[video]

[unetrustworthy]

[From the moment the camera turned on, Midii looked...almost as if she were regretting the decision. Public speaking was never her strong suit, which was why she so rarely made videos like these. But there was something on her mind. For once...something personal. And after a few seconds of hesitation, her resolve won out.]

It's...strange to think about.

[Maybe it would have been better if she'd gathered more of her thoughts before doing this, but she hadn't wanted to give herself a chance to back out.]

I cam here when I was eleven. Today, I'm sixteen. [Ah, there was one point of motivation; she'd never publicly announced her birthday before. There truly was a first time for everything.] And I've had so much time to think about what that means. That I've lived here for so long that I...I almost forgot what it was like to live in the world I grew up in. That...that's a good thing. Because when I came here, I didn't trust anybody. I couldn't. I was scared and small and...didn't think I deserved the kindness that people were suddenly showing me. I tried turning them away. I figured that they'd get over it and move on sooner or later and leave me alone.

But...they didn't. Leave me alone, that is. Five years later, and people still won't leave me alone. [Despite her words, she spoke them with hints of a smile. Humor. Her attempt at a joke.] I've never been more grateful for those people as I am today. And I wish...that I could tell the ones who are gone that. I wish they could know how much they meant to me. More than even I knew then.

[A pause. She took a deep breath and stared into the camera greatly. Then let out a sheepish smile.]

I'm...not even sure what I was trying to say anymore. I guess...for those of you who are still finding it hard to deal with having been brought here...I just wanted you to know that there are good things that have come out of it. I'm living proof of that.

[Because she was still alive.]

[Although, just when it looked like Midii was about to (awkwardly) sign off...one last thought came to her. And in a rare show of her age, her nose wrinkled slightly in distaste.]

I still don't think I'll ever get used to the magic here, though. It's too....unpredictable.

Comments

[lasergrenades]

[Even with that sadness, Pepper couldn't help but smile more broadly. There had to be good memories there, even if they were tinged with grief.]

That's a really great tradition. Treating yourself is probably the best way to spend your birthday. [It would be better if those people were still here, Pepper knew, but she was glad Midii had continued that of her own accord.] I'm a little busy today, but if you want I'd be happy to go with you tomorrow or something. Belated birthday. Birthday take two? Only if you want, though, obviously, but I will never miss an opportunity to share pastries with friends.

[unetrustworthy]

[She was a second away from politely declining, when she hesitated. And realized...that...actually didn't sound like a bad idea. It might go slightly against her tradition, but could she really say no to another day of self-indulgence? It wasn't as if she were hurting for money; a lifetime of rationing and years spent doing odd jobs around the city meant she had plenty saved up.]

...alright.

I can show you the place I go to. The people there are really nice. They even gave me an extra stuffed sweet bun this morning as a gift.

[lasergrenades]

[Who said you would be paying for anything, Midii? Birthday girls do not pay for their presents. :P

Pepper was pleased that she accepted the invitation, though, and if possible her smile grew.]

Great! That's super cool of them. I guess they caught on to your tradition. It seems like the bakeries and the cafes in the city are all pretty friendly, and not just because it's good for business.

I can come meet you at the Hotel tomorrow, if that works. Maybe I can take you to one of my favorite places in return, too.

[unetrustworthy]

[But you are also a Birthday Girl, Pepper, so it wouldn't seem right to expect you to spend all the money.]

Oh, I don't live at the Hotel anymore. I moved out after the last time the magic got too weird for me.

[lasergrenades]

[They can argue about it when the time comes. It may depend on whomever is sneakier.]

Oh, okay. Yeah, I totally get it. That must've been super strange to wake up to. Where are you living now?

[unetrustworthy]

[Do not underestimate her sneakiness. Girl was literally a spy in her younger years....]

I have a small apartment in the Fire Sector. It's close to where I used to live, back when all the Foreigners were assigned quarters.

[lasergrenades]

[This'll be good.]

Gotcha. I don't go to the Fire Sector all that often, but I can meet you at your apartment or somewhere else. I don't usually get lost.

I guess where you are now is a little more familiar?

[unetrustworthy]

It's not hard to find. It's near the border between Fire and Central. A few miles from Sky.

And I guess you could say the whole city is pretty familiar to me by now.

[lasergrenades]

Cool. I guess you've been here a while; I feel like I'm still learning some parts of the city. Patrolling for the police is helping a lot with that, actually.

What time do you usually go out to the bakery?

[unetrustworthy]

I try to get there before seven, so I don't have to deal with the morning crowds.

[Of course.]

[lasergrenades]

I'll make sure not to stay up too late partying, then. [She'd learned how to function on very little sleep in high school, and not much but her chemistry grades suffered.] What's your favorite color, out of curiosity?

[She's not scheming, not she is not.]

[unetrustworthy]

Green.

[It had always been green. Like healthy grass. Like the plants. Like...both pairs of eyes she had fallen in love with when she was younger. Eyes she still thought of, even now.]

[lasergrenades]

Excellent. I'll keep that in mind.

[And she might arrive with something green in hand tomorrow.]