Week 3: Shenanigans

[lilycobalt]

"I want to be a truth teller," Mike said.

His teacher for Magical Theory, a woman almost as tall as him who probably lived in her ceremonial blue robes, looked him in the eyes. "Why?"

"Because I want to know when people are lying to me." He needed to know. Regular people had their ways of sensing lies that they thought were foolproof; twitches of

Comments

[tatdatcm]

Yay for more Girl in the Glass House! I thought this was part of that story, and your tags confirm it.

That truth thing is a double edged sword. It can be powerful to possess, but it can bite you in the butt too. I like how the instructors really made him think about it and he finally came to the realization that he had to be truthful himself. Being a truth-teller would be a difficult thing, I think.

[lilycobalt]

I also think being a truth-teller would be hard. There's a part in Mike's training when he wears a device that zaps him whenever he tells an untruth, so that he has a better idea what he's getting into. Being able to tell when other people are lying is really just a side effect.

Thanks! I'm glad this felt like Glass House even though it's a different part of the world.

[alien_writings]

Aw, I felt for Mike in this story.

Being a truth-teller really does sound like the kind of thing you would have to take VERY seriously; it's not something I would risk myself, haha.

Good job! :)

[lilycobalt]

He was in a tough position here with feeling unwanted at every turn, but now he's found a spot.

I don't think I'd be willing to risk the truth-telling thing either. I'm torn between whether telling an untruth while under the spell means the words just don't come out of your mouth or whether you wish you were dead. Neither one is appealing.

Thanks!

[phoenixejc]

I love the way you weave this story, so that Mike has to keep examining himself until he gets to the truth, the REAL truth. Nicely done!

[lilycobalt]

Thank you! Looking into your heart's not just a one-step thing, and I wanted to get that across here.

[whipchick]

I really enjoyed the protagonist's journey, and how his confession of wanting power wasn't self-aggrandizing - that was really skillfully handled!

[lilycobalt]

Thanks a lot!

[myrna_bird]

It's good he has realized his true desire and is willing to go for it.
I hope we will hear more.

[lilycobalt]

Thanks! I enjoyed writing how he got to the bottom of it. There's more here, and I'll see how much of it comes out in Idol.