People for the Equality of Other People.

“And another presidential candidate has dropped out of the running today after accusations labeling am as sexist. PPNTV reporter Shade Night has the story.”

“Thanks, Light-Spin. Yes, today yet another public figure has lost face as their mask slipped away. We have video of ex-presidential candidate High-Tree Ghost-Meadow allowing their life partner to fulfill gender roles in their home. In the video you can see Clock-Tower in the Ghost-Meadow residence during the day, completing such tasks as house keeping, laundry, and even chest-milk feeding. Now, you can’t see that in the video because it’s far too graphic, but trust me, it is there. We believe it is safe to assume that most of the offspring-rearing befalls Clock-Tower as well. And if we fast forward a few hours we can see am leave the house with their offspring for food shopping. We’re flashing from camera to camera now to show ams journey to the store, where am purchases food, and returns.

“If it isn’t already clear, Clock-Tower is committing several acts and practices against the PEOP agreement. And to compliment that High-Tree has been allowing this to happen, which should make clear to everyone that High-Tree is just as much to blame as Clock-Tower, if not more since High-Tree is not only imposing these archaic gender roles on ams life partner, but also refusing to help Clock-Tower see the oppression that High-Tree is imposing on am.”

“Hah, can you believe this bullshit?” “Which? What makes the news now or that you’re still watching it?”

“High-Tree has so far only issued a statement claiming that am will be dropping out of the presidential running and has not addressed the accusations laid upon am. Rest assured we will be covering this extensively and will relay any updates as soon as possible. Back to you, Light-Spin.”

“Thank you Shade. Now we all see the obvious discontinuities made here between ams actions and the PEOP agreement, but I would like to raise a question for all of you in your residences- what about the out of work workers? What about the grocer-deliverer? The out of work house-keeper? The formula farm workers? What of their offspring? Don’t they need food as well?”

-Click-

“Like, you remember, don’t you? Didn’t your grandparents ever tell you stories of how they didn’t have to worry about this stuff? About how “back in the day” they used to tease each other as kids, locking boys in the girls bathroom, and girls in the boys?” “Yea, of course I do, but most everyone’s grandparents were labelled as “ageist, sexist, racist,” and every other type of “ist” out there. As far as the government is concerned, our grandparents were savages who practiced savage things. I mean just listen to what you just said, words like “Boy” and “Girl” aren’t even tolerated anymore. Kids in school now only know those words because they’re taught not to say them. Like they’re four letter words both.” “Heck, even bathroom isn’t used anymore... Do you know how much some people would lose their s**t if they heard me right now ask you to get me something while you’re in the kitchen? So much! So much s**t would be lost! The sewers would be all dried up and no one would know where all the s**t went..” “You have a strange way of asking me to grab you something while I’m up. What’s up? Chips? Beer? Crackers? Some finely salted nuts..?” “Do we even have chips? What kind?” “I donno, I saw them the other day. I’ll check.” “Whatever, whichever, I’ll eat ‘em all the same.” “Looks like they’re plain. You sure you w- S**T!” “Wh-” “Shitshitshitdicks..! F----UCK!” “What!?” “Did you open a window..!?” “What? No, I-s**t. F**k, I’m so sorry, I-” “You didn’t f*****g close it!” “I’m sorry..! It was morning and I thought the light would be-” “We boarded them up for a reason, you know why!” “I know, I know I know why, I’m sorry..! I just forgot...” “If someone was watching then they won’t let you forget that you forgot.” “I’m SORRY..!” “I know you are, but holy tits, you can’t keep forgetting things like that! Nothing out there is as important as what we have in here, did you forget that?” “No..!” “I closed the window, you can stop whispering now...” “No... I just... It was morning and I thought the light would be nice... This place feels so dark sometimes and it feels good to let the sun in sometimes...” “I know, but we need to be on top of the times that we do that. We have to act normal and watch what we say. We can let the sun in and it can touch our faces, but we can’t do the same while someone could be watching. We knew what we were signing up for when we refused the cameras.” “It’s just so stupid. This whole world has gone to s**t. I don’t understand how anything happens anymore, and when you turn on the news it just propagates that feeling. Nothing ever seems to happen anymore. That b***h on the news just tells you about somebody, one after the other, breaching the PEOP. That’s it, that’s all, Folks. See ya all in Hell where god forbid you’ll be labelled.” “Look, I know it’s stupid, but that’s why we chose this life. We told The People that they could keep their tax breaks AND their cameras. It was a packaged deal.” “I know.. “Look, if you two have nothing to hide from PEOP then these cameras shouldn’t be a bother to either of you or your way of life. And to show PEOPs appreciation of your cooperation you will receive tax breaks! Show PEOP that you have nothing to hide with these discreet cameras in your home AND show your support for your economy with the extra money you’ll have!” Yeah, that’s a real great f*****g deal... I don’t know how we resisted...” “We turned them down because there’s something here that The People out there are scared of, something we have, and we didn’t want to give that up. We chose a happy life instead of an easy life, where we could be ourselves instead in our own prison instead of being walking mannequins and free.” “...And so here we are, eating stale chips and sitting beneath boarded up windows... Scared in our own home.” “Yes, but we’re both here, and the boarded up windows let me do this... And touch you here, and here... And they let us speak to each other in tones, and with whatever words we choose. That plywood is my best friend. It lets me love you.”

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*Knock*

"Who- whoa- hey, are you expecting someone?" "No, why- oh, s**t, was that the door? Did they hear us!?" "Earlier? S**t, I don't know.. Maybe? What if they did? Oh god what if they did?"

*Knock knock* *Muffled words from outside*

"Oh0hoh oh god, babe, babe I don't want to be taken away, I don't want to be- I love you. "Shhhhhh! I love you too, but we have to open the door... Let's, let's just hope it's not... I don't know who else it'd be.." "But we don't have to open- we can act like no one's home!" "They'll still come in... Remember?" "-Four on the door means an empty floor, an empty floor has nothing to hide, nothing to hide means I consent, if I consent please come inside- I know.. They'll take the door down and come in anyways. I just... Okay... I love you.." "Just hope.... I'll miss you." *muffled "Hello?"* *Knock knock-* -opens the door- J:Hello? Friends? S:OooooOooollo- yes, hello! Friend..! Please come in.