It's a new day, and a new year. At least, it's been long enough to count as that, even though the aliens don't have the same sense of a 'year' as we do, from what I've been able to understand of the way they keep time.
But, even I can keep track of a single week.
"This planet might spin at a different speed and the days may be a different length." Eric shrugs, sitting back in his cot. "There's no telling if it's actually December or January at all on Earth."
"You shut up, Eric." Mia says.
"Without a working clock set to Earth's time, we can only track our own days..." I add, considering it. "It might not have been Christmas when she said it was."
Eric nods, and he looks over to Mia. "...Maybe it was a bit early or late. Or a lot."
Mia huffs and waves her hand. "Human sleep cycles will stay about the same. Anyway, Christmas is about more than just the day you humbugs! Hestia! Nod with me!"
Hestia, predictably, does. Though she does so with the expression of someone who has absolutely no idea what we're talking about, nor why we're even discussing this.
"Don't use Hestia as a plus one...!" I sigh and shake my head.
She clicks her tongue and pats Hestia on the head. "Hestia is a grown woman and can make her own choices over what to agree with." Hestia nods, her eyes bright, her face still showing a total lack of comprehension of what Mia is talking about. "See?" She grins.
Well. I don't think Hestia is completely unaware of what we're talking about. She clearly understands me when I talk to her, after all.
I think....
That starry eyed look is less a lack of understanding and more that Hestia just wants to be involved. So, when Mia tells her something and gives her attention, Hestia will agree, no matter what's said.
...Not that she'd ever disagree with anything I say, either. Eric, though....
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Eric squints suspiciously at me.
"Like what?" I ask innocently.
"Like that." His voice is flat.
"...Like what?"
Mia giggles and Hestia smiles.
Eric shakes his head. "...Fine. I don't care." He turns away. "...Anyway...fine. Fine. The actual day doesn't matter for Christmas. But it does matter for tracking our age." His eyes narrow. "...How old are you, Hestia?"
Hestia tilts her head, her face suddenly uncertain. She glances toward me.
"Ah..." I frown, my brow furrowed. "Well. I'm...I was seventeen when we got here, but if it's really past Christmas then..."
That's...
I...
Eighteen is such an important day. Not as much as twenty-one, maybe, but...
Somehow my eighteenth birthday just passed by here without me realizing. "It was...probably a little after the test..."
Mia blinks, her eyes wide. "...Oh!! You got the big number!"
"...So that makes me nineteen." Eric huffs. "Would've been a short time after getting here, but I was distracted." His voice is dry.
"Happy Belated Birthday~" Mia grins, her hands clapping together in excitement.
"...So wait are you twenty then, Mia?"
She laughs and waves her hand. "No~! I had mine a month before we got here."
So...
I squint.
If my math is right...
"It's about the time we'll make contact with the rebels again." Eric says, rudely, before I can say it. I shoot him a glare.
"...Oh, hmm." Mia nods along. "I guess so. That's a good birthday present~!"
"Getting free?"
"Well, being able to make contact." She corrects, winking at me. "...But getting to go free a little while later I think I can count too~"
"Good, better enjoy it because I don't buy presents." Eric says, arms crossed, lips quirked up into a smile.
"Rude!" Mia pouts. "After I got you that picnic!"
He shrugs. "Just telling the truth."
Hestia is fidgeting a little. It's not hard to notice that everyone has been called out except her. "...And...Hestia...?" She says quietly.
All of us fall silent.
Mia is the first to break it, smiling softly, her hand falling on top of Hestia's. "If you can't remember when it was in the year...we can pick another one for you, that's extra special~. How old are you, darling?"
Hestia looks down.
"...Do you know?" Mia's voice is quiet.
Hestia looks up at me. Her expression is a mixture of confusion, sadness, and fear.
She's...
I blink and nod.
"Right."
Eric's eyes widen a little bit as he stares at Hestia. "Wait, she doesn't even...know...her own age...?" He frowns.
"I think...she lost track of it somewhere along the way." That's my best guess. I can't blame her. I'd lose it, too. Especially if she's been here long before us....
I purse my lips. "I always think...maybe 16?"
"Sixteen." Eric nods decisively.
"No way!" Mia shakes her head and laughs. "Hestia's so slim! She could be 14 pr 15!"
"Too tall to be fourteen." Eric waves a hand dismissively.
"Could be tall for her age." Mia retorts.
I huff. Hestia is only getting more confused.
"What age would you like to pick, Hestia? Or we could wait and find out?" I say.
Hestia glances at Mia and then me.
She wiggles her shoulders and looks down.
Mia nods and pets Hestia's head. "It's alright. Take your time, Hestia~. When you feel ready you can tell us, and if you can't, we'll pick it together, right?"
Hestia looks up at Mia, eyes bright.
I think....I still think maybe sixteen.
And. We still have to pick a day for the celebration.
And I...
Want to give Hestia a gift.
Somehow.
Some way.
It's not much, and there isn't a lot here.
But I don't know the last time Hestia celebrated a birthday.
Whenever it is, though...it's been too long if she's forgotten it.
"Ah-hem." Mia coughs and taps the table between us. "But before that. It's New Years Day!"
"...Do you want to drop a ball from a roof and pretend to count down in unison...?" Eric squints at her.
"Don't be silly." She crosses her arms, closes her eyes and huffs. "That would be impossible."
"So then what-?"
"I wanna talk about our hopes and dreams and goals for this year, Eric!" She laughs.
I blink, my expression going blank, as I think about the traditions. As much as I can remember on short notice, at least. "...My resolution is..."
"Don't say go home!"
"Wha-"
She winks. "Because new years resolutions are always broken."
Eric groans.