That was the first thought he had when he ventured on the pathway to Sword Taker. He had realised how powerful his Nasod arm was when he used it in battle. Its ability to create explosions and raging fires was amazing in one aspect, but terrifying on another. Using it in day to day life was troublesome. Opening door knobs with his Nasod arm meant ripping the door knob loose, or using a fork to eat meant bending the metal itself. Although the changes were more apparent in battle, he knew he couldnât rely on his Nasod arm solely or else the pent up rage within him would go berserk.Â
With this in mind, he relied on discipline and his old swordsmanship to take down his enemies instead. On the other hand, his alternate self lived up to his title of being reckless and rageous. Blade has seen him lose himself multiple times and tried to control his fury with Nasodic machinery, but in the end, understood that running away from his fate was making his anger grow. It was admirable to see someone so unstable reach enlightening peaks of mind and body. The raven-haired man had become powerful with blooming white spreading on his formerly black hair. Admirable, yes, praiseworthy, yes, butâŠ
What about himself? What about his own state of mind? Instead of working on his Nasod arm, he focused on his human counterpart and with each disuse came a shuddering coldness. It came to haunt him every single moment of his life and he wore the white coat to make sure he didnât freeze to death. His coat was never enough to keep him warm and he shivered alone when no one was looking. Why didnât it get easier as time went by? He believed he would somehow grow accustomed to the coldness devouring him, but it never got easier. Just as pain and sadness didnât get easier.
He quivered once more, sighing into the hot air of summer. Training had always been a part of him and he trained every single day. Even when he had reached his limits, he still improved and had become strong in his ways. That was why, now, he was practicing his swordsmanship in the crackling grass. Powerful strikes of the sword blossomed through the falling wind, becoming blue in the fading light of today. The sun appeared merciless amongst the occasional clouds, slowly retreating to the edges of the world. He didnât seem to notice someone watching him when he stopped to take a break. Not even when he entered the shelter to drink from a bottle. It was definitely cooler underneath the ceiling and inside the inn, there were open windows to let the wind in. Despite the summer heat curdling outside, he pulled down each windows in order and gazed at the empty fireplace. With a crack and a snap, he lit the logs and turned embers into a blaze. He didnât feel the warmth from afar. It was long gone when he ventured on this pathway. His Nasod arm appeared chilled and quiet, the mechanics working per normal.
He placed the bottle down and went to sit near the fire, in useless hopes that it would make him feel somewhat better. Of course it didnât. The coldness ate into his bones and he looked around to make sure no one was present. No one, for now. Blade shivered in the raw bitterness his arm projected and it was hard to stop. He would allow himself to be vulnerable for now. He couldnât show this to the Elgang, not to the people who depended on him. There was no escaping his fate and all he wished for was an end to his purpose, an end to the road he long walked on. It was lonely doing it alone, but such was the fate of a wolfâs vow. With a pack of wolves--no, people he needed to protect--, he would make sure they would come to no harm.Â
The presence from before gazed at him with golden, burning eyes and was closing on in at a slow rate. Clink went his arm as it lowered from its previous position, crossed arms. Maybe it was due to Blade shivering in front of the fire, but he didnât sense anyone coming towards him. Only when the ringing sound of metallic armor clattered did he realize that someone had been watching him. A sense of dread sliced through him, causing him to jerk his head behind him to see who it was. The same searing eyes he knew so well were staring down at him with a flat-lined mouth and a straight scar, lining the right side. Since when did heâŠ? It had probably been a while and yet Blade was unable to notice such a strong presence. Was he growing dull? Or was it his moment of vulnerability that allowed the man to come close? Either way, he knew this was something he didnât want to have happened. The last thing he wanted was those eyes to lay on him. Through trained restraint, he quietened down his shivering and slowly stood up to meet the otherâs height. The dread shaking away within his chest would not disappear, but he gulped it down as if it was a lump of poison.
The flames that burned behind Blade were growing hungry before giving way to a familiar winter. His shoes sunk into the snow with each crunch, crack, crunch on the path he chose. If there was one thing he hadnât expected to happen, it was the soul crushing regret that he felt eating away inside of him. Blade knew that his own Nasod arm was dangerous--risky to behold and malevolent in nature. Was it the fear that he couldnât control it? Or was it the arrogance in who he originally was? Unaccepting of the fate he had been dealt with, he decided it was best for him to go down the path of humanity. He had a pack to protect, comrades to fight alongside with, this wasnât the time to err on which side he was on. On the other hand, his other self had decided differently. A path of reckless abandon, tearing apart those who would stand in his way. A man who blurred the lines between his human self and his artificial self. It became a matter of having the power to destroy the enemy, even at the cost of his own human status. Blade detested that ideal, that indomitable rage that would one day swallow everything. On that winter day, they had separated from one another. Ideals that clashed together for far too long that they were no longer compatible. Blade wanted to forget it, wanted to rest, but there was that one question that prevented him from forgetting.
âAnswer me this, Blade, if you really hate me that much, then why do you run?â
The answer shouldâve been obvious. He detested that ideal. Was that not enough? He did not want to associate himself with it. If these reasons werenât enough, then surely the real answer was somewhere in front of him.
The answer was in front of him. He stood there, an ideal he contempted, yet a name so familiar to his former ideals. They both knew what they used to be: a distant item. Blade refused to feel guilt for what he chose to walk down on, but why did he feel hesitation when he looked up into those eyes? He couldnât read them, couldnât understand or fathom why this man was here after all these months.Â
âRex, what are you doing here?âÂ
âI was visiting the other members of the Elgang,â answered Rex.Â
He wasnât exactly alone in his area since Elesis and Elsword were nearby, but far enough not to go visit Blade regularly. Blade wasnât sure what to think of this answer. Why visit him now of all days? Back then, he had wounded Rex to the point that he couldnât move and left by himself. He had abandoned him, left him, threw him aside, and yet Rex was still here just to visit? Was it mockery? He defeated Rex and despite all those wounds, Rex was able to recover and come back just as strong. Was it to mock him? And to add further salt to the wound, Rex had seen Blade at his vulnerable moment--the last thing he wanted anyone to ever see of him. Ready to retort, ready to fight back, Blade was ready to do anything to defend his choices and who he was.
âWhy didnât you tell the Elgang about this?â It was Rexâs turn to question.Â
âAbout what? Itâs nothing important.â
âIt is. Itâs a sweltering summer, yet youâre inside with the fireplace blazing and still cold.â
âThatâs none of your business. You canât just waltz into someone elseâs home-â
âIt was our home, Blade.â His name, in a voice tinted in concern and emotion. This was unfair. He didnât wake up to today just to have his ex appear out of nowhere and say his name in that one voice. Those same eyes that burned and blazed were dowsing, staring at him with empathy. A gentle flame that didnât burn or scorch him with anger, but attempted to elicit words, emotions, feelings that Blade became numb to.Â
âItâs not anymore. Now, leave.â
He attempted to turn his back on Rex, but that was one mistake he didnât realise the consequences of. A strong grip wrapped around his Nasod arm and prevented him from fully turning his back and pulled him into something warm. His eyes widened at the quick action without given time to fully react. His guard had been lowered at his own vulnerability and used against him.
