The students are nearing Shadow Valley. It has been established that Shadow Valley is the place where all shape-shifters take human form and are at their weakest. Shadow Valley is the only place that can support the particular type of food these particular shape-shifters need in order to continue their lives as shape-shifters...eat ordinary food, remain a single shape. One of the shape-shifters, a combination crow-bear or crow-human or crow-creature (depending on which storyline) has stolen a powerful necklace from Violet. It must be retrieved. If one says "Have you seen my mother's handkerchief?" to a shape-shifter in its human form, it must respond somehow. If the response is in words, the speaker is not the shape-shifter that stole the necklace, but do not believe any words spoken. If the response is silence, do not speak, for then the shape-shifter thief must hand over the necklace in a container. Do not open the container, do not speak until the necklace has been given to Violet or all will be lost. I prepare for the impending student arrival by draping a drab sheet around my body. I step out.
Students: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
I hold out my hand.
Students: AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I walk closer, the draping sheet barely disguising my realtrue self. The students continue to freak out. All but one:
A: Wait? Why am I afraid? She looks like the Mother of Jesus!
Wh? Ha!
A: Mother of Jesus! Mother of Jesus! Have you seen my mother's handkerchief?
Why, yes, I did just shove an entire macaroon into my mouth.
I believe now I'll wash it down with a big ol' swig o' wine. (Fruit of the vine.)
If you do it quickly, it's entirely appropriate to accompany a little late-night lease addendum writing with the above actions. Two parallel universes colliding ever so lightly.
Were you thinking Chekovian? I don't blame you.