010 Omens of Crusnik

[kinship]

[A: Elementary School (OPEN)]

[What is that sound floating out over the playground at lunch? It's piano music, just basic tunes being repeated over and over again from the open window of the music room. Cain has retired there to study the books that Charles gave him, tireless in his pursuit of being the very best at whatever task was set to him.

Every time he makes a mistake, he repeats that part of the piece over and over again until it's flawless. Anyone at all is free to hear his attempts or tell him to shut up.]

[B: Around Town (OPEN)]

[Tis the season, and all that... It's Cain's first Christmas where he'll actually get to celebrate, instead of watching all the colonists exchange presents while never being part of it himself. He's been saving all the pocket money that his drone not!mother had been giving him (until she got replaced yesterday), as well as the money he got for doing odd-jobs for his friends. So now he's out and about shopping for gifts.

Do you work in any of the stores? Then this blond haired boy might just be peering over the counter with a bright smile. Are you wandering down the street aimlessly? Feel free to bump into Cain as he carries a stack of boxes too high to see over... because clearly that's just asking for trouble.]

[C: Phone (OPEN)]

[Did you order a rousing pep talk by a ten year old today, Mayfield? No... shame, because it's coming anyway.]

Christmas is coming soon... Maybe you celebrate something else in your world, or maybe you don't celebrate anything at all, but here... I think they'll have Christmas. I don't know if anything will happen, but...

Even if it does, and even if it hurts us, we can't let it break us. We have to keep our eyes forward, and we have to stick together. As long as we look out for each other, then we can change the future to whatever we want.

[D: Home (Locked to Housemates)]

[It seemed like he was the first one home, which was a little odd after the drone!Esther housewife who had always been there to welcome him in and tell him to do his homework before dinner. Which, consequently, led to the thought that there was no dinner... Astha didn't seem the type to make a meal for the family based on what he had seen, Rachel had already shown she believed cooking beneath her, and he didn't want to die so Abel was out.

Therefore, whenever anyone else gets home, they might find the youngest non-drone member of the household stood on a chair by the stove. He's pouring over one of the recipes Esther had left behind, not being allowed to go and find any more of his own, and is carefully adding things to a big bubbling pot.]

Comments

[kinship]

--here, my first one here.

[Was that too quick? He just grins, innocent and glib.]

[eveningcalm]

You're not one of the mindless idiots then, huh.

[She picks up on the quickness with no small suspicion.] Christmas isn't even supposed to be about the presents and decorations, you know. You're not doing it 'right.'

[kinship]

I know, it's supposed to be a religious celebration of Jesus' birth. But I'm not Christian, so it's more about spending time with my family and enjoying the silly things like presents and decorations.

[eveningcalm]

Hard to enjoy anything when there's no power or supplies.

[kinship]

Hard, but not impossible!

[eveningcalm]

You're one of those irritatingly optimistic types, aren't you?

[kinship]

It's just possible that I am, is that such a bad thing?

[eveningcalm]

Not everything is rainbows and sunshine. Thinking as such is deluded.

[kinship]

Being optimistic, doesn't mean I'm not realistic.

When everything isn't rainbows and sunshine, that's when it's even more important to smile and look forwards, it's a blow against whoever is trying to wear down your spirit.

[eveningcalm]

Optimism and realism are practically antonyms. Recognizing the possibility of failure renders the looking forwards obsolete.

[kinship]

Not at all. Once you recognise the possibility of failure, it's possible to circumnavigate the pitfalls and pave a clearer way forwards.

[eveningcalm]

[A stubborn headshake.]

Not for normal people.

[kinship]

[He grins.]

Then perhaps it's best not to be normal.

[eveningcalm]

Whatever. Who are you, anyway?

[kinship]

Cain Knightlord, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss..?

[eveningcalm]

Kamiki. Izumo Kamiki.

[kinship]

It's nice to meet you, Miss Kamiki, have you been here long?

[eveningcalm]

Just a few days.

[kinship]

I'm sorry, you must be pretty confused still, right?

[eveningcalm]

I'm smart enough to figure out most things.

[kinship]

There are some things even intelligence can't help with, especially here.

[It was a hard lesson he was still learning himself.]

[eveningcalm]

Such as?

[kinship]

Things happen, things nobody could predict - like personality changes and nuclear fallout, you just... can't prepare for that.

sorry for the delay, finals are eating me!

[eveningcalm]

The nuclear fallout, I heard of. The personality changes... not so much.

not a problem!

[kinship]

If people don't conform to how the town wishes, they can become like the drones for a set period of time.