Though the fluster of the traffic and the dust from the streets thereabout, the park was always quiet and pure thanks to its wideness and vegetation. There were many pathways around it. These pathways were shut off by space, with colorful flowers and grass. These plants were always in order and clipped well.

In the early mornings and the evenings, kids used the many sites: jungle bars, slides and ladders for climbing, playing – all kinds of fun and games. Usually, adults would also lounge around the seats on the border of the park, perhaps having an open picnic or small party.

"Wow! I've been stuck in the house all year!" Bobby announced. "I can't wait to play here! How come you never showed me this place!?" He asked, not really expecting an answer.

Ralph ran off into the park ahead of them, heading for a long concrete tube that was on its side, forming a sort of, mini-tunnel

Shawn was usually too busy to go to the park, let alone take someone else there. But that'd be a downer thing to bring up, so he just laughed. "What do you wanna try first?"

There were a group of boys on the left side of the park, playing catch and laughing, looking all smiles and friendly.

The swing set only had one kid on it, and there were two empty seats available.

Then there was the jungle gym itself, the large tubes intertwining, overlapping with ladders and tires.

"The ball! Let's go play catch!" Bobby said, taking a decisive move towards the kids.

"Sounds good!" Shawn trails after Bobby, more than happy to let him take the lead.

Bobby was completely unphased by meeting new people and ran up to the small group of boys simply by saying 'hey, can we play?'

One boy caught the ball, back towards Bobby and Shawn. Upon hearing the question, he turned around. Shawn watched Bobby's face turn from enthusiasm to a frown.

It was Eddy.

"Oh." Eddy said, as if surprised. "It's you guys." He took a look a the ball and then at Bobby and Shawn. Then he shrugged.

"Sure." He said.

Eric wasn't among the group.

Shawn didn't really have beef with Eddy. If anything, he wanted to be friends with him because maybe that'd make Eric hate him less. So he gave Eddy a grateful look and his friendliest smile. "Thanks!"

To the horror of nearby parents, in the distance, Shawn could hear Ralph say "It has a big nose and it's...it's...it's...a Clown. Then it cuts you're head off!!"


The little kids near Ralph didn't seemed to mind. Some of the younger ones simply repeated

'Yeah!' or 'Cuts your head off.'

The ones Ralphs age started to say things like 'I'll play the clown!' or 'I'll be the knife!'

Shawn looked over at the parents for anyone Mom or Dad might talk to. If Ralph wanted to play a weird game, that was fine, but if he was going to get in trouble, that could turn into a serious problem.

No one seemed to say anything. Other than the slight murmurs of what kind of child would say the things Ralph said, and of course, who could have raised such a boy. But it really wasn't that surprising. Ralph simply was copying what he had seen in real life, and acting it out during his play. It was something Shawn saw other young kids do.

"Summer time. You guys going to the marshmallow roast tonight?" Eddy asked, throwing the ball to another, unknown kid and phrasing the question mostly to Shawn.

"No duh, right?"

"Well..." Shawn surreptitiously shot a look over at Bobby to see whether it looked like something he wanted to do before he answered.

"A marshmallow roast!?" Bobby's eyes lit up. "Wait? Is that Eric kid gonna be there."

"Dunno." Eddy said, throwing the ball to another kid who bobbled it, before managing to catch it. It was clear Eddy had an arm. "I guess if he decides to come, he will. And if not, then not." Eddy answered, nonplussed and seeming a lot more interested in the game of catch.

The kid threw the ball back, but it was a bad throw. Way over Eddy's head. It bounced past Shawn, along the side of the walkway and landed on the grate of a sewer drain. "Oh come on!" Eddy said, annoyed. "That was a terrible throw." He commented.

"You mind getting that since you're closest?" Eddy asked Shawn casually. "I don't trust this kid to get it, he can't even throw it. That throw was so gay."

Shawn shrugged. "Sure!" He wandered off to pick up the ball. Eddy was cool, even though they'd got off on the wrong foot. If only he wasn't friends with Eric...

The ball sat on the grate. It was simply a matter of bending over to pick it up...

OOC: Shawn Rolls Wits + Composure -1 with the following results

0 Successes: Shawn is surprised and something grabs him!

1 Success: Shawn avoids being grabbed, but feels himself taking in a deep gasp

2+ Successes: Shawn grabs the ball and backs away from the grate

Shawn gasps!

