Video - It's Us, We're the April Fools

[crackedreflection]

[The video clicks on to show MT in her room. Just like last time, the place is a complete mess—thankfully sans paint, this time. Unlike last time, the mess is from the multitude of books, notes, and maps scattered around the room in addition to the normal level of teenage clutter.]

[MT looks different too. It's hard to define, but her posture is slightly straighter, and the look in her (baggy) eyes is the same one that theater kids have whenever they need to play a role they strongly dislike.]

As I'm sure you're all aware, something is very wrong with Main Street right now, [she begins, voice sluggish with exhaustion as she speaks through grit teeth.] Everything's been off for a little while. Wait, no, I can be a bit more specific than that.

THIS PLACE IS GETTING CORRODED, YOU FREAKING IDIOTS, AND I—ONE OF THE NEWBIES—AM APPARENTLY THE ONLY ONE WHO'S WORRIED ABOUT IT!

[MT sits back down, collecting herself.]

Ahem. So I decided to take a page from one of my old friend's books and do some good ol' fashioned research to figure out why. I did all sorts of sciencey stuff: walked around town, measured general attitudes of the populace correlated with the liveliness of plant life and the weather combined with distance from the train station... [As MT continues to explain, she starts looking more and more annoyed with herself.] Then I looked into the train station's history, tried to figure out whether there were any specific artifacts or people that were tied to it, and after that I did a bit of light reading on how the Corrosion actually works and-

Look. I'll get to the point.

We are the problem.

We, the Heroes of the Magic Kingdom or whatever, are the problem. We've been causing way too much trouble, making things difficult for the residents of Main Street, sitting on our butts while almost nobody goes out and does missions to actually help... I just... gah.

[MT pinches the bridge of her nose.]

This? Main Street's whole situation? It's our fault. Which means it's up to us to fix it.

I know we're a motley crew of jaded teenagers and demons and who knows what else, but as far as I can tell, the only way to rectify all of this is to bring up the cheer levels ourselves. So... and I can't believe I'm saying this... we need to have a festival. Produced by us. To try and make things more "fun," [she makes actual airquotes with her fingers] around here.

Also, everyone who's ever done a crime here or messed with the residence should get on doing community service to make up for that. I'm in the same boat as everyone else who messed with Main Street for fun, so I'll be joining in too.

Anyways, on to the festival planning. I admit, I'm not very good at this kind of thing. But I do have a few ground rules: one, no magic. We all know full well how badly magic can backfire even with the best of intentions, so let's not make the residents of Main Street even more resentful of us, okay? Two, no pranks. Looking at you, Lawrence Betelgeuse "Beetlejuice" Shoggoth. You too, Mal. No matter how "fun" they may be, I think the people who live here have had enough of our pranks.

I already have some plans that I have attached below, but I could really use you guys's help here. I don't think this is going to work if it's just me. [For a small moment, there's vulnerability in MT's voice. She's scared. She's genuinely come to care about this place, these people, and... she doesn't want it getting ripped away.]

BUT SO HELP ME, IF I HAVE TO PRESSGANG YOU INTO GETTING THIS THING TOGETHER, I WILL DO IT! DON'T THINK I WON'T!

[And there's the anger again.]

Comments

Festival Planning

[crackedreflection]

carnival style, this needs to be fun and wholesome
performances
-heroes talent show?
-can anybody here play an instrument?
COOKS
-we'll need a lot of food
materials?
-will try to get merlin and hades in on this, i think they know something's up too
map???

[A rough map of the central square is attached, with a few rough ideas for booths and such.]

a play? inspirational play, sure, that sounds good
please does anybody else have ideas i need help here

(video)

[creepyoldguy]

It is too early for this, Emmy.


[Muffled by blankets, and it's not early by anyone's watch, but, he had this coming given his little ungodly-o'clock concert a few weeks ago.]

Also, if anyone else calls me Lawrence, I'll staple their ears to their chin.

[Grumble, grumble.]

not a gagtag

[crackedreflection]

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TRY, BUDDY-BOY! I'M MADE OF METAL AND RUNNING OFF OF THE IDEA OF CAFFEINE RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME!

UP AND AT 'EM WE GOT WORK TO DO!

(video)

[creepyoldguy]

GOD!

[Dramatic huff and growling. He hadn't even done that much in the way of pranking!
Okay, so maybe his tours were more fiction than informative. But, that was just showmanship!
Entertainment for the masses!

