video;

[keep_smiling]

[Exsilium might not be expecting to see a smiling face on their network so soon after the battle, but that's what you get with this guy being among your ranks. He gives the camera a little wave.]

Hello! Is everyone recovering from the battle? It's good that the Initiative can resurrect people, don't you think? Otherwise that would have turned out rather badly.

Anyway, I wanted to say thanks to the people who tried to come to the rescue of my world. If we've not met, I'm Elmer C. Albatross, the person who was sent back. After what happened, it might be hard to think about this positively. But there's a few things we can take to heart! Like the fact that people can be ressurrected, or that while one world may have been taken over, it probably wasn't your world, and you might still be able to return to your own someday!

As for mine, well... Not much can be done about that, now. I suppose Exsilium is my home, now. The friends I was travelling with are like me, so they'll survive no matter what. I just hope someday things will return to normal there, so the survivors can find reasons to smile again! You're all still here, fellow transports, so I hope you continue to smile on as well!

Comments

Action (if it's in the apartment, that is)

[how_fascinating]

[There's a few bruises left over on Cissa, though they sort of blend in with her markings, so it's hard to tell. She looks more angry than dejected about this whole kerfuffle. She's used to being effective, and during this battle, she hadn't been.]

You're maintaining an impressively positive demeanour for someone whose dimensional plane was essentially annihilated.

yep!

[keep_smiling]

[He shrugs. Welcome to life with Elmer.] The Initiative did what they could. It was an unfair fight anyway! And who knows, with all this time-jumping and altering we do, maybe someday we can fix what happened. No need to give up hope yet!

video

[fintastic]

[ That was unexpected, but she smiles uneasily when she responds. ]

I'm glad you're feeling okay about this. I'm sorry to hear about your world, though.

[ She pauses, then adds, ]

I understand how you feel, too. I mean what it is like to lose your whole world. But we're still going to try and get it back, and now we know better than to underestimate the UE!

[keep_smiling]

That's very true! I had no idea they were capable of such firepower.

So that makes Exsilium your permanent home then too, eh? I wonder how common that is among the Transports.

Video

[biwinning]

... Your world wath dethtroyed, and you're thtill telling people to thmile.

[keep_smiling]

Yes, I am! It's very important to me.

voice

[commentboxtroll]

Mr. Albatross.

[ So this is the guy. Even after that, he's telling people to smile? Maybe he's lost it, but that doesn't stop Caesar from replying. ]

My name is Caesar and there's something I have that should probably go to you, now that... [ Now that your world is totaled and stuff. ] You know. Is there somewhere we could meet?

[keep_smiling]

Is that so? Alright, sure. I suppose just about anywhere is good! I'm on the roof of the apartments often, perhaps up there? [High-up places are his favorites, after all.]

voice

[theboywhodied]

I'm so sorry we couldn't save them. I don't know how to say it.

You're not the only one with nowhere to go back to, so...if I'm allowed to stay, you won't be alone.

[keep_smiling]

It is a shame, I suppose. I'd say "but what's done is done", but who knows, maybe someday we can fix that timeline! And when that happens, I'll go back to apologize to my companions for the mess.

That's apparently more common than I thought. Seems like Exsilium is a few people's permanent homes, now.

text;

[silenceandcards]

[He was, honestly, not feeling up to talking to this man at all. Maybe he was feeling just as devastated. But this message, the name attached to it, blows away any doubts he has.]

If you say anymore, the first bullet will be for Kate.

[He's not sure if he'll respond to any reply he gets. But Elmer C. Albatross better watch his ass.]

[keep_smiling]

[Gandor... Gandor? Gandor! That's a name he's heard before. But it's got to be some sort of coincidence, right?]

I'm not sure I understand??

Text

[explains]

That's a pretty upbeat outlook. You sure you're okay?

[keep_smiling]

Staying sad doesn't help anyone. Yes, I'm alright, thanks!

voice

[needsteaplz]

I'm sorry we couldn't save your world, Elmer.

I don't think I can smile just yet. This last mission has had a heavy toll on everyone. Still you do have a point we have some things to be grateful though.

[keep_smiling]

It's okay. It was quite an unfair fight anyway.

Right! Just keep that in mind, and yours spirits will be back up in no time.

voice;

[lar]

Man, you are the nicest guys around, aren't you?

[keep_smiling]

No, not really. [JUST THAT. With a usual smile.]

private

[gevurah]

Elmer. [ There's a load of guilt she's holding back, but some of it seeps through into her voice. ] Are you alright?

private;

[keep_smiling]

[He nods.] I am. I won't deny what happened is terrible, but I think we're all able to keep moving forward.

video;

[copia]

[ At first, she was going to give him some positive words for his loss. Losing the world one came from — it has to be hard, and it has to be harder to process and accept that fact.

