Scenario:Yuni - The Special People

The Special People

At a winter festival, Yuni helps pass out presents to a line of children who are as picky as they are eager, leaving her feeling perplexed. Later, a pair of sisters come together, and though she offers gifts to both of them, the older sister refuses on account of her age. As Yuni watches them leave, she feels a tinge of sadness in her heart.

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Yuni: This garb makes me feel a little uneasy...

(Captain) and the crew arrive at a certain town with Yuni, now donning a festive red outfit, in tow.

Vyrn: Oh, c'mon now. I thought you've gotten used to wearing clothes?

Yuni: I have, but... this is a bit different from what I normally wear.

Lyria: Don't worry, it looks great on you!

Yuni: This is the kind of costume Santa Claus wears, isn't it? What am I supposed to do wearing this?

Vyrn: Bingo, and good question! See, we've been asked to help out with this town's holiday festival!

Lyria: They're holding all kinds of events to celebrate the season.

Lyria: There's going to be a play in the town square, a ton of festive booths...

Vyrn: And lots of gift-giving! That's where you come in, Yuni. We want you to help us with the presents.

Yuni: Presents?

Lyria: The children who participate in the plays and concerts get presents. We were hoping to put you in charge of passing them out.

Vyrn: Whaddya think? You'll be just like Santa! And who knows, it might give you some clues on just what exactly the ol' man does?

Yuni: All right. I'll do it.

Yuni: Happy holidays.

Thankful Child: Yaaay! Thank you!

A line of children eager to receive their holiday gift forms in front of Yuni.

Picky Child: Me too! Give me a present too!

Yuni: Hold on, I have to go in order...

Picky Child: Aw, I don't want that one!

Yuni: Okay, how about this one?

Picky Child: Nuh-uh, not that one either!

Yuni: Uh, um...

Picky Child: Nooo, I want that one! The present with the yellow ribbon on it!

Yuni: All right then... Sorry.

Mature Child: Hey, do these presents have sweets in them?

Yuni: The contents of these gifts are a secret... or so I've been told.

Mature Child: That's what they gave us last year. I bet it's the same this year too.

Yuni: You think so?

Mature Child: But I'm in the middle of getting a cavity treated, so I can't eat as much sweets.

Mature Child: I'd like a present that isn't sweets, if you have one.

Yuni: Um, but...

Impatient Child: C'mon, what's the holdup? I've been waiting forever!

Yuni: Sorry, just wait a little longer, okay?

Mature Child: Sigh. Whatever, it's fine. I'll just take that one.

Yuni: All right, here you go.

Mature Child: Mhm, thanks.

Yuni: (Just a few more presents and a few more children...)

Little Sister: Hello! Happy holidays!

Yuni: Happy holidays. Here's your present.

Little Sister: Yay, a present!

Big Sister: And what do we say?

Little Sister: Oh, thank you, Miss Santa!

Yuni: You're welcome. Um, here's one for you—

Big Sister: That's all right, I don't need one. I'm just here for her.

Yuni: But...

Little Sister: My big sister's not a kid so she can't get presents from Santa anymore. Right, Sis?

Big Sister: Hehe, that's right.

Yuni: How old are you?

Big Sister: Sixteen. Trust me, I don't need one. But thanks.

Little Sister: See you around, Miss Santa!

Yuni: Right... Goodbye.

A sense of forlorn sadness throbs within Yuni as she watches the sisters leave hand in hand.

The Special People: Scene 2

After passing out presents, Yuni mulls over the experience alone in the town square when Satyr and Medusa happen upon her and ask her what's wrong. Yuni bemoans her lack of knowledge on children, and though the pair of primals attempt to comfort her, she can't help but compare herself to both Santa and Cosmos.

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Yuni: Sigh...

Presents passed out and line of children gone, Yuni takes a breather in a secluded corner of the town square.

Satyr: Hey, Yuni!

Medusa: Taking a break, I assume? We saw you helping out with the crew's task.

Yuni: Satyr, Medusa... Yes, I just finished passing out gifts.

