14th Short - [Video/Written/Action]

[kingofwaste]

[Oswald has placed himself strategically in front of the camera. The strum of a harp, then he begins to sing.]

Ladies and gents, boys and girls,
Lend me all your ear!
Ladies and gents, boys and girls,
The next Hydra Social list is heeere!~

[The song picks up speed as more instruments join in. A drum, a trumpet, an upbeat piano to bring more cheer into the tune… Where is the music coming from? It’s impossible to tell.]

Hydra Social, Hydra Social, our very own penpal project!
Hydra Social, Hydra Social, a way for everyone to connect!
Are you looking for new buddies?
No need to sweat, no need to fret!
With a little correspondence,
A pal’s exactly what you’ll get!

[The tune slows again as Oswald explains the principle of the project.]

Everyone’s partnered up at random!
The rest is easy, ‘cause you see,
You can just use the journals,
To send your letter, one two three!
Make pals with total strangers!
Spreading friendship through Luceti is an easy feat!
Just check this list to find your partner,
Then pick up your pen to meet and greet!


[The following list is shoved into the journal’s view. Usernames are not actually included in the list, of course.]

Walter Delques (blackteriques) + Utena Tenjou (revolutionarygirl)
Leon (fellpool) + Ayumu (sundead)
Yotsuba Koiwai (rollypolyclover) + James Norrington (abidinglaw)
Yukio Okumura (sharpness) + Fattycakes (puubuu)
Kotarou Inugami (dontforget) + Ling Yao (avaricious)
Fuuko Ibuki (starfishlovesyou) + Pao-lin (i_am_not_cute)
Cyborg (cannoneer) + Yoh Asakura (mikanphones)
Asbel Lhant (drawnbythesword) + Rudy Roughnight (ofwesternwinds)
Roku (flameoroku) + Hiccup (dragoneer)
Kazuma Kval (moezama) + Gracia Hughes (contentedly)
Ikki (breezing) + Gilbert Nightray (chainedraven)
Orphen (trollkiller) + Caius Qualls (accepted)
Claude C. Kenny (mirrorblade) + Ami Mizuno (geniustheveil)
Precis F. Neumann (rocketpunch) + Isamu (musubi)
Cecilia (teardropshaman) + Frey Falenas (falenandawn)
Scully (poorqueequeg) + Major Richard Sharpe (greenjacketed)
Reimu Hakurei (illusionarymoon) + Tear Grants (seleniahymn)
Kratos Aurion (shiningbinds) + Aang (savedtheworld)
Jeb Parmalee (sketchingideals) + Leonardo (fearless_leader)
Kain Highwind (dragoon_pride) + Atsuro Kihara (ctrlaltdemons)
Vincent Valentine (thenightmarebegins) + Vivi Nefertari (alabastajewel)
Jay The Unseen (unseenspy) + Usagi Tsukino (lunas)
Saleh (mountain_sage) + Molly Carpenter (talentsgirl)
Asch the Bloody (dissonates) + Grune (lostinmyway)
Edward Elric (automailed) + Emil (snowwhiteproject)
Winry Rockbell (installing) + Luke (hisapprentice)
Shiemi Moriyama (shamelessness) + Kyon (menial)
Haruhi Suzumiya (godbent) + Hugo (luredbypower)
Elicia Hughes (asobouyo) + Raven (crisisrain)
Sayo (memoryboxes) + Minato Arisato (emp3thy)
Rin Okumura (rashness) + Molly Hooper (thenoonewhosees)
Henry Wellard (bravelad) + Leonhardt (eyesofstrength)
Keiichi Maebara (breaks_destiny) + Sokka (markofthewise)
Phoenix Ikki (uccellodifuoco) + Greg Bleakman (vor)
Anise Tatlin (failguardian) + Beast (tailasoldastime)
Amelia (thedicearecast) + Robert Hastings (semper_cogitans)
Yuan (fortunefail) + Kaname Tanuma (kindaqueer)
Dhaos (whatdeheckisthat) + Nagisa Furukawa (cherishedmiracle)
Helios (folklorist) + Princess Celestia (herroyalsunrise)
Yun (tolivefortoday) + Silver (tsunsandsteals)
Hayate Ayasaki (whimsicalwinds) + Hiro Kageyama (everyonesconfidant)
Giovanni (oftheland) + Len Drale (hidingworks)
Rapunzel (gleamed) + Luce (inheavenslight)
Eiko (tiearibbon) + Patty Fleur (ps3pirate)

[Then it’s back to Oswald, as the music continues on a very slow pace.]

And while I’ve still got your attention,
There’s one more thing to saahaaay!~

[The clash of symbals, an odd ‘whoop’ sound and the song picks up speed yet again for an overly cheerful finale.]

That is, you folks should not forget
Upcoming Oswald Day!
With parades, balloons and fire works,
It’s gonna be a blast!
Stay tuned for more info ‘cause
September fifth’s approaching faahaast!~

[And then the music cuts off, as Oswald takes a deep bow. The faint sound of applause is heard, but this one is clearly just a pre-recorded tape.]


[Written / Filtered to certain characters]

[Very shortly afterwards, several residents will receive a private note in their journals. It’s clearly directed to them and no other characters can see it, but the message will read the same for everyone.]

