#8 [Voice]

[rialta_fianaise]

So I've been keeping track since Christmas, yeah? Keeping an eye on the calendar.

And... well. It's the second of Febuary. If anyone's interested, that's my birthday.

So I suppose that makes me eighteen, weird time loops aside. Yeah, that's right, I'm officially grown-up now. Aren't I the special one?

[Sits back in his chair, folding his hands behind

Comments

[wishonastone]

Oh no, Pat, why didn't you say?! I haven't got you anything! I'll come over in a bit, after I've gone to the store!

[rialta_fianaise]

I told you, you don't need to get me anything! Really, don't bother.

Be nice to see you, though. [Smile]

[wishonastone]

Don't be stupid, it's your birthday! And not just any birthday, your eighteenth! What do you want for your birthday?

[rialta_fianaise]

I don't really know... [Slightly embarrassed look, rubbing the back of his neck] Look, you lent me your phone. Can't we just call it quits?

...You can say that was a really... really early birthday present?

[twicebonded]

Happy birthday, Pat! I'm pretty terrible for gift-giving, but I should probably give you your thermos back, at least. [ Chuckling. ]

[rialta_fianaise]

[Smiles] Thanks!

How are you doing?

[twicebonded]

[ There's a quiet but definite joy in his voice. ]

Better, thank you - much better. And that's in no little part thanks to you!

[rialta_fianaise]

That's brilliant! [Grin] I'm so glad to hear it.

...Listen, Vanyel. Xiao Long Nu's putting me together a birthday meal. D'you want to come?

[warped_genetics]

Happy birthday!

So your coming-of-age is eighteen? How young..

[rialta_fianaise]

Yeah... why, what's yours?

[warped_genetics]

Twenty-two. It's...

[ Hesitates. ] I guess you can say it's the age when we're formally discharged from our parent's care and allowed to have homes, mates, children.. though sometimes that happens regardless anyway when we're younger.

[rialta_fianaise]

Yeah, that's pretty close to what happens when you're eighteen. Plus most people move away to uni or poly or to get jobs or what-have-you around then, so...

[notsogolden]

Well, happy birthday, then!

...And what is February?

[rialta_fianaise]

Um. It's a month?

Sorry, have we met?

[notsogolden]

We haven't. I just thought I'd chime in with the congratulations.

I'm new around here... Tylendel Frelennye. You?

[rialta_fianaise]

Padraic Pearson. I've been here a few months.

You're new too? There seem to be a lot of newcomers lately... I wonder why.