[video]

[notvitiligo]

[Jessica sits in the orchard, a sugar skull in hand. She glares at the mirror.]

OK, this? Isn't funny. For a lot of reasons.

This is a new low for whoever is in charge. Consider this an official complaint.

Comments

[ritsu_kouyou]

What is your issue?

[notvitiligo]

[She holds up the skull to the mirror. Gal Cecil is written on it.]

There are others around here. Other names.

It's really tasteless.

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Someone doesn't know Gal is gone.]

...so? I'm sure there's one for each of us.

[notvitiligo]

[Oh, crap. She looks away from the mirror, focusing on the skull.]

Gal...

...she wasn't in the house. She... isn't around. Anymore.

FINALLY TAGGING SOMETHING

[doc_holi]

What's wrong with it?

WOOOOO!

[notvitiligo]

[She holds the skull to the mirror to reveal the name Gal Cecil written on it.]

She went back a couple of days ago.

[doc_holi]

[Oh, no. Gal...]

But... why would it have... her name on it?


... I'm sorry.

[notvitiligo]

Because this place likes to mess with our heads.

[video] breaks hiatus for this

[cobbledtogether]

...? Jessica...?

[She has seen the changes done to the Orchard, but she hadn't thought much of them or examined them closely then. Is this one of those "it's distasteful because skulls and skeletons are symbols of death" things again? That seems like the most logical conclusion to draw.]

[notvitiligo]

[She holds up the skull, showing the name Gal Cecil.]

She just disappeared a little while ago. It's like they're trying to twist the knife here.

[cobbledtogether]

...Gal is gone?

[Considering how muted her expressions generally are, it might be hard to tell, but Lambda's face falls a little. She probably doesn't even realize it herself, despite the unfamiliar sharp feeling in her gut that appears for a moment.]

[notvitiligo]

[She sighs.] Yeah.

Sorry.

[loveswaffles]

It's a skull.

What's the big deal?

[notvitiligo]

[She holds it up to display the name.]

That's my... my friend. Who lived with me. She disappeared a few days ago.

And now I find this.

[loveswaffles]

You're saying that's your friend's skull?

[notvitiligo]

[Sigh] No, just...

It's the message they're giving. Skulls mean death, someone's not here and has their name on it... You see what I'm getting at?

[swarmoflies]

Is just a skull. We all got'em under the skin.

[notvitiligo]

I am aware of that; I had to memorize all the bones and stuff.

They've got names on them. Of people who aren't here.

[swarmoflies]

And? There's lotsa folks ain't here.

[spacejumping]

I doubt they'll really listen.

[notvitiligo]

I don't care! This is messed up. I... maybe I'll find a way to make them listen!

[spacejumping]

What are you going to do?

[histrionic]

Oh, by all means, an official complaint is sure to do a world of good. Complaints have helped so much in the past.

[Kuja's not in a particularly good mood today.]

Is there some reason you take particular issue with this new development? Other than a lack of originality.

[notvitiligo]

Thank you for the encouragement. It's absolutely helpful and not a huge pain in the butt.

[Yaaaay they can be ticked off together!]

They've got names on them. This one has one from my... my friend. Who just disappeared less than a week ago.

[histrionic]

I strive to be ever helpful in all things.

[An obvious, melodramatically stated lie.]

Names? They have names? [. . .] Who's your friend? What other names have you found?