Forward Dated to whenever everyone is back on board.

[11calls]

So a question. If you skipped your last two birthdays in your normal timeline, but also have a bunch of extra memories and stuff crammed into your brain, how do you decide like... How old you actually are? Not going to lie, I've been hating math for a while [for obvious reasons] but I don't think I've ever hated it as much as I do right now.


[Yes, that's saying so so so much. Yes, Alex knows that it is, and no she doesn't care.]

Anyone else got any ideas on how we should be figuring this out?

Comments

[imarealistnotacynic]

Pick?

[Richard looks far more relaxed then she might be familiar with. Like something has aligned, something is at peace.]

As someone who has spent a good chunk of his life acting far older than he actually is, age really is just a number.

Alternatively we could ask NAVI what calendar the ship is on and go by that.

[11calls]

I mean, picking is hard because this last year has felt like twenty even before adding in all the time I've spent as not myself. And it was August when I was taken here, but it was almost October then...

[imarealistnotacynic]

[Not herself.

He gets that now.]

There are four classifications of age. Chronological, biological, psychological, and social classifications. You're too focused on the biological and chronological. The concept of "you're only as old how you feel" is ...accurate.

Socially you're in your twenties. That seems like the best gauge.

But ultimately Alex. [He sighs, thinking about this alternate life he led.]

You're Alex.

What do you...want for a belated birthday?

[11calls]

You think I'm in my twenties?

[Yes, she's amused, it's very obviously there in her voice.]

I don't know what I want honestly. In a lot of ways it feels like it was my birthday a lifetime ago.

[A beat.]

Nope, it actually was a lifetime ago.

[imarealistnotacynic]

I think

[He doesn't sigh but he does have the memories of a different person in his head and Alex at least is here.]

I think. You are not giving yourself enough leeway or kindness.

[11calls]

What do you mean?

[imarealistnotacynic]

Age is just a number Alex.

Lives are...just lives. The past few days have taught me that.

[10billionpercent]

Logically, you just count the number of days you've been alive.

[ He says this as though that is at all a normal response to that question. ]

[11calls]

That only really works if one has a logical amount of time that you've been alive and not an entire lifetime of memories that aren't yours crammed into your head. Also math.

[10billionpercent]

I don't typically count the time I wasn't able to move around, I wouldn't count a lifetime of memories that didn't happen to me, personally.

I really only count that time when it amuses me to.

[11calls]

See...

[Alex's smile is definitely audible.]

You keep mentioning counting which is totally the devil.

[10billionpercent]

Is it? What's wrong with counting?

[ Every so often, Senku asks an obvious question that the answer has just flown over his head. He's never had trouble with math, why would it be a bother? ]

[11calls]

Math definitely is.

[dealwiththe]

I can't say I know much about birthdays, except that you humans find them important, but - how old do you feel?

[11calls]

Depends on the day. Sometimes I feel like I'm twenty-five and sometimes I feel like double that, and it's before all the extra memories.

[Alex feels older when she doesn't sleep. She doesn't sleep pretty often.]

[dealwiththe]

Perhaps, instead of worrying about how old you are, you should try to do things to make you feel young? Couldn't hurt, anyway.

[11calls]

That's probably true. But also not as young as I was before, because god no one wants to be sixteen forever.

[dealwiththe]

Your teenaged self was more tolerable than some others, at least.

[11calls]

[And that's because allllllllllll of the awkward got dumped somewhere else.

Sorry Simon.

But Alex is definitely blushing just thinking about it anyway.]

God if that was tolerable I'm worried about how bad the others were.

audio; un: panoptes

[sisterswitch]

Time is a construct.

[helpful as ever, that jack. you're welcome.]

How old do you feel? Does it seem like you should've had a birthday by now? The standard rules went out the window when we ended up in space, so I think it's OK to just make it up. People lie about their age all the time, after all.

[11calls]

I suppose that's true. I just hate not knowing. But yeah, probably definitely time for a birthday. And a Thanksgiving, but not the American one.

[sisterswitch]

American Thanksgiving is a glorification of racism, imperialism, and capitalism, so I’m in favor of ignoring it.

What day is your birthday and how old do you think you should be?

[11calls]

October 23rd. And 31ish?

[sisterswitch]

Ah, a Scorpio. I should’ve guessed. Mine’s November 30th, which makes me Sagittarius - well, sun sign, anyway. Sag sun, Aquarius moon, Libra rising. I know people like to say astrology’s a lot of bullshit, but if it’s fake, why is it so real? Anyway, we should have a party. Maybe we can get Lucifer to play us some tunes.

[11calls]

A party would be good. I've never been able to do the full horoscope thing, though so I'll take your word on it.