A Four Sided Story

Discussion

Patton looked around as he was suddenly summoned; he'd previously been listening to Roman rehearse one of the songs from the Heathers play, bouncing along on the couch and happily listening, but now he stood in the middle of the round connecting room of the Mind Palace, blinking in slight surprise.

Glancing about, still confused, he realized both Roman, Logan, and Virgil were there too, all looking just as shocked as himself, with gazes of misconception. The four stood in a spaced out circle, all standing a few feet from their respective doorways.

"Ssorry for the suddennesss.."
Patton turned his head as Deceit slipped into a spot in the circle between Logan and Virgil, his arms folded.

"But I thought I should remind you of a ssimple deal we made the other day..."

Thinking back to the previous day and evening, Pattons brows furrowed in slight remembrance...

"They'll be invisible.. Jusst existing in your subconsciouss.. But only if you embrace lying... I only receive sso much energy from you a day Thomas... and these past few months I haven't received enough..."

Patton shuddered at the words that ran through his head, realizing they had decided to agree to such an idea; but it had been decided for the better... right? Those ghosts were- strange.. and scary.. they were only causing trouble, and if Deceit could help them go away, then maybe lying was worth it..

"Your reminder is.. rather- unnecessary," Logan stated, shifting his glasses. "not to mention your summon was rather sudden, do try and be more polite with such a request."

Patton watched as the deceptive side turned an annoyed gaze to the logical side, his mouth sliding back in a small grimace.

"I'll make sure to try harder next time..." He replied sarcastically, and Logan nodded in response.

"Then please, proceed in your elocution."

"Tonight is important.." Deceit began, looking around the circle and meeting gazes with each side; Patton felt a pang of uncertainty press against his heart as Deceit caught his glance.

"And I need help to influence Thomas to lie... He's neglected to do so recently.. sso I've been reduced down to hardly any energy.. With an object in my posssession, it's made things easier... I can control the ghosts in certain prospectivess... but I need more power to truly keep them from bothering us all... They've already penetrated our dreamss.. yes? So I hope you are all still in agreement..?"

"Of course! Those ghosts are the Ramsley Butler to our Haunted Mansion!" Roman exclaimed and Patton turned his head to the fanciful side, cocking his head to his expressive agreement; had Roman always agreed with the idea of lying? He couldn't remember.

"Is it worth lying though?"

Turning his head once more, Patton glanced to Virgil now, who seemed to have a growing frown as he glared to Deceit.

"Well look at it this way Virgil," Logan started. "Deceit has the ability to keep distractions such as the ghosts away from deterring Thomas from his current priorities, making videos and practicing his acting. So as long as Thomas is able to successfully commit a falsehood, then the positives out weight the negatives by, well, enough to make the act of beguile, middling, to say the least."

"Yeah- but these are his friends, what if he doesn't pull off a lie? What if they find out he lied to them?!" Virgil questioned with wide and angry eyes.

"We won't let that happen." Roman replied cockily.

"You don't know that. We've made mistakes before; but thats besides the point! Patton! Isn't lying morally wrong?!"
Patton flinched as he was called upon and the others looked to him, all gazes telling him something different.