voice;

[redheadcarrier]

[Asuka clears her throat and pauses before actually launching into her little spiel.]

So, I thought you all deserved to know that I turn sixteen tomorrow! Maybe I'm finally getting used to living here after a year. Or something. Hell if I know!

The only problem is that we're still stuck on this stupid rock, so it's not exactly the best place for celebrating much of anything. Anyone have suggestions? And none of that virtual reality crap! They're neat, but they kinda give me the creeps. Maybe I'll just try and take over part of the dining hall...

Comments

voice;

[wordmagic]

You've... really been here for that long?

[ It's difficult for Levy to imagine, and she can hardly do so, her voice filled with her curious surprise ]

permavoice;

[redheadcarrier]

Well, yeah! I arrived... I think last December? Or was it November? I can't remember.

Why? What's so unusual about that?

[wordmagic]

Wow, that's incredible... I suppose with all that time having passed, you've gotten pretty used to being here, huh?

Ah... [ There's a small laugh, and it sounds fairly sheepish ] I just arrived, you see.

[ video ]

[observesthings]

O-Oh, you do! H-Happy birthday, Asuka!

[ Crap, now he needs to get a present... she's been one of the few consistent friends he's had here, he'll feel bad if he doesn't get something for her. ]

permavoice;

[redheadcarrier]

Hey, thanks Yuki!

permavideo!

[observesthings]

[ See him flailing, Asuka? ]

I-I didn't even know when your birthday was! I need to find a present... w-what do you like? I mean, want? I-I mean--!

voice

[promises_to_keep]

[Now there's a voice he recognizes.]

The dining hall's not a bad idea, but the loading bays are bigger. Depends on how wild a shindig you're hoping to put together, I guess.

permavoice

[redheadcarrier]

[Oh, hey, she remembers him too.]

Eh, nothing huge. Not like it's a good place for it, anyway.

same

[promises_to_keep]

I guess not; this place is a bit claustrophobic. Well, if you need somebody to light the candles, just let me know~

voice;

[revolutionized]

Tomorrow? [...] It's December, right?

[She hadn't been paying attention. Her previous conversation with Asuka had gone badly, and so she decides to keep this conversation light.] You could try telling them to send you somewhere else for it. Like a mission, but without all the mission-stuff.

voice;

[redheadcarrier]

Hey, that's not a bad idea, Tenjou!

[She seems to brighten a little at the suggestion.]

You think they'd let me do that? Oh, and yeah, it's totally December.

voice;

[revolutionized]

I think so. I think everyone's too focused on getting us back down to the city to pay a lot of attention.

Say, if it's December, that means my birthday's soon too. I didn't know ours were so close.

audio

[salvagedsoul]

Oh... it is tomorrow, isn't it. Happy birthday.

[redheadcarrier]

Thanks, Nagisa!

So, what are you getting me?

[salvagedsoul]

That's a good question. I don't know what you want.

voice;

[quackery]

Oh, wow! Happy birthday, Asuka.

voice;

[redheadcarrier]

Thanks, Ahiru!

[And for once, she sounds totally sincere.]

A bit hard to believe I'm sixteen already.

voice;

[quackery]

You're welcome!

So you don't feel that old, huh?

[payback]

Happy birthday! Go on a mission to get supplies in someplace lovely, and just stay there.

[redheadcarrier]

Thanks, Rin!

[She sounds thoughtful.]

It'd be nice. You really think they'd let me do that?

[payback]

Well, don't tell them you're going to have a party there - tell them you want to run a mission and make the place somewhere nice.

voice;

[blondtactician]

Happy birthday in advance. [This boy sounds close to Asuka's age.] This isn't exactly a fun place to have a birthday.

You've really been here a year?

permavoice;

[redheadcarrier]

Hey, it could be worse.

[She could be dead!]

Yeah. It's kind of weird to think about.

Voice;

[maipokerface]

What a place to celebrate a birthday.

Voice;

[redheadcarrier]

Could be worse.