-1One of these days, someone's going to ruin everything. I just know it.
Yeah, I know how I totally sound all pessimistic and stuff, especially coming from me of all people.
Geez, I am SO breaking character right now. Not peppy or hyper or ditzy at all - I hope Nook doesn't find out or he'll have kittens.
I really can't help it, though. I've been super on edge lately. There's this feeling of doom in the air, it's all heavy and… and bad. I can't help the feeling that someone is going to ruin the whole set up.
Oh, and I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Ruby, it's because the Monster's back" Well, Mr. Smarty-ears, that's not it. I knew the Monster would come back eventually. That's the way Monsters are, even if you don't see them for a while, they always come back because they don't really ever leave. Besides, it was just living in it's House. Duh, Lucy. Everyone knows there's no escape.
No, see, I'm all nervous because of my new neighbor, whats-his-name. Wolfgang, I think. He's one of the grumpy ones - you know the type: old (I mean old, like 55 or something), all loudmouthed and temperamental.
Usually, there'd be nothing wrong with this, since someone's always assigned the Crotchety role. You need someone that's a little cantankerous to shake things up a little. After all, if every Animal were nothing but friendly and polite and helpful all the time, it wouldn't feel right. Monsters are scary, but they aren't stupid, not even the little ones. Eventually It'd notice something was off, and then things could turn ugly. You need a little variety in every town. Like, that's why everyone has different personality roles in the first place.
But here's the thing: I don't think Wolfgang's acting.
I think he actually is a mean, spiteful, old grouch. Not that there's a problem with that; anyone that's gotten the call to Cross has the right to be a little upset. What he doesn't seem to get, though, is there's a limit to just how much you can show your true colors in the town of Canisp. Especially around The Monster. Actually, I think - no, I'm positive that he's especially nasty to the Monster.
What, did he not get the introduction package or something? Did, like, Nook forget to go over the rules with him? Does he want to see how fragile the patience of a Monster is?
I really don't think he gets it. I saw him bug hunting yesterday and he was all, "It's dumb to walk around on eggshells just because of some furless idjit with bad fashion sense"
The way he talks, it's as if the Monster isn't even a threat. And that's, like, just about the dumbest, reckless thing an Animal could ever think. Like Nook says, "The cleverest trick a Monster can pull is pretending it's not monstrous". The only reason they don't look dangerous is because they start out so cute. And because they haven't learned to how to be really horrible yet. I mean, the only reason our Monster smiles all the time and acts helpful-like is because we've all worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make sure the Monster's happy. As long as It is happy, our community is safe. More importantly, our world is safe. Yeah, we may have to make sacrifices a little bit here and there… or a whole lot… but it's all for the best. If the greater good means that we gotta separate from the rest of society in these ghastly (whoops! breaking character again) these gross (much better) little towns and pretend we're dumb and silly, then I'm all for it. Really, I am.
I think the real reason Wolfgang so blatantly disregards won't pay attention to the Crossing rules (besides being a jerk) is because he's so old. Think about it. It's not like he's got a long life ahead of him, like me. Maybe he thinks he's lived long enough.
Maybe he's actually old enough to remember a time without Monsters. (Wow, what a fantastic thought. I can't even imagine it).
Whatever his issue is, it's gonna really cost us eventually.
Know what the worst part is?
Normally, if I had Wolfgang's type in Canisp, I could at least sleep well knowing that if he did push the Monster too far, the rude, grouchy guy would be the first to feel Its wrath. I can't even take that comfort, not when the rude, grouchy guy is living right next door. That means if Wolfgang goes first, I'm going second, with no real time to escaping or anything.
…Then again, it might not be as bad as I'm making it out to be.
See, I know for a fact that the Monster doesn't like grouchy types. How? I've been here since the town was first called Canisp, one of the original six neighbors. Being here so long, I've noticed that the grouchy types have never stayed very long; they're always in and out in in constant rotation. I know that if the Monster really liked the grouches, they'd never rotate. It wouldn't let them.
That's the problem with the Animal Crossing Project, you see.
Picking who is drafted to Cross is supposed to be evenhanded. Every Animal serves their time and can eventually go back to their normal life when the Monster gets bored with them. That way it makes sure the Monster doesn't get too bored, and the draftees eventually get to go home. After all, there's no sense in keeping Crossers here indefinitely, it's the Monster that's stuck here forever, not us.
Or, that's what they tell you, anyway.
What they never mention to the new Crossers is that nothing is you can never be sure what a Monster is going to do. They're not predictable like us; they can be really random sometimes. Just because some Monsters are fickle doesn't mean they all are.
You know that the overall goal is to pacify the Monster to prevent destruction. For It to love the Town It's built and us Animals along with it.
It works too well sometimes.
My problem is I'm the total opposite of Wolfgang. I've told the Monster hundreds of times that someday I'm gonna be a famous pro actor. That's a bit of a lie. I'm actually already a pro actor. Not that famous yet, but still an actor. I thought my edge would help me move on though serving my time, that if I did my job really well, I could move on faster.
What happened was the exact opposite.
The Monster has become incredibly fond of me. It visits me at least five times a day, every day without fail. It sends me letters. It sends me gifts for no reason at all. It remembers my birthday enough to come to my birthday party. It buys everything for sale at my Flea Market. It chosen my song for La-Ti-Day every single time - even when I purposely write bad tunes, it still picks them! It never misses appointments with me, and It always gives medicine when I'm sick.
Certainly, none of these things are bad in themselves. It means I'm doing my job well. But… like, I said, that means the Monster likes me.
It likes me so much that it won't let me go.
The Rules say that you can move out if you want to. However, if the Monster catches you trying to move, there's always a chance that it'll ask you to stay. If It demands of you more than five times not to leave, than you must not cycle out and remain Crossing. If it feels strongly enough to bother asking that much, to leave anyway could have devastating effects.
I have been trying to cycle out for almost two years, now. I've tried moving in the early morning. I've tried moving at midday, when It's usually sleeping. I've tried moving on Event Day, when the Monster is distracted by fishing or selling stuff or whatever.
Nothing works. It always catches me, and it always makes me stay.
I'm seriously starting to think that I'm never going to see my family again. I might be here for the rest of my life.
If Wolfgang really is going to push the Monster over the edge, I just hope he gets it done fast. Get it over with now, or stay forever. I really hate living next to that idiot, but I really don't think I can stand seeing someone else move out and leave me behind.
The worst part is I wasn't even drafted. I actually signed up for this. I thought I knew what I was getting into. Of all the things I expected out of a Monster, I'd have never thought it would do this.
Seriously, Wolfgang.
If you're not going to ruin everything soon, I'm going to have to do it for you.