8th Smile

[keep_smiling]

[Action A, 1670 Nelson: It's just another bright, cheery Mayfield afternoon when your local Smile Junkie goes to grab the mail and sees two boxes for him. How exciting! Not bothering to wait, he opens one right there. He lets out a thrilled "Yes!" and runs back to the porch to sit down and immediately play his Gameboy Advance. Looks like he left the other box in the open mailbox. Care to check out what's going on?]

---

[Action B: Hardware store, then back to 1670 Nelson: Looks like Elmer is stocking up on supplies. Planks of wood, nails, paint, things like that. He'll be bringing them home in his car and dumping them on the front lawn near that nice, big maple tree in the yard. Soon, he's sawing, hammering and nailing things to the tree. Seems like a treehouse is underway! Elmer cheerfully hums and sings to himself as he works. So serene, so happy. Feel free to interrupt. He might even flag you down as you walk by.]

Oi! Are you busy? Can you hold on to this for a moment?

Comments

[keep_smiling]

[Elmer, nose-deep in Gameboy Advance fun times, looks up in surprise, not hearing Groot at first.]

Ah, did I? So I did! Thanks, mate. I never thought I'd get two things.

[grumpiest_tree]

Sometimes they do that, give more than one at a time. I was told it's like a reward for surviving what the town puts us through, but sometimes they give a bonus along with that.

I recently received two letters myself. Though I am not inclined to test what they seemed to have restored to me just yet...

[keep_smiling]

I think getting things is rather exciting! I can't even fathom what they might send me next. The first thing they sent me wasn't very nice, but it was something I was used to having anyway, so it didn't bother me too much. And now they sent me this Gameboy I had bought right before I got brought here. So I wonder what this is.

[Not wasting any more time, Elmer opens it up. Inside is a Venetian mask. Elmer blinks in surprise before smiling fondly at it.] Now, this is a surprise.

[grumpiest_tree]

Oh, that was a gaming console you were playing with? I thought it was a more advanced device, to be honest.

[He glances at the other object to see what it is.]

...That is a rather nice mask, but I'm guessing it has more meaning to you than an art or costume piece, doesn't it?

[keep_smiling]

Nope, just a game console, but it's top of the line!

[He grins mischievously.] I guess you can say I was part of a secret gang, and this was our cover. It was just a one-time thing though, a long time ago. I'm really surprised to see this.

[grumpiest_tree]

Well, I hope it came with a few games for it then.

I hope you know that the gang can't be much of a secret if you tell others about it with little prompting?

[keep_smiling]

It's fine. It was ages ago, and not in Mayfield, of course.

[grumpiest_tree]

Of course. That does seem rather old though. Is it authentic, or a replica?