Second truth ღ Forward-dated to April 1st

[lovepowered]

Phone | Public | Optional Action for Housemates:

This isn't as bad as I thought it would be, after everyone kept telling horrible stories about having to kill each other! It even seems like fun!

I don't think we should try to make anyone cry, though. That's too mean. Pranks are supposed to be a way to have fun with your friends, not hurt anybody's feelings.

Downtown Mayfield:

[Shirley can be found in many of the shops around Mayfield, busily searching for any number of things! As a housewife, it's her job to do the shopping, but she seems to be looking for more than just the essentials today. She's as friendly and happy as usual, but there's definitely something guarded about her.

If someone comes close to her, she'll offer them a smile and a slightly cautious:]

Hi...

Comments

Re: [action]

[ryuuzaki]

[He frowns, which causes his eyes to narrow.]

No.

[A glance at the paper, and then--]

It doesn't say anything.

[lovepowered]

Huh? Yes it does!

[Shirley looks back at the piece of paper she's holding and sure enough, the words are clear as day to her.]

It says, "Thank you for your completion of the Mayfield census! We're especially pleased this year with the number of enthusiastic applicants for this town's first ever Caper Campaign. Because of your exemplary history of devotion to Mayfield, you are one of the privileged few who have been selected to participate in this new program!"

[She goes on to read the rest of the note to him, although something curious happens when she tries to list the names of the people she's supposed to prank.

Her vocal chords stop working. No matter how hard she tries, she can't get any sound out.]

[ryuuzaki]

"Exemplary history of devotion to Mayfield"--Shirley, you've barely been here for two weeks.

Apart from that, I can assure you, the paper is blank.

[He can't put his finger on it, but there's something about this that he doesn't like... not least the enforced discretion. The problem is that he's not sure what to advise: that she do as she's told in the hope of avoiding a hypothetical horrible punishment, or that she simply resort to inaction, maybe as a form of protest, or maybe in the hope that it will keep her safe.]

[lovepowered]

[Shirley rubs her throat, looking rather alarmed by the sudden inability to speak.]

I know, but... I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to humiliate anyone. But it does sound like it could be fun. Or at least better than having to kill people. I don't ever want to kill anybody.

[She nibbles her lip uncertainly. She's thinking the same thing. Cooperate to avoid being punished? Cooperate because this does sound like fun, or like it would be fun if it wasn't being forced on her by sadists? Resist? How? By just not doing anything?

Her eyes are full of questions when she looks at him.]

[ryuuzaki]

[The volume of his voice drops a little.]

Do what you can for as long as you can, then.

[He sounds skeptical, as if he doesn't like this plan, even if he thinks it's the best available.]

I wonder why they've only selected you? I couldn't stop myself from filling out the census. There were questions--

["--that I didn't want to answer." He doesn't finish the sentence.]

[lovepowered]

I'm not sure why they picked me. I thought they sent one to everyone! But I mean...

[Shirley hesitates. Her voice quivers slightly. She wanted to put on a brave, happy front, and even now she doesn't seem unhappy, exactly. She's not panicking. But she is worried, and she starts to sound it.]

There's a question here that I know wasn't on the survey, though. It's weird. They're saying I said yes to it, but I know I wouldn't have.

[ryuuzaki]

No because you wouldn't agree to humiliate your friends and neighbors, or no because you wouldn't do it for the supposed good of this place?

[He pauses as if he expects an answer, then lets his shoulders slump forward and waves his hand in dismissal: his question was only intended sardonically. Why would you work for the care and preservation of what seems like it might be your personal hell?]

Go along with it, for the time being, but at the first sign of trouble... [A meaningful look.] You know where the law office is, yes? I'll keep an eye out while I'm here... [this is an understatement; he has a sinking feeling when he imagines how far this could go with anyone in the house as a target]... but you'll be on your own for most of the day.

[lovepowered]

Both!

[He waves his hand just as she answers him, making Shirley huff slightly. She doesn't dwell on it, though, instead listening to what he has to say.]

Yes, I know. [She gives a nod.] I'll do my best to be careful. I promise!

Do you think if I have other people's names, someone out there must have mine, right? I mean, why wouldn't they?

[ryuuzaki]

They could have anyone's names, whether or not their targets were given targets of their own.

[Every door, all week, will be scanned for buckets. The paint on all park benches will be automatically assumed to be wet. He won't be surprised if he finds the office that they've given him covered entirely in aluminium foil. He gives serious consideration to leaving the phone off the hook.]

Something like this could become vicious. Not everyone will know when to stop.

It's--[a soft snort, as it strikes him]--iiiiit's April Fool's Day, Shirley.

Still, I think you have to cooperate.

[lovepowered]

[She nods, thinking about this. She can't let her guard down, then.]

If it's April Fool's Day, then maybe this whole thing is a stupid joke!

[But she can't just assume that. She sighs.]

I think you're right. Okay. I'll do what they want me to do.

[ryuuzaki]

Maybe. It doesn't seem like it's worth risking an assumption that this letter is a joke.

However, I think being unaware of the safest thing to do... that's intentional, isn't it? Even if no suffering ultimately results from this, you'll always worry that it might. You can only make a decision to do or not do what they've instructed you to do, and hope it's correct.

[There's a third option. Shirley has seemed sane in the few weeks that he's shared the house with her.... but that isn't to say that it's impossible that something drove her over the edge today. He silently resolves to keep an eye on her, to establish whether or not she's changed.

The paper really does look blank.]

[lovepowered]

[Shirley sighs, and nods.]

You're right. It is intentional. They want us to worry and feel bad. If we give in, we worry about what we might do. If we don't, we worry about what they -- or he? -- might do.

I don't want to think I'm just going to give into them so easily like this, but I think it's better for now if I go along with it. I mean, there's no telling what they might do to people who don't cooperate. Or maybe they'll play pranks on these people anyway if I don't.

[Probably much meaner pranks than Shirley could ever think of, too.]