unexpected weather.

[Gaignun]

who made it snow?

[Jr.]

Jiggy did it.

[Jr.]

^ That's Ziggy's new name.

[Ziggurat 8]

-sigh-

you can't get jiggy out of ziggurat....

[Jr.]

No. But you can get Ziggy out of Ziggurat, and you can get Jiggy out of Ziggy. Duh.

[Gaignun]

.....yea, i figured you did it, jr.

i'm not going to punish you, so don't worry. while i think it was a selfish decision on your part, as so many people in this foundation live by a seasonal calendar and we try to adapt to that natural instinct, everyone seems to be coping with the sudden snow just fine.

i do ask that you don't sneak into my controls again without asking me, though. you had me worried that the systems were hijacked yet again.

[Jr.]

You're right. I'm sorry. It was wrong.

So wanna go build a snowman with me an' MOMO?

[Gaignun]

i don't see why not.

[Jr.]

'Kay, but there's a catch. You gotta invite Shelley.

[Gaignun]

that would only make her uncomfortable. i already cause her discomfort as is.

i swear, i don't know why she's constantly apologising to me..... do i have a sign on my forehead that says "cower before me"?

[Jr.]

Nah, you're not so scary. It's like MOMO said. (And yes, I was eavesdropping.) She wants to please you, but you practically never smile, so she ends up thinking she failed and it bums her out.

I mean, we've seen you smile before, but we're your kids family. I know you're really devoted to taking care of us, an' you wanna be the mature and reliable one, but that doesn't mean you can't smile or loosen up some.

[Gaignun]

.....
i smile.

.....
sometimes.

i hated watching my family fall apart 14 years ago. i felt you needed a stable father figure, who would be a constant source of reliability. i guess i got so wrapped up in trying to make you guys know you could always depend on me that i forgot what it's like to show emotions.

whenever i'm happy, my face and my voice don't know how to show it, and i end up looking emotionless.

but it's not like i'm doing it on purpose.

[Jr.]

I know you're not, Gaignun. You just forgot what smiling's like, and I don't blame you. You lost most of the people you loved, and then on top of that, you had to become a grown-up when you were still only nine years old.

You know what sucks, Gaignun?

Knowing that all that was my fault. Albedo going nuts, me becoming a kid, us leaving the Institute, Sakura dying, you having to grow up before you even turned ten... All this shit happened to you because I was afraid of God.

See, this is one of the reasons why I think it's GOOD Yuriev's trying to be a better dad. You can finally relax and take it easy. He can take over and give you time to be young again, and then I can fix what I've done to you.

But in the meantime, I'm gonna teach you how to smile again.

'Kay?

[Gaignun]

thank you....rubedo. i look forward to it.

[Jr.]

Good.

Now, let's go build the biggest snowman in the Kukai Foundation!