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

[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.

[action]

[simplestgift]

I...thought you were human, when I first met you.

[action]

[survivethesiren]

The Creator made sure we looked it. [She smiled, shrugging]

Save the glowing flesh, and all.

[action]

[simplestgift]

The Creator? God?

[action]

[survivethesiren]

No. My Creator was a human. No God.

[action]

[simplestgift]

But you look...

[action]

[survivethesiren]

I look what?

[She looks at him curiously]

[action]

[simplestgift]

...Human.

[He's marveling at her realism, mostly.]

[action]

[survivethesiren]

I suppose that's a good thing.

[She smiles softly, raising her glass once she receives it]

Happy birthday, Archie.

[action]

[simplestgift]

[The bewildered look makes a somewhat awkward switch to a smile, and he raises his own glass just barely, politely acknowledging.]

Thank you.

[action]

[survivethesiren]

[She tilted her head]

How old does this make you, now?

[action]

[simplestgift]

Twenty-six.