82 - stage four

[perfectsymmetry]

[Crowe's hit stage four, though like most, he doesn't realize this. He's frustrated beyond belief with this little event, and makes a call that starts out as some venting with innocent enough intentions. He's been telling people all the bad things about himself, and learning things about his friends in town he isn't sure how to deal with. Surely, not everyone in town is a murderer or something, right? There has to be other things we can all confess that aren't as harmful. Unfortunately, he starts to fly off the handle thanks to the effect.

What comes over the phone is pretty much one long run-on string of nonsense.]

L-Look, Mayfield, n-not everyone in town can h-have such terrible things to admit, r-right? I'm so sick of all this! I know we all want to admit things, s-so why don't we just pick stupid things? L-Like things that any people might be hiding, n-not stuff like murder a-and death and...

W-Well, like... Like how our drone mother's cooking was a-actually really bad but I felt bad telling her. Plus I'm not very good at cooking anyway. O-Or how I am failing art class both back home and in Mayfield because I-I can't draw to save my life! I-I also really hate clothes shopping. M-My friend Minnie always said I was a boring dresser, but I don't care. A-Also once right after I got here, I stole a bunch of wallets from people j-just to see who was paying attention and who wasn't. B-But I don't want to do stuff like that! I don't think. I-I'm really good at it but I think I want to be a-a detective, but my parents won't approve. Criminals w-won't want a detective for a son! My dad wants me to b-be a thief with them o-or be a pro footballer, but I-I don't think I'd be good at that. I've never been in a league before! S-Sometimes, when I get really mad, I-I curse in Italian, but I can't help it, i-it just happens. I-I think Silence i-is one the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen, t-to the point where I don't even know h-how to talk to him! A-All the nations a-are really cute too, b-but I thought about it, a-and that makes sense, I-I mean i-it would be hard to have pride i-in your nation if they had l-like buck teeth or something! A-And I always thought Norway w-was the cutest and that reminds me, I-I am g-getting really sick of everyone I know getting droned a-and coming back forgetting who I a-am! Also h-have I told a-any of you how much I stammer wh-when I'm nervous and how bloody sick of that I am--

[There's a horrified squeaking noise heard from Crowe, and the phone is abruptly hung up.]

Comments

[commie-island.livejournal.com]

........you alright there?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[In a tiny, tiny voice:] I don't know?

[commie-island.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should step away from the phone.

And you realize there isn't even half of us here right?

[commentboxtroll]

You know, by asking that question, you're going to get a bunch of people admitting even more terrible things, right? And I could hardly make out the rest of that thanks to your constant stammering.

That is really annoying.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

N-No, I-- What? I-I said I can't help it, it n-not like I want to!

[commentboxtroll]

That doesn't change that it's obnoxious.

And I didn't really have anything so terrible happen until I got stuck here. I nearly killed my target in the town's last round of hell, but he was just too much of an idiot. I couldn't do it. Then that France guy killed me on the way back, only a few houses away from our safe house, too. I've been refusing to talk about it because my family was never really big on showing weakness and I'm more like them than I want to admit.

[...ffffghdflkshjdgh.]

See? That's why you don't open up with a question like that. I nap during the day because I just can't sleep at night. Damn it... You get stuck hearing this kind of stuff.

[dragonlitany.livejournal.com]

[Just... patiently listens to the whole thing.]

Not everyone has silly things to hide, unfortunately... that would make some of this a bit easier.

...Um. Are you all right, Crowe?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I-I don't either, there's more seriously thing, b-but I thought if I just got this stuff off my chest I'd feel better a-and keep from saying the other stuff, b-but it didn't work and I am very sorry--

[dragonlitany.livejournal.com]

It was a good idea, at least...? But all I've been able to blurt out to people have been... terrible things, like the fact that I've been lying to everyone about what I am. Or that I was killed by the man that I--

[A pause as she dives for the nearest pillow to muffle herself with.]

...See? It could be worse. S-Sorry.

[Action]

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[You can't think Not!Mom didn't overhear this, Crowe. She has really good ears, so if she's in the house, she heard it.]

Crowe...

[Thankfully--for her--she did not quite catch his question at the beginning of his litany, otherwise she'd be stuck with no option other than to answer said question, and that was probably not what he needed or wanted to hear.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He's standing there by the phone with his hand over his mouth, face bright red.]

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She's frowning, and wished that there was more comfort to offer other than words.]

I'd ask if you are all right, but that seems pointless.

Would you like a cup of tea?

[Not!Mom is going to prepare you one anyway, and then you are going to drink it. It's the best way she can think of to calm him down a bit.]

[mercyasdeep.livejournal.com]

[Oh, it's that really nice guy who showed him the camera. Hmm...]

Are you okay?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

O-Other than mortified beyond reason? .... Wait, no, that covers it.

[mercyasdeep.livejournal.com]

Oh...


It may not be any of my business, but perhaps you should stay away from the phones.

[criticizes.livejournal.com]

[ His initial reaction is annoyance but he remembers that no this isn't Denmark. So then he just thinks he should be referred to as handsome rather than cute. ]

You're talkative.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAM

I mean]

N-Norway, I didn't mean-- W-Well I did mean it but what I meant was--
[You can hear the forehead slap.] Oh God.

[jaws5sonofjaws.livejournal.com]

Whoa.

Dude.

That must be a lot off your chest.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Can I please crawl i-into a hole and die now?

[Action] Stage 1

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Not that Silence didn't have some inkling of Crowe's attraction already - it's not uncommon for mystics to be breathlessly admired by humans - but it's nice (and kind of amusing) to have it confirmed. Good to know that the frequent awkwardness of their conversations isn't entirely due to Silence's having to carry out his half in writing...

Still, it's clear that Crowe is completely mortified and badly affected by whatever truth serum is in the air right now, so Silence decides he ought to put the boy at ease, at least regarding the part pertaining to him. Of course, since he can't even begin to respond over the phones, this requires him to track down Crowe in person.

This isn't as easy as it could be, not with the drones staying off the streets, but Silence is persistent. (It probably helps that Crowe has been in Mayfield for a long time.) Eventually, he gets an address, and from there it isn't long until he's knocking lightly on Crowe's door.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[After a few moments, the door is answered by an exhausted-looking Crowe. However, when he sees who it is, he freezes.]

S-S-S--- [That's all he can get out at the moment.]

[volcanoes]

[Crowe said a lot, but ultimately Iceland must focus on the part most relevant to him.]

...Norway?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[There's a quiet whining noise before he answers.] Y-Yes, Iceland. S-Sorry.

Action!

[emperor-cowboy.livejournal.com]

[Guess who was over there, listening in? That was... different.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Oh noooo]

Y-You heard all of that too?!