3rd Hat Flip [Voice/Action] Backdated to right after the draftees return

[immamartillo]

[Voice]

[ There's a brief pause after Firo turns on the journal. It's more difficult than he thought to make the announcement; when he tried writing it out he found he could barely move the pencil. He decides to keep it brief and just manages to keep most of the emotion out of his voice. ]

Seto's dead. 

[Action]

[ Shortly after his journal post Firo steals off to take a walk. He's avoiding the center of the village for once, staying around the fringes instead. Finding it difficult to deal with this mixture of grief and anger, he'll occasionally pause to punch or kick some poor tree. ]

Comments

[Voice]

[immamartillo]

Yeah, that sounds like him. H-he was on the Draft and...

[ He trails off, not wanting to elaborate on the details of the event. ]

[Voice]

[kingofwaste]

But... He's comin' back, right? ...That's how it works, right?

[Voice]

[immamartillo]

O-of course he's comin' back! That's how it worked for other people, right?

[kingofwaste]

I dunno! That's what they told me!

[immamartillo]

Well... That's what I heard too. Have you ever seen somebody actually come back?

[kingofwaste]

Nope. Nobody I know has ever died here, and I woulda liked to have kept it that way.

[immamartillo]

Yeah, that's how we all feel.

[ The next part is said in a quieter voice, and Firo doesn't realize he's saying it aloud. ]

And why'd it hafta be him...

[kingofwaste]

[And now Oswald's cartoon character instincts are kicking in. When someone's down, he needs to cheer them up.]

Well, ya know what? When Seto gets back, we'll just have to make sure he's welcomed back with open arms!

[immamartillo]

Yeah.

[ He laughs, but it's short and bitter. ]

I bet he'd like that. I just dunno how you're supposed to cheer somebody up after somethin' like that. Got any ideas?

[kingofwaste]

Candy! And cartoons! And uh... Presents! I'd suggest a parade, but the weather's still pretty nasty out there. It'd never work. And there's no chance of launchin' any fireworks, either.

[immamartillo]

[ It seems Oswald's plan is working; it's at least shifted Firo's attention from brooding to doing something constructive. ]

You sure about the fireworks thing? If it could work he might like that.

[kingofwaste]

Yeah, I've never met a person before who doesn't like fireworks! But if the stuff gets wet, it'll be ruined. We'd have to find a way to keep it dry, ya know? And it's hard to come by here in Luceti. I could ask Leon if he's got some in stock, though!

[Oswald's very passionate about fireworks, so he's willing to at least give it a try. He's sure that if anyone can set up a good fireworks show for Seto, it'd be him.]

[immamartillo]

Right... Do ya think you could ask him? Maybe we can just try and clear out a dry spot for it. Or build a table or somethin'.

[ Maybe not the best idea; he hasn't thought this through yet. ]

[kingofwaste]

Okay. Yeah, sure! Leave it to me! If there's fireworks anywhere in Luceti, I'll find 'm!

[immamartillo]

[ That actually manages a little laugh from Firo. ]

Thanks a lot. I mean it, Seto would really like that, I think.

...Is there somethin' I can do to pay you back sometime?

[kingofwaste]

Naw, I don't need anythin' in return! Just remember, when you see the fireworks, that you owe 'm to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit! The one and only!

[immamartillo]

[ Firo decides not to comment or question Oswald's title. In spite of his gloominess, he smiles; Oswald's managed to cheer him up a little. ]

Thanks. And I will, I'll make sure Seto knows it was you.