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 Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 4:25 pm
“I’m working to be as different to them as possible.” He wasn’t looking at Meninx, and didn't want to look at him anymore. Couldn’t look at him.
“I mean…most of the people in my life are in the Negaverse. There’s just one or two who isn’t. And those that aren’t…most are gone anyway so. I’m sure they’re safe out of the city or whatever.”
Out of danger. Out of Nelson’s life.
He drew in a long, slow breath and let it out again.
“The few that are still around, I check on them. Make sure they’re all right. They’re…they keep to themselves mostly so I’m sure they’re fine.”
Jace wasn’t stupid enough to get into anything. And he worked so much…he would never make himself a target unless he lawyered for the wrong person…which. Was possible, but he doubted it.
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Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:39 pm
Gismondine was easy to read, in a way. There was a lot that Meninx didn’t know about the Negaverse, or what it could do to people. He wasn't so ignorant that he thought he could just trust whatever Gismondine told him but it was hard to ignore the read he was getting.
Gismondine looked–what, ashamed?
Meninx couldn’t quite tell but that wasn't the expression of someone who didn’t have something to hide. Maybe Gismondine was just carrying a heavy burden and didn’t want to unload on the wrong person. It was hard to tell.
So, he drew in a long, slow breath. Held it. Released it.
“Do you really think there’s such a thing as ‘safe out of the city’? It doesn’t sound like they’re better off just because they’re away. I’ve heard rumors that the Negaverse is all over the world. Sorry, I guess you would know more about that than I would. You just don’t seem happy, Gismondine.”
He stopped the tour and looked at him. They were surrounded by ancient buildings from a civilization long forgotten by time. Here, time seemed eternal. There was a peacefulness that clung to the air, a permanence.
“Is the Negaverse worth dying for? What goals do they have that make it worth all the work you put into it?”
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Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:43 pm
Gismondine frowned slightly, sure, the Negaverse was all over the world, but there was no fighting. Nothing was bad all over the world, at least to his limited knowledge. The bad place was here in Destiny City where things had to get violent sometimes.
For everyone involved.
He chose not to answer though, and the next question absolutely threw him, but he wasn’t sure…just what to say.
“...What do I have if I’m not with the Negaverse. My boyfriend is here with me. I would be alone and that’s the last thing that I want.” He wasn’t good with being alone. He was used to it. Good at it, sure…but good with it? Absolutely not.
“I have no other choice. This is simply the path that I was brought onto and…that’s that.”
It wasn’t a real answer but…he didn’t have one.
"It really is lovely up here though. Thank you for bringing me...it's different than I was expecting but...amazing all the same."
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Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:54 pm
Meninx nodded slowly but once more he exhaled. “...You seem like a nice guy, Gismondine. I don’t think you’d be lonely if you left the Negaverse. I don’t think you should let anyone tether you to a path that’s not your own. But,” he shrugged. “I’m not in your shoes. I know I don’t know your whole story. It just doesn’t sound like you’re with the Negaverse because it’s what you want to do.”
He’d seen it often enough with some of the cases he worked–wives stuck with a husband they hated because they were afraid of uprooting their life.
Every situation was different. He understood.
Maybe he was in that situation, too.
“...Think about it, at least. You’re not stuck on any one path just because you were brought into it. You can make your own choices.”
He was a hypocrite but he kept talking anyway.
“You don’t have to stick with the ones someone else made for you.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:06 pm
Gismondine hesitated and then gave a smile, it was forced. It looked forced. “I appreciate the pep talk, Meninx. I really do. I think. If we were on the same side…we could be friends but.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to block out the sight of the Wonder. Of the Squire.
“I can’t choose a different path. I have no way out. I have no plan for starting over. I’m afraid. And that’s the crux of it. I…I don’t…I don’t do well with change…and I don’t think…I don’t think I could survive more of it. I’m tired and just…keeping on is the best I can do.”
It sounded weak. Saying it out loud. But the words felt true, even if they made him feel hollow.
Extremely hollow. “Can you…can we please go back now?”
He wanted to go home.
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Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:11 pm
“Yeah. You’re not a prisoner here, we can go back.” He hooked his arm with Gismondine’s because that felt less personal than holding hands. “I haven’t brought many people up here. I’m glad you had a chance to see it.”
He hoped he didn’t regret it.
In a way, it was all a little disappointing. There was so much at Meninx to see but he felt like Gismondine hardly got to experience all of it. It was still a nice break from Destiny City.
For some reason, Meninx had the fleeting idea that being up here, away from Chaos, would have given him some clarity or strength to leave.
He knew the harsh realities of the world. Fairy tales weren’t real.
Silly of him to indulge.
He took one last look at his Wonder but with Gismondine ready to go, he didn’t think there was any need to linger.
He took them back to Destiny City.
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