The demon burrowed further into his cocoon of blankets, amber eyes glaring out sullenly.
While he wasn't a tough nut to crack, he did have to get some protests and complaining in before he'd consider helping.]

Five more minutes.

[crackedreflection]

I'VE GOT WAFFLES WITH MORE CHOCOLATE SYRUP THAN WAFFLE!

[creepyoldguy]

....do I get to eat the empty chocolate syrup bottle?

[He was already poking his head further from the blankets, hair turning green at the prospect.]

[crackedreflection]

Of course.

(Action)

[creepyoldguy]

[The mirror got tossed aside, and he made his way to the kitchen.]

So, what’s brought on the philosophical stuff?

[He yawned, making 'gimme' hands towards the empty syrup bottle.]

And were you fighting with someone?

[crackedreflection]

[MT hocks the bottle overhand at Beetlejuice, like a basketball player shooting a hoop. Sitting down, she begins digging into her waffles.]

I don't know. It's just that... Main Street is the only place I've ever felt safe, and the more I looked into how things are getting worse around here, the more it started seeming like it was our faults. I don't want the only home I've ever had falling apart at the seams because we were jerks to the people who live here.

[It's emotional honesty hour, BJ. Hope you've prepared for this.]

[creepyoldguy]

[He wasn't prepared, and took a bite of the chocolate syrup bottle, chewing thoughtfully. Beetlejuice could relate on some level. The Netherworld had never really been home, but, then neither had the Upperworld, for that matter.

The Maitland-Deetz house had been the closest he'd come to that, but, that had only been when he and that Lydia had the place to themselves. This place? Well, the only thing that had kept him in check was an extremely brief bout of being human coupled with a Lydia.]

It's difficult, since no one chose to come here. And then, bam! We're all supposed to help. And then if we do a good job? They'll ditch us or dump us or get rid of us or something.

[He waved the remainder of the bottle.]

I'm just saying that's been personal experience up until now. I'd love to be wrong.

What stuff have you seen that's got you upset? I mean, what Apprentices are doing stuff?

[crackedreflection]

[MT snorts as she fishes around in her pocket, looking for a specific scrap of paper.]

I mean, the train was a lot like that too, but they don't give you the luxury of food, board, and a sense of purpose. At least if you're a denizen.

And as far as it goes... well, to be honest, a lot of it was the stuff I've been pulling lately. Introspection isn't overrated, apparently. And then there's Mal and some the the crueler "pranks" she's pulled, and overall a lot of us are just sorta... completely disregarding the fact that these people are letting us stay here and giving us free rooms while we cause a lot of trouble for them. Sure, we're saving the Kingdom, but we've also been doing kind of a terrible job at it.

Here it is.

[MT pulls out a sheet of paper from her pockets and slides it towards Beetlejuice.]

I didn't share this publicly on the network because I'm pretty sure everyone would laugh me out of the room more than they already have, but... I have a feeling you might be inclined to work with me on this.

[At the top of the paper is four words, underlined and bolded: BIG DIEGETIC MUSICAL NUMBER.]

[creepyoldguy]

Gonna argue that just because they're housing and feeding their prisoners, doesn't make them great people. Prisoners they're expecting to work for them in the Save Their Home sense and in the actual job sense.

[He paused and took another bite of syrup bottle.]

But, I'll admit, the citizens here aren't the ones that did that. It was those jerks with the mirror. And...shit, Mal didn't set any place on fire, did she?

[Did he have to tell Lydia her roomie was going all firebug? That wouldn't be fun. But, he was distracted from that thought by the scrap of paper.]

Could be fun! Haven't quite got possession back down here yet, though, so it'd be a little difficult with the more reluctant apprentices.

[crackedreflection]

I don't know about outright arson, but the fact that she induced me to steal stuff for her so freakin' casually sorta makes me think that she's been up to her fair share of mischief.

[creepyoldguy]

Ah, gotchya.

[He'd returned the stuff he'd had MT take from the nurses, and the other stuff he'd stolen himself when he was feeling better.

...of course...Lydia had managed to guilt him into/trigger empathy him into the latter by explaining feelings-things to him.]

Glad she's not burning the city for shits and giggles. [Because, Lydia would be upset.]

But, you said she was getting you to steal stuff? Why didn't she do it herself?

[crackedreflection]

...she may have bribed me with a really sweet jacket.

[MT sighs.]

That one was entirely on me, if I'm being totally honest. If I'm being totally honest, I called out Mal because I was mad at myself for accepting my offer. I should apologize.