OOC: 08:41, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 8,1,3. Wits + Composure -1.

A grimy face appeared beneath the sewer grate. At first Shawn didn't know who or what it was. Then he saw it was Bradford. His half-burned face mostly covered in shadows, flaps of melted skin flexing as the good part of his mouth worked its was into a half-crooked smile.

"Remember. Don't look at the proprietor." he whispered. And then he dashed away, retreated back into the shadows so quickly that it made Shawn wonder whether or not he actually saw him or not.

"Hey come on man! What's takin' so long?" Eddy asked, somewhat put off

Shawn tried to shake off the sudden chill he felt and put his smile back on. "Coming!" Bradford had given him a warning, but why now? Was he going to encounter the proprietor soon?

"Alright! Now we can throw it again. Come on into the circle." Eddy encouraged. Bobby was already poised, ready to throw and to catch the ball with the other boys.

"Here! Throw it!" Eddy yelled at Shawn, arms ready.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Dexterity + Athletics with the following results

0 Successes: Shawn misses, the ball falls way short. Eddy is dissappointed and snickers along with the other kids.

1 Success: Eddy catches the ball due to his athleticism, even though Shawn throw wasn't very good. The focus turns to Eddy who receives praise and acclaim from the other boys for making such a great catch

2+ Successes: Shawn's throw is good and well received. He gains approval from Eddy and the boys.

OOC: 07:47, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 3,8,1,2,3,1. Dexterity + Athletics.

Shawn felt a build up of nerves settle upon the group as he threw the ball. It looked like it was going to go way high, but Eddy managed to jump up into the air and grab the ball. Chants of

'ooohh'

'ahhhh' and

'wow!' came from the boys in the crowd. Even Bobby seemed impressed.

"Think fast!" Eddy said and he threw the ball at Bobby.

19:26, Today: Bobby failed (no successes) using 1d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((1)) Dramatic Failure!.

Bobby reached out with one hand but stumbled awkwardly. The ball curved to the left and hit him straight in the mouth. His face twisted up in a painful grimace, nose snorting as he fell to the ground.

The ball, having bounced off of his forehead, flew over the fence into the bird sanctuary--an abandoned area filled with overgrown trees.

"Holy crap-o-la. Are you OK?" Eddy said, his tone a mix of concern but also seeing the humor in such a terrible display of athletics. The kids around seemed to snicker but they didn't outright point and start laughing.

Shawn rushed to Bobby's side. "Are you okay?"

Bobby wheezed. "I...I think...they don't like me..." He managed to say.

Shawn dropped his voice a little so the other kids wouldn't hear what he was saying. "Just act like it was no big deal, laugh it off and they'll just think you're silly, not bad."

"Ha--huhhh" Bobby said, grimacing all the while and getting up. "Haha." he said again, rubbing at his head.

"Oh brother! That sure was funny." He said.

"Yeah!" Eddy said. "You were all over the place! Man you should have seen yourself and...hey? Where did the ball go?"

Shawn slapped Bobby on his back and laughed, partly to emphasise to the others how silly it all was, and partly to reassure Bobby that Shawn was still on his side. Still, they weren't out of the woods yet. If they ended up losing the ball, the other kids would definitely hold it against Bobby. "I think it went in the bird sanctuary."

"Umm...yeah." Bobby agreed. Though it was clear that he had no idea of where the ball had went. A bit of blood was leaking from his lip where the ball had hit him.

"Well." Eddy said. "Whoever last touched the ball..." He let that last part go unspoken, hands on his hips in annoyance. Perhaps at Bobby, perhaps at Shawn. But probably, more than anything else, at the idea that the game of catch was being delayed.

"We'll get it." Bobby said. Taking the hint and moving towards the fence of the bird sanctuary.

Shawn went along with him towards the fence.

Bobby started to climb over with the worry of losing face motivating him forward. He straddled the fence, before his disappeared behind it. A loud thump as he landed on the other side.

After Shawn followed, he landed on the other side of the fence as well. Kneeling on one knee, he looked up. The forest was beautiful lush green. Birds of yellow, red and black fluttered up as Shawn landed, flapping their wings into the sky.

The ball was visible all right. Shawn could see it right away. Feddler had it. He was hovering in the air, the ball dangling from his bottom claws, hanging from his feet.

Shawn turned pale and glanced over at Bobby, trying to see if he noticed the imp hovering there.