At the instant of warmth, his body had tensed before each muscle in him relaxed and shivered at the same time. Warmth spread through him without warning and for a few seconds, he couldnât think.
âYouâre so coldâŠâ murmured Rex. âGoddamnit, Blade, why do you have to do things alone?â
Blade didnât say anything in response, but he wanted to. His mouth opened to say something to answer Rexâs question with his mind fumbling over excuses and words. However, he knew that none of them would be good enough to placate him and make things better. That was, if Rex was angry at all. His mouth closed once more, not knowing what to say to Rex. Every inch of his shivering body wanted one thing as he almost crumbled completely, both mentally and emotionally. Why was Rexâs body so damn warm? Not even a crackling fire was enough to warm him up, but being close to someoneâs body heat was like a cure. As if he had been sick from relentless coldness, and Rex had became the cure, the anti-virus.Â
âI donât blame you for what happened back then,â said Rex. âYouâve had your own reasons and I...figured it mightâve been because I readily accepted my Nasod counterpart. I once did worry that this rage I had inside of me would hurt those close to me, but I learned to accept it and the rage ceased.â
Did he hear that right? Why wasnât he blamed for such a traitorous attack as harming his comrade? No one appeared to step in on the fight, as if they knew what it was for. Rex had explicitly told them not to intervene, too. Did he know? Did Rex know? There was a large amount of guilt to be had, even before realizing this. Harming his ex-lover like this and to be forgiven like this, he didnât think this would ever happen. Blade tried to say something again, but the body heat was almost comforting him. Flames that licked at him without burning him, or causing any harm, sheltered him and allowed him to be vulnerable. There was no judgement. Even Blade himself knew that one could not be strong forever. Being vulnerable to others he trusted was not weakness, but it was also a way to become stronger yet. To be supported and to be accepted--how did he throw all of this away? Blade had vehemently discarded part of himself and even now, he didnât want to accept such a fact.Â
âYouâre rightâŠâ started Blade. âI couldnât accept what is a part of me because I didnât want to lose control over it, but...seeing you confront it so readilyâŠ? It made me feel embarrassed, like I wasnât able to do the same thing and ran away from it. I didnât want to see that, either, and so in order to keep averting my eyes...I casted you away.â
He wanted to know.
âHow havenât you gotten angry at me? I did something terrible and I know it was wrongâŠâ
Rage looked into Bladeâs own eyes, which were almost like amber with a frozen centre. Something had long changed in them and he was sure it wouldnât be easy to revert. That didnât mean Rage wouldnât try if he could. He exhaled slightly and lifted his right hand to the side of Bladeâs face to caress it.
âAngry? I couldnât get angry at you even if I tried.âÂ
A warm explosion of emotions reenacted themselves. He hadnât felt like this in a long time and goddamn, it was welcome. It wasnât a surprise when Rage closed the distance with a heartfelt kiss. Maybe kisses were overrated, but it wasnât just about the contact. It was the meaning behind it, the long trailing down history behind the act wrapped up sincerely in this one moment. The detached string between them mended itself and turned into a loving embrace.Pulling from each other a little, a small distance of intimacy and understanding slide in between them. From here, it was like his thoughts thawed into feelings he revisited and experienced. In the comfortable confines of this singular moment, he knew what Rage was going to say next. And of course, how could he ever let it slip?
âI love you, Blade, donât ever forget that.â
WC: 6969 (why. WhY?! God has forsaken me, I have forsaken me, my hands are forsaken me, I am HANDLESS) Legit didnât edit this bc 6969 IS PERFECT
NOTE: This is for @rainsonataâs birthday that was weeks ago and Iâm late and Iâm soRRY1!11!1!!!
PAIRING: RSDC/RMFPish
EXTRA NOTE o uob: Please, DC is done calculating :^) heâs looking at this word count and has a gun to my head-
Chung didnât believe he would require help. At the budding age of sixteen, he had become known as the Deadly Chaser whose duty was to strike down enemies with his Silver Shooters. His strength was admirable for someone his age, but he wasnât strong enough. No, he was never ready for something this world-shattering. By the age of sixteen, his father had fallen victim to the demonsâ influence and attacked Hamelâs protectors in obedience. The teenager cursed himself for not being capable enough and armed himself with the Destroyer and his trustworthy Silver Shooters. They were loaded with destructive bullets that could be refilled anytime Chung so desired. With his weapons ready, he launched himself onto the battlefieldâŠ
How could he have known this would happen? How could he have known that his father--under the influence of the demons--had become stronger than before? All those times he had sparred with his father meant nothing. His pride had been destroyed to an immense degree and he could feel his bones cracking upon impact of his fatherâs cannon. Skin broke way to flesh, flesh broke way to marrow and he fell upon the bloodied ground of Hamel. His body was so heavy, so filled with shame and hesitation. This wasnât the time to hesitate, yet there it was. It reared its ugly head at him, snorting and breathing upon his shoulder. He could feel its metallic gaze, filling his nostrils with its tainted air. He couldnât die like this, not when his father was still there, not when he could still save him from this!
âF-fatherâŠâ he croaked, struggling to pull himself up from the ground. How many of his bones were broken, or fractured? He didnât care. There was simply no time to care about something as feeble as shattered bones. A bellowing roar striked at him, pushing him into another stone wall with unrelenting force. Chung could no longer feel the pain by then and his own body automatically tried to get up, ignoring its own protests. â...f-father...itâs meâŠâ
âHow dare you challenge the demons?!â came the roaring response. âThis is it! I will exterminate every bit of you!â It hurt. It was painful. It hurt so much. The boy had no choice but to raise his wounded arm, heavy as a stone pillar, to fight back. His Silver Shooter had never felt so cold before in his bloodied hand, but he could not feel its weight more than he did of his arm. There was nothing more painful in his life than to point his gun at his beloved kin. His chest heaved in air, trying to dull the pain with the sensation of breathing, and his eyes were unfocused and pained with dried tears. His father was splitting in two images, phasing in and out of reality. If this was some wicked dream, or hallucination, Chung would rather have that than this outcome. It wasnât a hallucination. This was real and he was on the battlefield facing his fatherâs outrage. This was real and he was dying fast. Still, he raised his gun at his own father and he gritted his teeth in agony.
 He couldnât pull the trigger in time when his consciousness finally gave in. His mind blacked out and there was nothing to catch his fall to the ground. The burden of his fight was lifted off, but maybe it would be his last fight. Was it better this way? Better to die, than to suffer living a life without his father? Maybe so...maybe it was--
 He woke up. His consciousness seeped into his vision and he blinked away the tears that had formed. The dream of guilt and shame was flickered away with his awareness. Was it a dream? He damn well wished it was. Any minute now, his father would be checking up on him and he would have had passed out from a spar, or something. Life was never forgiving and the numbing pain in his body showed it so. He couldnât sit up to wipe away his own tears, or to hide his freshly made humiliation. There was no one in the room and he felt stupid for expecting his father to be there. It dawned on him that reality had too much in store for him, too much for him to bear.
