Oh, you didn't have that? Well, it's a pagan holiday that Nowadays it basically consists of dressing up in costumes, and going around the neighborhood asking for candy if you're a kid or going to parties if you feel you've outgrown that kind of thing.
> Mercenary Day? You don't have that? > It's the best holiday.
> Mercenary Day is after one year on this one day, one of the mega-corporations called Dahl? They offered all mercenary and militia work for free. > It was mostly a promotional thing. > But the people of Pandora adopted as a holiday for charity and good will. > People sing songs and do nice things for each other, like buy special guns for their kids and share ammunition between each other. Don't even kill each other to get it either. > Well, not much, they try to do it less. > And there's songs and special decorations, and special cakes you can have. > It's a really lovely holiday. It's one of my favourites every year. :)
> I used to get all sorts of presents, but I'd always sneak off early to find them. > I'd get in so much trouble.
[ It's just one more expression of casual violence, but for once she's not talking like someone twice her age and twice her misery, she's giddy and excited. They could have mercenary day, they could hang up decorations and maybe she could invite people over, they could all have dinner together. She could work out these gun modifications for Jack and the Vault Hunters. If she invited enough people, it would be okay, Jack wouldn't mind if she invited lots of people, phrase it like a work function.
[If Marco had any real idea of what Angel is feeling right now, he would hug her, at the very least. Hug her, offer her comfort, wish he had the same means to help her as he did back home.
Sure, he has an idea; "people don't even try to kill each other," she says. What kind of place does she really come from? How did things get this bad?
But he doesn't truly know how deep the rabbit hole goes.]
Ah. Is it n Is it normal for kids to have guns in Pandora?
> Statistically speaking, the highest cause of death on Pandora is being eaten alive > By the planets highly aggressive flora and fauna > Or other people.
> I'm sorry, I think I've upset you. > Where I come from is very cruel, and it's not their fault, the people there. > They were left, used, abandoned and to survive means doing unspeakable things
> It's what makes it so special > Because there are so many reasons to hurt each other > But for one day a year, they find reasons to be kind instead. > I think that it's beautiful.
> I am lucky in some ways, already being used to somewhere like that > Honestly it makes this place so much nicer, though I understand why no one else feels that way.
> Seems like I should be a blood thirsty psycho, huh?
> So am I. > I'm really excited for it this year, it's been a long time since I've been able to celebrate it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
<marco>
Maybe Halloween? Or
Actually no, now that I think of it, I'm not sure if I want to know what Halloween might entail in this place
<guardian4N631>
<marco>
Well, it's a pagan holiday that
Nowadays it basically consists of dressing up in costumes, and going around the neighborhood asking for candy if you're a kid or going to parties if you feel you've outgrown that kind of thing.
But it's very...
Spooky-themed?
Hence my reservations about Ryslig Halloween.
<guardian4N631>
> Why is it for children if it's spooky?
> Wait, never mind. I would have had a lot of fun with it when I was little.
> I see your point, no doubt there is something that is going to happen.
[ brb building graveyards with her mind. ]
> What about Mercenary Day?
> It's a good time for giving presents.
<marco>
What?
I mean
What is that?
[Wasn't she from some kind of future Earth? Why does future Earth have something called a "Mercenary Day"? What HAPPENED?]
<guardian4N631>
> It's the best holiday.
> Mercenary Day is after one year on this one day, one of the mega-corporations called Dahl? They offered all mercenary and militia work for free.
> It was mostly a promotional thing.
> But the people of Pandora adopted as a holiday for charity and good will.
> People sing songs and do nice things for each other, like buy special guns for their kids and share ammunition between each other. Don't even kill each other to get it either.
> Well, not much, they try to do it less.
> And there's songs and special decorations, and special cakes you can have.
> It's a really lovely holiday. It's one of my favourites every year. :)
> I used to get all sorts of presents, but I'd always sneak off early to find them.
> I'd get in so much trouble.
[ It's just one more expression of casual violence, but for once she's not talking like someone twice her age and twice her misery, she's giddy and excited. They could have mercenary day, they could hang up decorations and maybe she could invite people over, they could all have dinner together. She could work out these gun modifications for Jack and the Vault Hunters. If she invited enough people, it would be okay, Jack wouldn't mind if she invited lots of people, phrase it like a work function.
It could work, it might work. ]
<marco>
Sure, he has an idea; "people don't even try to kill each other," she says. What kind of place does she really come from? How did things get this bad?
But he doesn't truly know how deep the rabbit hole goes.]
Ah.
Is it n
Is it normal for kids to have guns in Pandora?
<guardian4N631>
> What?
> Oh, yes. Very.
> Most kids get something by the time their old enough to hold one, or at least something to defend themselves with.
> ... I take it that it's not for you.
<marco>
With
guns?
Sorry, we don't have to keep talking about this, I'm just a bit
Well, I wasn't expecting to hear something like this.
<guardian4N631>
> Statistically speaking, the highest cause of death on Pandora is being eaten alive
> By the planets highly aggressive flora and fauna
> Or other people.
<marco>
I guess the tradition makes sense then.
In a way.
<guardian4N631>
> Where I come from is very cruel, and it's not their fault, the people there.
> They were left, used, abandoned and to survive means doing unspeakable things
> It's what makes it so special
> Because there are so many reasons to hurt each other
> But for one day a year, they find reasons to be kind instead.
> I think that it's beautiful.
<marco>
It's just
How do I put it?
I wasn't expecting you to have come from a place like that.
I'm glad there's at least one day where things can be a little better, though.
<guardian4N631>
> Honestly it makes this place so much nicer, though I understand why no one else feels that way.
> Seems like I should be a blood thirsty psycho, huh?
> So am I.
> I'm really excited for it this year, it's been a long time since I've been able to celebrate it.