This is a Story-Only archive dump for a quest I'm running on Spacebattles. If you wish to participate, please go over there and contribute.
Butterfly Effect
(A Worm/Shin Megami Tensei: Persona Crossover Quest)
1.1 - The Story Begins
Sunday January 2nd, 2011
Time: Afternoon
Weather: Snow
Moon: Waning, 2 Days to New Moon (1/4); 17 Days to Full Moon (1/20)
-Line Break-
I hate holiday music.
Let me clear away some misunderstanding. I'm an atheist, but that doesn't mean I harbor any ill will towards non-denominational Judeo-Christian system of beliefs, or any for that matter. Not even for the Church of Scion, despite their constant pestering at the door. I'm totally fine with individuals putting their faith in a higher power since it's what humanity has done since the beginning of known history. It's psychologically comforting to know that after a lifetime's hardships that a better place awaits us after death.
That being said, what I don't like about Christmas music is the fact that it gets up in my face. "Good tidings" this, "Joy to the World" that, it just grates on my ears, the overly optimistic tunes and ballads. And it doesn't even stop after the holiday passed. I mean, look! It's the New Year's holiday sale at the Market, and I can still hear the off-tune warbles of "Christmas Time Is Here".
I think that most people would think of me as a Scrooge or a soulless, cynical prick if I ever made my thoughts known.
Well excuse my family for being in a financial crisis and my being not able to enjoy them properly because of aforementioned crisis.
Dad knows more than anyone that money is tight nowadays, yet he still gave me thirty dollars to go spend for the New Year. Thirty dollars, at least three weeks worth of groceries if we stretchered it thin enough, and he gave it all to me to splurge for myself. And it wasn't something I could refuse. I get it. Things haven't been the greatest between me and Dad, but I had to give him credit. He was trying to connect to me, but I had serious doubts about his success without telling him about all the crap that was going on at Winslow. He had enough worrying to do on behalf of the Dockworker's Association, and I wasn't ready to come out with what I've been going through.
So, here I am, money I shouldn't be spending inside my wallet, suffering through Christmas carols on a bench in the middle of Lord Street Market. Tomorrow was a school day, the first day back to the living hell that was Winslow,
I should...
[ ] Go shopping for school supplies. The Terrible Trio did a number on my notebooks and art supplies last semester. Thirty dollars worth of loose leaf, pens, sketch pads and other items should set me for the next quarter or so. I won't even bring everything to school, so at least some of my supplies are safe.
[ ] Buy something for Dad. Thirty dollars is a small budget to spend on something, but then again, Dad's the kind of person who values practicality over ornamentation. Maybe one of those engraved things he can use at work, as a gesture of my appreciation. A pen? Pocket knife? The possibilities...
[ ] Splurge. I'm following Dad's orders, so it's perfectly alright to spend for myself. I'm probably not gonna get something expensive with only thirty dollars, but hey, I can at least get myself a new hoodie that doesn't smell like grape juice. Gotta see the silver linings.
[ ] Write-in.
