video; spooky halloween psa

[restingstitchface]

[Crane's staring into the camera with an intensity that doesn't dwell well under his skin. Though the clean suit he wears does a good job of hiding it well, nothing can conceal the irritation he feels under it. He clasps his hands together under the table then rests them imperiously on his desk.]

Why do you celebrate Halloween?

I'm just curious.

[He kicks back against his chair and plonks his feet on the wood. Whatever he was irritated by - rather, what he was disregarding - seems to have taken on better shape. He feels it draped over his face, coarse but warm and intimately familiar. It takes most of his energy to play a weak smile for the gallery.]

Don't worry about tainted candy, by the way. Razer bladed taffy apples? Lye-coated bubblegum? Cyanide-laced Pixy Stixs? They're just legends. Informal whisperings of unsubstantiated reports of contaminated sweets picked up in the course of trick-or-treating. Now, for clarification; I don't intend to claim poisonings never happen. A father laced his own son's candy with cyanide in order to reap the benefits of his life insurance, yes, but it certainly isn't a problem. As a matter of fact, the absence of personal stories highlights that clearly.

[He scratches under his chin.]

Here, of course, the bogeyman isn't even cyanide or toxic chocolate - though Hershey's deserves labelling as poison, honestly - but collective fear of a different sort.

[That's a topic he isn't acknowledging right now. He has every intention of discussing it with the class, but carries on.]

Has anyone here been poisoned by Halloween candy? I doubt it. And if you're scared of the possibility? Well, take it from an expert, October 31st is the most extraordinary day of the year you can be terrified of. You'll never experience another one like it till the next cycles round. So dare yourselves and do something special - be bold, knock on some doors when the day arrives. Eat some candy and-

[He tips his chin.]

Enjoy yourselves.

Comments

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Oh, I must give you a hand in the preparations.

[idesof]

[he GASP]

Are you volunteering?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Naturally, James! I couldn't neglect your birthday!

[idesof]

Well. [Said with a slow warmth, like he's just been asked on a date.] I certainly wouldn't deny you. We could have a lot of fun with it.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I can only imagine that you have quite the riot.

[idesof]

The press in California did term my soirees killer parties more than once!

[slightlyoffchilt]

Oh, I'm sure they simply adored you.

[idesof]

They did. [You know, until the whole murder thing came out.] But that was long ago, in a land I may never see again. A man and his reputation begin anew. Clean slate, as they say.

[slightlyoffchilt]

A healthy way to look at it, James. No reason to get too attached to the past.