"what....is....that..?" Bobby asked, still and frozen in position. One knee still on the ground as he took in Feddler hovering in the air, ball dangling from his claws.

Shawn tried to think of lies he could tell Bobby to triage this situation, but most of them were predicated on Feddler not being there. He called out to the imp. "Umm, can we please have the ball back?"

Bobby slowly rose, palms open and facing the ground in a crouch like he was about to run for it. "It's just floating. It's just flapping around Shawn. Do you see it? There's, like a devil-thing right there." He said, voice a whisper, but still shrill.

"It's just sitting there....with our ball."

Shawn tried to thread a pretty tricky needle acting-wise; trying to seem weirded out and freaked when he (kinda sorta) understood what was going on, but at the same time seem reassuring enough that Bobby wouldn't lose it. "I'm gonna try to talk to it, okay? Stay here and be ready to run." He slowly walked forward towards Feddler, arms spread in a sign of 'I come in peace'.

"Yes." Feddler said, acknowledging Shawn's presence as Shawn came closer.

"There are worlds between our own.  The splits in our world accentuate, encourage, and feed the dividing walls between where you live and the eternal damnation that awaits you. I am a reminder of that. I am a reminder of your torment and your pain." Feddler said in a deep bellow. The affect of spreading fear was slightly offset by his thin, frail body. The leathery-paper like wings that were flapping also didn't add to the sense of fear his words projected.

"No you may have the ball." Feddler said. And with that, he pressed his talons into the side of the ball, puncturing the air. There was a pop, as air exited the ball in an elongated whine. An in the next instant, Feddler was gone, disappearing into a cloud of smoke.

"Oh no!" Shawn took a half step towards the now entirely deflated ball.

"What just happened?" Bobby asked, coughing slightly through the back smoke-vapor that Feddler left behind. The smell of ash creeping up Shawn's nose, he saw the ball. It was deflated.

"Oh no." Bobby said, seeming to forget all about the impish-devil he saw just moments ago and focusing on the greater threat of peer disapproval. "What are we gonna do? They're really gonna not like us now." Bobby fretted, eyes darting back and forth, looking for a way out of the social fix they found themselves in.

Shawn looked around the bird sanctuary for anything pointy they could blame. Or maybe even another ball! There's no way they were the only kids who'd lost a ball in here, right?

There were all sorts of sticks that could be blamed for puncturing the ball. There was even a piece of glass. But there was also another ball...

It was yellow and discolored. A far cry from the blue one that Feddler had popped.

"There!" Bobby said, seeing it also. It was in a pile of black muck. Mud really. All dirty and faded from having sat there since God knew when.

Shawn grabbed the ball, and looked for any water that could be used to clean it off. It wouldn't be the same, even a little, but it'd have to do.

Bobby and Shawn could both hear the impatient jibes that Eddy and the other boys were giving from beyond the fence. Shouts of 'what's taking so long' and 'come on, hurry up!' could be heard among others.

"There. That looks good." Bobby said, helping Shawn add water that could clean it up. Enough to make it clean, but not too clean so Eddy could tell the difference.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Intelligence + Subterfuge

OOC: 22:47, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 4 successes using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 9(+3),10(+7),7,8,3,10(+6),6.  Intelligence + Subterfuge + WP.

The boys hopped the fence and presented the fake ball to Eddy.

"Alright!" he said, not letting the dirt get to him at all. He accepted the ball, gave it a quick inspection and then through it towards another kid. "You got it! Great!"

Shawn gave Bobby a quick reassuring smile before they got ready to play again. Hopefully this time a little better.

The buys began to play again. Throwing the ball back and forth and for the most part, things went well. It was a rock start to be sure, with Bobby having fobbled the ball. But, as kids are often to forget certain things, Shawn was able to make a first impression over again. The focus moved from just trying to get a game of catch off the ground, to a social interaction---and possible acceptance---of Shawn and Bobby into the game.

But, as Shawn quickly fount out, it wasn't just the idea of fooling around that these kids valued. It was the physical nature of Eddy that drove the group forward. Rough-housing, playfulness, and the value of sport and athletics. As Shawn participated more in the game, he found that this clique was one that probably spent a great deal outside playing these kinds of games. This stood in stark contrast to the kids that he had heard Mrs. Hawkins complain about to the hall monitors, namely those that spent all time inside playing Nintendo, Atari and Commodore 64.

