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

[menial]

[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-open journal next to him.]

...Really, Haruhi? After all of that, I'm in some other time and place again?! Oh, boy. She really just doesn't stop... Where the hell is it this time?

[Once he gets up and brushes himself off, he can be found staring with slightly less bewilderment than you might expect at his surroundings.]

Comments

[Voice]

[menial]

A discount of sorts. Very unsuspicious.

'Fun as this is, if it's all true, that is, that I'm stuck here in perpetuity or until further notice, then, well, dammit. I can't do anything on my own, can I? Except go to Haruhi? But I haven't quite given up that far just yet.'

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

It's as clean as a deal you're going to get.

But all joking aside, if you need anything else just ask. I've been her a little over two years.

[Voice]

[menial]

Two years...

Pretty long time to be away from your home.

'What do I mean, pretty long time?'

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Yes, but when I go back it'll be just as I left it - and I have friends here.

[Voice]

[menial]

That's an optimistic way to look at it.

'Which is kind of nice, I suppose. The other way to look at it is that you're stuck here and everything you do is meaningless.'

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

In a place like this you have to make the best of what you can.

[Voice]

[menial]

...Well, I'm sure it's a healthy attitude to have. 'Just not one I can muster.'

So how do you do that?

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

I don't know, it comes naturally I guess? Settling and adapting is something that's necessary here. It also took me a while to accept this place and deal with the situation, so don't feel rushed to feel better about Luceti.

[Voice]

[menial]

...Great. In that case, I'll feel free to freak out for an extended period of time.

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure no one will blame you for it.

[Voice]

[menial]

No one?

'I can think of someone.'

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

All right, all right. If Haruhi does I'll give her a hard time.

[Voice]

[menial]

...Don't get hurt on my behalf.

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

I don't think you need to worry about that.

[Voice]

[menial]

'...Said with such confidence. Curiouser and curiouser.'

How are you so sure?

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

I've known her almost as long as I've been here.

[Voice]

[menial]

'I still don't understand fully.'

You'll have to tell me about it sometime.

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Maybe after you're settled.

[Voice]

[menial]

That's fair.

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Well, it was a pleasure meeting you... Kyon? [Is that what he said his name is?

[Voice]

[menial]

[A vaguely perceptible sigh.]

Yeah, that's about right. Nice to meet you too, ah, Miss Rockbell.

'That's what you call Westerners, right?'

[Voice]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

You're a friend of Haruhi's, right? Call me Winry.

[Voice]

[menial]

'Well, I don't know if I'll do that, but...' [Because he still calls Mikuru "Asahina-san".]

Right.