caughtinanetwork | second sacrifice: accidental video;

[When the video feed comes on, the person who owns it seems to be out of sight, at least at first. But soon enough a familiar patterned tabbard flutters up just enough to be seen when they shift position.

That's not the only odd thing, either. Wherever they are, it seems to be up pretty high, and with a good view over a portion of the city.

Ico is on the roof of the apartment complex he lives in with Wander. Don't ask how he got there, or how he plans on getting down. The answer is not for the weak of heart.

He starts talking, still mostly out of view, but his voice clear enough to be heard.]

I felt like I was missing something. And I remembered it! It's the harvest season!

But there's nothing to harvest here. And there's not even a festival I miss it. City life is so different! I wonder if the capital was like this, too.

I keep seeing these strangely carved out gourds all over, and lots of decorations. I don't understand what they're for, and some of the faces are scary, like masks but worse...

Do you remember when we carved our masks for the first time, Toto... ?

[That's when it becomes clear that Ico isn't speaking to the network - he's talking to some one specific.

Some one who isn't there.]

You wanted to make yours as scary as possible, but it came out looking like an owl, and the girls just laughed at you. You said "Next year I will make the best mask ever and you'll all be sorry you laughed!" Did you ever finish it, I wonder? You wanted to keep it secret from everyone until it was ready...

[There's a nostalgic tone to his voice, which seems odd for some one so young, but after that there's just silence for a short time.]

... I miss you, Toto. I wish you could be here with me... I think you'd really like Vatheon, weird curses and all.

[A rustle signals another shift, and Ico finally comes in to view, albeit briefly. He frowns at the light on the SFC before picking it up and turning it off, completely unaware that it was already recording.]

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...you'll just need to celebrate enough for the both of you.

How can I celebrate something that doesn't exist here?

That's simple. You improvise to the best of your ability.

If that doesn't work, you can say you tried.

... I wouldn't know where to start. Older children only got to do the stories for the younger ones.

And how old are you now? I'm sure there are plenty of younger children you could relay these stories to.

This is my thirteenth year.

Still young, though I doubt you're the youngest. That shouldn't keep you from wanting to make this miserable rock feel more like home, should it?

I haven't met anyone younger than me yet.

[Pause and a blink]

Rock? I thought it was a bubble?

We're standing on some solid ground, aren't we?

In a manner I can't even begin to comprehend other than 'magic', apparently.

... I've seen magic lock an entire castle in time. It's not that surprising.

[Ico you seem pretty damn cavalier about that...]

second sacrifice: accidental video;

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