 A boisterous noise was coming from the other side of the door and it was here that he met Elsword, the Rune Slayer. At first, he couldnât believe a kid his age would be so loud and so cringey at the same time. It came as a surprise when Elsword had revealed himself to be the younger brother of Elesis, the Red Knight. She was a legendary Knight whose ability to handle both demons and enemies was superb and inspiring. Chung had heard of both her accomplishments and of the Elgangâs. He thought it was lead by Elesis who was vastly experienced in leading soldiers and higher ranks. This made him think back to himself. At the age of thirteen, he was given command of a small unit and taught how to lead men into battle. It required many practice drills and sleepless nights of poring over books, absorbing tactics and the art of war. Not that his family specified in war, but they have certainly dipped their feet in it. Even so, he could feel an inferiority to both his father and Elesis Sieghart.
 Elesis had also commanded a smaller unit at a young age and proved her skills through determination and hard work. Chung had done that, too, but tales of the Red Knight of Velder spread throughout the land of Elrios, and she was formidable and powerful. Compared to himself, Chung was mostly known as Helputtâs son and heir to the Seiker position. Where was the recognition for his own ability to command and to fight? Was it because he abandoned the use of the Destroyer that people grew to be ashamed of him? That could be the case, but this was the path he forged and this was the path he would continue on until the end. Despite his resolve, it was easy to be disheartened by his fatherâs shadow and the shadow of Elesis herself. She was an independent, yet courageous young woman, and to meet her face-to-face was intimidating. He didnât need that right now when he had lost his father to the demons.
âMy nameâs Elsword Sieghart! Iâm the Leader of the Elgang,â were the first words from him--wait, what? Chung made a confused noise and looked from Elesis to Elsword to Elesis and back. She wasnât the leader? He wanted to ask Elsword how old he was because he mustâve been the same age as himself, but it would be rude on their first meeting. He chose to stay quiet for the time being and only talked when he had to. Throughout his recovery, he had gotten to know both of them and the rest of the Elgang. It came to his attention that Elsword was more similar to him than he expected. Elsword had been in the shadow of Elesis for so long and was still being misunderstood. There it was, the guilt. He was guilty of not recognizing Elswordâs achievements of leading the Elgang. To lead such an amazing group of people at the mere age of sixteen was immensely demanding, yet Elsword managed to take on that burden along with the disappointments with it.
 It was praiseworthy, but pitiful at the same time. It would probably take a lot for Elsword to be recognized for his talent and ability. No one would care to think that a sixteen year old was the leader. Chung could easily see that either Elesis, or Raven would be seen as the leader, given their actual experience. But, Elsword? He would always be in their shadow and feel insecure about himself, or at least, that was what Chung thought. It never occurred to him how cheerful Elsword was for a while when all he could think of was his lost father. Once he got up and walking, he joined the Elgang since his goal aligned with theirs. To defeat the demons and restore peace to Elrios. He would not turn his back on them and not to Elsword.Â
He often compared himself to Elsword. The young knight had a heavy burden thrusted upon him, to save the world from both demons and any threats. One could compare this burden to carrying the world on his very shoulders. Even if Elsword wasnât alone in this, it would still be hard and painful to do that. Was that the one thing he couldnât compare, however? Chung never had responsibilities quite as large as Elswordâs and that was where the comparing skidded to a stop. He couldnât relate and he was alone once more. He shouldnât complain.
 He was wrong.
The more and more closer he got to the Elgang and Elsword, the more attached he became to his new friends. Chung became appreciative of Elswordâs ability to lead, seeing the Rune Slayer try his damndest to protect and lead his friends. Could he ever be as strong as him? Maybe never, maybe so. That didnât matter now. What mattered was that he would help Elsword carry his burden as a close friend. Were they close? It appeared so. For each time they fought alongside each other, they would fight in unity and covering their backs. Sparring had never been so much fun, as well. The Chaser remembered having bruises and cuts from sparring with soldiers and his father, but never quite enjoying it. With Elsword, it was a different story. He was easily enjoying the young knightâs skills and energy.
 âŠ
This was getting out of hand. Why was it getting out of hand? It was because he found himself thinking about Elsword the more he sparred and was with him. There became a point in time when he wanted to know what Elsword was doing, how he was doing and where he was when they were separated from each other. Sometimes the Elgang had to split into groups to complete their tasks and he didnât always get to pair up with Elsword during so. He felt a great trust being emitted from Elsword. Chung proved himself to be a trustworthy and strong member, and earned Elswordâs trust when it came to advice on how to lead the Elgang. Although Raven and Elesis had more expertise, Elsword always seemed to come to Chung for advice. It was strange, and it was giving him mixed signals. Was he feeling something he shouldnât be feeling? That was how he thought. He had to stay focused on the task ahead, but his mind always wandered to Elsword and thinking about what he was doing.
 Their adventures to defeat demons and monsters became dangerous and arduous as it had always been, but Chung had the thirst to become stronger. He had to become stronger, or else something might happen again. Since he had joined the Elgang, there had been a debilitating fear that he might lose them, too. Why was this appearing now all of a sudden? The Chaser stood in Elysion amongst Nasods and the heavenly background. Chung felt like he was going to lose something soon, like an ominous omen that strikes out from the blue. Was he going to lose something precious to him? He had to become stronger before that happened and to an extent, he had. He had transcended from his previous stage and had taken down so many enemies. His white armor had been bloodied in many battles, growing crimson red before washing down to its white and black. Even with his growing strength, the fear wouldnât stop assaulting him.  Again. He was bleeding hard, again. Not physically like he had before, but it was painful. Extremely so. It felt like he was bleeding from every orifices, especially from his own heart and chest. There had been a blinding light of turquoise, flooding into them and overwhelming their vision. When it had settled down, Elsword was no longer there. Where was he? Why was he gone? He was there a moment ago and now he was gone. What happened? What was Elswordâs decision? Chung had told Elsword to go through with his choice, and that of course was right, but was it really? Was this what his fear was? That Elsword was no longer here?  The discord in the Elgang was immediately noticeable. Rena was the first to react, then Eve, then Solace. Chung was the last. The Rune Slayer had been absorbed into the Giant El as a result of his decision. He was gone.
 Why? Solace told them that Elsword had sacrificed himself and that the ancient city of Elrianode was awakening. That didnât matter, the city didnât matter, but what mattered was the fact that Elsword had given himself up. It wasnât out of pure heroism, out of the kindness of Elswordâs heart. No, Chung had a feeling he knew why Elsword sacrificed himself, and it shattered him. It became difficult to care about anything else after that. Harnier, the El Lady, had woken up from her long slumber. Someone was given up and another was given back. Aside from that, everything was static inside his mind until Rena noticed his silence.
 âChung?â she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. His silent mind was buzzing anew as he looked at Rena. âI know it may be hard, but you have to stay strong. We can still save Elsword in time if we hurry.â
Thatâs right⊠he thought. Solace had told them that Elsword was inside the El, not that he died.
 âThanks to Elsword, the El is being restored to its original form. I, too, was able to wake up with his power. However...if the El keeps absorbing him, Elsword will eventually disappear.â
In that sense, Elsword had truly sacrificed himself knowing that he might not be able to turn back on his choice. He chose to restore the El over his own life, over repeating a cycle of more sacrifices.