Yuni: What are you two doing here?

Satyr: Baally's been helping out with the music for the play.

Satyr: So we thought we'd come and support him.

Medusa: Maybe that's what you came to do! I came to heckle him!

Yuni: You're going to heckle him? Why?

Medusa: Wha... Who cares why!

Medusa: Never mind me, what's with you?

Yuni: Me? What do you mean?

Medusa: Why're you brooding here alone in a corner?

Satyr: Did something happen?

Yuni: I just... I feel like I didn't do well.

Medusa: Didn't do what well? You finished passing out the presents, right?

Yuni: I did. I gave out plenty.

Satyr: Were they unhappy with their gifts?

Yuni: No, um... Most of the children were pleased. But not all of them.

Yuni: I think it's because I lack a certain understanding.

Satyr: What do you mean?

Yuni: I didn't know what the children of the town wanted. I didn't know what would bring them joy.

Yuni: I didn't even know at what age children stop being children. Just deciding who should or shouldn't get a gift was really hard.

Satyr: Figuring out mortals and the aging thing can be difficult at first.

Medusa: They're complicated beings, people.

Medusa: But you're worrying yourself over something silly.

Yuni: Silly?

Medusa: You heard me, it's silly. I mean, obviously, right?

Medusa: It's impossible to know the wants, joys, and thoughts of a person you've only just met.

Medusa: In fact, I'd take it a step further and say who cares? If they're not a friend or companion, why pay them any mind?

Satyr: Meddy! That's not very nice of you to say!

Satyr: Though, you know, she has a point. I don't think it's something you should dwell on.

Yuni: But Santa Claus is good at his job, isn't he?

Medusa: Santa who?

Yuni: Not just Santa... Cosmos was too.

Satyr: What about Cosmos?

Yuni: Cosmos watched over the entire Sky Realm, and she continued to fulfill her duty for so long.

Yuni: Yet here I am, incapable of understanding the children of even a single town.

Satyr: Yuni...

Dejected, Yuni's shoulders slump over. Satyr gently pats her on the back to comfort her.

Medusa: Sigh... What are you talking about, Yuni? You're not Cosmos and you're definitely not this Santa Claus guy.

Medusa: Why would you even say something like that?

A whisper of a sigh escapes Yuni's lips and she attempts to explain herself.

The Special People: Scene 3

Yuni confesses her admiration for Santa and desire to bring joy to others like he does. As she laments the difficulty of Santa's job, Satyr and Medusa suggest she instead focus on a few special people she'd like to make happy. Yuni lists (Captain), Vyrn, Lyria, and a few others, including Satyr and Medusa. With this in mind, she commits herself to enjoying the holiday for her friends' sake.

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Yuni: I read a book about the holidays and Santa Claus.

Medusa: You read about Santa Claus in a book and it made you want to imitate him, is that it?

Yuni: Maybe... But more than anything, I just wanted to see what he sees.

Satyr: What do you mean?

Yuni: The book said children look forward to the holidays and getting presents from Santa Claus...

Yuni: Opening gifts and eating wonderful food seem to bring them so much joy.

Yuni: I wanted to see that joy for myself.

Yuni: I wanted to see a person smile because of something I did.

Yuni looks down and gazes at her own hands.

Yuni: Since gaining this form, I've journeyed the realm as part of a skyfaring crew, and met so many different people.

Yuni: I've seen them experience joy, anger, sadness, laughter...

Yuni: And in witnessing their emotions, I realized something—I feel a warmth radiate within me when I see happiness.

Yuni: Seeing others happy makes me feel happy. Very happy.

Yuni: I suppose I'm jealous of Santa Claus's job and the opportunity it gives him to make children smile.

Medusa: Yuni... You're greedy.

Yuni: Maybe I am. Trying to do what he does was hard though.

Satyr: Hmm... Are those leftover presents in that bag?

Satyr points at the sack of presents sitting at Yuni's feet.

Yuni: Yes. (Captain) and the others said I'm welcome to grab one for myself. Apparently, they have sweets in them.

