action;

[mayfield_mods]

[Late at night on Fourth of July, after the last fireworks have stopped and after all the droning has worn off, Jane Smith can be seen walking down the streets of the town. Or rather, stumbling, but she doesn't appear to have been drinking. She seems happy as she always does, but the smile today is wider and even less natural looking than normal.

Comments

[worstvikingever]

[Hiccup, despite having trouble fighting between memories of home and memories of Mayfield all day, nearly runs into Samantha as she stumbles down the sidewalk and reaches out to steady her.]

Whoa, I'm sorry... I didn't... hey. Hey. Are you okay?

[mayfield_mods]

Yes! Yes, I'm fine! Nothing to worry about here! I'm fine as always!

[worstvikingever]

[That's not going to work, Mrs. Smith. You've got Hiccup all concerned now.] Are... are you sure? You look... did... did something happen? Do you need help getting home?

[mayfield_mods]

Nonononono, I don't want to, I don't want to...

[mayfield_mods]

Don't call me that. He's not my husband.

[mayfield_mods]

I...I...

Jane is fine...I'm fine...Please, just call me Jane! Nothing to trouble anyone about!

[thunder_ace]

[By now, Fate knows about the drones. She knows that everyone thinks Lucy Smith is behind everything, so by extent, the entire Smith family should fall under suspicion.

Of course, all that is pushed to the back of her head when she sees Jane(?) stumbling down the street. She doesn't see the unsettling drone most people know well... just the poor, terrified woman. So, of course, she approaches.]

Ma'am, please, calm down! What happened?

[mayfield_mods]

Nothing's happened, nothing at all. Everything is just fine.

[thunder_ace]

I'm sorry, but I don' really believe you.

[Her voice is softer than usual, taking on a more soothing tone.] I want to help you. But I can't if I don't know what's wrong, so... please tell me.

[mayfield_mods]

You can't help me. There's nothing that...

Because there's nothing wrong, that's why!

[flameyedhunter]

Um.... what's wrong, miss?

[mayfield_mods]

Nothing's wrong, sweetheart. Everything is fine! Just fine!

[flameyedhunter]

Mou! You shouldn't try to lie to people like that. What are you so scared of? Maybe I can help. [ Shana's eyes blaze up with an expression of energy that was completely absent from her drone-self. ]

[mayfield_mods]

No, no, no, they'll send me away again, I don't want to go back to that. I can't live this way, I just can't.

[weiss_tank]

[Ken vaguely remembers Jane from that party months ago, but he'd have to admit if asked that he feels sorry for her. Not to mention that this scene is compounding that.]

Is somethin' wrong? [Well duh something is, but he's tired.]

[mayfield_mods]

No, I'm all right, honey. Oh, I'm just wonderful tonight.

[weiss_tank]

[Thanks to being half droned that day, Ken actually has a hanky in his pocket, which he offers to her.]

You look like hell.

[mayfield_mods]

[She'll dab at her face with the hanky as though there are just a few small tears, when in fact she's still shaking with sobs.]

I'm sorry, it's just been such a long night, but you mustn't worry.