[Soul's smile falls, giving way to a more confused frown]
What do you mean? How- how would I be any age other than... um.
[It looks to the side. It seems as if it's reading something off screen... and it doesn't seem like it likes what if found]
[It clasps its hands, staring at its twiddling thumbs]
[Twenty years spent here, rotting away, playing role after role after role? Rising as "The Star", only to be cast aside when they found someone SoOoOoO Much Better?]
[The camera screen starts glowing as The Soul seethes. Heat radiates from it as the light starts to become unbearable. The Soul seems to stop breathing entirely]
[Twenty years, I've been promised to be the greatest, only to be replaced by some... Some kid they picked up off the street! Twenty Years I have suffered, only for it all to be for naught when they all leave me in the dust!!!]
[The camera shakes for a moment... then stills as The Soul finally huffs a breath again, shutting its eyes shut, trying to shut out the emotions in turn so it can focus at the matter at hand, as it has before... then sighs, rubbing its face and, possibly realizing its audience is still here staring, smiles. The smile is dry and insincere, poorly hiding its anger away again]
I act exactly the age I'm supposed at any given moment to thank you very much.
Oh please, you know exactly how such a thing can be achieved. Impossible standards, impossible means and all that..
[Soul's gaze finally averts from them and Eight stalls for a couple of seconds, studying the expression on Soul's face before hesitantly allowing themselves to disconnect from the screen as well. At least for a moment.]
[Twenty years, huh? That's.. oh fuck that's exactly how much time Eight themselves have been trapped in the foundation. Their twentieth anniversary passed in January. Just three or four weeks before their birthday.. and Star's. Wait, Soul's too. Same birthday, presumably.]
[Before they could think of potential repercussions, the teen mumbled out:]
Happy late birthday to you and I both.
[..And immediately regretted it as they got flashbanged to hell and back due to finally reconnecting to the screen Soul was on. Their arms flew up defensively, as if they only saw the glow and the shaking now.]
Fuck! What are ya flashbanging me for, glowstick?! I just said happy birthday!
[The glowing soon dissapeared, leaving just an incredibly confused and mildly offended Eight. They flash a middle finger at Soul because fuck em.]