"Man, when I grow up, I wanna be a baseball player." Eddy said. "Maybe play for the Dodgers. Do you want to do that?" Eddy asked Shawn.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Presence + Dexterity to determine what the group thinks of him. Presence for the social aspect. Dexterity to determine how he holds up to the values of the group. This roll is not related to Eddy's question.

"That sounds like it'd be awesome. But I'm not really good at baseball." Shawn's tone implied that while baseball was awesome, actually being a baseball player was an honour reserved for cool, coordinated people like Eddy.

OOC: 10:18, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((4,8,3,6,8)).

It seemed that the kids were impressed with Shawn and Bobby, and at least for now, assumed they were up to snuff both physically and mentally to play with.

"Hey I know you!" Erica said, Shawn having noticed her for the first time among one of many kids in the group. "He's the actor kid. Aren't you?"

Shawn kicked the ground and looked a little embarrassed. "Yeah, that's me." He tried to imply with his voice that he knew it was a cool thing, but not super cool like being a baseball player.

The kids murmured. Calls of 'oooh' and 'ahhh' could be heard from some of the kids behind Eddy.

"Whoa! What kinds of movies?" Eddy asked

"Are you, like, in a movie now?"

"I've been in a bunch of different stuff, but nothing major. There's a lot of small parts and stuff." Shawn continued modestly, trying not to sound too self-centred or spoiled. "I haven't started filming yet, but I'm supposed to be in another one soon. I'm not supposed to talk about it, though. They made my Mom sign this contract that said I'd get in trouble if I mentioned any details."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Mon 24 Apr 2017.

"a bunch of different stuff." Erica murmured in complete amazement. "A bunch of stuff guys! You hear that? He's been in more than one kids movie!" she said.

The other kids came closer. Shawn felt he was suddenly being surrounded. Not in a threatening way, but in the way that kids might do when the find they're favorite costumed character at theme park.

"oh come...on!" Eddy said. "You gotta tell us what you're gonna be in. You got to!"

Shawn didn't want to disappoint them, but he also didn't want to get in trouble before filming even started. He decided to throw them a bone and hoped it would be enough. "I'm really not supposed to. But I was 'The Adventures of Kip and Shep' as the younger brother. And I was in 'The Beast From Beyond', too." Shawn wondered if any of them would have seen The Beast From Beyond; that had been one of his earlier works, what Mr. Sellick had called a "B-Movie" and Mom and Dad had refused to let him watch it until he was older. Much older. He'd never seen the full script, but from the costumes and prosthesis he'd seen on set, he kinda understood why.

"Oh my god. Kid and Shep!" Erica swooned. "I loved that movie. I had to ask my Mom to take me to the movies. I spent all of my allowance to go. Dad says that I have to do that if I want to go to the movies, spend my own money." She turned back to the topic of her reverence. "But wow! You really were in that movie? I don't recognize you though."

She framed Shawn's face making a right angle with each hand, thumb and index finger. She closed one eye, stuck her tongue out as if concentrating. "Oh yeah! I see it now! Wow! you really are a movie star. What is it like being on a movie? One time I heard my Dad say that movie stars get free food when they are on....wherever they make it. The movies. Is it true. Do you get free food, like ice cream?"

"Well, got free food, but it was mostly sandwiches and stuff like that; they don't want you to spill stuff on your costumes and stuff. Though sometimes, if it was someone's birthday or the last day of shooting someone would bring a cake." Shawn had heard that there were fancier foods at craft services on the bigger sets, but he hadn't experienced them himself yet.

Continued murmuring from the rest of the kids around Shawn. Kids started to talk about ice cream and free burgers. McDonald's and Wendy's. In the distance, Shawn could see others walking towards the group. Usually when kids crowded around, it was because there was probably a fight happening. At least at recess during the school year. Now, they came out of interest. Interested to see what was happening and what everyone else was doing in such a boisterous circle.

There was a buzz in the air, before Eddy's voice cut through the other kids' chirping.

"I've heard of Beast From Beyond." Eddy said confidently, though Shawn noted that he didn't say whether or not he had seen the movie or not.

"That's kind of cool that you do movies like that. I mean, are you gonna like, be a star or something?" I didn't come out sarcastic, just like Eddy wanted to know if that was Shawn's plan. There was a simpleness to Eddy's voice and tone, like it really didn't matter one way or another but it would be good to know.

