW ONE YEAR CLOSER TO BEING LEGAL FOR ALCOHOL!

1/2

[madeupnames]

[It's a dang good thing his spider sense is improving.

... Might as well call it Jyushi-sense now. He leans back and takes the box before it can go flying.]

W—ummm! Th-thanks! Awesome!

[madeupnames]

[...]

Technically, I'm old enough to drink here. But I appreciate the congrats.

[yakyuuman]

It's still illegal in Japan!

[ That's his only rebuttal before he raises on his tiptoes to have a curious peek over Peter's shoulder. ]

Can I get in? There are also candles along with the cake!

[madeupnames]

[He blinks.]

There are?

[But also, he steps aside, because he does not wanna get caught up in the wild tornado that is Jyushimatsu.]

[yakyuuman]

[ And just like that he slides his way in, flapping his sleeves excitedly while he looks around. ]

So this is where Peter Parker lives! Hehe! Everything looks as young as you!

[ He turns around, and gestures at the cake box with a sleeve. ]

Yeah! I don't remember if you ever told me your age so I bought at least a double dozen candles! You can use the leftover ones for when the power goes out?

[madeupnames]

[Young indeed. Peter's bed and dresser area has a bunch of candy wrappers and robot parts on it.

Lord help him. He laughs a little.]

Gee, thanks.

I'm sixteen, but I wouldn't be against just lighting them all and pretending I'm super old.

[yakyuuman]

Do you wanna be that old already? You shouldn't! Like I said, you've gotta enjoy your youth! Heck, I wish I was sixteen again!

[ He flops on Peter's bed without a prompt, testing how bouncy it is. ]

Where's Pam-chan? If you didn't hug her earlier, then I want to!

[madeupnames]

It'd be cool to be that old if I was, like, an elf from Lord of the Rings.

[Are you sure you're not still sixteen, lbr Jyushi.]

And don't worry, I made up with her. I wouldn't recommend hugging her, though; you'll get your clothes stuck in the gears or something. Eating what she makes is how to get her happy, though.

[Or however she feels. He's not very good at telling what is robotic and what is maybe thriving humanisms through the advanced tech in Riverview... H-ha.]

[yakyuuman]

[ YOU'RE NOT WRONG... he kicks his feet just the way a teen would, tbh, he didn't do a lot of growing up in the last ten years or so. He also puffs his cheeks, pouting. ]

Did you eat all of her pancakes eventually? [ He sounds a bit stern. ] She may have been off mark but she's a sweet and caring robot that deserves happiness too!

[ After meeting Connor and Markus, his care for robotic individuals has ridiculously expanded. They might as well be perfectly human to him. ]

[madeupnames]

As much as I could eat... I mean... I've been eating so many pancakes lately, but I don't wanna be mean and turn her off. Maybe I could figure out a way to slow down her pancake making, because I can't keep up!

[He flops down on the bed butt-first. His little area is pretty cute and nerdy — comic books are all over his pillow, and his dresser is lined with nice shoes and coupons to cafes and text books for school.]

I guess that makes her a success though, right?

Oh! Maybe I can move her to a diner sometimes for work. I bet she'd flourish there.

[yakyuuman]

[ IT'S A CUTE TEENAGE ROOM, AGREED. Jyushi grabs one of the comics without permission (rude) and flips some pages. ]

Her pancake skills might get her somewhere high if you let her shine! If Pam-chan loves making them so much it'd only benefit the community and herself if something can be managed! Imagine opening a pancake business!

[madeupnames]

[Go ahead man, he's read the Beast Wars one like ten times already.]

That's true...! I was also thinking of maybe programming new things for her to make. Like omelettes?

Or hey, cake.

[Since we've got one of those, haaaa.]

[yakyuuman]

Right! You can make her do everything you want, and if she's happy with it you've got great things ahead of you!

[ Somehow he can still have a conversation while his eyes are frantically shifting over the comic book pages. ]

You can program her to make more than one type of cake, can't you?

[madeupnames]

I think I can.

... Admittedly, I'm, um. I'm still pretty inexperienced, so making multiple functions is gonna be... new.

[yakyuuman]

Peter Parker is a smart boy! I mean, you built Pam-chan so I know you're gonna make it just fine!

[ He loves Pam and as his creator you've got his respect multiplied tenfold. ]

[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?

[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. ]