Dear Hydra Social participant,

It has come to my attention that you have not gotten in touch with your penpal yet. Either that, or you haven’t been convincing enough to get your pal to return your letters. This is your first warning. Kindly get to that as soon as possible, or there will be consequences. I am not bluffing. Don’t think I won’t hunt you down, because I will. You’ll never see me coming, either. You won’t know I’m hassling you until it’s too late. Besides, you are hurting your pal’s feelings. Shame on you.

Kind regards,
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Unofficial Second Senior Undersecretary of the S.O.S. Brigade.
Most Famous Cartoon Rabbit.

[The characters who received this message are: Ling, Amelia, Hiccup, Asch, Edward Elric, Phoenix Ikki and Yuan. It was supposed to go to “Greg Bleakman” as well, but the filter didn’t work for some odd reason.]


[Action]

[And so, Oswald has once again entered the grocery store in order to await the repeat offenders and call them out in person. This time, he's hoping to corner Saleh, Leonhardt and Greg. Instead of hiding between the apples, he's perched on top of a high shelf containing boxes of cereal and other breakfast foods.

Feel free to wonder why there's a cartoon rabbit watching you as you shop.]

Comments

[video]

[cilantro]

[...That is indeed a singing rabbit, isn't it. What. But he can't help but watch, and once the song is over, you actually do get real clapping from Cilan's end.]

My, what an impressive tune! It has quite the cheerful taste to it~!

[video]

[kingofwaste]

[Oooh, clapping that did not come from his pre-recorded tape! Excellent. He'll just take a few more flourishing bows.]

Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week. All month, even!

[video]

[cilantro]

[What can we say, you should always give credit where it's due. One of the names on the list is a little concerning though, but he doesn't dwell too much on it for now.]

So what's "Oswald Day" about, if you don't mind my asking?

[video]

[kingofwaste]

[Ohoh, Oswald doesn't mind at all. In fact, he was hoping someone would ask.]

It's a celebration! Like a birthday party, only better. It's gonna last all day and I'm going all out on entertainment, so everyone in town can join in.

[video]

[cilantro]

Oh, I see! It sounds like it will be quite the jubilant occasion. [Even if that seems just a little much to center an entire day around your birthday like that, but to each their own. ^^;;] I take it you must be Oswald, then?

[video]

[kingofwaste]

[Jubilant occasion is exactly what Oswald is going for, here.] That's me! The one and only Oswald the Lucky Rabbit! And you are?

[video]

[cilantro]

I'm Cilan, a Pokemon Connoisseur. It's a pleasure to meet you, Oswald!

[video]

[kingofwaste]

Pokemon Connoisseur? You mean you're in charge of your own company and makin' lots of money? [He's thinking of the word "entrepreneur".]

[video]

[cilantro]

[That gets a small laugh. It's okay Oswald, it's understandable to not know what that means.] Oh, no, you're thinking of an "entrepreneur"--while the words sound similar, their meanings have different tastes. As a Pokemon Connoisseur, my profession is to evaluate and determine the capabilities of Pokemon, and give advice on how to become better friends with them, more or less.

[video]

[kingofwaste]

Huh... And Pokémon are those weird-lookin' critters that you carry around in balls, right?

[video]

[cilantro]

[Oh good, you at least have a general idea of what Pokemon are.]

That's right! Though, I do know one or two friends that choose not to carry some of their Pokemon in their pokeballs, so it's occasionally a matter of preference with how one decides to travel around with them.

[video]

[kingofwaste]

So do you only connote for Pokémon and people, or do you do it for friendships between two people too?

[video]

[cilantro]

Huh? Well... [He actually has to stop and think about it for a second.] The job of a Pokemon Connoisseur is usually intended for specifically working with Pokemon and their trainers. Not only does it entail tasting the relationships between the two, but we're often tasked with giving advice on selecting Pokemon for people who either haven't become a trainer yet or are unsure about a Pokemon they just recently caught, as well as raising methods and move choices for how best to utilize a Pokemon's capabilities in battles.

[After a thoughtful pause, he continues on.] While that is what I admittedly have more experience in, sometimes I find that it's important to try to examine and get a taste for the relationships between Pokemon amongst themselves, or even with how people treat each other as well. After all, their friendships can be just as equally stimulating as the ones with their Pokemon, or vice versa!

[So in other words, it's primarily done and intended for Pokemon, but if someone really wanted his opinion on something (or someone), then he wouldn't really mind offering it and a little advice too if needed.]

[video]

[kingofwaste]

[Wow, geez, a simple "yes" or "no" would've worked. Half of Cilan's story went way over Oswald's head.]

Oh, uh... Right. That's... good. So as a professional Connuisseur [Yes he totally mispronounced that], you give this project your stamp of approval?

[video]

[cilantro]

[But then you miss out on hearing about the amazing intricacies of being a Pokemon Connoisseur...]

Connoisseur, and yes, of course! I find it to be in good taste and I think it's a wonderful idea to have a project that will help people become better friends--friendship is after all something that everyone could use while being stuck here together, right?

[video]

[kingofwaste]

That's exactly right! See, you've got the idea. [And now Oswald can tell all those complainers that a professional 'Connoser' thinks this is a wonderful project.]

[video]

[cilantro]

[Hopefully Oswald will have learned to pronounce it properly by the time he tells any complainers about it. ^^;;]

Well, if there's ever anything else you'd like an opinion on, feel free to ask. I don't mind offering assistance or advice for tastes like this while I'm here.

[video]

[kingofwaste]

Huh... I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, kid!