[video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam's broadcasting from a seat at Your Place, a milkshake on the table in front of her.]

Having now completed a couple years of it, I'm now pretty sure everyone under a hundred is improvising this 'real adult' stuff. And as for the rest of you? [She grins a crooked little grin, pointing at the camera with a cherry stem.] I've got some suspicions still.

[The broadcast would end there---and does, briefly---but the network's treated to Hiro hijacking Sam's drone to properly inform other Haveners.]

Hey, so, uh, what Sam means is that it's her birthday and she's just being cryptic. So, y'know. Don't let her forget it.

Comments

[mercury_gaze]

The days are shorter. [She’s definitely noticed that.] I don’t really know about the rest. The seasons are different, I guess? It’s hard to say...

[10_20_15_5_50]

We've got some dramatically different seasons at home, compared to here. Here... it's so consistent, and so consistently nice, it would be weird but for the fact it's nice. This time of year at home, everything's ice.

What time of year's your birthday, Jen?

[mercury_gaze]

[She nods.] We do too. The snow was just starting to melt when I ended up here.

It’s when all the flowers are blooming, before it starts to get really hot. It still gets cold at night, but not cold enough for ice anymore.

[She has no idea what season that’s called, but it’s the perfect time of year in her opinion.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

So you're a spring baby... and probably way past when your birthday would've been. But! I got a little something for you the last time I was in the Warehouse, and I've been meaning to swing by to drop it off. What do you say we call it a belated birthday present?

[mercury_gaze]

I guess so. [She really isn’t sure when her birthday is, or if it would have passed by now.]

[At the offer of a gift her chin tucks and cheeks color...she’s also got a grin on her face.] Okay. I’d like that.

[10_20_15_5_50]

[And Sam just grins right back. Jen, you are a cutie.]

I'll be by in a little while with it, okay?

[mercury_gaze]

[And she doesn’t even try. She’ll be at home when Sam gets there, just outside and flopped on the back of a really big wolf.]

Sam! Hi!

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hey, kiddo.

[The witch walks up with a box in her arms. Since it's in both, as opposed to under one, there's some substantial weight there.]

I hope you weren't getting bored waiting on me. Y'know, since I'm old and slow. How's shakes?

[mercury_gaze]

[She giggles] You’re not old, and you’re not that slow. [She sits up, Fang also lifting his head to look at Sam, tail lightly thumping the ground in a hopeful manner.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

You do me a favour and tell Hiro that the next time you see'em, alright? Good deal. Hey, fluffy.

[Sam crouches to set the box down before Jendayi, standing again to step back.]

Have at, kiddo. Happy untimely birthday.

[Opening the box, Jendayi will uncover a load of sidwalk chalk in a variety of colours.]

[mercury_gaze]

[She giggles.] Okay.

[She moves to the box and opens it up, making a sound of awe.] W-wow...so many colors!

[She reaches out to touch them, finally picking up a purple one.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

You do like to draw, right? When I found this I could only think how much I woulda loved it as a kid.

[mercury_gaze]

[She nods, looking over all the colors, softly touching each of the pieces.]

My Papa drawed a lot.

[She grins up at Sam.] Thank you!

[10_20_15_5_50]

You are welcome! [Sam opts to emphasize this with an enthusiastic, two-handed hair-ruffling.] What d'you say we test these out?

[mercury_gaze]

Eeek! [That squeal is quickly followed by a giggles as she ducks from the hair-ruffling.]

Yes! I'd like hat. You'll draw with me?

[10_20_15_5_50]

For sure! And hey, since there's the two of us, we can trace each other for templates. You wanna?

[Life is about the simple pleasures, sidewalk chalk included.]

[mercury_gaze]

Trace each other? [Tracing isn't something she's familiar with, and drawing on the ground with anything other than sticks in soft dirt is new to her too.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Yeah. Like, we take turns lying on the ground so that the other can draw around for an outline and we get a couple people frames to fill in.

[She's following her gut, here, because it seemed like the right thing to toss out. Beat hopscotch---which she never knew how to play, anyway---any day.]

[mercury_gaze]

[Well, she looks curious and interested.] Okay! What do I do?

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Right on, sunshine! Sam plops down to sit, legs outstretched, and selects a blue for herself. She traces what she can easily reach of her legs before passing the chalk to Jendayi and lying down, hands at her hips.]

Now you go the rest of the way around, please, and then it'll be your turn.

[mercury_gaze]

[A smile grows on her face as she watches. When Sam offers her the chalk she nods and easily takes it and finishes the trace. She’s almost kind of meticulous about it, trying to get it perfect.]

There! My turn?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Thank you! [Sam sits up, clapping her hands together.] Sure thing! What colour you want?

[mercury_gaze]

[She’s just gonna take a moment to peruse the colors. She finally picks out a bright purple and holds it up to Sam.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Alright.

[Taking the chalk, Sam gestures for Jendayi to get positioned. Once she's settled, Sam traces her, working quickly and efficiently to do so.]

There you go!

[mercury_gaze]

[Jendayi gets up very, very carefully then turns around to look.] It's me!