"I dunno..." Shawn shrugged and scratched his head as if in thought. Fortunately, this was a question he'd been asked a lot, and he knew there was an answer for Mom and an answer for everyone else. "I like acting, so I'll try to keep doing it. It's up to the directors and producers and stuff whether it's big roles and stuff."

"Yeah." Eddy agreed, not having been swept up into the euphoria like the other kids. They were still talking among themselves. Some of them yelling out their approval of Shawn, others claiming that he should or would, in fact, become a star.

"Adults pretty much decide everything. It sucks. I don't like it. We don't have any control of anything. I mean I do. I sneak out at night. My Dad is cool. I think he knows that I do it, but he doesn't say anything to my Mom. I think maybe its because he knows that I know he smokes. He told my Mom...well, he didn't tell her, he swore to her, that he would quit smoking after my sister died of cancer. So, maybe its like a trade. Even though we never talk about it. About my sneaking."

"Yeah..." Shawn's life had been almost entirely decided by adults, except for one or two decisions he still regretted. "Sorry about your sister..."

Eddy didn't pay the gesture any mind. And for a while the kids talked until Erica broke in with a suggestion.

"Hey, want to do something fun?" She asked. The word fun sounded dangerous or at least daring the way she let it roll off of her mouth.

Ever the bellwether, Shawn subtly looks to both Eddy and Bobby to get an idea of their feelings on the matter before venturing a reply.

Bobby looked back at Shawn. That's when Shawn caught Bobby's glare. Yes he was interested and perhaps still nervous about being accepted. But there was something else.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Wits + Empathy

"Like what?" Eddy said, tossing the ball in the air and catching it behind his back, a neat little trick.

"Like playing....with magic" Erica said with dramatic effect.

Everyone knew that magic didn't exist. But just as kids knew that, it was also true that Shawn had found something different. Something that did exist.  Erica looked between Shawn, Bobby and Eddy. The group had broken away from the rest of the pack now, and stood alone, the kids having resumed their normal playground play after gawking at Shawn for a bit.

"I have a game. It's back at my house just five minutes away. It's called: Ouija"

OOC: 07:48, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 9,6,9. Wits + Empathy.

It wasn't the suggestion of the game that Bobby was thinking about. Shawn could tell. He wasn't even worried about how the kids thought of him anymore.

Bobby was clearly shaken by the idea of seeing Feddler. Shawn wondered privately whether or not the meddling imp would threaten to undue some of the progress he had made in making Bobby forget. It wasn't that Bobby would suddenly remember, but rather, that he would begin to investigate.

However, this thought process was cut short, as Eddy announced his opinion on playing Erica's game:

"That sounds like faggy, gay stuff." Eddy said. "It sounds gay." He repeated for emphasis.

That left Shawn and Bobby to weigh in.

"Ummmm..." Bobby wagered, looking at Shawn, somewhat distracted.

"What is it?" Shawn wasn't sure what to think yet - maybe Ouija was, in fact, really gay."

"It's a game where you have to turn off the lights. And there's a playing board. And everyone has to place their hands on it. Then, just like magic, it moves over the letters. But only after you ask for spirits to talk to you. They talk by spelling out the letters."

"A spelling game?" Eddy said with outright disapproval, the voice of a child that had just finished a year of school and was now being asked to do homework all over again.

"That's really gay." He offered, shaking his head to indicate that he wanted no part of anything involving work. Especially the kind of work that was related to the classroom.

"It's not a spelling game." Erica said defensively. "It's about ghosts and spirits. It's really fun. It's also scary. But its definitely not about school work. If we communicate with a spirit, then you don't even have to move the piece. The ghost moves it."

"I dunno." Eddy said, still not really convinced. "It's just...its sounds gay, you know? I mean, spelling and right after school. I mean, we already had 'how many' spelling tests this year? It just sounds really, really gay. You know?"

Shawn was trying to stay out of this argument; he had a natural aversion to taking sides (at least while the other side was around). But he was a little worried about what a Ouija game would entail. He'd had enough problems with the supernatural to just invite spirits into his life unless it was necessary. Besides, it might further pique Bobby's curiosity, and that was another probably he knew he was going to have to manage in the future.

"It's not gay!" Erica said, getting annoyed.

"Well, its sounds gay." Eddy refuted, still shaking his head.

"It's not gay! Stop saying that!"

