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

[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.]