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]

[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.]

[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--!

[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?]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Teenagers, amitire? He reads the note, and looks at Silence questioningly.]

Eh? Wh-what do you mean?

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

MYSTICS POSSESS PRETERNATURAL CHARM. PASSIVE ABILITY. HUMANS OFTEN FIND MYSTICS ATTRACTIVE, IRRESISTIBLE. THE RULER OF OUR REALM, CHARM LORD ORLOUGE, BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN - MOSTLY WOMEN - INTO HIS

[Here Silence is forced to pause to consider his wording, but try as he might, he can't think of a more apt word than his initial choice.]

HAREM.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

O-Oh. I-I see. [He still looks unsure.] I-I don't know if that makes this any less mortifying, b-but thanks. A-And sorry. Really.

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

[Silence smiles, shaking his head.] NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR. SUSPECTED ALREADY, ANYWAY. [It's not as if Crowe is subtle. Or as if Silence hasn't seen the telltale signs hundreds of times before.] SHOULD BE THANKING YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Ah, I-I guess I didn't hide it very well. [He smiles now, sheepishly, shyly.]

Oh, w-well I guess you're used to it then, eh?

[mute-mystic.livejournal.com]

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. [Silence looks amused.] MY PARTNER WOULD GET ANGRY THAT WOMEN ONLY PAID ATTENTION TO ME WHEN WE WORKED TOGETHER. CALLED ME [And here Silence pauses to think of the precise words, with a faint pang of homesickness that Fuse's frequent insult has actually grown hazy in his mind. Has he been away that long already...?] 'NARCISSISTIC COSPLAY FREAK'.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's a bit harsh, y-yeah? Well, um, I-I'm glad you don't hold it against me, at least. A-And I'm really sorry I embarrassed you like that to the entire town.