#fulldisclosure

Cold tonight. Colder than usual. She thinks she overheard someone say they were calling for snow. Not that she cared either way, she still had work to do. She'd debated on whether or not she'd take the holiday off versus the holiday pay, she chose the latter. No one to spend it with so why make herself miserable sitting in her dorm room all day long. 

Marlowe sighs, fiddling with the unlit cig in her hand. It wasn't by choice she wasn't smoking, mind you. She'd been an idiot and dropped her lighter off the Plex roof, and she just hasn't had the time—or urgency—to find her spare in the past few days. Putting it off for... she doesn't even know why. Maybe some small part of her mind is convinced this'll be what makes her quit. Even if she knows damn well that's not the case. 

She was still outside, taking her smoke break however, because she wasn't about to give up those few brief minutes every so many hours to breathe. She licks her lip. Though it'd be less miserable if she had a light. 

She checks the time; 11:55 PM. A few more minutes, then she'll go back inside and back to work. Someone called in something from rockstar row, need to swing by Parts & Services to grab her toolbox... 

As Marlowe mulls over her evening tasks there's a sound—a creak. The rooftop hatch being opened, followed by a jingling noise. 

She turns, and peeking out from the opening is a blue hat with yellow stars. It rises, red eyes peering up at her. Soon enough, a static grin, which rotates with the mechanical face it's plastered on. 

"There you are..." Moon rasps. 

Marlowe nods. "Where else would I be? You know my breaks by now I'd think."

"Early... tonight." He springs from the hatch, standing tall, though only for a moment before slouching back to his usual stance. 

She shrugs, turning back out into the night. "Maybe, might be the nicotine withdrawals throwing me off."

Moon doesn't respond, coming to stand to her right instead. Odd. She frowns to herself as she glances over to him. 

Fidgeting. Can't seem to stand still. And hiding something in one hand. Now she's curious. 

Marlowe nods at him. "Whatcha got there?"

Moon freezes, caught. There's a bit of static garbled, nervous, lots of jingling as he tries to explain, then finally stops, realizing she probably can't understand. 

Not making eye contact, Moon straightens, then shoves his hands out in her direction. 

"For you... Happy... Birthday..."

His hands unfurl, in them is a lighter. Looks pretty new, if not completely. And blue, covered in... yellow stars... 

Marlowe flinches then, face heating up. No, it can't be. He wouldn't—

But sure enough when she glances up Moon looks anywhere but her face. 

Oh my god. 

She takes the offering from his hands in disbelief. Sure enough, inspecting it closer she can see that yes, these were hand-painted on. A flick, and a small flame. 

Working condition, and decorated? Certainly not... what she would have expected. Certainly not from him. 

Once Marlowe's far enough back—a few mere inches—Moon retracts his hands, using them to tug on his hat as he twists away. "Felt bad about... your other one... Do you, like it?"

Finally able to come out of her spiraling thoughts. Stuffing everything down as much as she can. She'll deal with it later. 

A smile, a shaky one. "I, yeah. Yeah Moon. This is. Um. It's a really nice gift. Thank you." Please god don't let him see how red she is right now—

"You're welcome... Happy Birthday... again."

It clicks then to Marlowe. Fully. 

Shit. It is her birthday isn't it? She checks her watch again. 

12:03 AM. 

"Ah. Damn. I didn't even realize." Something twists in her then, but it's for mere milliseconds. She stopped caring about her birthday a long time ago. 

Although this... does make things different. Doesn't change them per se. But there's nothing that says she can't appreciate a gift, right?

A snicker then, she protests. 

"It's been! A time. The last few days, okay? Leave me alone..." She turns then, leaning against the railing and finally, finally lights her cigarette. The taste on her tongue and the feeling in her lungs is a relief she'd been aching for. 

Another soft laugh. "Don't want me to sing... do you?"

"No."

Silence, then laughter from them both. Even Marlowe has to admit she sounded ridiculous just then. 

"Sometime I want... to make you something better..." Moon says. 

Marlowe scoffs. "Don't need it, you know that. Something like this is perfect." Another drag. 

"Maybe... bake you a cake..." Ignoring her, talking more to himself now obviously. 

She relents. "I'm sure that would go great. Have you ever baked anything before?"

"I'll learn... for you..." Now she knows he's teasing her, but it works nonetheless to fluster her. 

"Shut up." She swats at him and he only chuckles in response. "Jerk."

It's cold tonight. But Marlowe feels just a bit warmer, inside and out. 

Probably just the cigarette talking, though.

happy birthday marloweeee and merry chrimus citrus... since im very behind and your gifts arent going to be sent for.. awhile, stares at the sunset