eswareinmal | Orb, RD11, somewhere in or just outside Schwanheim.

[A young man is backing away from view, staring forward with confusion. He has no idea what the orb is, has never seen anything like it, and is threatened by its presence.

He tries hitting it, to no avail. The sword, which looks a little too big for him, doesn’t work either.

He makes a noise of frustration and drops the sword with a clatter, pacing the little room in circles. He keeps a wary eye on the orb, waiting for it, or something inside it, to attack him.

After a while, he balls his hands into fists and sinks down against the wall, teeth gritted. He glares, no longer at the orb but at the floor, and pounds one fist.

His face contorts with some unseen pain, and he rocks himself back and forth, jaw clenched around silent sobs--his eyes are screwed shut as water leaks down his face and drips from his chin, his jaw. If you listen closely, you can hear his breath hitching in time with jerks of his shoulders.

He shakes his head--releases and re-clenches his fists. He’s mouthing ‘no, no’; he bites his lip and stops breathing completely, terrifyingly still.

He lets out his breath with a gasp and sucks it back in, harsh. Freezes again.

This repeats for a few minutes, but it seems to calm him. The rocking slows, and his breathing is less jagged and desperate. Finally, rubs his forearm over his eyes.

He focuses on the orb again, and his gaze flashes murderous, wild red. His voice is raw and full of more fury than should fit in his small, slender body.]

If this is an imprisonment, let me the fuck out before I set this whole place on fire.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Whatever makes you think that?

Because if you have more fighters than the other side, that puts you at an advantage. If you have fewer, you're more vulnerable.

Not necessarily. All the fighters in the world are useless without an intelligent leader, supplies, good defenses. Regardless, that's only during war.

Humanity, if not at war, is always a hairs-breadth away. Better to be prepared.

That's a rather pessimistic view of life!

No, it's realistic.

It doesn't have to be.

Living in denial does nothing but fuck you over.

Living in hope helps to make the world a better place.

Not if you let it become a delusion and refuse to acknowledge the fact that the world is a fucking shitstain.

[Sensitive topic.]

No, only if you work to make it better.

Nobody cares enough to work to make the world better for anything but themselves.

Denial can work both ways, you know!

I say this from experience.

Ah, but so do I! Your experience is limited, dear.

You said it yourself you're useless. I've been out in the field.

I only said that I'm useless here. Your experiences seem limited to the battle field, and nowhere else. Have you ever lived in peace?

The fact that I haven't should tell you something about how tenuous it is.

It tells me something about your home. I am truly sorry that you have to live that way.

Death and ruin can happen at any time, for no reason. It's better to expect it than to be shocked when it happens.

That's no way for a child to grow up.

Saying that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

I know. And I am sorry.

Neither does apologizing, so shut up.

S-so mean! [ She jokes, of course, but may as well. She gets bored you know. ]

(no subject)

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