"It's gay!" Eddy said, now without the annoyance in his voice and instead a slight crook of a smile forming on his face. He was enjoying the rise he was getting out Erica.

"No it's not. It isn't gay!" Erica said, starting to fume.

"It's not my fault that you're game is gay. I mean, it's just a gay game. That's all." Eddy responded, emphasizing the word gay each time.

"URggggh!" Erica said, stomping her foot into the earth and squashing a flower and with that she turned her back and stormed off.

Shawn looked on at Erica sympathetically, but made no further move to go after her or anything like that. He just turned to Eddy to see what he wanted to do next.

"Haha!" Eddy said in triumphant glee, a winning smile on his face. "I love getting a rise out of people. It's funny to see people get angry or upset. It's funny when people are all upset at something happening to them." He explained, really enjoying what had happened.

"Hey, wanna go 'people-watch'?" Eddy asked. Shawn had never heard of the term.

"What's that?" Shawn liked hanging out with Eddy, but he hoped it involved less insulting people to their face.

"It doesn't have anything to do with ghosts or flying Devils, does it?" Bobby asked, sounding uncertain.

"No. Nothing to do with that stuff. My Aunt Judith taught me the game last summer. You just sit on a park bench and look at people as they come and go. Ya know? Kids and parents. Oh, also old people if they come by. Then you talk about them without them hearing. And you make pretend situations and ask each other questions about what you would do." Eddy explained, getting more excited about the game as he heard himself speak about it.

"That sounds kinda neat!" Shawn wasn't super into the idea - it sounded like one of the acting exercises Mrs. Worthington would have him do - but he didn't want to disappoint Eddy.

Bobby nodded in a subdued sort of way. The boys wandered over to a bench.

"Ok" Eddy said, rubbing his palms together in evident delight. "What about that guy? What's the first thing you think of when you see him?" He pointed out towards a man kicking a ball in the large field where grown ups played soccer.

"Hmm..." Shawn thought about it; the man had a lot of grace for a big guy. "I bet he does ballet, but like, in secret. He doesn't tell his friends that's why he's good at soccer."

"Ha!" Bobby said. "Oh brother, that's funny. I was going to say that he just fat."

Eddy finished laughing before he said "That's funny. Hey, you're pretty good with this kind of thing. I was gonna say 'have another doughnut!" then he broke out in raucous laughter again.

"What about that old man?" Eddy said, pointing

Shawn tried to get into the improv groove; it was trickier here, albeit with no less pressure. "I bet...he's just pretending to read that book; he's got like, another one hidden inside there that's more embarrassing."

"Haahahaha!" Bobby roared with laughter.

"Yeah" Eddy remarked, "I bet he reads stuff like girl's comics. Probably Barbie." Eddy said, and Bobby could tell that it was something Eddy thought was really risque, his comment about Barbies.

"Haha, yeah, because he's so old, and Barbie's for, like, little kids!" Shawn laughed; it was funny, but he didn't see anything particularly risque about the joke.

"Yeah! He's like an old girl-man!" Eddy proclaimed. "Oh, hey, check that out!" he said, pointing to another person at the park. "What about her?" Shawn took a look over. It looked like a woman, an older woman at that. She was in some kind of wheelchair.


This message was last updated by the player at 04:52, Wed 03 May 2017.

"She...just got here from her daughter's; they had a fight about how she's raising her gerbils. She's not supposed to keep them in her cooler any more!" Shawn's stories were getting a little more high concept as the game went on.

"Gerbils!" Bobby said with delight. "Or maybe she's just, you know, being dumb in a wheelchair." He added.

That one sounded a little mean in the sense that if an adult walked by, they would certainly admonish the groups for saying it. Whether it was mean or not for Shawn was another thing altogether. His comment about Gerbils had kept the game going and had entertained Bobby.

But Eddy had really warmed to Bobby's comment about 'stupid wheelchair.' "Yeah!" Eddy roared. "That's exactly what I was thinking. She's stupid. Because she can't walk!" Then he began to laugh. Bobby did too, but not as hard as Eddy.

OOC: Shawn contested Rolls Wits + Empathy vs. Bobby's Wits + Expression with the following results

0 Successes: Shawn can't tell how Bobby really feels about the comment Bobby made or Eddy's reaction.

1 Success: Shawn can get a general idea of how Bobby feels about the joke Bobby made. But he cannot tell how Bobby feels about the nature of Eddy's joking.