[creepyoldguy]

[The demon was in no way equipped to be a moral compass or a judge of moral character. But, he felt that this was at least, less of a 'bad thing' than Mal setting the candy store on fire would have been. No risk of death or injury, just a little theft and bickering.]

If it'll make you feel better, go for it.

[Beetlejuice paused.]

Just don't let her try and guilt you into anything like being her servant for a week or anything.

wrap?

[crackedreflection]

I'll definitely keep that in mind. [MT smiles, tired, then spreads out her plans across the table.] Now, let's get down to business...

[mal_contented]

"Excuse you? First, step back and step off. Second? Some of us are doing regular patrols and constantly working our tails off here," [she snarled.] "Yes you're new., so maybe look at what is actually going on before you decide you know best. If you destroy ANY of my art in town I Will come after you. You don't want to be my friend, fine. You want to cross me like this? You will regret it. Last warning, back off."

[crackedreflection]

"Oh, shut it." MT rolls her eyes.

She may or not be wearing that wicked-cool jacket Mal got her right now. "God I hate sounding this cheesy, but the townsfolk need faith in us, not just protection, if we're going to fight back against this Corrosion that's invading Main Street. As loathe as I am to admit it, I can't just punch this problem away, and you can't either."

[mal_contented]

"You really are an idiot, aren't you? You can't celebrate away the corrosion. You want to be stupid and hold some sort of big we love the townies party, you do what you want, but stop ripping down those of us who are doing any actual WORK."

[crackedreflection]

"THAT'S THE THING! How do I... gah..." MT is too tired to articulate this properly, but she'll try. "This place, it- it operates off of cartoon logic, as far as I can tell. Just look at the way spells are cast. Physically beating stuff right in the face might help clear out Corrosion in areas where there is actual stuff being beat in the face, but in case you haven't noticed the only place in Main Street where you can do that is so inherently toxic that it nearly KILLED the last batch of people who tried to go inside!

"I just... I just can't think of any other way to help and the rules of this place make no sense and this is the best I can do with them, okay? I'm way too weak to actually help with missions so trying to play by the Kingdoms' rules is the only way I can think of to make things better!"

[mal_contented]

"Wow, you didn't listen to Merlin or Dreamfinder at all, did you? The whole reason we are here is IMAGINATION! Different ways to do things. Doing things the way they've always been done is what's let it spread this far! We are here because we think differently. You upset you're too weak? then GET STRONGER. But stop ripping down those of us actually risking our lives."

[crackedreflection]

"I just... I..." Is MT on the edge of a full-on breakdown?

Yes. Absolutely.

"...who the hell is Dreamfinder? Hades mentioned him, but I haven't seen a guy by that name anywhere since I've arrived."

[mal_contented]

"One of the ones who brought us here. Ask Merlin, maybe the two of them can bang some sense into your thick bald head."

[video]

[smilingarmor]

Alright, first of all, darling? Breathe. I understand why you're upset, but shouting and blaming your fellow Apprentices like that isn't likely to help. The last thing we want to be doing right now is fighting among ourselves.

Of course I can't speak for anyone else, but I've been rather busy assisting with training and investigating things from another direction, so I haven't been 'sitting on my butt' as you put it. Though I don't suppose taking up a few more missions could hurt, I'm not certain how much good it will do for the problems on Main Street. The different lands of this place seem to be separated from one another by more than just geography.

As for the festival, well you'll never find me turning down a chance for a party. Though one thing I've learned from being an entertainer is how to read an audience, and from what I've seen, a full blown festival might be a teensy bit much at the moment. Perhaps better saved for a celebration after we've solved the problem, eh? Something involving food and a bit of music might not be a bad idea though...

[crackedreflection]

I... look, I just...

[MT may not have slept in the past twenty-four hours, and she looks it.]

The Kingdoms operate by the logic of a storybook. That's an apt comparison, right? I'm not sure if you- nevermind, getting off track. It's like a fairy tale. If the residents of Main Street think that we're making things here worse instead of better, then that attitude will infect the entire town, and that resentment will turn into- well, you've already seen what's happened to the train station!

I'm too weak to help on missions at all, and this festival thing is the only way I can think of to try and reverse this pattern I'm seeing with the means at my disposal.

[God, MT really hates how much she's thinking like Tulip right now.]

