[Open] Crushed Dreams Are Made Of These

[suzinkazan]

Who: Susan and Pacifica, and anyone else!
When: Post-War Log
Where: Grantebrycge, Gammon!
What: Letters of Rejection really should have been delivered by someone else.
Rating: PG-13 for language at worst.



[Heroes are often called upon to deliver bad news, right? At least letters of rejection are a lot less horrible than delivering news of a deceased relative, right? Surely nobody could get THAT upset that they didn't make it in?

Well, apparently not. As Susan and Pacifica, delivering all this bad news are about to find some; some people take their dreams being shattered hard. Babies.

"My entire life is over! Everything is over! I'm lower than dirt! I'm less than a worm!"

Yes yes, you know what, you won't find disagreement here, but you're getting their shoes wet, dirt sticks to these when they're wet you know, could you stop?

"Please.. I just.. please hold me, I just need... I need a second."

Feel free to take as long as you need. Around someone else. No - no please, do not cry on that, these tops absorb water, okay, thank you, goodbye.

"I didn't get in?! But.. but.. that means my parents were right! Oh god, I'm going to be a potato farmer!"

Potatoes have many uses. So long.

After many, many similar interactions, it eventually gets to the point of shoving the letters and running. Yes, here you go, your dreams have been eradicated and your future as a prestigious mage is a fantasy, you're much more likely to spend your life carving table legs or something, gotta go! At the very least, it pays?

If you're also working in Gammon, you might find them walking between addresses, or possibly even running as one of the recipients decided to take it out on the messenger, throwing tomatoes and other produce at them as they flee.

Or if you're there later in the day, they'd likely already finished, are now trying the 'bonus' for the job - a very baffling box of jelly beans that seems to solely produce flavors no one alive would ever like. Susan, for what's it worth, doesn't seem to like it, her face curling into absolute horrific agony the moment she puts a pink one in her mouth.]

This is, without exaggeration, the most putrid thing I've eaten not on a Monday.

Comments

[fuhrinkaed]

[At some point during the day as they're moving around trying to deliver letters, they're approached by a certain fluffy-headed nerd with a giant wave hello.]

Susan! Pacifica! Hey guys, I didn't know you'd met each other. How are you guys doing today?

[With it being a perfect opportunity, he reaches a hand into his uniform and starts rummaging.]

Working on stuff?

[suzinkazan]

[Susan is filled with the desire to lean over to her companion and whisper 'see? fluffy idiot.' but doesn't.

Instead she just looks at him.]

We're crushing the dreams of many, many people.

They aren't taking it well. One person consigned to become a potato farmer.

[fuhrinkaed]

Ah... Uhuh.

That sounds... uh... really tough? But at least you're kind enough to make sure that things go as well as they can.

[suzinkazan]

We have been trying, but many people are very upset regardless. Maybe you can help with my technique, we're right near one of the addresses.

[fuhrinkaed]

Well... I can try! It can't be that hard, can it? [He removes his hand from his coat. Present time can wait until after Business Time.]

You think it'll be okay if I help, then?

[suzinkazan]

Just watch me deliver this one and give me advice on my approach.

[fuhrinkaed]

Alright. I'll watch carefully, and if I can see anything that you need help with I'll definitely give you what advice I can.

[suzinkazan]

[Susan goes over, knocks on the door.

She hands the letter.]

"Oh, this my acceptance letter, did I get in?!"

It's a letter, alright.

[They rip it open, and the color drains out of their face.]

"But...rejected..how?! Why?!"

Well, I mean, technically it's because you were less impressive than everyone who wasn't rejected.

[They instantly burst into tears and slam the door. She walks back to Ed.]

How was that?

[fuhrinkaed]

...D-do you want me to be... erm.

Honest?

[He's really, legitimately not sure what to say. That was terrible. Completely so. Where does he begin? Should he begin? Where?]

[gilttrip]

[It's hard to say if the red tint of Pacifica's skin is from the tomatoes the Reject--yes, the capitalization is necessary--threw at them or from the anger that's practically radiating off of her as they walk away.]

This. Is. Humiliating. [Pacifica grounds out, after tying her long, blonde hair out of the way.] We should be making him pay for our laundry, not letting him off the hook like this! [She cringes as she looks down at the uniform, white...now stained with ugly, red juice.] That was the last letter, right? There's no way I'm walking around, looking like this.

[suzinkazan]

[Susan meanwhile is combing bits of tomato flesh out of her hair, flicking the brush aside, spattering the ground slightly.]

Honestly, I would have made him pay, but it was probably best to just get away from him before he got really sad. Like. Depressing sad. [She finishes as best she can, and sighs.] Yeah, that was the last one though. The pig is empty.

Let's go get paid and get that 'bonus'.

[gilttrip]

I disagree. [With the way she shifts her head, it's easy to imagine the hair flip that would have followed the statement, had she not been so worried about getting the tomato bits everywhere.]

