003 - commencing countdown, engines on

[geonomy]

Who: Clay Terran and YOU!
Broadcast: eyyyyy yeh
Action: On the Vanquish!
When: Today, July 30th!

[Clay's lounging in the pilot's chair, though he's still wearing his swimming trunks. Not only does he plan to go out to the beach soon after this, but gotta keep those ratings climbing, you know? With the camera on, Clay grins and gives his little two-fingered salute, then leans forward to talk more directly.]

You know, it was December before I came here. For anyone here who doesn't know about Earth's calendar system, December is the end of the year, and one of the coldest months. Later, when I woke up here, it was April, four months after December. Crazy, huh? Here I thought I actually went through with my mission after all! [Granted, he thought he must've been heavily sedated if he forgot four months of the mission, but that misunderstanding was later cleared right up.] Anyone else suddenly jumped forward or backward in time when they were brought here?

However, that's not the reason I'm broadcasting. Back home, my birthday would've been seven months from then, but now it's today. I still feel like it should be months away, but here we are, I guess! [He bends down, his hair still visible on the feed, then back up, this time with a fishbowl in his hands that houses one (1) red fish with googly eyes, and occasionally glows an orange color.] So I got a present for myself! Meet the newest member of the Vanquish crew: Apollo. He's just like my friend back at home. He's red, he tiny, and his eyes bug out like when he's doing that perceive ability of his! [And he ends up laughing a little about it. IT'S THE BEST THING EVER he hopes he can tell Apollo this someday, just to get that flat, unimpressed look in return.]

Also, we got something from a sponsor! [HIS FIRST ONE EVER if we don't count the pottery soda. Carefully setting Apollo aside, he instead drags over a box, where he pulls out one of several visors that look a lot like his, only with a sponsor's logo on it instead of the GYAXA one he has on his (and also less well-made than his).] Anyone want one? There's plenty in here!

Comments

voice;

[proudlywehailed]

Happy birthday, buddy. You want anything special?

Save a visor for me, by the way.

voice;

[geonomy]

Nah, I'm fine! Just a happy birthday is enough for me, but thanks! [That doesn't mean he'll say no to anything, no, not at all. But there's not much to give on the fleet anyway.]

One reservation for an awesome visor, coming right up. Redeemable any time!

video

[experiencepoints]

"Apollo", huh? That description sounds familiar. All the fish needs is bizarre horns.

I've got no idea about time, though. My home's calendar worked completely differently. I don't know if it can even be translated.

video

[geonomy]

[He'll get to her calendar system in a moment, because that sounds really interesting. But more importantly... Clay's eyes widen, and he gives a big smile as he leans forward towards the camera, almost face to face with it.]

You knew Apollo! [She's not the first one he's heard of who knew Apollo somehow, somewhere and someway, so it's not so much of a shock anymore. But it's still surprising, and exhilarating, to hear that other people knew about his best friend.] How'd you meet him? Where?

[ video -> action ]

[touchofrogue]

[What. What. How dare you do this, captain. You don't just make an announcement on the day of your birthday and leave a cook no time to prepare.

Seriously. How dare. And does her best to.. do.. something.

Okay. Okay. It will not be perfect. It will, unfortunately, have protein paste in it. But get this, it will also have algae!

She sets the timer and lets it cook in the kitchen before sauntering on over to where he may actually still be flashing everybody addressing the fleet and his loyal fans! Her walk is steadily improving, but she still is not fully confident in her balance. Still, she claims the copilot chair as a leaning post, her posture taking on an indolent curve.]

So, it's your birthday, huh, cap'n?

[ action ]

[geonomy]

[He just doesn't expect things when there's not much to give, is all! And... yes, he's still flashing people browsing through, but he gladly turns the feed off when Rogue comes in.]

Haha, yeah, that's right! I'm 24 today. Neat, huh?

voice;

[interspace]

Wait, are you serious right now? Your birthday is in July, too? How old are you turning?

Also, I'd take a visor but I think ALFRED might get jealous.

voice;

[geonomy]

Yeah, 24! Looks like we're July babes! [He laughs at that, before he leans down to take a visor from the box and hold it tantalizingly at the screen.] Come ooon, you know you want it.

[iamawaited]

...what is that?

[geonomy]

Uh... what is what? [The visor? The fish? The birthday?]

Action

[preformthisneigh]

[It was probably a really dumb thing for Clay to say which ship he was on. That just meant the party horse could hunt his prey that much easier. Not long after the broadcast, Cheese pops up from seemingly nowhere, in a flurry of noisemakers, confetti and streamers. Balloons flutter up to the roof, multi-colored and glittery. It's like a rainbow exploded on the bridge. Good luck getting this stuff up later.