[smilingarmor]

I had been thinking something like that myself honestly, which is why I've been doing my best to help keep spirits up. But there is an art to spreading smiles, and pushing too hard is likely to have the opposite of the effect you want. After all, we want to be gracious guests, but seeming to be to make light of the situation is likely to only make people angry.

And I hardly think you're too weak to help, darling. You simply need to find your own particular magical niche. You may end up making a few missteps- especially if magic isn't a common thing in your world-, but I'm sure you'll get there eventually. Though if you're truly concerned about being able to fight, I'd be willing to give you a few lessons on how to handle a blade; after all, even if you're not Warrior class it pays to have something to fall back on in a pinch.

[crackedreflection]

...Even if I disagree with the other stuff, I. Think some training would be nice, if you're up for it.

[Flailing around with a benailed baseball bat when you have no prior training is a recipe for disaster, to the surprise of absolutely no one.]

[smilingarmor]

Excellent! Of course you can't practice without a blade, so what's say I meet you at the local blacksmith's, and I can help you pick out something nice, eh? My treat.

[Warriors get their first weapons on the house, but the girl wasn't in that class, and under the circumstances, he doesn't think it's wise to press their luck.]

do you wanna do this in a new log or continue this thread in action

[crackedreflection]

You know what? Sure. What time?

Probably easier to continue it here.

[smilingarmor]

I'm not doing anything pressing right now, if you aren't either; though your first practice session should likely wait until you've had some sleep. You want your wits about you if you have a blade in your hand after all.

And if you like, we can talk about this festival idea of yours a bit more as well.

[Sylvando still doesn't think a full on festival is what's called for at the moment, but if one's going to happen, he wants to be sure it's done right.]

Action

[crackedreflection]

[MT slouches into the blacksmith's at the appointed time, hands stuffed deep in her pockets. Swords? Cool. Learning how to use swords? Cooler. Trusting a total stranger to teach her? Not cool. At all.]

Hey.

Re: Action

[smilingarmor]

[Sylvando straightens up as sh approaches, having been leaning casually against the wall near the door while he waited.]

Hello yourself, darling; good to see you made it. Now, let's get started finding you a blade, hmm?

[hardcoreparkour]

I'd be interested in that light reading, if you feel like sharing. I'm used to a lot of historical research, myself.

I'm not much of a planner, but ... I can help build stalls or put up tents or whatever. I'm a decent muscle guy.

[crackedreflection]

Please, please take it off my hands. If I have to LARP Tulip for even one more minute I'm going certifiably insane.

And uh, thanks. Finally, someone who thinks this is a good idea. I'll gladly take your help.

[hardcoreparkour]

... I don't know what that means, but I'll still come pick it up from you. What room are you in?

[crackedreflection]

6B. The one that's the source of all the complaints.

[hardcoreparkour]

That's just because I haven't gone exploring yet. I ... tend to attract collateral damage. Never on purpose, mind you.

[okay sometimes on purpose, but only as a last resort. he chuckles]

Be right there.

Video

[originaldragoon]

[Please ignore the fact that it's the full moon, and MT is now talking to a humanoid dragon lady, who is mostly black with the exception that the membranes of her wings are bright pink. Rose is trying very hard to act like this is normal.]

A festival could help, especially since there has been a lot of resentment towards Apprentices, whether an individual has done anything wrong or not. It is not that we are not doing anything, but we are rather stretched thin. Not only are we trying to protect Main Street now, but we also have Tiki Oasis and the Jungle around it to protect as well.
But that may be only a fraction of the problem.

The other half may be because Dreamfinder has been missing for some time now. He is supposed to be the guardian of Main Street but no one has seen him for Soa knows how long. The festival is a good idea if it will help force back Corrosion infecting the locals, but it may only be a bandage to a much bigger problem. It will at least buy us more time.

[crackedreflection]

...

Thank you so, so much for articulating my own points waaaay better than I did.

[MT offers a tired smile to Rose.]

This is the second time you've really helped me out, you know.

[originaldragoon]

[A small shrug from Rose.]

I just try to keep a level head during a crisis.

If the festival does not fix this situation, let us hope that it will at least buy us some extra time to find something more permenant.

[voidalviera]

'Tis like a Flood...

I am not sure what I can do to help, but please do let me know if you need any heavy lifting done.

I can... ah, also... dance? 'tis not likely to have the same effect as it does in the source, and especially now that I do not look like a normal woman, I could scare some people instead of entertain them -

[crackedreflection]

Any help is appreciated, trust me.