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

*huggles for Crowe just not from your Not!Mom, from Not!Mom's mun <3*

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She pauses. That wasn't something she knew much about--men liking other men--but though it was something she didn't know, she didn't particularly find it awful, either.]

I don't understand how that would change anybody's opinion on you, Crowe. You're a very polite and friendly young man.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

N-Not like that, I mean, just listen to what a stupid, s-stammering, spineless git I am! I-I was even too afraid to ask you anything for the longest time a-and the one day while out on the motorcycle a-and you confessed to me, I couldn't even believe it since it w-was like something from a-a movie or the like g-getting your first kiss on a tall hill wh-while sitting on your motorcycle and dear Lord in Heaven I probably sound like a complete creep r-right now since you don't remember me a-and-- [At this point, the rambling switches to Italian, like some sort of defense mechanism where his brain is trying to save him from more embarrassment. He'll probably keep going unless you stop him.]

[criticizes.livejournal.com]

Confessed? [ He starts to have an inkling of what this kid could mean but at the same time he's sure he must be thinking of someone else. ]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He peeks up at her.] A-A lot of people have a problem with that sort of thing.

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[Her slightly confused expression doesn't change.]

Hm. Well, that's a bit foolish of those "people" you are referring to.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Back to English we go] Y-Yeah. Y-You know. That kind o-of confession oh I am really s-sorry about all of this. I-I know you have no proof because y-you don't remember me except maybe F-Finland might remember something a-and I have your stuff from when you were here last time, y-you had some journals a-and some photos you took while here. I-I thought I'd hold on to them if y-you ever came back because people do sometimes, a-and sometimes they remember but u-usually they don't.

[He sighs. He's starting to sound utterly exhausted.]

[jaws5sonofjaws.livejournal.com]

Whoa.

Dude.

That must be a lot off your chest.

[commie-island.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should step away from the phone.

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

[mercyasdeep.livejournal.com]

To tell you the truth, I think this whole thing is getting to me, too. I keep saying things I don't mean to.


[A thought occurs.]

Maybe we should go somewhere. Away from the phones, I mean.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

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

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

M-Maybe, but some people a-are really against it a-and will hate you for it. My parents weren't exactly e-excited about the idea, you know, a-and,

[He puts his head down again, to cut himself off.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Y-You're right, this didn't work a-at all.

Half of who?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

...

That would b-be good but I don't know where we could go. I tried hiding at the p-park but a lot of people had that idea. M-Maybe I should just take my motorcycle out again...

[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.]

This is almost a good idea...

[mercyasdeep.livejournal.com]

What about somewhere quiet? We could go to the library. If we just sit and read, it should be fine.

[Actually, this could work...]

And if we're together, and we have to tell someone a secret, we'll just tell each other. I don't know you that well, and you don't know me that well. And since I haven't been in this town very long, I don't know that many people in it, so we probably don't know the same people. And hearing secrets about people we've never met should be a little less awkward. Or.... something like that.

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Fortunately, Silence came prepared! Some of the benefits of writing one's words down are that 1) he doesn't have to try and make himself heard over either Crowe's stammering or the blood that's probably rushing to his head, and 2) words can be written down in advance.

He holds up his notebook, already flipped open to a written page, trying not to smile.]

IT'S OKAY.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He has his hands covering most of his face now, so he's muffled when he speaks. He doesn't even know how he's summoning the energy to rant on again, but he is.]

N-No, I-I'm sorry, it's not just embarrassing for me b-but for you too, but I couldn't help it, i-it's like the words won't stop coming a-and I keep saying such embarrassing things, aah I did it to N-Norway too--!

it kinda is! 8D

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

A-AH, that's... not a bad idea, I-I think. And at this point, h-honestly, I-I don't have a lot more to say about myself. Y-You've heard almost everything, now.

I-I have some novels I can bring too, i-if the nonsense they have the library isn't to your liking.

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She sits quietly for a moment, before deciding to change the subject entirely.]

You ought to drink that before it gets cold. Unless you'd prefer something else?

[If he were to look up, she had a rather perplexed look on her face.] I suppose I should have asked what you wanted first, hm?

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence laughs soundlessly, reaching out a hand to gently pry Crowe's hands away from his face. It's not like he can read Silence's notes properly doing that, right?]

USED TO IT. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, WITH MYSTICS. COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. NO SHAME IN IT.

[Of course, Crowe's blushing and stammering and (quite literally) falling all over himself predates Silence's regaining his mystic body and the supernatural attractiveness and charm that go with it, but they can just overlook that, right?]

[volcanoes]

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

...Norway?

[mercyasdeep.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to the library here, yet. So I don't really know what they have.

But bring the novels anyway, just in case.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

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

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He does look up, giving her the tiniest smile, and fiddles with the tea cup.] R-Right. Sorry, i-it's fine. I like just about any tea.