1 ~ when did I stop believing in Santa Claus? [audio/action]

[fffffacepalm]

[action]

[A teenage boy is extricating himself with some difficulty from having been dumped, or appearing, in the middle of the fountain in the center of the village. He's muttering to himself and clambering out. He's dressed in the generic-enough North High uniform, but of more interest may be what he's saying -- which is picked up by the split-

Comments

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

[The Malnosso sure love to be assholes when the winter New Feathers' cycles come by. One doesn't often see New Feathers thrown into the fountain during a hot summer day, instead they are thrown there in the middle of a white November.]

Oi! You okay? Here, let me help you.

[He'll offer a hand if needed and then his own coat because honestly, wet clothes aren't a good idea with those temperatures.]

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

[Kyon takes the hand, barely able to see its owner, and, not without some painful contortions, manages to drag himself out of there. It is rather cold, in fact, and his teeth chatter a little bit as he gets out.]

T-Thanks.

[He waves the coat away, though. Aside from the manliness aspect, he doesn't really want to get someone else's coat wet.]

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

You're going to freeze like this, you know.

[Even if that much is obvious to anyone, Keiichi can partially understand why someone would refuse a coat even in those circumstances but...]

Ah, forget it, I'm sure you have questions but we should get you clothes first. The store isn't far, come over here.

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

'I'm pretty sure freezing is just part of the entertainment agenda for Haruhi, anyway.'

R-Right. Lead the way.

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

[And lead the way he does. Keiichi doesn't bother with chat, instead focuses on getting the guy into the store, inside it's warmer and comfortable, but with how soaked the other is... He probably doesn't notice a thing.]

What size do you use? Don't worry about the cost, everything is free in this village so just grab whatever fits you and you like.

[he'll start looking too, because the store receives clothes from every world present and it always ends being a quest to get something specific.]

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

...Everything is free?

'If I've stumbled onto a hippie commune, well, that would be something new. I guess that's all I can say about that.'

[He does go rummaging around, however. No reason to turn it down. He scans through the racks before finding an outfit that looks pretty similar to his own.]

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

Yeah, food, clothing, housing... No point of a currency inside here after all, the town gets provided everything automatically and without problems.

[Keiichi looks at the other for a moment.]

Have you noticed what you have on your back yet?

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

'...Ask about the first part later. I've got a bad feeling about this.'

Do I even want to notice whatever this is?

[Action] - /crawls to bed, more tags tomorrow

[breaks_destiny]

Depends on how fast you want questions to come to your head. And how much in denial you want to be. If you want them fast and the denial to not last long then you would want to notice it.

[Pause.]

You'll notice it either way the moment you change clothes.

[Action] - night!

[fffffacepalm]

Don't want any of it.

[He sighs.]

'People say there's no sense in delaying the inevitable. But if it's inevitable, why not delay it as long as I can?'

[He nevertheless pulls the outfit off the shelf and looks around for someplace to change -- it's starting to get really old, being wet and cold.]

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

[Keiichi laughs a humorless laugh.]

Hold into that feeling, I bet you're going to think that a lot today.

[He points to where the changers are and waits for the other to be done... Or scream when he notices his wings if he's that type.]

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

[He goes into the changing room dutifully and, naturally, recoils when he finally sees the wings.]

'Is it bad that my second thought was, It could be worse?'

[Gingerly and awkwardly, he just puts on the new outfit over top, after drying off a bit, and returns.]

I see your point.

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

[He's still smiling, not an amused one or cruel, but... After being here for almost two years it turns to be almost endearing to see New Feathers' reactions to the place.]

I was sure you would. Now, before anything else, two things. Be careful with those wings, they are extremely sensible, bluntly put a kick to your groin would hurt less than a tug on them. And if they get ripped from your body you die, instantly. If only one does it will regrow with time but you will probably wish you had died meanwhile.

And secondly, I'm Keiichi Maebara, welcome to Luceti, your new residence for the next God-knows-how-many days, weeks, months or years.

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

Well, when you put it like that, how am I supposed to resist the temptation?

'No, actually, I've learned not to mess with things that I don't know anything about.'

[He shrugs and greets him with a touch of formality.]

Nice to meet you, Maebara. My name's [What's that? A plate fell off the shelf suddenly?]. But most people call me Kyon for some reason.

'Why did I even say that? I could've totally avoided that stupid nickname!'

[Action]

[breaks_destiny]

I'm sure you have many questions... But why do people call you Kyon?

[Also the nickname rings a bell but he can't really put it in place.]

[Action]

[fffffacepalm]

'Yes, I have many questions, but gotta ask about the stupid nickname first. Of course.'

It's just a stupid name my sister spread to everyone I know.