Iowa | Monday FT

[pursuedthestars]

It was Jim's birthday.

"And on January 4th, my mother birthed the beautiful, gifted, charming, amazing man you see before you!" Jim shouted while standing on the counter of some bar he'd found. In his hand, he held a drink high, looking out over the patrons of the bar. He knew none of them but he didn't care. "So, on this illustrious day, I say we drink. To me!"

Any excuse to drink seemed to satisfy the denizens of the bar so Jim knocked his shot back and everyone else did too. He raised his fist up in victory before jumping down and getting another drink. He grinned and leaned against the bar, chatting up the nearest pretty girl.

"I think you should sing to me," he told her breezily. "The birthday song. You know it?"

She did and so she sang it. A few people around her joined in, some in drunken, slurring voices and some a little clearer. Jim loved it either way!

"Best birthday ever!"

Spent around strangers. Yeah, he was faking it but he was still having fun.

[NFB but open for all the usual things. Slowing time down a bit in Jim's world to get this post in since I missed it on the exact date. Yay canonical birthdays.]

Comments

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade sent a text!

Hoppy bird, Timmy!

He'd blame autocorrect, but let's be honest, it probably wasn't.

[pursuedthestars]

And Jim got the text!

Thanks, Jade! You made my way!

Jim's typing was intentional.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Nah man, Jade's my great-grandma.

[pursuedthestars]

Seriously? Do you have a Wade in the family too?

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Property. Hell if anyone tells me.

Probably, Cade. You meant probably.

[pursuedthestars]

Yeah, that one made Jim laugh.

Where are you right now?

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Banthas. Ships almost ready. Should name it something astral. Suggestions?

[pursuedthestars]

Baron Von Boozenschwan.

Totally an excellent name.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Thats an astral name. Im using it for me now. call me baron.

[pursuedthestars]

Jim snickered.

Do I get a naming fee or something? A free ride on the ship?

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Nope, its mine now. No fee. You can get a ride. Short one.

[pursuedthestars]

Damn, you're not nice. Does it go fast?

Important question.

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Sure hope so. Not sitting around to be shot at first time out...

[whenshewasnice]

Being a day late (from Natalie's own perspective, anyway) was probably a distancing thing. Or just a case of being busy. Whatever the reason, she probably wasn't going to discuss it.

She was calling now.

[pursuedthestars]

Jim plucked his phone out of his pocket and put it to his ear.

"Hello?" he asked, sounding cheerful.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie quirked a tiny smile.

"You sound chipper."

[pursuedthestars]

"There's a party!" he said, looking around. "And it's all for me!"

No, it wasn't.

[whenshewasnice]

"Is it?" she asked, willing to go with it, this once. "Good for you. Happy birthday, Jim."

[pursuedthestars]

"Thanks!" Jim said happily. "What are you doing right now?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Reading my notes on a dignitary who's visiting next week," Natalie told him wryly. "Nothing you're interested in."

[pursuedthestars]

"Boring," Jim chanted, shaking his head. "Why are you doing that? It sounds boring."

[whenshewasnice]

"I'm doing it because I'm boring person, Jim."

Seriously, now. Surely they'd covered this already?

[pursuedthestars]

"Well. Stop that," Jim chided, shaking his head. "Be less boring."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie snorted.

"How?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Toss those notes out the window," Jim told her. "Just like that."