 âŠ
He will save him. Chung could feel a new resolve growing inside of his chest. He gripped the handle of his Silver shooter and pieced himself back together. It wasnât too late to save Elsword. It wasnât too late to find another way.
Chung told himself he would never hesitate. He would stand tall with his Silver Shooters and own resolve. His father had always told him to never wave in his own belief, that to waver in the face of changing circumstances was weak. The coldness of the air breathed down upon him, wearing his body and watching his every move. Translucent figures stood ahead, still as if encased in ice and rigidness. They were not ice and their moves were smoother than the wind, almost unnaturally so. They had formed from the power within his Guardian Stone and called out to him, trying to turn him around to return from whence he came. For some reason, he knew that was not the case and heard their discouragements.
âTurn back, Seiker. We have become whole as a result of the El becoming complete. If not now, then when is the perfect time to save your father? Was that not your end goal? Did you not once swear to him that you would bring him back from the demons? So why continue? Turn back.â
He had a reason to keep going. It wasnât just because his convictions would never waver, but because he needed to bring Elsword back. This gaping hole that spread within his own chest was agonizing and he could not live life knowing that he couldâve done something. His own convictions will not stop here, it will not turn back and adapt to the ever-changing circumstance of life. That convenience was wretched. Understandable, but cowardly. Chung ventured forth, shooting his bullets through illusions of himself. Their voices went inside one ear and out the other as quick as his shooting.
âDo you think he wants to be saved?â What kind of stupid question was that? Was it not obvious that Elsword requiredâŠ? âNo. Do you not remember? That amount of burden he felt...you felt it, too.â His bullets stopped shooting across the air, becoming stale and dissolving into nothingness. Chung couldnât move from where he was and the Guardian Stoneâs form walked towards him, in his silhouette and with no intention of attacking its bearer. The very air and its particles stopped moving, like a sheet of rain frozen mid air. The silhouette walked through the solid air, ephemeral in its form and ghostly in its essence.
âYou remember, donât you? He doesnât want to come back. Donât you understand?â
âChung, youâre here?â questioned Elsword, sitting by the edge of the camp. No one else was attracted to this solitary place where only the two remained, staring at the crescent moon that floated in the dark sea. The meaty smell of finished dinner roamed through the air still, but all was quiet and peaceful. Swimming across crisp air and cascading coldness, giving away to a strange sense of warmth that echoed in their bones. The Guardian sat next to the Knight, both grown and strong in their ability to stand fast. Their silence seeped through the foliage of the trees, rustling through and peering at them with blackened eyes. White dots from the lights reflected off of them, rippling still.
âYouâve been a bit distant from the group,â noted Chung. âYou can tell me whatâs wrong.â
âThanks, but...well, thereâs nothing to hide from you,â chuckled Elsword. His laugh vibrated through the air like stone skipping across water. Body movement. Head tilting down and moving elsewhere into the darkness of the canvas in front of them. âThereâs no hiding the fact that Iâve finallyâŠâ
Chung listened, given the serious atmosphere of the night.
âFinally decided to be proud of my belly nudity!â
âYou whatâŠ?â Chung dropped the serious listening and stared at him with his armor clinking.
âThere have been many times where Aisha kept pointing out that itâs not necessary, but I will not hide the fact that Iâm proud and loud!â The Guardian sighed. One part of him was relieved, but he knew for sure that there was a secret being hidden. Elsword may have a brilliant personality, yet he had flaws just like anyone else. There was a hopelessness in this. Humans change the subject when prompted with an uncomfortable topic and it was preserving at most. But it only delayed the inevitable, and the inevitable always arrived in shocking ways. Even so, he chose to chuckle at the silliness shown by his close comrade. Elsword patted Chungâs shoulder, âWhat? Itâs nothing serious, friend, Iâll be there with everyone in a second! Go ahead and wait for me, aight?â âAlrightâŠâ The trees rustled further with leaves drooping from the lack of sunlight. He stood up to give them a last glance before taking a few steps back to the camp. âElsword. You know you can tell me anything, right?â He did want to know what Elsword was going through without making assumptions based on observations. Hearing the truth was harsh, but nothing was worse than avoidable consequences. He wanted to know everything there was to know about Elsword, everything that preoccupied the teenager and everything he did. For some reason, the place where he was patted was tingling through the armor. Why, then, did it appear that Elsword was so alone? He waved back in response to Chungâs offer and resumed his activity. Elsword was alone and Chung understood, then, one of his insecurities. The slayer had never told anyone how he truly felt, never tried to reach out for help himself despite helping others often. How hypocritical it mustâve been yet without a doubt selfless to do. Chung didnât like it. Why did Elsword have to sacrifice his own emotions so much for the wellbeing of others? Eventually, it led to this one moment. To this one realisation. The reason why Elsword sacrificed himself was because he wanted a third choice...and partially because he didnât want to come back when he was rarely considered the leader. When he was always being compared. The shadow of Elesis Sieghart, his older sister, was bigger than anything else. And it swallowed him whole.
âIt would be selfish of you to undo his actions. The El is complete and so is your power. This is the chance to save your father, more than ever.â
âSelfish, you say?â Chung gritted his teeth, gripping onto his Silver Shooter as he pointed it towards the ghostly figure. âItâll be selfish for me to change my faith just because of changing situations! Elsword has always been saving others, putting people before himself! It would be selfish of me to leave him to die as his friend!â
 He pulled the trigger, blasting forth a deadly bullet exploding from its chamber. It pierced through the figure, which disappeared from Chungâs view. As if from behind, the Guardian Stoneâs voice walked on by, âIf youâre doing this, you best stay true to your heart. If your convictions will not waver as Helputt has taught you, you best stay brave to the unspeakable.â
The guardian clad in a blue scarf and his white and black freiturnier, ran forward with his Destroyer on the back. He ran like a man with an ironic weight on his shoulders, feeling resolute in his choice. To save someone who doesnât want to be saved was difficult. You carried the possibility of ruining what little pride they had left, humiliating them from their sacrifice and bringing them back to a world of pain. That was a possibility, yet it was one Chung would risk to bring back someone he cared about. It was because of Elsword that he gathered the resolution to save his father and put back together the broken shards of his life. Each glittering a sadness of regret and despite this, Elsword helped him glue back the pieces. Fragile work, it was, but it was work and it helped him stand back on his feet. For that, he was grateful and even more than that. He wouldnât let Elsword die like this. With all the things Elsword had accomplished and led, his life was more than just something to throw away. It was a life Chung desperately held onto.
Everyone was there, in the center of the El, yelling out for their leader. Chung couldnât say it right at this instant, but his voice rung out pure emotion than usual.
 âElsword, the El Search Partyâs mission is not yet complete! Please come back!â
 No one else had noticed it, but the magician had sensed it. Aisha looked at the guardian, shouting out as loud as he could and possibly would. She had a feeling it was more than just a desire to get Elsword back. She couldnât point fingers, not now. There was a tug at her heart and in one moment, she could see beyond Chungâs act that he held up.
