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

>:

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

M-Most things in this town are. That's why i-it's so hard to get anything done in around here. We're always being driven apart.

[He puts his head on the table and wraps an arm around it. He mutters underneath it.]

I can't believe I told the whole town I like guys.

*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]

[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]

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.]

[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?

[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.

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She nods, returning the smile albeit somewhat awkwardly.]

Relax, Crowe. I'm not going to repeat anything you say, nor will I pressure you into talking...

[Headdesk this is not her forte, and this oversharing thing was making it difficult to hide that she wished she could do more.]

I don't have children, and though my commanding officer has poked fun at my 'maternal instincts' I really don't know what sort of thing a mother would say in this instance.

[Ohno. Did she say that out loud?]

...sorry. I didn't...really...mean to say that...

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He smiles faintly, sheepishly.] D-Don't worry about it. Y-You're not actually my mother, b-but I appreciate you trying to help.

Its mutual awkward share time XD

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She's flushed a bit, at having let that comment slip. Sheepish, she looked down at the table.]

I...know. I do wonder sometimes though, what it would be like. If nothing else, Mayfield's given me the opportunity--

[That may have been even worse than the first thing she'd said. She actually covers her face, shaking her head.]

I don't know exactly what is at work here, but..again..I didn't mean to...

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I-I know. You need to get used to these sort o-of things in Mayfield. A-At least no one's dead. There's no hazmats looking for the supposed Communist, wh-which is what I thought would happen. [He barely suppresses a shudder.]

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She frowns, seeing the shudder.]

Hazmats? I haven't heard of them before..

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

They come out from time to time, I-I think Lucy Smith controls them. They were in Westport, a-and the last time they had a Communist hunt here, Lucy sent them on the town a-and they... they all ganged up on me a-and killed me once, then the next day th-they burned the house down with all of us inside. I was afraid of them coming back.

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[She stares, surprised.]

That's...horrible.

I'm very sorry, Crowe.

[That being said, his statement seems to suggest that if one dies in Mayfield, they are revived?]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He gives her a tired look. The kid is mentally exhausted at this point.]

N-No sign of them yet, but what I'm afraid of is them being s-sent after the people who admitted on the phone to being a Communist.

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

Well, if they show up at our door, I will not be allowing them in. If it comes to a fight, so be it.

[She sounds both defiant as well as convinced as this is the truth. After a moment, her gaze softens.]

For now, try to not worry and rest a bit. You look exhausted.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Y-You won't be able to stop them if they do. [Sadly, he's the one speaking the truth.]

Y-Yeah. Who knew pouring out all your secrets to the town could be so e-exhausting.

[snipingmissy.livejournal.com]

[That won't stop her from trying, but she says nothing on it.]

It's personal information that you'd rather not be sharing...it's exhausting to talk through all of the secrets one works so hard to keep secret.