[text]

[hardtoignore]

So. Anyone else get "pranked" by a history buff friend of theirs? That's how one of my guardians described it when I showed him.

Comments

[hardtoignore]

I have an idea. They're kind of reckless anyway, so I doubt they'll need much prompting.

[traceofeffort]

I'm not sure I like what you're proposing. I only have a few ideas for who that might be and all of them sound dangerous.

[hardtoignore]

Oh come on, you know he'd be all about it. He's been investigating since basically day one.

[traceofeffort]

Yeah, but still. And besides, I'm worried about fallout. This month has been... really, really weird.

[hardtoignore]

It was weird earlier this month, yeah. But I don't even think he's even going to think about it; he's probably already researching now.

Or are you saying you're worried enough that you don't want to be involved at all? I get that.

[traceofeffort]

I WANT to be involved, though. I don't want to leave something important like this to everyone else, not if there's something I can do to help. I want to be responsible for protecting myself! And I'm kinda tired of breaking down when things go south.

So I'll let him take care of the specialist stuff, but let me help. Somehow. Anything, even if it's small. I'll worry no matter what, but after last week, I don't wanna leave one big target visible.

[hardtoignore]

So, what should we do? Have everyone wear Guy Fawks masks to hide our identity while doing... whatever it is we decide to do?

Spoiler alert: They're going to assume it's all of us anyway, even if it ends up being just one person. I think my run-in with an Old Friend recently proved just that.

[traceofeffort]

Wait, did Lord Asshole visit you too? I thought for sure he was just mad at me for. Something. I don't like this. Not one bit.

...but yeah, you're right. I don't think there's any other way. I'm worried, but I guess I'll just have to work through it and hover as much as I can, yeah?

[hardtoignore]

Lisa! Language! But I get the sentiment. He's definitely the meanest adult I've run into in a while.

I think as long as we have some plausible deniability then things will be, well, not okay but not as bad as it could be.

Thank god he didn't visit us earlier this month, right? I don't think I lied to him but he was definitely making me doubt myself during our talk.

[traceofeffort]

Oh, pardon me, sir, I slipped. But yeah, he gives me the creeps. And don't act like we can deny anything we do. I tried that, and I haven't even really DONE anything. Didn't do a thing, he just kinda rolled right over me and kept poking and prodding, waiting for something useful to shake loose. I felt like I needed a long shower after that. I kind of still do, honestly?

I'd thank anyone that's listening for him to just never visit ever, really.

[hardtoignore]

Interrogations are meant to make you feel guilty, whether you did anything wrong or not. It's not easy keeping them from getting into your head when you get cornered.

Yeah, I never want to see him again either if I can help it.

[traceofeffort]

I already have other-me in my head, I don't need anyone ELSE, thank you! I get you, though. I know it's not something I could have really helped, but it's still dumb.

[hardtoignore]

Brains are dumb. We should boycott them until they stop being dumb.

[traceofeffort]

I don't know if I could handle a picket line for that long, because I don't think it's coming. We'll just... send a strongly worded letter, maybe. That'll probably work about as well.

[hardtoignore]

Strongly worded letter... I don't think it would do much, but at least it will get the message across.

[traceofeffort]

I'll believe that when I see it. Brains are dumb, the Bureau is dumb, You-Know-Who is dumb... Please imagine me screaming in frustration.

[hardtoignore]

Not too hard to imagine.

Speaking of screaming and such related things, are you going to let us know if you ever decide to hold a concert?

[traceofeffort]

I'm still planning on it! Just waiting for the right moment when nothing is going to hell and people aren't too busy. I'm not crazy enough to work on something like that during finals week.

[hardtoignore]

Fair enough. Summer concert, then? Maybe after the height of 4th of July hype and we're spiraling towards August?

[traceofeffort]

It kinda depends on how much music I have to play, too, the stuff I already know aside. I'm already going to be playing a summer concert series, in a way - it's how I pay my bills. But I can always add a few extra private shows for my adoring fans.