 âOh, youâre back. Thank El youâre safe. Is this red-haired boy, Elsword?â asked Denif, his dragon eyes staring at him. Chung had been the first to support Elsword who fell from the El, helping him walk until the boy could stand on his own two feet. It wasnât too late, it never had been. All the guardian had to do was to put forth his resolve and it taught him that the time was soon.
Their missions throughout Elrianode taught Chung where his strengths and weaknesses lied, where he could grow stronger and when he would put forth the heartfelt emotions when time called for it. He knew when. It was just a matter of courage and calming his monstrous nerves.
Aisha could see that time was running out for her. The closer Elsword and Chung got together, the more she was slipping down a rope with burns on her hands. She must not waver in front of the enemy, but she wavered whenever they touched hands and rested on each other. Their warmth uniting as one with a twist of discord and terrifying confessions, wrapped in pockets of self-assurance. She wanted to have a chance at this. Once more, she saw Elsword charging--but at what? His running footsteps scattered onto the compound before he jumped into the air and landed on Chung, wrapping his arms around his close comrade. Ached. There was an ache in her heart and she could feel it twist and turn, knitting and churning. It was time.
âChung!â she called out. The two were laughing before Chung noticed her call. âCan I talk to you for a moment?â She looked at Elsword, but her eyes were void of any harshness or of its usual expression. âAlone, please.â
 âWhat is it, Aisha?â he asked as they moved to an isolated area. The sound of the others could be heard, chattering and sounding jumbled. They wouldnât be able to make out what Aisha and Chung would say from that distance. He waited for her to say something and found that she was staring only at him, eyes trained on him which made him uneasy in some way. Yet there was a sense of urgency in her purple eyes. The purplette with her revealing outfit and twin ponytails was not usually without Angkor. The bat was off somewhere, supposed Chung. It was just the both of them, alone and standing upon the stone grounds.
âI love Elsword.â Those were the three words she said. She did have a planned talk before this, but in the moment she was in, it felt like those were the only words she needed to say for Chung to understand. It was a confession, but it was not a command. It was not her way of saying that Chung had no chance because she knew she couldnât stop the guardian. Her confession was more of a declaration of resolve. There was no tightness in her tone, no spite or hate for the friend that was close to her love interest. Her nature did not lie in psychopathic tendencies, the intricacy tied to mental instability.
He wondered what to say. What was there to say? Should he, too, declare his resolve in front of Aisha? Chung remembered the earlier times of the El Search Party, when he had once called Aisha âBig Sisterâ. She was just like that. A big sister that liked magic and was willing to do everything to take her former power back. Now, they were on equal terms. Equal enough to see each other as people with their own emotions and complicated inner workings. Clink went his armor as he looked up to her. Need he say that he loved Elsword? Aisha wouldnât have told him if he wasnât, otherwise. Not with this timing and place, alone and near the end.
 Instead, he smiled and it was as if his heart had decided on its objective. A sturdy strength that kept him standing. He spoke with confidence and knowingly, âI know.â
Relieved that her assumption was true, she let out a sigh empty of sadness, âWe both fell in love with an idiot, havenât we?â
To that, he had to agree, âYeah, we have.â
It didnât feel like a rivalry, not an unhealthy one or one made out of jealousy. They were going to walk forward on the pathway that laid so brittle and uncertain. What Aisha hadnât told Chung was that she was sure she wasnât going to win Elswordâs affection, if he held any. She wasnât as close to him as Chung was, but then that may be his downfall. She had heard of confessions that have ended in denial, yet of half-assed acceptance. Her resignation hoped that Chung attained what he wanted. If it didnât succeed, they would at least have each other to console and continue living on for their own sake.Â
A glob of blood was spat onto the ground. He pulled the trigger, shooting metallic bullets that sliced forth from their barrels. Bullet casings splatter onto the ground like raindrops, echoing through the air and deafened by the sound of explosive attacks. The monsters twisted up into the air, sliding eerily onto platforms before eyeing their arrival. There were voices. Voices again. They came to him in silence before the storm, vibrating through the air particles in echoing tones. They knew he was here and they knew what he came for. Harsh, bitter words striked down on him from above, but they only strengthened his resolve to go forward. Suddenly, each of them were alone in the final battle inside the sanctuary. Chung was prepared for everything at this point and he could feel his power becoming stronger. The Chrysalis appeared before him, having opened a rift that distorted the sanctuary in the first place. All of the voices had stopped, then, peering at him from the distance as he knew they were there. He couldnât see Elsword anymore, but his resolve stayed strong.
The slayer was surely fighting his own battles now and Chung needed to remain adamant in his stance.
âI will not falter,â he said, but to no one in particular. The battle was hard won and the Chrysalis was defeated before re-entering the Void, leaving a tired Chung behind. He took another swig of a health potion, trying to re-energize himself in case something else happened. Footsteps could be heard striding across the cracked grounds of the sanctuary, tilting Chungâs head up to a familiar white figure. There was something different in the way the figure held itself and its form was noticeably different, taller somewhat and proud. âYouâve arrived.â Its words resounded, calling for resolve. âI knew it, youâreâŠâ âDetermination is your greatest strength. Without it, you are but a candle standing in front of a howling wind.â It raised its head. âProve to me you are worthy. Show me not only your strength, but your will to cut through insecurity!â
âYou are capable of wielding this powerâŠâ said the figure. It walked towards the fatigued guardian and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking down at him, âYou must go now. To him. Even if things might not end well as you hope it will, do not falter where others would cower. Youâve earned this more than enough.â
Chung breathed in the air once more, and it was strange how it tasted like something new. It was sharp with a tinge of a new environment, but it was not like he was in another place altogether. The smell signified his growth of a newer power, unraveling a means to stand by someoneâs side. He wished that side to be Elswordâs. Gritting his teeth, he noticed that fear of failure clung to him like a cloak. The El Search Partyâs leader was unaware of many emotions his comrades held towards him--well, a couple of them anyway. There was admiration and trust shared amongst the party. With the exception of a few. He stood up tall with a couple injuries bleeding out. A bottle of red liquid was pulled out with the lid twisted off and held in between fingers, before it was tipped to a mouth and emptied readily fast. Liquid health cascaded down his throat, tasting strange and sweet. However, the scent of it was bitter and made for the strangeness of said liquid. Once the bottle was finished, he twisted on the cap and towed it away for future refilling. Feeling invigorated, he set about exploring the place for any other entrances than the one he entered in. When he saw that there was nowhere else, he returned to the previous cavernous room.
