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 gives a little nod.]

R-right. Less caffine, more laying down and waiting to sleep.

I guess I've just been overloading on stuff I'm doing, too. I've been doing school, and also working, and I guess I still am figuring out how to balance that. [Which is only partly true. Some of it is just being overwhelmed by the disaster that is his future home life. But he can't exactly say that.]

[11calls]

It sucks that you need to both here. I mean, you're still a kid Peter. A great and super smart kid, but you're a kid and you should be allowed to have free time, even if it's just to do things like inventing more things like Pam or whatever.

[A beat.]

Do you want me to talk to someone for you? But either way, you can always come and have dinner with us if need be. They'll always be food and a couch for you here, alright?

[madeupnames]

[He smiles a little, brow furrowed.]

Oh, yeah, yeah, for sure. I'll try to get more free time in.

[He at least is self-aware enough to know he's overdoing it? Isn't that good?

Like, he ignores the fact anyway, sure... but...

He asks, hesitant but curious:]

Talk to someone?

[11calls]

Yeah, like at school or work or something so they give you more time off to sleep?

[Alex gives him a quick smile and a little shrug.]

I know I'm little, but you have no idea how scary I can be when I need to be.

[Just ask Richard.]

[madeupnames]

[He holds his hands up in little placating gestures.]

Oh, nonono, I'm fine! It's not their fault I'm bad at sleeping, right?

I'm sure I can figure it out... but thanks, Miss Alex.

[11calls]

[Sorry Peter, but Alex is just going to make a face.]

Just Alex works, Peter. Miss Alex makes me feel like a teacher. If there's one thing I'm definitely not it's a teacher.

[Alex being a teacher would be a disaster, honestly, and she knows it.]

And as long as you're sure, okay? You're still a kid, and there's people here who are going to support you if you need it, alright? I'm pretty sure there's a lot of us, actually, considering what a good kid you are.

[The words come with a smile. Alex means it.]

[madeupnames]

[He smiles a bit bashfully, looking thankful and appeased.]

I know there are plenty of you. And I'll remember that. Promise.

[11calls]

[Alex is just going to smile, and grab him a glass of milk from the fridge. Teenagers need milk right?]

Here, dinner should be ready soon. And good, don't forget it. Because I am annoyingly persistent and I'll hunt your ass down to remind you.