[Pls, Rose. Pls. That's hardly good enough at all.]
Ha ha, that's just the basics! Birthdays deserve more than the basics. ...Way more than the basics!
So we'll do this and it'll be tons of fun! I'm always looking for really smart people to play chess against, and the fact that it's Rose is even better!
Well, I suppose I can hardly say no under the pressure of compliments like that.
[Not-so-secretly pleased to the hilt, is Rose. She can't think of a better way to spend a fake birthday just now than in games of intelligence with such a unique and magnetic person as Morgan.]
Of course, if I wanted to be truly entertained, I would watch you and your brother play chess instead.
[That much gets...an exasperated huff out of Morgan. It's good-natured as always, but there's definitely a pout on her face.]
We're 32 and 32 right now... evenly matched. As per usual. [no matter what they do, they always end up tied in the end--which is a given, probably, but weird to experience.]
Rose thinks an answer wants to present itself - more than one, a whole branch of the timeline tree - but she chooses not to ask. Not this time, not yet.]
10/27
Getting out with my life attached is fulfilling enough, I assure you.
[But she only engages in the deflection because she feels like it. A birthday chess date with Morgan sounds like an instant yes.]
10/27
Ha ha, that's just the basics! Birthdays deserve more than the basics. ...Way more than the basics!
So we'll do this and it'll be tons of fun! I'm always looking for really smart people to play chess against, and the fact that it's Rose is even better!
10/27
[Not-so-secretly pleased to the hilt, is Rose. She can't think of a better way to spend a fake birthday just now than in games of intelligence with such a unique and magnetic person as Morgan.]
Of course, if I wanted to be truly entertained, I would watch you and your brother play chess instead.
10/27
We're 32 and 32 right now... evenly matched. As per usual. [no matter what they do, they always end up tied in the end--which is a given, probably, but weird to experience.]
10/27
[Well. That's a flashback.]
10/27
Anyway, let me get the chess set first! Hoooow about...tomorrow!
10/27
Tomorrow is fine.
10/27
But great! I'll see you tomorrow, then, Rose! I can't wait!
10/27
Rose thinks an answer wants to present itself - more than one, a whole branch of the timeline tree - but she chooses not to ask. Not this time, not yet.]
I can hardly contain my anticipation.