 The heaviness of his armor was forgotten when he walked on in, seeing Raven and Ara sitting somewhere. They noticed him coming back from the battleground and waved at him. Chung noticed that they felt stronger somewhat, just like him. âIs Elsword back yet?â
âHe is,â answered Raven. âAisha wanted to go tell him something so heâs alone with her.â
âMiss Aisha looked very nervous,â said Ara. âI think sheâs going to confess to him!â
âShe sure did look like it.â Rena was walking towards them as well. âItâs about time she worked up the courage, and perfect timing, too~â
Chung didnât say anything and his silence was noted by Rena. Without saying a thing, she went towards Raven and Ara to sit beside them as Chung waited. The surroundings echoed in quietness, tingling through the air with its gloomy appearance. Darkness covered the backgrounds around them with the absence of corrupted monsters, or were they simply Henirâs monsters to begin with? They didnât know about this place until Hennon was defeated with their previous strength. Nonetheless, Chung wasnât paying attention to any of these details and simply thought about Elsword. If what Rena said was true, Aisha was the first to confess to Elsword. It made him nervous once more and almost jealous in a way. Not in a vicious way as described in romantic novels, but in a friendly manner that Chung wasnât the first to confess to him. There were no voices telling him that Aisha might succeed in winning Elswordâs affections. He wished her good luck with it instead.
 In several minutes, Chung spotted the magician returning with Elsword in tow. Her expression gave away nothing when she saw the El Search Party returning, but when she glanced at Chung, there was a soft smile that told him something. He couldnât pinpoint it, but later he would know. Elsword looked confused.
 Heâs grown stronger, acknowledged Chung. I knew he would.
 There was the concern that he would bombard Elsword with two confessions in one day and the timing was becoming too old to continue with. Yet, it was still the matter of ânow, or neverâ. The slayer looked at Chung, approaching him instead of the others. His heart skipped a small beat and an apprehensive emotion flooded inside of him. Even though Elswordâs gaze returned to Aisha as he walked towards him, he was thinking about how he should confess his feelings. It was, without a doubt, something courageous and required thinking and overthinking once more. Love was a strange thing, but it could be explained by the characterisation of hormones flooding the body and thoughts wafting through the mind.
âThat was weird,â said Elsword as he came close. âLetâs go talk over there.â
He pointed towards a ledge that could be sat upon.
Chung knew what had happened, but he still found himself asking, âSo what did Aisha want to talk to you about?â
They were just out of earshot as the other members understood somewhat.
âShe confessed to me,â he said, spiral eyed. âOr, at least, I think she did. I donât know.â
 âDid she say she loves you?â
âYeah. Itâs kinda a blur, haha. I think she meant that she liked me as a friend.â
This. He understood what was difficult about confessions to Elsword. The Leader wasnât aware of what love was, what sex was, what hormones raged in the body and attracted one to another. Maybe it was due to Elswordâs lack of exposure to these sort of things and engaging in countless battles against hatred and demons. It was frustrating. Aisha was serious when she wanted to confess to Elsword, but the reason why it was blown away was because Elsword didnât believe in her. Chung swallowed. This was what would be called, âhelping the enemyâ, but Aisha wasnât one.
âWhat makes you say that?â
âWell, I like her, too? As a friend, I guess? She may scold me from time to time, but sheâs a really nice friend to have.â
âSo you compared her feelings to your own and disregarded her confession.â
âNo, thatâs not what IâŠâ Elsword sighed. âDoes she really feel that way towards me?â
He knew that Elsword, in a way, liked to avoid the truth and his own emotions. Liked to make jokes when things got awkward, ran away when things got hot. It was ironic. Despite being a master of runes now, he liked to grapple his way out of situations that would require things he never knew about. Facing the unknown was scary and Chung knew that. To face a world without his father, to face a world without the sea by his side, it was all unknown. Back then, he attempted to change his way of thinking. Change was inevitable. It came for everyone and it could launch someoneâs world upside down like it did to him. All they could do, was go through it together. He wanted to do that with Elsword, but all this time, he had hesitated for so long.
âShe does,â answered Chung. He thought, then, it was too late to confess for now. He pocketed his words as he waited for Elsword to start talking again.
âI donât know what to do about that, haha...Iâd have an easier time dealing with if she wanted to put glitters in my eyes,â he joked once more. Chung only gave him a serious look as if saying any more jokes would be bad. âI donât know if I want to say yes, but I donât know if I want to say no. I mean, I donât want to hurt her feelings.â âYouâd hurt her feelings more if you did say yes, but didnât mean it,â he said. âYouâd continue along a committed relationship without returning her feelings. Thatâs harder than saying no.â
âI suppose youâre right. Itâs not like I know too much about love, or anything like that.â He sighed. âHell, Iâd have an easier time believing if you confessed.â
It skipped. Chung returned his gaze to the ground, almost as if he was gripping onto the pocketed words. He strained to keep them there. This was a mixed signal, a few words said by Elsword that werenât meant to be serious. Yet, he knew he wanted them to mean something. The soon-to-be-known phantom wished he could disappear from the world, riding along the currents of âI know this is wrongâ. Even soâŠ
Even soâŠ!
âWhat would you do if that was a thing?â
 âEh? Uh...well, if you actually liked me, then uhâŠâ Elsword rubbed the back of his head, caught in a web of confusion and complicated feelings. Feelings that were nervous and stretching the limits just a bit too far. âThis is an âifâ, a...hypothesis like Add says sometimes...if you did, I guess Iâd be more curious about it? Like whatâs there to like about me, or what one does in a situation like that. I donât know if I would be able to deal with something like that, hahaâŠâ Chung rested his elbow on his legs and his chin upon his hands.
âWell, deal with it, because itâs true.â
âŠ
âŠ
âŠ
He said it, didnât he? The moron named Chung Seiker just said it, didnât he? The future Fatal Phantom opened his mouth and said it, didnât he? The young adult had fucked up and he knew it. If it was a fuck up, he would know it for real soon. He could feel the stare turning to him before it went elsewhere, before it zoomed in on him like a gawk--no, it was a gawking. Summoning non-existent courage, Chung turned his gaze to Elsword next to him without moving his head. The former Slayer sat there with face gawking open, position ajar and the incoming El Search Party unknown.
âWait, true...wait, whatâs true? Huh?â
Chung sighed, scratched his head repeatedly and stood up in a quick manner.
âFigure it out yourself,â he said bluntly before turning away, his cheeks flushed and warm. He looked to the side into the darkness of the Sanctum. The El Search Party didnât hear what was going on, but they were close enough now to hear.
âWait, wait, wait, donât just walk away like that!â called out Elsword who rushed up to Chung and placed a hand on his shoulder. âY-you actually like me?!â
Oh, El, fuck no. Why does he have to be like this? Thought Chung frantically.
âEhhh?!â went Ara.
âHoho...oh, I see whatâs going on now,â said Rena.
Aisha just did a thumbs up to Chung who looked like he was done with the world. He turned around as prompted to and didnât expect to see the red-head glowing bright with pinkish red.
âW-w-well, uh, Chung,â began Elsword who stood straight, turned an apologetic glance to Aisha who just said, âTell him what I told you.â
Huh?
âAisha told me I would understand soon enough, so she told me after she...confessed, that someone else liked me also. Not for the longest time like she did, not for the battles alongside me like she did...but she told me it was someone I least expected it to be.â
Chung had no idea what was going on at this point.
âI asked Rena for advice about something once, but I didnât think it would be this important. I told her that I kept thinking and watched someone a lot, and she told me that I was possibly âpiningâ as she says it. So, I think itâs probably safe for me to say...Chung Seiker, I think I like you, too!â
The whole Party--well, almost all of them--erupted in a cheer that Chung felt like had been planned. If it was, they would have someone to answer to. Someone ultimately confused. Someone ultimately needing some answers. And someone, ultimately in love.