2 Successes: Shawn can read Bobby like a book. He can see whether or not Bobby is full in on the crueler potions of the game, and whether or not he agrees and is enjoying Eddy's crueler jokes.

OOC: 20:15, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,4,4. Wits + Empathy.

20:51, Today: Bobby rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((7,3,4,5,6,10(+5))).

It was hard to say how Bobby felt. He was slippery. Perhaps just like Shawn. Maybe that was why they got along so well. But there was no time to think of that. Eddy chimed in with another gesture, this time pointing out a girl that looked to have some sort of issue.

"What about her?" He asked. He looked to Shawn to see what he might say.



It was clear to Shawn that the girl might have some kind of mental issue. He thought that someone had told him, maybe an adult--perhaps Mom--that some kids had such mental issues. Their faces seemed to show it. Show that they had some kind of issue that would keep them separated from the rest of the kids. They went to a special class called 'resource room.'

Eddy gave Shawn an expectant look that seemed to say 'Well, are you gonna play, or not?'

Shawn tried to think about what he was going to say, and then hesitated. He didn't feel comfortable making fun of the little girl who had an issue. Of course, actually objecting wasn't an option for him, so he elected to deflect. "Well, she's...hey, wait a sec, don't we get a turn picking someone? Why don't you do that guy?" He looked over at Bobby for support, then pointed out a guy on the opposite side of the park with bright red hair and a massive beard.

Bobby looked over at Shawn. He was fully distracted now. The nature of the game--uncomfortable for Bobby or not, Shawn couldn't tell--was enough to keep the idea of what happened with Feddler at bay.

"He..." Bobby started, looking over at the bearded man, trying to come up with something. "He's probably one of those Dwarves!" He announced. "The kind that live in mountains and fight dragons."

There was a flash of something on Eddy's face that Shawn saw as Shawn deflected the conversation away from the girl. Just a second. A tightening of the lips and brow. Was it annoyance?

Either way, it didn't last long. The game continued. And the bearded man had characteristics that were unique in appearance.

"Ha!" Eddy laughed. "Yeah. He's a total Dwarf!" he proclaimed. Though the word Dwarf came out more like an insult than the imaginative way Bobby had spoken.

"I bet he has a magic ring!" Shawn laughed and then looked at Bobby for his pick.

"Hey, look at that!" Bobby said, pointing to a far corner of the park.

Shawn does a inexpertly concealed double take, and tries to gauge Eddy and Bobby's reactions. Was there really a clown there?

"What?" Eddy said, sounding annoyed. "It's just an empty bench." Shawn could have sworn he saw a clown there a second ago. A clown that looked like it had bad intentions. Like it came from the Circus. One that Shawn had never seen before. But when he turned back, it was gone.

"Oh..." Bobby rambled, confused. "I...thought I saw something there. Like a Clown or something."

"Don't be gay. You'll ruin the game!" Eddy chastised, his voice only half-joking, though it didn't sound annoyed as much as playful. "There's no clown there!"

Shawn tried to play to Bobby's doubt and confusion; the last thing he wanted was for him to become curious. "It was probably just those flowers; all the way on the other side of the park, it kinda looks like a clown if you squint."

"Yeah." Bobby said, seeming to agree though sounding uncertain.

"Alright, alright. Enough of this." Eddy said, growing tired. By now, many of the kids at the park had already left, and it was clear that the park was emptying out, lunch time approaching.

"I have a new game." Eddy announced, taking the lead. "Who wants to play S-P-U-D?" Eddy asked, tossing the ball into the air.

Bobby looked at Shawn. It was clear Bobby had never heard of the game.

"What's S-P-U-D?" Shawn was glad to leave people watching behind. It made him uncomfortable for reasons he couldn't quite find the words to express.

Shawn would come to find out that the game was simple. Someone threw the ball in the air straight up. Then the other two kids had to run as far as they could until the ball hit the ground. At that point, the person who through the ball would take large jumps towards someone. Each time they jumped, they would use one letter. S-P-U-D...four jumps in total. Then they would get to throw the ball at someone. If they hit the person, that person would be it.

The only thing unclear was why the game was called 'Spud.'

"So, do you guys want to play?" Eddy asked, cool as you like.

Shawn subtly tried to judge if Bobby looked like he want to play. If that was the case, Shawn nodded in agreement. "Sure, sounds fun."

