eighteen [action]

[imatreenow]

[Friday afternoon finds Mithos dragging a granite statue through the streets of Luceti. It will look familiar to those who can claim Aselia as their home world, carved adoringly in the likeness of a young man wielding dual swords. The figure is planted atop a base that bears a plaque engraved with the simple honor, "The Hero Lloyd Irving." All together, it stands at about three and a half feet, scaled down from the original model.

For Mithos, it's a bitter reminder of things that could never have been. Its sudden appearance in his house had been an elbow nudging him sharply in the ribs, an obnoxious stage whisper prompting, "Hey, remember that time all your hopes and dreams were crushed?"

Yes, yes he remembers.

Which is why he had to get rid of it. The first day, he dragged the statue behind the house, let it topple into the river, and watched the determined stony face sink below the surface. The next morning, it found its way back to his living room. Each day, he drags it farther away, and each morning it proudly comes back.

His route today takes him up from the south end of the village through the north end and into the woods. The farther away, the better.]

Comments

[theboywiththebook]

[Gave up on people? What had happened to this kid to make him give up like that?]

What happened?

[imatreenow]

The same story that will keep repeating itself for as long as humans live. They fear and hate what is different. They care about only themselves and don't care who they trample in their selfish pursuits.

My inbox cried but Henry is here to fix that. Also what even?

[theboywiththebook]

....

[Henry's disturbed and a bit angered by that comment. Not all people were like that. Sure, some people were he's not going to lie. He's dealt with some before. But not every person was that way.]

That's not true. Not all humans are like that. Evil people are like that. But there's always good people in the world do care about others and aren't selfish.

I listen to too many musicals or something.

[imatreenow]

They are few and far between. [His thoughts go immediately to his sister, then drift to Sayo, to Kaori.] Any goodness in the world is overshadowed and crushed by the disease of hatred.

tis fine

[theboywiththebook]

I don't think that's true. While people may hate there's always people that will love too. Sometimes...we just don't notice it because it seems like the hate is bigger. But, love always wins out.

[imatreenow]

[This is Mithos scoffing at you.] In fairytales, maybe.

[theboywiththebook]

[Please, Mithos. Fairy tales are real.]

They don't happen in just fairy tales. I've seen it.

...lmao that was unintentional irony btw

[imatreenow]

How lucky for you, then.

XD it makes it better

[theboywiththebook]

Well, if it's happened for me I know it'll happen for you. You...you just can't give up hope.

indeed it does

[imatreenow]

[His cold glare idly slides to the statue beside him, then back to the boy. There are a number of things he could say to that, but it narrows down to one.] Hope only makes everything worse.

[theboywiththebook]

Why's that? If you lose hope you what do you have?

[imatreenow]

Because if you still have hope, you also have the risk of more disappointment.

[theboywiththebook]

But, than you wouldn't have anything if you gave it up just because there's a chance for disappointment.

[imatreenow]

Some would argue that having nothing is better than having only pain. [Even if...that's exactly what he has right now, and it's all he has.]

[theboywiththebook]

But, without pain you can't be a better person for it. Because without it you couldn't appreciate what you have now. If you got rid of it...you may be worse off with having nothing.

[His grandma did that...and then she became a woman with uncontrollable rage issues.]

[imatreenow]

[He already has nothing, and he doesn't want to get his hopes up that it will magically become better, because he doesn't know how it could. But he's done with this, and he'll pretend not to care.]

I don't know why I'm wasting my time talking to you. [He grips the statue again.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry 1, Mithos 0]

But, Henry will frown a bit. While he's unsure what to do with a situation like this...an introduction seems to be one of the only things he can think of.]

My name's Henry by the way.

[imatreenow]

[In your dreams, human! He stares down at Henry the way one might stare down at an ant scuttling across the floor.]

Why do you think I care?

[theboywiththebook]

[Gosh, rude.]

Well, for answer like that I'm guessing you don't.

But, it's the nice thing to do.

[imatreenow]

That hardly means anything. [Back to yanking at this damned statue, with as much dignity as he can muster.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Well, fine.]

You're going to hurt yourself with that.

[imatreenow]

What I do is none of your business. [What he wants to ask is why do you care? but that always seems to lead to circular arguments.]

[theboywiththebook]

It is. But, what would happen if you hurt yourself? Your friends would be worried.

[imatreenow]

[That actually stops him for a moment, in the same way a knife in the chest would. If he's pained by the remark, he hides the fragile glass behind a steel front.] ...There are none here who would worry.

[theboywiththebook]

[There was no one here to worry? Was he alone here like he was?

There's a small frown there as he looks back to the boy.]

I'm sure there is. But, even if you don't think so I know I'd worry if you got yourself hurt.