Chapter Text
The vast expanse of space stretched far beyond the enforced glass of the observation deck. Stars sparkled and swirled around the miasmas of galaxies as planets danced their cyclical dances around them. Countless twinkling lights against the inky black void of the cosmos. It was spellbinding, awe inspiring, beautiful, and... boring. Terribly, terribly boring. The glamour of intergalactic travel lost its luster quite quickly when it meant staring at much of the same thing over and over again, looking for dimensional anomalies. Since their last big adventure, the crew of the S.S. Tetra found everything to be smooth sailing. And, while such a peace was what all true galactic protectors should strive for, Tee still felt terribly, terribly, bored.
Tee rolled his gloved fingers across the arm of his chair as his eyes scanned the cosmos, letting out a sigh as he came to a familiar conclusion. Safe. No danger to report. Boring. "O," he called with a sigh, "status report."
"Pi pi-pi pipi-pi~!" O happily as he floated towards the young captain and began his transmission.
"This is Captain Tee of the S.S. Tetra, reporting through communications operator, O. Status report for the Golden Leaf Galaxy - all clear. No anomalies or ripples in space-time. End of report." To celebrate the success of his detailed report, he slumped down into his chair and threw back his head.
Zooming to his side, O offered an inquisitive chirp as he circled around the dignified captain.
"Well, can you blame me?" He sat upright and folded his arms. "It's been so long since anything interesting happened. And... I miss our friends from the other dimension."
"Pi~ pipi pi?"
Tee took a cellphone from his pocket to show to O, then set it in his lap. "We talk sometimes, yes. But, they have lives going on and it seems like they're always going on some awesome adventure." He idly turned the phone in his hands. "It's been awhile since I've heard from them. I'd reach out, but... I don't want to be a nuisance to them, you know?"
Before O could offer a response, the phone buzzed quickly, startling the both of them. He rushed behind Tee to read the message from over his shoulder.
Ringo 🍎
Hi, Tee! Just wanted to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY~! 🎉🎉🎉 Hope you have fun today! :D
Tee stared at his phone for a moment, blinking once, twice, before turning his head up to O. "O, what's today?"
"Pi-pi."
"No, I know it's Monday. What's the date?"
"Pipi, pi pipi-pi."
"Decidedly... not my birthday, correct?"
"Pi." The two hummed in confusion for a moment, running various possibilities in their heads. "Pipi pi pi pi-pipi?"
"Unlikely. I've had back and forth conversations with Ringo and her friends before, so the chances of an inter-dimensional delay are slim." Tee's thumbs hovered over the keyboard, uncertain of how to respond when the phone lit up again in his hands.
Amitie 🐤
TEE! Omigoooosh~!~! I hope u have the BEST birthday EVAR!! 🎉 What are b-days even like in SPACE?? 🤔✨ Did u know u an aquarius just like Professor Accord?! ♒ Thats soooo wicked!! I hope u get lots of prezzies!! 🎁
The two shared a look of confusion before Tee set out to type a response.
Tee 🚀
Thank you, Amitie. But, what is an "aquarius?"
Instantly, an indicator appeared, showing that Amitie was typing. "See? That rules out a severe inter-dimensional delay."
O gave a small shrug as he waited for her response.
Amitie 🐤
Uhhhh i think its a star thingy... 🤔 Feli would know more probably but its for people born in january/february like u! Ima taurus so ima bull hehe 🐄
"Did we... encounter a desync as we moved between galaxies?" Tee thought, his phone buzzing with more mistimed well-wishes. "O, run a report of-"
"Pipi pi-pi. Pi pi pipi pi, pi."
"No?" He grumbled as he ran his mind through the possibilities. "Could it be a dimensional thing?"
"Pipi pi?"
"Think about it. A planet tilted on its axis has different climates on its different hemispheres." He set his phone in his lap and held his hands up to demonstrate. "It stands to reason that something similar is happening with our dimensions."
"Pi," O started and spun around in front of Tee, “pipi pi pipi pi."
"Yeah, or I misunderstood how their calendar system works, there's that," he mumbled, a blush creeping onto his face.
"Pi~?"
"Yeah, yeah, and they probably don't think I'm a nuisance." His grumpy frown quickly replaced itself with a small smile as he picked up his phone and began to read his friends' messages.