[o]

[cueball]

Phone

[So Scratch finished his census and he is just really bored. Time to pick up that phone.]

That census was a chore to fill out. Honestly, I'm hoping for something less droll than last year's battle royale murder spree. Killing is also boring and tedious. Well, there are consequences for it now. But, that doesn't change how anti-climatic it is. And if they choose to run it again, then it will only be because they are running out of creative ideas and just want to see everyone turning against each other. [A dramatic sigh, done only for dramatic purposes.] We'll see what happens. I won't make any bets either way, by way of not being a gambling man.

And, that reminds me: I wrote a note to myself after that series of events ended last year that I would send gift baskets to the ones I took out. My apologies for letting that slip my mind. The human mind is not good for flawless memory storage and retrieval, unlike my original head.

Let me see - Nall, Ilsa Higa, Charles Fei-Ong and Sanae Hanekoma. If any of you are still around, tell me what you want in your gift basket. Food, clothes, essential household items, if it fits in I'll send it over. If you don't reply I will assume that you are still in a sour mood over the events of the last year and not send you one out of respect of that mood. That or you're droned. Either or. If it's the former, I advise you that being bitter is not a very good way to live. It wasn't at all a personal affair or one done out of hatred. The first time is always the hardest they say. [tl;dr, stop being mad that I murdered it, it was my first "crazy thing" going on in Mayfield.]

One more other thing: Bernkastel, would you like a rematch? Our fight was undecided and we never had the chance to make it up. We could do something else that is less taxing on our power if you choose to. I know you enjoy games of chess, for example.

And yes, because I am sure you are dying to know, I am that Doc Scratch. The one with a cheap gold trophy in the roller rink I never visit. I saved you several moments of suspicious thoughts toward my message. No need to thank me.

[It's hard, being Doc Scratch and bored. So hard...]

Comments

[miraculous]

I would be interested in such an invitation. Chess can be quite an interesting game, played properly.

[cueball]

Indeed. You will find that I am an expert at it, and I have no doubts that you are one as well.

[headfullofempty]

You got a trophy at the roller rink? I've been to that place! It's fun!

[That was the most important part of your message, right?]

I didn't know you were that good of a skater.

[cueball]

It wasn't a skating trophy. But yes, I am a very good skater.

[He is very good at everything, in his mind.]

[corrodes]

Do they often repeat what they do here?

[cueball]

To some degree, yes. Re-iterations are a common theme. As I mentioned, this form was handed out last year as well.

[crosseyed]

[[woah woah woah. hold up. she has no idea who's on the other end, but she does know there was a tiny phrase in there that sort of jostled her.]]

Last year's... murder spree?

[cueball]

Yes, that is what I said. Everyone received orders to kill Mayfield captives among them and most complied, by their own will and some by threat.

[polariity]

[Battle royales? Murder sprees?]

I think Mayfield hath been watching one too many Alternian thowth.

[cueball]

Haa Haa.

Humans are actually known to be very violent themselves. The culture does not encourage it so much as Alternia, but it does exist.

[ooeeooahah]

Well, a gift basket would have been... odd at the time. I don't have any grudges against you for it, though. However, if you should happen to run across any medical supplies, my field medic kit is running low on sutures and pain meds.

You are welcome to drop by, as well.

[cueball]

I felt it would be unsavory to do so at that time. Then, as things progressed, it slipped my mind more than I care to admit. I'll note down your request.

And dropping by sounds fine. Delivering it in person is more tasteful than not.

[cuestickgenius]

Wait. You're Scratch?

[let's pretend I didn't abandon that thread out of pure failure and embarrassment and they played a perfectly normal pool game that, much to his chagrin, droog lost]

[cueball]

[its ok i still love you......]

Yes, I am. Doc Scratch, to be more precise, but Scratch is fine so long as it comes without confusion. [ie The Scratch, but not that Droog knows or cares about it.]

[encored]

[whoops guess whose entire existence is built around being bitter and butthurt this kid]

Well, at least it wasn't an embarrassing way to die. I've certainly seen worse. [huffs] But offering a gift basket is offensive, don't you think?

[cueball]

[but charles he marginally thinks you're alright.]

Is that how you see it? If so, you are welcomed to offer an alternative.

[adropofjupiter]

...so she wasn't making that up.

[cueball]

Who wasn't making what up? Making such a mysterious comment is only going to make me curious.

[darrrling]

What an interesting name, darling, not that I know it. That doesn't seem to be a very pleasant reason for a census, does it?

[cueball]

It is one of my favorites, admittedly. And no it isn't, but nothing about this town is very pleasant. It's all a fabricated reality.

[railtracer]

Killing spree? Now there's somethin' that pamphlet I got neglected to list.

[cueball]

That pamphlet is for new arrivals, yes? I received one when I first came here. A welcoming wouldn't be very pleasant if it came with a warning of murders being committed by those not affiliated with our captors.

[imoutos]

[ It's a good thing that the first mention of what happened last year practically keeps Nadeko from hearing the rest since she's too busy fretting about it.. ]

... Um.. O-Oji-san, do you really think something like that might happen again..? [ do not want. ]

[cueball]

Yes, that is a possibility. I would not rule it out as the sole result of this census, but it is something to keep in mind.

[shellfishlovver]

Killin' spree?

Sounds like somethin' I could get on board with.

[cueball]

You and many others. Such sprees are useless in the long run and you can go on a rampage any time you can, practically speaking.

[noluckduck]

... Holy shit. Okay, I've got a bunch of questions, but lemme start with a pretty damn important one:

What the hell did that census thing have to do with a murder spree.

[cueball]

Last year a similar census was sent out, around May. The end result was everyone who sent in a census being tossed into a battle royale, where the winner was the last one standing or until the time limit ran out as it normally does.

[bunshins]

W--wait, what?

No one told me anythin' about killing anyone, 'tebayo!

[cueball]

[He lets out a dry 'hah'] Welcome to Mayfield, where people don't want to tell you the whole truth out of fear of your reaction.

phone

[lovepowered]

[Shirley's stomach drops to her knees at the sound of that.]

M-Murder spree?

phone

[cueball]

That is what I said. One conducted by captives in the town no less.

Phone

[sturmbahnfuhrer]

My, has it reached that time again already?

Time surely does fly!

Phone

[cueball]

Time is a measurement of chronological passing moments, that quantifies change into a more solid formation in our mind. Time is only flying because what felt like a 'year' ago is repeating.

[All said very dryly and overall without amusement.]

Phone - apologies, Nall holds a grudge...

[catslooklikeme]

...Do you SERIOUSLY think that a freaking GIFT BASKET is equivilent to a freaking LIFE?!

[Someone is still bitter. OH SO BITTER.]

Phone - haha its all good

[cueball]

I can't answer that, because there is no real equivalent to a life. This is an offering of peace and without ill-will on my part.