riverview | Video | HAPPY... LATE... BIRTHDAY???

[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...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There would be a lot of people turning into fish or pigs back home if that was a case. It was always more about 'enjoy while you can because there may not be enough later'.

Hey, that's a good way to live, too! Or that's how I feel about lunchtime at school.

Sure, sometimes the food's kinda gross, but what if that's the last meal you get for a while?

[Not that he worried about going hungry at the apartment. He just knows it's better to eat everywhere else for free, than to add any additional burdens to the Parker family wallet.]

Do you think there's a need for us to all go on rationing?

Noooo, no, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine.

[Sure, they're getting a hell of a lot of refugees from that planet, but.

He's sure they'll all figure something out.]

If you ever get worried, though, some people like to keep emergency cans of food. My friend's uncle built a Y2K bunker once. It was before I was born, though.

I don't even know what Y2K is. Is it your world's 'version' of Ragnarok? [She could only see the need for a shelter if such was a case.]

Y'know, I think so? Close enough.

It's kind of dumb, but once the year 2000 hit, everyone was worried computers would mess up really bad and cause a big worldwide black-out of technology. Which probably doesn't sound bad to you, but for a world that learned to rely on machines, it could've meant serious issues.

... It was still stupid to freak out, anyway.

Edited 2018-08-19 09:01 (UTC)

I could actually see why that would scare people. This world does rely a lot on technology, so any sort of rumor or legend that speaks of them going.. [She paused, trying to think of the right word] haywire is the word? Any story of them going all wrong will scare people.

Oh yeah, definitely.

But... it's important for everyone to keep a clear head and remember it's not the end of the world.

Things keep going, with or without technology. Right?

Considering my own people manage without either, definitely not the end of the world. Ragnarok may not be the future for most people, but it is still scary to know that one day the sun will be swallowed and the entire Earth flooded.

... Geez. Ahhh. That's a lot to worry about.

[He's a teeny bit familiar, but it's not really his bread and butter.]

Hopefully that's not something anyone has to worry about in our lifetimes, yeah?

I prefer to have as many secret birthdays as I can, if it's all the same to Ragnarok.

Why secret? I thought people here enjoyed birthdays? That's why there are parties with them.

[A little laugh escapes him, caught red-handed.]

I'm just bad at focus being on me, I guess. I worry people'll feel like they owe me something.

Which is a dumb way to think, because I think everyone should enjoy their birthdays, but...

I was under the impression people would go to anything if you offered them food and cake.

We don't have birthdays where I'm from, but I don't see anyone feeling obliged by free food if invited.

You don't have birthdays?

Maybe you should do what some people do here and pick a day for yourself anyway!

It's difficult to keep track of when a baby is born when there's the risk of it not living past its first year. Instead, we mark it as a small occasion when a baby lives long enough to cut its first tooth, then it's custom to give it a small present.

I could do that.

Edited 2018-08-25 04:30 (UTC)

... That seems like a really awesome occasion, to me. And the first tooth is a super big deal.

Are there any days you'd be interested in? Some are more unique than others, anyway.

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.

[He smiles.]

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

[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.

Then we definitely gotta do it this year, too.

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

I'll tell Ivar. I'm sure he wouldn't mind setting up another one, considering how well it went, but it's best to ask.

Much better. They're not as messy or get tangled as easily.

Definitely!

And my aunt does this crazy cool braid called a 'reverse french braid'? It looks really awesome!

Maybe you'd like it.

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

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