019: AUDIO [ i need another story, something to get off my chest. ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

[ the transmission begins with a considerable amount of silence. it's filled with the sound of air rushing by, indicating that whoever's about to speak (spoiler alert: it's max) is standing somewhere high.

she takes a deep breath, then speaks: ]

No one has to answer this, I'm just...curious. Feeling introspective [ and lonely ], whatever you wanna call it.

[ a pause, and then another deep breath before: ]

How do you celebrate certain anniversaries? Are there some you'd prefer to celebrate by pretending they don't exist? If you could choose your birthday, what day would you choose?

[ a final pause, and then, in a considerably lighter tone: ]

And is there anyone out there hiring?

Comments

[ voice ]

[glowingseer.livejournal.com]

Any specific anniversary in mind?

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

Not really. Just anything significant to you.

[ voice ]

[glowingseer.livejournal.com]

Well... [ she ponders on it for a while. ] One time, back when I was... around ten or so? We celebrated my parents' wedding anniversary by going for a trip around the world. Rome, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing... it was fun.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

Wow. That does sound fun.

[ pause. ]

Was that a one-time kind of thing, or did that happen every year?

[ voice ]

[glowingseer.livejournal.com]

One time. For that kind of trip, anyway. We usually did something new every year. My mom would buy my dad a condo unit in Malibu, then next year a new Ferrari... stuff like that.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

[ max doesn't know quite how to respond to that. on one hand, it sounds nice, but on the other she can't really fathom that kind of extravagance. back where she's from, even the richest people don't go to those kind of extremes.

well, they do, but not for people other than themselves. ]

Wow.

[ voice ]

[tiberiuskirk.livejournal.com]

Depends on what kind of anniversary it is and if you're sharing it with anyone.

[ those last two celebration-esque questions give him pause, though. it takes him a moment to settle on the answer of: ] My birthday. I tend to do just that, pretend it doesn't exist. And I guess any day but the day I'm stuck with.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

Is that asking me what mine is?

And does it ever work?

[ voice ]

[tiberiuskirk.livejournal.com]

It is. Gonna have to get a bit more specific, Max.

When alcohol is involved, yes.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

[ okay, she can't help but laugh at that. ] Lucky you.

[ a pause, and then she sighs. ] It's not anything important compared to some others. Just realized I've been here a year. [ another pause. ] A year and a week, actually.

[ voice ]

[tiberiuskirk.livejournal.com]

Ah, the good ol' anniversary of being trapped in this goddamn place. Welcome to the club. Hit that mark myself back in May.

[ voice ]

[vikingvampire.livejournal.com]

I haven't made the official announcement yet, but I could use a couple of dancers and a bartender at my club.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

[ oh, hello there eric. max didn't realize you were back. ]

...Not sure how great I'd be at dancing.

[ voice ]

[vikingvampire.livejournal.com]

How about bartending?

[that's a little ominous. hopefully, he didn't get on her bad side the last time he was here.]

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

Bartending I can do. I'm also good for security if you need it.

[ not at all, but they did sleep together while she was in heat, which could make a work situation kind of awkward. ]

When'd you get back?

[ voice ] ugh, this tag is full of fail and i apologize

[vikingvampire.livejournal.com]

I'll keep that in mind.

[more awkward for her than for him, i imagine.]

Before I answer that, why don't you tell me who you are.

[ voice ]

[bonescientist.livejournal.com]

Well, the specific characteristics of celebration tend to vary cross-culturally depending on the anniversary in question.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

What if it's a personal anniversary?

[ voice ]

[bonescientist.livejournal.com]

Such as a birthday, for example? Material tokens are normally given as gifts to the person whose date of birth is being celebrated. Sometimes reciprocal action may be expected, if the celebration includes another person, say a matrimonial anniversary or other such partnership.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

No, not a birthday. Not exactly. Something that was...significant to you, but may not be important to others.

[ voice ]

[gotcouplings.livejournal.com]

[ Cheerful response is cheerful ]

Celebrate whatever we can. Life's full of good things, even when it don't seem like it. Sometimes the celebratin' the bad things is just as worthwhile as celebratin' the good. Reminds you where you came from, helps you look at the day a little brighter knowin' where you've been.

Already got a birthday, though, and it's a day that suits me just shiny. Take it you don't know your own, then?

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

[ cheerful? max does not see you very often. it's a nice chance of pace and she smiles as she answers. ]

No, I don't. I don't think about it that often, but I just realized I've been here a year, and it got me thinking.

[ voice ]

[gotcouplings.livejournal.com]

[ Obviously Kaylee isn't doing her Cheer Spreading Duties properly. It will be remedied soon, no doubt. ]

You got an approximation, even? Spring's always good, if you're lookin' for birthdays. No big holidays nearby, the weather's always nice...

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl.livejournal.com]

[ max will appreciate the effort, if nothing else. ]

Not a clue. Possibly around the fall. [ manticore used to do yearly measurements to see how their science projects were going, and they always did them when the temperature started cooling outside, right before it got freezing. ]

[ voice ]

[gotcouplings.livejournal.com]

Fall's nice too. Get all the changin' colors, and it ain't so hot...

Think October's about perfect for that, actually. Or early November, at the latest.