HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YA NERD

[deskman]

It's exciting when you're, well, your age. The world hasn't trampled on your dreams and ambitions yet. Give it time. But I'm 33 now. That's another rung on the ever-shrinking ladder to [SHUDDER] old age, and I really... do not want to be reminded of how fast I'm climbing up it.

Can't you freeze time, or something? You're writing this, aren't you? You can always just-- just retcon this! Do a reboot! I'd even be a bratty teenager again if I didn't have to be 33!

...y'know what, on second thought, screw that. I would never want to be fifteen again. Twenties, though: still a viable option. At least think about it? Thanks.

Comments

[statebetween]

You still have plenty of time left for yourself, you know.

[deskman]

I'd like more.

[Because it feels like he hasn't even started being an adult, some days.]

[statebetween]

Manage it better, and you'll have a surplus.

Happy birthday, in any case.

[deskman]

[laughs dryly] Time management. Never got good at that one.

Thanks.

[statebetween]

It's as much a habit as anything else is. Still can be learned.

[mordantwit]

Heavens, thirty-three. You'll surely lose all your faculties.

[deskman]

[Oh God is that Professor X??? Don't freak don't freak don't freak.]

Forty is the peak age for men in my family. Everything goes downhill after that-- hairline, gut, sense of humor. That's in seven years, and God knows how quickly the last seven years went.

[Robert's far too vain to consider that maybe he's actually got a good bit of time left.]

[deskman]

You know? You're right. I can even start now, and free up some time for us to have coffee.

[that just happened.]

[statebetween]

Are you saying that to just get me to be silent?

[Her tone implies she won't be offended if that's the case.]

[deskman]

No-- the exact opposite.

[dignified older woman??? hell yea hell yea hell yea]

[statebetween]

In that case, I accept your offer.

[She can probably clear a small space in the workday. Coffee's always welcome when you have reports to do.]