The pony also has an accordion. Which he sure as heck is gonna play right now. ]

♫ I'm here to wish a very happy birthday to you!
Even if it's a few moths underdue
But that's just a technicality
'Cause living in space is weird
So have a blast, it's your special day
Aaaand a very happy birthday to you! ♫

Action

[geonomy]

[SCREAM. OH GOD. CLAY REGRETS EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING HE'S EVER DONE IS BEING REGRETTED THIS MOMENT.

All the noise makes Clay jump right out of his seat with a startled shout and, while holding Apollo's fishbowl against him in hopes of protecting the little guy, he just. Stares at everything that's happening with a stupefied expression. A talking pony...? A SINGING pony?? And where did all these things come from??? WHERE DID HE GET AN ACCORDION????

When he's done singing, Clay stares for a moment longer, then lets a smile slowly come up on his face.]

Uh... Haha, wow, um... [Slowly, he sets Apollo down on the floor (which has confetti all over it, ugh) and starts to clap as he straightens back up.] Yeaaah, awesome! [He says with a slightly unsure voice, because there are still so many questions in his head and HOW DID HE GET IN HERE.]

action

[stickupherforehead]

[oh dear. A birthday? This is one of those super important human things that they can potentially die from or something like that.

Some time after the announcement, Pearl hesitantly pokes her head into the bridge. Alright. Clay doesn't look like he's dying.

Alright, Pearl. Play it cool.] ...are you dying? Do you need a party?

action

[geonomy]

[Clay blinks and looks back at her, eyebrow raised. Where in the world did she get that idea?]

Uh... no? To both of those?

text;

[recopy]

[oh my god clay look at you look at this]

You arrived here in April? So did I! Or well, really close, it was like March 31st...the time difference still really throws me off too--back home it was the end of August? I've either gone forward almost eight months or I've gone back five! Not really sure which I prefer...

But my birthday is June 10, so I guess I've already gone past it here...happy birthday to you though, Clay!

text;

[geonomy]

[look at me look at this]

thanks, mega! and happy late birthday to you!! (*⌒▽⌒*)

i got here... april 7? I was kind of more invested in my surroundings than what day it was... [In other words you know he had his face pressed against the glass and staring out at space like some kind of space nerd for the whole day]

[save_the_souls]

[Wow that fish...honestly DOES bear a resemblance to that lawyer guy from the castle. HUH. But he barely knew the guy, so he won't really say much about that]

Happy birthday, Clay!

And yes...I think I'm missing a few months here and there. I've sort of lost track...but we might not physically age anyway, so I don't think it matters that much...

[geonomy]

[Awwww BUT IT'D BE SO AWESOME.]

Hey, thanks, Allen! But what makes you think we don't age here? Is there some kind of evidence of this? [Not that Clay disagrees; in fact, he sounds curious more than anything.]

video;

[zessica]

What, really? [She peers closer, obviously interested.] Happy birthday, then! Are you having any cake?

video;

[geonomy]

I wasn't planning on it, but who knows? Maybe I'll ask one of the crews to make one! [He lounges back, his voice taking on a more sarcastic tone.] Mmm. Protein paste cake. My favorite.

videol=;

[ino]

Oh, wow! Happy birthday, Clay!

[ She laughs at the fish ]

Somehow I don't know how much he would appreciate having that fish named after him ...

video;

[geonomy]

Maybe that's exactly why I named him that. [He can do it, because he's the best friend. He's allowed.]

video;

[stefanged]

Happy birthday, man.

[Stefan manages a laugh at the fishbowl:] I'm pretty sure you're supposed to get presents, not buy them for yourself. You gonna be around your ship for a while?

video;

[geonomy]

I was going to go to the beach for a bit, but I can wait around here a little longer! [He waves a hand, somewhat dismissively.] And come on, man, I don't want people spending their well-earned starbucks on me. Money is tight these days! [If only he could transfer his money back at home to here. He's pretty comfortable financially there.]

video;

[survivalistcookbook]

[Yes, Eugene is video-ing his captain when the guy is maybe two minutes' walk away. Hush.]

I thought the point of a birthday was getting presents, not handing them out. You're spoiling us with all this free stylish headwear.

video;

[geonomy]

Hey, seeing the looks on people's faces is one of my presents! [He tilts his head to yell down the hall, as if Eugene can hear him that way (though with how loud his voice is, he probably can).] You know you want one!