video/action;

[negativegate]

[Rita is clearly at the Hall of the Missing, as the screen shows the portrait of one Yuri Lowell. And then that portrait gets splattered with a water balloon, to the accompaniment of a fond farewell...]

Jerk!

Comments

[video]

[zipperbent]

[clearly the best time to talk to strangers is when you're sopping wet and your hair is a mess.]

Whoa, is this a personal vendetta I'm witnessing? I don't think I'd ever want to be on the receiving end.

[video]

[negativegate]

[Always makes for a classy first impression, right?!]

It's not a vendetta! He's a friend.

[And he therefore deserves a good smack.]

[video]

[zipperbent]

He-

[oh. um. awkward.]

Right. Yes. He. Him. As in, that fella. [who looks like a girl.]

Why are you chucking water balloons at his portrait, again?

[video]

[negativegate]

Who else would I be talking about?

[As a girl, he had a huge chest....

It was so unfair.]

Because he left! You know about these portraits, right? They appear when someone's left the City.

[video]

[zipperbent]

...Oh. I didn't know that, actually. [he goes quiet for a bit] This city's been a temporary home for a lot of people, huh.

[video]

[negativegate]

So you're new, then.

This place is only temporary for just about everyone. We all leave sooner or later.

[video]

[zipperbent]

You got it. I'm on week- uh, three? I should probably keep track of this stuff.

Well, are you guys from the same place? Not much of a consolation, but at least you know you'll see him again if you are.

[video]

[negativegate]

Of course I know that--I'm just saying he's a jerk for leaving without saying anything!

[Even if he didn't have a choice...]

[video]

[zipperbent]

Oh, absolutely! The biggest jerk! The jerk to beat all jerks!

But seriously, did waterbombing his picture make you feel better?

[errandry]

Wha—you knew him?

[negativegate]

Huh? Of course I did. We're from the same world, you know.

[errandry]

He never said anything—I thought it was just him and the knight! Though I guess that explains the house.

[negativegate]

...Well, it's not like he had to mention everyone...

[jerk]

Anyway, he left, but Flynn's still here.

[errandry]

Nah, I guess we didn't talk about that stuff a whole lot... so, what, you're their friend?

[negativegate]

Damn right I am. We live in the same house and all.

[errandry]

Guess that gives you portrait-abusing rights. You got any food dye?

[negativegate]

Food dye?

[Oh, she can't help but grin.]

Hmm...I'd have to find some. What about you?

video;

[firstaid]

I'm not entirely sure that... was necessary...

[Though knowing Rita reacted like that means it's hitting her hard, too.]

video;

[negativegate]

Well, it felt good.

[Yuri had been here from the moment Rita first arrived. It's weird not having him around anymore.]

video;

[firstaid]

[She gives a bit of a forced smile knowing Rita must have been getting a lot of her frustrations out.]

Well if that's the case, then... I suppose... I don't know what I suppose. [She gives an empty chuckle.]

video;

[negativegate]

[She frowns at that response.]

Suppose you come over here and try it, too.

video;

[firstaid]

I honestly don't want to. It... wouldn't make me feel better.

[And there's the truth that everyone knows but she's been hiding for a few days.]

video;

[negativegate]

Estelle...

You need to do something, you know.

[Some kind of distraction--though Rita can't say she's surprised that Estelle isn't so into throwing water balloons.]

video;

[firstaid]

I might go to the library later.

[It's something, right?]

video;

[negativegate]

[That sounds like something to Rita. Books are always a good answer.]

All right. If you find anything interesting, bring it back for me, too, okay?