Inochi wa Kiwareteiru (English Version Lyrics Below)
(If any english-singing utaite wants to use these lyrics, please credit u wu. Above video belongs to Mafumafu o vo b)
Please do not say you want to hang yourself,
Please continue to live without fading,
How ludicrous it is to sing those songs with flawless lyrics,
In truth, I wouldn't be sorry if I had died, but I'd be sad if those around me did,
"Because I just wouldn't like it," that seems really egostistic,
Not giving a single damn if strangers live or die,
And hating someone else appears to be in fashion now,
Even so, 'live on peacefully' nonetheless?
What a wondrous thing that would be...
On the other side of the computer screen, someone dies,
Regretting the fact that someone else is singing,
Influenced by that, and so that young boy ran off, Carrying a knife in red!
Everyone is detested by life itself!
We're pushing values and ego, always just, so we serenade to kill others we don't like,
and send those songs across the radio waves!
Everyone is detested by life itself!
We who thoughtlessly want to jump off a cliff,
And look at our own simple lives carelessly,
and so we are detested by life itself!
I don't have a single dollar or dime left, so I sing songs of praises to poking around,
Without grasping onto what it means to live, I come to a point that it's useless and breathe,
Are these painful red wounds right to be expressed with such common words like, "I'm lonely"?
I have nothing to my name but obstinance, today once more I sleep alone,
We who were but simple-minded youths, at some point start to grow up into adults,
Growing old, one day, we'll rot away just like brown leaves and no one would be the wiser, right?
What if we obtained an immortal body, and lived our whole reality without dying?
I'm just being fooled about SF cases,
I wouldn't be so sorry if I had killed myself,
Even so, I'm wanted alive by the people around me,
Living on with that complex conflict...I think I will get yelled at,
Beliefs that are righteous should just stay in the right,
If you don't want to die, then please just live on,
If you're going to end up sad, and if that's fine with you,
Then you gotta laugh alone forever,
Everyone is detested by life itself!
Without even grasping the meaning of happiness, we detest the hand life has dealt us,
and so we merely curse our own pasts,
Everyone is detested by life itself!
We who love the word 'goodbye' a little too much, not knowing the meaning of true farewells, and so we are detested by life itself,
Prosperity, salutations, affections, and friendships,
These are the jokes made by comical dreams...which are just goods brought by money,
Tomorrow I might just put an end to my own life, you know?
Everything just might end up being for naught,
Mornings and evenings, spring and autumn,
Unchanging, someone dies somewhere far off,
I don't need a dream or the next day after,
If you will have lived on, then that's all I really need,
That's right...that's actually what I want to sing about right now,
Everyone is detested by life itself,
In the end, we're all going to end up fading away,
Even you will, even I will, one day all of us will rot away like fallen leaves,
But regardless, we just keep living on madly--
Shouldering our lives, desperately, we live on--
Killing another, struggling hard, die laughing, bearing it all,
Live on, live on, live on, live on, just live on!
Pairing: Slight MMDiE (future pairing: Triadd)
WC: 3,004
Rating: T (may trigger)
Note: Because almost all these illnesses are associated with anxiety and stress, ya see?
âThe problem with having problems is that âsomeoneâ always has it worse.â â Tiffany Madison.
Word Count: 978
Pairing: None in particular
About: Arme trying to âcureâ Apostasia. Erbluhenâs method ends up working and Arme breaks down =w=
He had brought the corrupted Celestial to many places, and to many places, did his objective fail. The shrine seemed so dauntingly quiet with its overstretching walls and symbolic structures. Here, Arme could feel the holiness behind them. They emanated the cold power of his Goddess and he could feel at ease here, but that didnât matter. Apostasia sat, at a distance, next to him with a blank expression.
âSo, do you feel anything?â he questioned.
Apostasia turned his head, his swirling eyes betraying nothing.
âLike I said before, Ishmael does not answer me,â responded Apostasia.
Arme sighed, knowing somewhat that this would be the result. He did not expect to have to go this far. There were a few shrines where he tried blessing Apostasia, which either did nothing, or produced a painful response. It elicited no response. He thought to himself about what to do next, where to go on from here. At this rate, he was only giving Apostasia discomfort and pain.
âAlright, weâll go to the next shrine-â he started before the doors to the shrine opened.
âOh, there you are, Sia~!â rung out a cheery voice. Arme sighed again, thinking to himself, the annoying Celestial is here again. He turned around to say something, but saw Apostasia making his way to the cheery Celestial.
  âI haven't seen you in a long time, Sia~!â
  âIt's only been a couple days,â he responded emotionlessly.
  âItâs been a couple days too long.â
  The Celestial had complained with a pouty face.
  âSo, howâve you been?â
  Apostasia responded with a tired tone, âBeen dragged around to many shrinesâŠâ
  âYouâre tired, then.â
  He nodded, the daunting silence of the shrine didn't seem so suffocating. Arme didnât know how Erbluhen found them, but it would get in the way of his methods.
Erbluhen had a tired face, looking relieved to have found Apostasia in time. He had no idea what Arme was planning on doing, bringing the corrupted Celestial to many holy places. Apostasia only got tired and worse with these attempts. Sighing, the Celestial walked over to Arme who stood up from his seat.
âAre you trying to cure Apostasia again?â asked Erbluhen, his tone signifying a lecture.
âI am,â he answered. âItâll make him feel better if he was purged of Henirâs influence.â
âHow many times have I got to tell you, Arme? Thatâs not going to work.â
Arme had an idea that this would happen. It was impossible to change someoneâs mind, to change their core belief when it had gotten twisted to an insurmountable degree. Even so, Arme thought heâd try to at least ease the corrupted Celestialâs concerns. It had to be done this way, right? Goddess Ishmael would certainly guide Apostasia...if sheâd ever replied at all to him.
âArme...the harsh truth is that Ishmael will not respond to Sia,â said Erbluhen. How Erbluhen managed to stay cheerful despite Apostasiaâs condition never ceased to surprise Arme. âYou cannot keep doing this to Sia. You have to understand that not everything can be âcuredâ, or done right by Goddess Ishmaelâs power.â
But how could he understand? Arme was created by Ishmaelâs hand, created for one sole purpose and that was to restore the El to its rightful state. He believed in Her raw power to expunge corruption and anything related to Henirâs influence. This did not mean that he wanted to eradicate Apostasia--although, it had crossed his mind before--but he wanted to alleviate his pain.
All of Armeâs answers came from Ishmael. Her freezing, yet sacred power managed to ease every single one of his worries. She would answer him from time to time with her godly words, and he wouldnât object. After all, he was Goddess Ishmaelâs holy Celestial. It was his duty also to expunge any evil from this world--mainly, demons.
He thought deeply now, his understanding whirling and swirling around each other like water. Cold and wintry, but crystal clear were his speculations. If bringing Apostasia to shrines didnât work, what about other methods? Would they work? Or would he end up with the same result? Arme was starting to understand the futility of his actions. There actually wasnât much to go on with. He had exhausted all his options of having Ishmael communicate with Apostasia, yet none of them worked. Was it really true? Did Ishmael really abandon one of her Celestials?
