Fourteen Bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION] Forward-dated to morning.

[simplestgift]

I understand that Twenty-Six isn't any different from Twenty-Five, and that birthdays are no accomplishment, but I find myself especially grateful for this one. I didn't expect to spend it thinking about being thrown into the lions' den tomorrow, but one can't have everything.

Kennedy

[Archie will be about the library, the grocery store, and Good Spirits today, looking strangely neutral. Catch him pretty much anywhere. Horatio is permitted to tag along wherever, so responses might come from both.]

Comments

text;

[survivethesiren]

Forgive me if it's rude to ask, but why do humans place such importance on birthdays. Is it due to you actually aging?

[simplestgift]

Sometimes I think it's congratulatory on the completed task of surviving another year. There's also a bit of superstition involved.

[survivethesiren]

I suppose there is that. Time passes a great deal differently for Programs. We live in Cycles, not years...

And the day I was created, is the same I look now. So changes, growth of a physical sort is unknown to me.

[simplestgift]

[All that went way, way over his head.]

Well. Birthdays are only particularly important if the one having the birthday is important.

[survivethesiren]

So then I suppose you find yourself to be important?

[simplestgift]

No. But even for someone like me, it's worth a drink.

[survivethesiren]

[She knew you were all right. For a moment she was worried.]

I can't say that I disagree with that.

[So she likes to drink.]

[simplestgift]

Then I think you and I will get along splendidly, Gem.

[survivethesiren]

Are you going to be drinking anywhere in particular, then?

[simplestgift]

[He's about to respond when he hesitates suddenly. He's been getting so comfortable with having female friends that he's actually forgotten some women want something else.]

As friends?

[survivethesiren]

Did you think I meant something else?

[It's evasive, but not for the reasons he thinks. She's touchy about her programming--but she knows he can't understand that.]

[simplestgift]

No-no, I was only...making sure we understood one another.

[sob awkward]

[survivethesiren]

I assure you, Archie. I have no designs on seducing you.

[simplestgift]

[And that didn't make things less awkward.]

Of course not.

[survivethesiren]

[Oh now she's just amused]

So again, what bar is it?

[simplestgift]

Good Spirits?

[survivethesiren]

I'll be there, then.

[action]

[simplestgift]

[And so will he, already with an untouched glass of Scotch in front of him.]

[action]

[survivethesiren]

[Gem walks in, actually wearing something other than her suit--a simple dress. Her circuit lines in her skin are glowing faintly. Walking over, she nods, before sitting down.]

It took me a moment to find the place.

[action]

[simplestgift]

I'm glad you did! Have a seat.

[action]

[survivethesiren]

Thank you.

[Gem sat down, looking over all the bottles of alcohol, before over at Archie]

So what should I drink?

[action]

[simplestgift]

You like...red wine, don't you? Have you tried port?

[action]

[survivethesiren]

I haven't. [She pursed her lips]

Before thinking I enjoyed all sorts of things in the shift, I had never tried human alcohol. We drink and equivalent in the Grid.

[action]

[simplestgift]

I...don't know what that is, I apologize.

[action]

[survivethesiren]

Only two people in my world do, so no apology is needed. Most people have no idea what I am, or where I come from.

I'm used to it.