It gets harder to believe, but be honest

[Phone: no filters]

[There's a soft sigh before Crowe speaks.]

Things in this town are never easy. Every day here is a struggle in some way, even when things are "normal". We're kidnapped from our worlds, and the threat of us and our friends and comrades being hurt or droned at a moment's notice is always there. We're... we're subjected to all kinds of torture and terrible things, a-and I'd like to think, despite all that, we persevere. I-I know that with each other's support, we can make it though anything Mayfield does to us.

But to think that... that people out there willing to side with Grady makes me sick. Maybe some of you don't know any better. Maybe you're desperate. O-Or maybe you just want to see people suffer! I... I don't know what your excuse is, but to think you could side with a man who treats us like cattle, who drones and kills people without even blinking an eye, a man who treats us like criminals in a prison, I-I just... There's no reason for it! How can you think for a moment that he will reward you with anything? That he's really on your side? He's mad, he's delusional. I've seen it. A-And to think that you people would sell yourselves out to hurt the other people in this town, wh-who just want to get out or live peacefully, the fact that you would make things more difficult for the rest of us, I-I can't... What is wrong with you?! It's not us against each other! It should be us fighting them! Grady, the Mayor, the Postman, Lucy, Billy, whoever... Damnit, if we could all work together on this, all of us, those named included, maybe we could be out of here by now!

[There's a moment where he takes a few breaths, regaining his composure. Such explosions from Crowe are rare, and he's now realizing he's done it to the entire town.]

...I-I don't care what you do to me. Kill me again and again, torture me, do whatever you want. Until you either drone me permanently or keep me dead, Mayfield, I will fight against what is wrong in this town with every ounce I've got. I am going back out on that highway, and I will keep going until I find what it is out there that Grady doesn't want us to know. Even if I learn one new thing, one small clue, it's worth all the pain.

[The phone is slammed down. Not!family can find him packing a bag of supplies, including one of the handguns Mukuro used to hide around the house. He grabs the car keys since his bike is still parked out by the diner. Anyone who wants to talk to him will have to catch him before he heads back out, or as he stocks up on some food and first aide supplies in Mayfield before hitting the road.]

[It's a beautiful Monday morning in spring! And aren't you thrilled that for the first time in several days that your newspapers are delivered on time? They're actually delivered early enough that they're there before you wake up. How wonderful!

After finishing his route, Crowe cheerfully skips off to school. I mean, he hasn't been there in several days, hopefully he can catch up, right? And all for that silly combat training he's been doing with Coach Jecht. But he's in such a great mood this morning he barely noticed his screaming muscles or bruised joints. Golly, sure hope the teachers aren't mad! Especially since it's getting so close to the end of the year! Maybe he'll ask coach if he can take a break so he's ready for finals.

... it's when he gets to the entrance of the school that the droning wears off, and Crowe suddenly stops as he realizes what's going on. He sort of stares in horror at nothing in particular. Good lord, that was scary. And it only lasted a few hours. Not wanting to tempt fate further, he goes off to class.

Something's different about Crowe lately though. He's quiet, and there's not as many smiles offered to one and all, as usual. He's still polite as ever, and pays attention in class, even trying to get notes for what he missed over the last few days from classmates and teachers. Most notably however, is that it looks like someone's been kicking the crap out of him lately. Mostly because someone HAS been - Crowe had been skipping school and his paper route to do some martial arts training with his blitzball coach. While athletic, Crowe couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag, and Jecht has been absolutely merciless on the boy. He's doing his best to not show how sore he is though. And as the school week progresses, he'll grow more quiet, more exhausted, but there will never be one word of complaint from him. Not one ill word.

Luckily for him, he's been too distracted and completely missed Mother's Day, and even the new face in his home.]

[A quick call, unfiltered.]

Please excuse my negligence the last few days regarding the paper delivery. It won't happen again.