But as she keeps listening to him, his comment about "taking resurrection to heart" sends any sort of positivity out the window. ]

Why should we be happy about being able to be brought back from the dead?! It's a sick joke is what it is!!

[keep_smiling]

[He... actually starts laughing at that, albeit a but sheepishly.] You're probably arguing with the wrong person for this!

[video]

[galactically]

You're perfectly within your rights to be sad, you know! You just lost your world!

[And as someone who once dealt with losing Galaxy once, she can't fathom how anyone, much less Elmer, could shrug it off like it's nothing.]

[keep_smiling]

I know. I do wish there was something we could do to fix it, but my hope is that someday, with all the time-jumping we do, we can go back to my world's past and fix things so this doesn't happen.

I do wish we could have brought my friends along, though, but that would have meant finding them first.

[voice]

[taijiya]

[Sango is pretty much marveling that you can even function right now, tbh.]

I'm so sorry about your world, Mr. Albatross.

[Everyone is saying it, yes, but she can't help it. Because she can't even imagine that.]

But we'll... keep fighting, right?

[keep_smiling]

[Being totally cracked before all this went down does help.]

Of course! We've gone to the past to change events before; who's saying we can't do that again?

Video;

[satsujinki]

I'm glad you feel that way, sir. Of all things, someone needs to be able to look as the positive in this case.

[keep_smiling]

Moping won't help the people back there, or help anyone here feel better. It's always best to stay positive.

Video

[immortal_smoke]

I see you decided to come back after all.

[keep_smiling]

I sort of got shuffled along back through a portal. I figured it was for the best.

not here;

[5055034455]

[elmer why]

[whatsupcroc]

Do you want it back?

[keep_smiling]

My world? Yes, I need to get back to someone there eventually :)

[devilsfruitdoctor]

[Ibin thinks it's an act, but what do you get a guy who just lost his entire world? You get him the gift of playing along with his story, that's what.]

Hey, um. Before I forget. There's this magic trick my father taught me, it's called Walk the Dog. Pretty simple, just a couple of moves and a few basic props, but it makes the kids laugh every time. I can show you how to do it sometime if you want.

[keep_smiling]

Ah, really? That would be great! I bet it would be great for getting smiles.

Are you alright? You seem exhausted. I guess you were busy in the medical department?

reaction 1/2

[anklets]

[ she feels a sudden swell of anger and hurt and a bitterness so surprisingly intense, that Elmer can even think to talk so lightly of this— his entire world scuffed out, scorched, obliterated ]

voice 2/2

[anklets]

[ gathers herself together ]

..."Welcome home".

[Video]

[knightofcourage]

After all that, you're still asking for people to smile...

[Emil's not sure whether to be impressed or baffled.]

[keep_smiling]

That's all I ever want! This hasn't changed that.

[curatesecrets]

Elmer--!

[it's more a gasp of surprise and relief than anything else. Artie grabs his tablet and drags it into view, so Elmer can see him sitting at a desk - but not what he's working on]

You're alright. I --

[he scrubs a hand over his face. he'd gone into that mess because Elmer was one of the first people to welcome him. because he felt obligated as a comrade. and he'd brought Claudia with him, and ...

how could he still be smiling after what happened?]

-- I'm so sorry we couldn't ...

[keep_smiling]

I am! Really, I'll survive anything. If you need to worry, worry about the other people who fought and lost. But you shouldn't worry anyway, you should smile to help them feel better sooner!

There wasn't much to be done. I don't think we realized how powerful the United Earth really is.

video;

[bittertears]

What reason could you possibly have to...

[a pause.]

You're a damned fool.

[keep_smiling]

Maybe, but that won't change how I feel.

video;

[worldswillburn]

There's optimism, but this is pretty pathetic.

[keep_smiling]

You think I should just give up hope? I can't. I know my friends are going to be alive over there, so we need to get back there someday.

[Voice]

[hornedomen]

It was your home.

[Ico hesitated over what he should say next. He was angry that Elmer would try to gloss over this tragedy. Perhaps it was his way of coping. He decided against remarking about it.]

I'm sorry I couldn't help.

[keep_smiling]

We were far overpowered. There's not much we could have done, even with more preparation, I think. So don't beat yourself up over it, alright?

voice;

[debtor]

[To hear all this from someone who has lost everything... Everything but this war that's been unceremoniously thrust upon him (the war that took his world away)-- Allen finds it difficult to swallow. 'Would have turned out rather badly'!? It was his world they'd all failed to save, that they all watched die. Allen can't even fathom...

How could he think it might return to normal?

The past few days have left Allen feeling rubbed raw, emotionally. And after hearing this, he doesn't know what to say to the man.]

I'm sorry.

[Condolences aren't enough, of course. But what would be?]

My name is Allen Walker. We haven't met, but if there is any way I can help...

[keep_smiling]

Thanks, I appreciate it! Right now, I think the important thing would to stay positive after such a traumatic event.