Maybe he would've cried enough to let us wash all this gunk off with his tears. [She's not upset about this. At all.]

[suzinkazan]

[She laughs out loud at that.]

But then everything would have gotten soggy. And tears have salt, you know. Salt is murder on hair.

[gilttrip]

Fine. He can keep his tears. [This time. Pacifica smooths her hands down the blue uniform pants she'd swapped the skirt out for.]

We should change before we pick up our pay.

[suzinkazan]

That's probably a good idea. We can go by the inn, it's on the way anyway.

[gilttrip]

[Pacifica turns on her heels to leave, but not before she directs another stink eye at the Reject's door.]

Yeah, let's go before he decides to throw something worse than tomatoes at us.

[Is that the barest glimmer of sympathy she suddenly feels for Stan Pines, when he'd been trapped in the stocks during Pioneer Day? Maybe. She quickly squashes that feeling like a bug before it gets out of hand, though.]

[suzinkazan]

[Pacifica please.

They have a name. That Susan never learned, because she didn't care, but they don't deserve Reject.

Well, before the tomatoes. They do now. She heads off for the Inn so they can get changed, and then off to turn in and get paid!]

[nh2h]

[What was this? His friend Pacifica and a stranger-but-potential-future-friend were running away? Wander chased after them.]

Pacifica! Hey! It's me, Wander! Remember me? Who's your friend?

[Not exactly the conversation to hold whilst running from airborne produce. While he may have seemed oblivious to the flying vegetables, he suddenly reached his hand up and caught a tomato. Ooh, this one looked delicious! He bit into it and it was just as juicy as it looked. He shouted to their pursuer.]

Hey, thanks, this tastes great! But could you maybe mail it instead? I think you've dropped some!

[suzinkazan]

[Susan was mostly concerned with not ending up with a piece of spring onion stuck in her hair, but she does look towards who spoke.

And it's a testament to Wander's uh. Uniqueness. that her eyes nearly leap out of her skull when she turns. She's definitely not new to non-humans, but. They're only the second she's seen and.

Yeah.

For what it's worth she composes herself quickly. Except. She smells it. This endless well of optimism and posivity. She smells it.]

I don't think they care.

[And yet somehow she cannot bear to burst their bubble. If she even could.]

[gilttrip]

[Pacifica just growls as she dodges another tomato.] I remember you. Couldn't you have picked a better time to join us? [This time, the tomato nearly splatters on her side, and she lets out an undignified squeak as she jumps out of the way.]

And leave those tomatoes alone! [She huffs when she sees him bite into one.] Who knows where it's been? They're probably just throwing all the rotten ones at us.

[nh2h]

[Would it have helped Susan if he wore more than just socks, shoes, and a hat? It probably would have. Sorry Susan, Wander did not like to wear too much.]

Well they should care. They almost hit Pacifica!

[When Pacifica mentioned rotten tomatoes, he sniffed the tomato in his hands. This one smelled okay and it tasted great. He took another bite!]

But I'm hungry and I don't have any money left. Oh, that's why I'm here! I've got a job delivering letters and teaching this adorable little pig how it's done! There's the little guy right there!

[The tiny flying pig struggled to keep up while avoiding the tomatoes.]

B-T-W, why are they still throwing food?

[gilttrip]

[Wander's totally got the right of it. They should care that they almost hit her. Anyway, those few words alone make her opinion of his rise a notch or so.

She doesn't turn toward him as they hurry away, but she does say rather grimly--]

They're throwing food because we gave them the rejection letter from that university. Like it's our fault they totally failed the entrance requirements or whatever. So, congrats, that's what you have to look forward to when you're delivering yours.

[nh2h]

[He put his hand to his mouth and gasped.]

That's what this is all about?! I got to fix this... Later, friends!

[Suddenly, Wander was no longer by Pacifica's side. Turning around revealed that Wander had approached the disgruntled recipients, craftily dodging the food. He spoke to them, trying to offer them his sympathies and present them with other opportunities. Pigeonsblood may have closed their doors on them, but there was a whole world of discoveries to explore!]

[gilttrip]

Hey, wait-- [Anddd he's gone. With him distracting the university rejects, Pacifica slows down and stops to watch, now that she doesn't have to dodge the thrown produce.

Part of her thinks she and Susan should just walk off before the barrage starts up again, but the other part is curious to see what happens. What good does he think talking will do?]

[nh2h]

[He enthusiastically gave kind words and advice. In return, they both tried to hit him with vegetables. He managed to avoid them with admirable agility, his positive attitude never faltering in the midst of their animosity. Then, when Wander was between them, they flung tomatoes at him. He ducked and the tomatoes each hit the other aggressor.

The two young men looked at each other. Then, they realised their folly. They lay down their produce and clapped each other on the back, declaring that they will get through this troubling time together. Wander wrapped his arms around the both of them in a group hug before returning to Susan and Pacifica.]

Well, glad that's all sorted out. I think those two are very lucky.