Satyr: Sweets, huh...

Satyr: Say, Yuni, how about you share some of them with us?

Satyr: We can eat them together.

Yuni: Sure, okay.

Yuni opens the sack and grabs one of the gifts. She shares its contents, an assortment of candy and cookies, with Satyr and Medusa.

Satyr: Yaaay! Thanks! Om nom...

Satyr: Yummy! You're as sweet as these treats, Yuni!

Medusa: Mm, good timing. I was getting hungry.

Yuni: Ah, well... I'm glad to hear that.

Medusa shrugs her shoulders, and Satyr chuckles as they see a gentle smile form on Yuni's lips.

Medusa: There. That's what I was talking about.

Satyr: I see what you mean now, Meddy.

Medusa: But you had to take the long way to figure it out.

Yuni: Huh? What's going on?

Yuni cocks her head, confused at what the pair of primals could be talking about.

Satyr: Yuni, tell me something...

Satyr: How did you feel watching me and Meddy enjoy the sweets you shared with us?

Yuni: It made me feel warm... Happy, I guess.

Medusa: All right, now compare that to how you felt passing presents out to kids.

Yuni: Okay...

Yuni places her hand over her heart and thinks.

Yuni: They're a bit different. Both made me feel joy, but sharing my sweets with you two felt... warmer, somehow.

Medusa: Uh-huh.

Medusa's nod is emphatic, as if she expected that exact answer.

Medusa: And why wouldn't it, right?

Yuni: Why do they feel different? Am I... prejudiced against them in some way?

Satyr: No, you're not, Yuni.

Medusa: Didn't I tell you? You're greedy. It's only natural for you to feel different about different people. Believe me, it's totally normal.

Yuni: It's... normal?

Medusa: Of course. I'm the same way. For me, my sisters come first. Everyone else is secondary.

Satyr: Neither Santa nor Cosmos read a book that made them want to bring joy to others.

Satyr: That was you, Yuni.

Satyr: I think your feelings are what matter the most.

Satyr: Forget about what others are doing for now, Yuni. Try acting on what you want to do instead. Think you can do that?

Yuni: Act on what I want to do?

Satyr: I understand you want to make everyone happy, Yuni.

Satyr: But how about you try picking out a few special people you'd like to make happy right this moment?

Yuni: Who...

Yuni: Who do I want to make happy right now...

Yuni: There's Cosmos, (Captain), Lyria, Vyrn...

Yuni lists a number of important people in her life, then raises her head to look at Medusa and Satyr.

Yuni: And you two, Satyr and Medusa. What kind of present would you want? What would make you happy?

Satyr: Hehe! I'd love it if we could have a party together and eat tons of delicious food!

Satyr: Yuni, the best present you could give us is your time and your laughter!

Yuni: Is that all you want?

Medusa: You don't get it, do you? Put yourself in our position and really think.

Satyr: Listen to her, Yuni. We're just like you.

Satyr: Seeing you smile and be happy makes us happy too!

Medusa: Hey, speak for yourself! I didn't say that!

Satyr: C'mon, Meddy, don't be shy!

Medusa: Ugh, just shut up, Satyr! Anyway!

Medusa: Wipe that sour look off your face! It clashes with how cute you're dressed!

Medusa: You hear me?

Yuni: I hear you...

Satyr: You're the Grandcypher's very own Santa, Yuni, here to bring holiday joy!

Yuni: If it'll make everyone's holiday enjoyable, I'll do my best, and try to smile and be as merry as I can.

Medusa: You know, you shouldn't have to try to do any of that.

Satyr: You're taking this so seriously, Yuni! Could you be anymore adorable!

Yuni: Ah!

Medusa: Careful, Satyr! You'll crush her!

Satyr: Then I guess you better join us, Meddy!

Medusa: What! C'mon, why do I have to suffer too!

Yuni: Heh... Hehe...

Yuni's face breaks into a tender smile as she's sandwiched between the two primals and jostled about.