And for what exactly? Was it because he spent 500 years in the Void? Was it because he got corrupted in the Shadow Forest when it wasnât even his own fault? Was it because he was desperate and was weak? Was it because Apostasia wasnât needed? That made him afraid. No, that couldnât be, right? Goddess Ishmael was merciful, divine and powerful. She could just as easily cure Apostasia of his corrupted nature and bring him back to normal. She wouldnât just abandon him for something Apostasia couldnât control, right?
Or was that what happened? Arme found that he couldnât think clearly, the holy nature of the shrine was evading him quickly, and he collapsed onto his knees. Dizzy spots of black flickered onto his vision and he realised how alone he was. Erbluhen already went away with Apostasia, leaving Arme with his thoughts. His thoughts that were so clear and methodical were now spiraling into one big mess. Was he breathing right? No, his breaths were going out, out and out.
He then realised that Ishmaelâs cold powerâŠreally didnât have all the answers. She did abandon Apostasia for his weakness. And if he was weak, too? If he messed up? What would happen then? Would his worst fears come to life like the demons crawling from their god-forsaken cracks? Like cockroaches scattering about, a heavy dark mess of filth?
âNo, she couldnât...she wouldnâtâŠâ he said, growing louder and forceful. âShe wouldnât reallyâŠ?â
A seed of doubt started to grow.
okay so in psychology years ago we learnt that itâs common for companies to put women in charge when thereâs a predicted downfall so that they could be all ha see women suck at being in charge. and I just find it interesting how the UK is gonna have a female PM right after Brexit so like years from now people are gonna be like âthe country saw some of its worst years under a womanâ when it was men that fucked it up and then ran
Hopefully everyone has gotten a chance to get a copy of Deadpool (2015-)Â #20 by now.Â
Obviously, trigger warnings for suicide
So, Deadpool #20 is a standalone issue that specifically targets the issue of suicide and weâre going to jump right to the ending to start off with: the writerâs, Gerry Duggan, message
I donât actually think itâs outlandish to try to do a helpful story about suicide prevention with Deadpool as the protagonist. Like Duggan said, it wouldnât be the easiest story to write, but it makes sense in an odd way. Deadpool is probably the most suicidal character ever if only because he is immortal and yet is constantly trying to kill himself and lets people murder him when itâs easier than fighting.
Itâs also coincidentally the right time for this type of story with this type of character.
If this story came out in the 90s when Deadpool first debuted I donât think it would be well received. The bro fans would complain about it being an afterschool special and people in general with think itâs in bad taste for character like Deadpool to be in a PSA like this, thatâs Supermanâs job (which weâll get to in a second)
That was a Generation X audience; very disenfranchised, cynical and very angry about it.
This is a millennial audience, very disenfranchised, cynical and resigned to it all.
Itâs an unarguable fact that the Baby Boomers are the worst generation ever and so when Generation X came along and got the shit end of their decadence and eventual complacency about civil rights they were understandably angry. Even grunge was pretty angry; you would sing with melancholy âIâm a loser baby, so why donât you kill meâ but this was underlined by rebellion. It was the clapback to the failed âgive peace a chanceâ
Fuck you and your bigoted warmongering capitalism. Iâm out, Iâm done so why donât you kill me?
Generation X is the exhausted end of this anger and is clearly exhibited by meme culture. Fuck you, everythingâs a joke, how the hell are we can it dig ourselves out of this pit? Might as well kill myself ¯\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Anger and aggression has become the joke. Celebrities are reading âmean commentsâ on Jimmy Kimmel that say things like âfight me, you piece of shitâ and donât understand that that means âIâm a really big fan of yours and am probably sexually attracted to youâ
So why is a character created out of this angry high adrenaline culture the best one to speak to an exasperated culture that mocks angry high adrenaline?
Because he isnât condescending.
You want to kill yourself? So does everybody else but thereâs a lot of stuff on Netflix we still need to get to so letâs try to make the best of it.
Deadpool isnât a happy person telling sad people to cheer up.
Arguably the most popular/cited superhero comic about suicide prevention was made for Generation X audience in 2006âs All-Star Superman #10
It was effective for a lot of people and pleasantly regarded by the general public but some people didnât like it.
Iâm obviously arguing that if this were to come out now the majority of people wouldnât like it.
This girl is a complete stereotype. She could easily be the poster girl for the ârebelliousâ trope.
You can totally tell sheâs depressed because look how dark her clothes are.
And then Superman comes along knowing fuck all about her giving her a shallow complement based on absolutely nothing and then hugs her.
He tells her itâs not that bad.
It is bad.
Things are really bad.
I think Deadpool #20 is better even if it only conveys camaraderie in the badness.
The cover alone conveys that
Deadpool sees a girl, conventionally attractive but within ordinary aesthetic, about to jump to her death
He jokes about it in a very deadpan and abysmal millennial way. Much like Superman, Deadpool knows nothing about this girl but he doesnât condescend to her
Heâs not the right guy for the job
He doesnât know her or have any stake in her well-being
He doesnât belittle her decision but implores her to give it a little time
What does Deadpool know best? Showtunes and beating people up so he does what he knows best and the distraction gives her the ability to feel and just do something, anything
Then what? He still doesnât know what the right thing to do or say is. There is no right thing to do or say. He gives for the resources to talk to people that have at least been trying to figure out the best way to help in this situation longer than he has
He doesnât force her to use these resources and he offers to go with her as an equal
As a few people pointed out, going into inpatient care is not fun, nor is any other option. The problems are numerous and frightening but we have to make do until we can build better systems, but thatâs not really the point of the comic. Itâs how to handle these things in the current system and when you have no idea what to do. Whether it was because the Deadpool team got consultants on the issue of whether they lucked into it I believe they nailed it.
Itâs not an comic that will prevent someone from committing suicide, in my opinion, but itâs an comic that will help people know how to better react to their loved ones who are suicidal.
Weâve discussed suicide extensively on this blog from many angles and the consensus has always been that what helps is when people donât condescend to you, donât just tell you to feel better, donât invalidate your right to do what you want with your body. What helps is being there, as an equal, to consider the decision further.
You may want to kill yourself and you have the right to do that but remember that you donât have to do it right now. You will still have the option tomorrow or the day after. It is a huge and final decision and you need to consider it as clearheaded as possible. Do something fun or mundane and just distracting to get you through the next few minutes or hours and then explore all your options.
A suicide hotline might not work for you, nor will a hospital but they are options that are not permanent. You can try them. If suicide is really the right decision for you it will still be an option after you explore these avenues.
Remember, you can always make the decision tomorrow. Give today a chance.
The one panel this leaves out is itâs revealed that Deadpoolâs been texting the Emergency Room people all night. They know about her situation and they know DPâs trying to help her.
From the coffee shop AU @rainsonata did and a (late) happy birthday present!Â
More like part one xD! Also if the writing is hard to see on the coffee cup, itâs Adel (direct reference xD)