[video]

[waiting]

Is it just me, or does Easter feel more and more like early Halloween every year?

[ The video comes on late -- or at least, late for normal people used to working the nine to five circuit, but he's sure that for some people on the Network, this is just about their time to wake up. Bradbury's not normally one of the night owl crowd, but he feels uncharacteristically restless, so here he is, in what appears to be one of those little 24/7 convenience stores, panning the camera over an aisle packed with chocolate rabbits, eggs, and generally enough sugar to make a few small, hyperactive children practically explode. ]

Not that I'm complaining, but I don't remember having any of this growing up. 'Course, that might've just been because grandma thought kids ought to have more, uh, spiritual fiber instead of egg hunts. [ He snorts, muttering quietly under his breath, but the microphone picks it up anyway. ] Bet she'd just love knowing angels are real.

Anyway, uh. [ He seems to realize the clock's ticked over into midnight while he was talking, and he clears his throat. ] Happy Easter. If you celebrate. If you don't ... [ The shrug's practically audible; more so is the huff of soft laughter. ] Just enjoy the rest of the day.

Comments

voice

[paintjobs]

I'll do my best.

What is it that this holiday celebrates, anyway? All I've gathered so far is... something about eggs and rabbits, and half the stores promise to be inconveniently closed.

voice

[waiting]

That about sums it up for most people, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. [ Pause. ] You want the short version or the long? Either way, someone else could probably fill you in better, but...

audio | later time

[gevurah]

Happy Easter, Rick.

Or Chag Sameach.

[ Her pronunciation is not perfect. ]

[waiting]

I'm not even gonna try and pronounce that. [ He snorts, the shake of his head and the smile almost audible. ]

Thanks. But Easter ain't really a thing for you, is it?

permavid

[centurybaby]

I bet you were a dorky kid, too.

[waiting]

Dorky? How do you figure that?

[video]

[glassinine]

I hardly would say we have any proof that angels are "real," sir. We only have proof that several rather powerful individuals have decided to call themselves "angels."

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

[do you hear this? it's a faint tsk tsk tsk.]

[waiting]

No need to "sir" me. Bradbury's fine.

I'm not trying to start a theological debate here, but something tells me it's not too smart to go around telling people they aren't real.

video :

[alofts]

What does the rabbit have to do with the dead guy?

video

[waiting]

Good question. Probably because of the time of the year?

voice;

[notdaredevil]

Well I guess at least with Halloween, if you're lucky, you can find something that doesn't taste like sawdust and preservatives all the way down.

[AUGH Easter candy. Can't even stand to smell it. Everything, somewhere, has some kind of nasty chemical that just hits like a punch to the nose.]

I don't remember binging on candy at the end being true to the spirit of the holiday, either. Or ever understanding how anyone could cram a whole packet of Peeps in their mouth, even when I was a kid.

[waiting]

Had a few bad experiences, huh? I feel ya. Some of that stuff's bad enough that I'm surprised kids aren't crapping rainbows.

I wasn't much of a candy kid either, but like I said -- my grandma was kinda strict with that.

[acclimatized]

Nah, it's not just you. You should see Tescos after Christmas.

Happy Easter, Rick.

[waiting]

That's like Walmart over there, isn't it?

voice;

[fraternalism]

The Easter sweets go on sale now in January, there is very little gap between seasons when it comes to profits.

[waiting]

Yeah. Wonder what it says about us that we keep buying into it, though.

voice

[viced]

No wonder we have an obesity epidemic, huh?

[waiting]

Pretty much. 'Course, that doesn't explain you.

video.

[selfequipped]

Not a whole lot of waking up to find the Easter basket, then? [Kate hadn't had a lot of years with that herself, but she had some. Her sister had ensured she had it for a couple years longer, but even then ...]

I think every holiday is like Halloween. It makes Halloween a lot less special.

[waiting]

More like waking up early for Easter mass, yeah.

Halloween's still a little bit special. Ain't every holiday people go around trying to scare the crap out of each other, for one.

[selfimage]

It's like a riddle wrapped in an enigma—or it's possibly because both celebrations are stolen from preceding religions.

Just to name two, of course.

What does this one coincide with? [he clicks his fingers!] Ah, yes! That guy with a beard that walked on water. Him. The one everyone is always fighting about.

[waiting]

Yeah, that might be it.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess you aren't his biggest fan. [ He sounds more amused than offended, though. ]

video

[aggressiveapathy]

How much are you getting me?

[waiting]

That's for me to know and you to find out.

Y'know, after you wake up. Which means you need to sleep first.

video;

[larker]

Copious amounts of chocolate. I can't complain about that.

[waiting]

Lucky you. Personally, too much of the stuff gives me the shits.

[ TMI, Bradbury. ]

video;

[earnedmystripes]

Except for the bright pastel colors and focus on the cute and fuzzy instead of gross and spooky, anyway.

[He shrugs...and then smirks a little.]

Hey, if you missed out on egg hunts as a kid, that means you oughta make up for lost time now, huh?

video;

[waiting]

[ There's a flicker of recognition on his face when he begins to respond, but it's quickly (badly) wiped away; he'd seen enough of Kotetsu when he first came back to figure out that he didn't remember anything about being in the City, and he's not about to load him down with memories of a sort-of friendship he doesn't remember.

Still, his laugh is easy and free, even as he shakes his head. ]

I think I'll pass. Not really in the mood to deal with guys in bunny costumes right now, you know what I mean?

VOICE.

[retropolis]

I wouldn't go that far -- and you could say the same thing about Valentine's Day, Rick. Just being here is enough like Halloween if you ask me.

[ You know... all the costumes. ]

[waiting]

[ He laughs softly. ]

Maybe they should've switched them around. That way all the babies that get made on Valentine's Day could be right in time for Easter.

[ He's grinning like a shithead, audibly. ]