video; regular network

[heterochrocatic]

[ Whoever is using Catra's comm is standing at the foot of her hospital bed. Probably one of the medical staff or some other Jorgmund pencil pusher. Catra is sitting up, still bandaged but much grumpier than usual (or just as grumpy as usual?). A pair of nurses, along with a couple of other Jorgmund employees are crowded around her bed, one of them holding a plate on which sits a small, sad looking cupcake in which someone has stuck a very lonely candle. The fellow holding the plate, a rather selnder man with too-large glasses and too-cheery disposition, speaks. ]

We want to congratulate Catra on her continuing recovery and wish her a very happy twentieth birthday from all of us at Jorgmund. We understand that it's been a bit of a rough time for some of you lately, and thought this might help raise morale. All together now.

[ The group launches into a slightly off-key rendition of 'Happy Birthday to You' and Catra seems to sink down into her bedclothes, as if it might help her disappear from this plane of existence. Having no such luck, she is forced to sit through the song. ]

Go ahead and blow out the candle, Catra.

[ Catra looks like she would rather do anything except blow out the candle. Maybe even go toe-to-toe with the killer again. In spite of this, she leans forward and gives a half-heard puff of breath, which extinguishes the candle. Styrofoam plate is carefully balanced on her bedside table, and the glasses-wearing guy, no doubt from HR, takes the comm. ]

Go ahead and leave Catra some birthday wishes. I'm sure that hearing from her fellow employees will be just the thing to help her get back on her feet as soon as possible.

[ The comm is deposited into Catra's lap. She stares at the camera, then plants her face in her hands. ]

I swear if ant of you say anything...

Comments

VIDEO

[71lines]

Oh no, Catra.

We're going to have to kick you out of all of the teenage bonding stuff. No more Teen Squad for you.

Re: VIDEO

[heterochrocatic]

Oh noooo. What am I gonna do if I can't listen to you and Dave argue about ninja crap?

[ She wants to ask about midnight kitchen runs but doesn't want to risk it getting heard by Jorgmund on the open network. So instead she rolls her eyes.

Also she might miss the ninja crap. ]

[71lines]

Spend a lot of time thinking about boring things like taxes. People who aren't ninjas pay taxes, right?

[She doesn't plan on ending those.]

I didn't get a party or anything, but after that song I'm kinda fine with that.

[heterochrocatic]

Taxes? Good luck, they don't pay me anything.

[ She picks up the plate with it's tiny cupcake and holds it up. ]

They did leave me this little cake. Smells okay, I guess?

[ Her voice lowers to a whisper. ]

I swear hearing that song is going to keep me in medical even longer.

VIDEO > Action

[71lines]

I guess we get paid in room and board? I'd hate to see how you'd tax those, though...

[She stops faking like she's even thinking that hard about it and... Leans over in real life to examine the cupcake. Hm.]

If you want, we can probably make a better one sometime soon. This looks kinda... cheap. Like that song.

Re: VIDEO > Action

[heterochrocatic]

I mean, I'm still gonna eat it.

[ Catra picks it up and licks at the thick, too saccharine frosting. Bleh. ]

Ohhhh that's really sweet.

video;

[princesspower]

Wait, I didn't even know you had a birthday!

[ PANIC. ]

TEXT; LOCKED TO ADORA

[71lines]

You can't just tell someone you forgot their-

everyone has a birthday, adora!

[Okay, yes, Adora didn't know either. That's a bonus for her. But... Hm. That'll make Catra unhappy, won't it? Maybe the two of them can think about presents and all.]

[princesspower]

I didn't forget! I didn't know in the first place!

[71lines]

Okay.

[How do you not know?]

Okay. So. Do you want to do something for her real quick? I'd do it myself, but I'm down a hand at the moment.

[princesspower]

I can try. I need to think of something. Not like I can really find her a gift or anything here anyway...

[71lines]

I'll be able to slip off to the kitchens tonight. You want to escort me there or just meet me there?

[Hnnn. No, she shouldn't be a brat about this. Even if Adora's a rival, she doesn't know it and they should still be friends. Besides, how many of Tenten's rivals have ever noticed her rivalry, anyway?]

I have some stuff we can use for gifts.

video;

[heterochrocatic]

Everyone has a birthday, Adora.

[ Why does she love this girl again? Oh yeah, because she's amazing and beautiful and perfect. ]

We just never celebrated mine in the Horde.

[princesspower]

I don't even know my birthday...

But we can celebrate yours now! That's great!

1/2

[heterochrocatic]

How do you not know your birthday? 13 was when they started us on proper sim training!

[ Good thing Catra is morosexual. ]

2/2

[heterochrocatic]

Anyway, your birthday is January 19th. Dummy.

[princesspower]

We all started in the simulators at the same time! How was I supposed to know?

[ Groan. ]

Thanks for the update, though. I'll remember that.

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra is laughing in that squeaky little giggle of hers. ]

You're lucky I remember this stuff for you.

[fuckcable]

[ Ric is not into this concept at all. ]

How the $&@% do they know our birthdays? I don’t remember telling them mine.

[heterochrocatic]

I dunno. It was just in my file. Or maybe on that intake paperwork they made me do? I can't remember, honestly.

[ SMIRK. ]

Hey, when is your birthday, anyway?

[ If she has to suffer... ]

[fuckcable]

Orientation’s a blur.

[ And that isn’t even subtle; he’s insulted that she hasn’t tried harder. ]

I’m not being ambushed by clapping waiters with a sombrero.

[heterochrocatic]

Hey, I had to give it a shot.

WRITTEN ON A NAPKIN, TOSSED IN FROM ONE BED OVER

[71lines]

So, we're getting one of the computer people to make it so he has a birthday on a random day, every other week?

WRITTEN ON A NAPKIN, TOSSED IN FROM ONE BED OVER

[heterochrocatic]

Fuck yes.

[fuckcable]

It sounds like a choice to me.