"Alright." Bobby agreed, that distracted look of having seen Feddler back on his face.

Without another word, Eddy threw the ball into the air. "Run!" he yelled.

07:13, Today: Shawn's Acquaintance - Eddy Hughs rolled 2 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((4,10(+3),8)).


OOC: Shawn Rolls Wits + Dexterity OR Athletics

Shawn stumbled, but in keeping with his performer's instincts, at least tried to turn it into an entertaining pratfall.

OOC: 09:26, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,1,2,2,6.  Wits + Dexterity/Athletics.

Shawn stumbled in his effort to run. But he was ever conscious of how other people around him were reacting. It was true that Bobby hadn't been the same since seeing Feddler. And now, Shaw could see that more and more it was bothering his friend.

It was the way he walked when Eddy through the ball instead of running. He held himself in some kind of hug, arms tightly wrapped around as if he was cold, head down and sullen--eyes darting around.

There was no indication, however, that Bobby remembered anything from before about the Circus--far from it. Instead, he just had a ghostly, pallid quality to his face. The kind of face that looked like it, in fact, had seen ghost, or in this case, an imp. More and more Shawn was coming to the inevitable conclusion that Bobby was spooked, and that all Bobby's efforts to appear fun and into the game were now just for show.

"Yeah, run!" Bobby said, sounding authentic and picking up his walk a little bit.

The ball fell to the ground and Eddy picked it up. "Stop!" He yelled with glee.

"OK, now I get to spell it out and then I get to throw the ball at one of you." he rejoiced, looking over at both Bobby and Shawn who weren't that far away from Eddy nor from each other.

Eddy jumped forward with the ball hooked under one arm like he was a running back at a football game.

"S"

He jumped again, moving towards the boys.

"P!"

Now he was close, really close. Almost able to hit with point-blank accuracy.

"U"

He jumped to put himself between the two boys, who were now about 15 feet from Eddy on either side.

"D!"

Eddy smiled, looking at both of the boys like he had their number, oblivious to Bobby's growing unease.

Seeing Bobby's growing dismay and fear, Shawn was reminded of the old days, before Bobby had forgotten. It broke Shawn's heart to see it again, and he resolved that whether through the Numbers Game or somehow finding more Tweedberry powder, he'd set it right. As soon as he could, maybe even tonight...

"Ha!" Eddy said, pegging Bobby with the ball. It rolled after hitting him, right up to Shawn's foot.

"You're it!" Eddy proclaimed.

"I...I don't know if I want to play anymore."

"Don't be gay." Eddy said to Bobby, turning to Shawn for support. "He's being gay."

To Shawn's shock and surprise, he found himself ignoring Eddy out of his concern for Bobby. "Bobby, are you okay?"

"I...I dunno." Bobby said.

In the background, Shawn could hear Eddy complaining about how the rules weren't being followed, about how the game had to be played. And then, in general about how both boys were ruining the game. Peppered liberally throughout these complaints was the word 'gay.' Finally, he stormed off muttering, ball in hand, leaving Bobby and Shawn to themselves.

"I..I saw it. That thing. We saw it."

Shawn winced inwardly as Eddy stormed off, but for once he was more worried about Bobby than someone else's approval. "I know...I'm trying not to think about it.."

Bobby looked up concerned. "Promise me something though. Promise me that you won't tell Mom and Dad anything. Promise me that if we try to get to the bottom of this, we'll do it together. I don't want to get Mom or Dad involved." Bobby pleaded. It seemed, even though Bobby had forgotten nearly everything, his sense of secrecy and self-sufficient survival--some would call it 'sneakiness'--remained intact.

Shawn nodded seriously at Bobby, looking him right in the eyes. "I won't tell anyone else. But we absolutely have to stick together on this. Neither of us does anything without telling the other, okay?"

"OK." Bobby said almost instantly. "Cross my heart and swear to die, stick a needle in my eye." Bobby said. It was a common phrase that Shawn had heard before. If Shawn repeated the phrase himself, it would signal that they had made a verbal pact that shouldn't be broken.

"Cross my heart and swear to die, stick a needle in my eye." Even as he said it, Shawn knew it was an absolute blatant lie. This was something he was going to handle on his own, before Bobby could put himself in danger.

OOC: Shawn Joins Thread

Shawn: The Kid Night Movie