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

[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...