No, I simply sought balance. You ah.... well you know that deliberate acts of a chaotic person is...
Well crap. Geez Cel, why am I always trying to make sense? What I mean to say is that too much of one thing is a bad thing. Sometimes you have to work to balance things out a little.
And I'm not cut out to be leader. Ask half the town. Apparently I'm cut out to be an ass.
Celephai rolled over onto her back, suddenly finding something very interesting under one of her nails.
"Often, the label 'sensical' and 'rational' only applies to the things we can immediately recognize the causes and effects of. Sometimes the most insane, strange, and impossible things are actually perfectly normal within the right context. Often, it is a simple matter of perspective and size."
"I don't know if you're a leader or an ass, but what I do know is you're willing to take responsibility for people who could care less about you... or am I wrong?"
Shit. I dunno. I saw things that were broke. I decided they needed fixing....
Grayell took a seat by her and slumped.
Look. I do one thing well. Alright well two things. I like fighting and I like f***king. The fighting well, if there's a threat than I am your man. What's the sense of other people getting hurt? I can manage it. I can take the hurt.
You know, it's.... what I'm good at. Maybe I'm selfish. Maybe I just need to feel alive. Pain can be an affirmation. Maybe... shit. Maybe I just want to be distracted.
He already knew... or had some idea what made him tick. That didn't mean he wanted to acknowledge it though.
"Gray, who are you to determine what is broken and what is not? Maybe some people need to get hurt, because otherwise they won't stand up for themselves. Maybe if there's always a hero, if there's always someone to save them, they'll just sit there and watch. People aren't always so willing to take to the cause of 'right' and 'good' if they think they'll get hurt. People will, however, always seek the safest route. Why be free when you can be safe, alive, and well, with a stable supply of food?"
"How hard was it, Gray? How difficult were the people when you brought law to this town? Did they resist? Did they fight back? How hard do you think it would be rule them with an iron fist? No more difficult than they were when you set up the Council, I assure you... What I'm trying to say is this: Don't try to be their hero, when they won't even fight for themselves. People like martyrs, whom will stand and die for a cause, but won't cause them any trouble, but heroes bring with them too much change, too much bloodshed and trouble..."
Grayell dragged a long breath through his nostrils. His eyes showed determination and pain, disgust and anger.
No. That's not it. That's not enough.
Lemme explain something. There's a sickness in this world. There are human predators, people who prey on the weak and the defenseless. In nature, that happens to survive, to eat. To provide. But it's hard work. There's no choice.
Preying on the weak and defenseless and society - that's not a predator. That's a sick f***k. That's lazy, it's twisted and it's not right. Taking because you can is bullshit. Get a damn job. Give a crap about community. Or do it the hard way - hit the road running and hope like hell yo can cut it on your own. But don't prey on other's because you jack up your own life. Don't hold others accountable. And don't force your sick crap on them because you get your rocks off.
The human predator is a sickness. It's not right. But there's an answer for it Cel.
That answer is me. I'm the meanest f***ing predator in the woods and it's time to cull the herd.
Last Edit: Sept 18, 2011 21:07:02 GMT -5 by Grayell
Cel shook her head, still on her back. Stubborn as ever, he was.
"Grayell, cancers are not cured by the knife. They are cured by the body itself... So, in your quest to rid the world of this cancer, I advise you to not neglect the torch."
She slowly stood up, dusting herself off.
"People are afraid, Grayell. More than any killer, any slaver or rapist: They're afraid of responsibility, accountability, of fighting for themselves, of being free. They will hate you for making them face their fears, and they will likely be the ones to kill you. Will they ever learn if you're always there to save them? If they are weak, then only THEY can make themselves strong... You already know this. I'm sure you, too, were once weak."
You're wrong Jasmine, you're very wrong. Regardless of the best of intentions, regardless of how hard you might think you are, no matter what you've put into being a better person and no matter just how badass you might be - there is ALWAYS someone bigger, badder and just f***ed up enough to take ALL of that away.
So screw that. I ain't taking pity on anyone. I'm the one son of a bitch who's the biggest, meanest and most of all f***ing crazy enough to not be scared of ANYTHING. I put the fear back into those sick bastards and one way or the other, they will KNOW the fear and sickness they bring on people.
Protecting people? Shit, I've failed at that. I'm not defending anyone. I am WAY beyond that sweetheart - I am circumventing all that crap and getting to the very heart of the cancer.
He was heated. Regardless of her philosophy and how sound it was, it conflicted with his very sense of purpose.
If I die protecting just one child in Wistvale, then I have died a noble death and just MAYBE that will be enough. I ain't gonna lie down. I am not going to turn my back. People are victims and that too is a sickness, whole communities are preyed upon because they just don't know HOW to stand up.
Well you got your example right here love, I'll stand up every damn time.
"I'll make sure your statue is suitably large and heroic, if you do die in defense of this town. For now, though, I'd recommend you cultivate a capable replacement in case you do die in the line of duty... just remember Grayell: Everybody lies. Just make sure they're not lying about the important things."
She spoke with her usual dry mix of happy sarcasm and cynical honesty, but not without kindness.
Grayell sighed as she touched him, her hand was not without comfort.
You know Cel, for someone who wants to rid the world of EVERYONE you sure seem keen to stop me doing my part.
He chuckled, it was somewhat broken though.
I don't need a statue. I don't need recognition. I just need to do what's right. As for lying well hey, I'm the honest sort and it only seems to get me in trouble.
He looked at her over his shoulder and chuckled again but in that same dry manner.
You're looking gorgeous by the way. See? Honesty. It ain't THAT hard.
Celephai laughed loudly after he complimented her.
"Oh, the truth maybe, but not the whole of it!"
She shook her head, smiling. He was smart, and his heart was in the right place. Maybe with time he'd see from her perspective, but some people were just stubborn. Cel was sure Grayell wouldn't die until he felt like dying.
"Gray, I learned a long time ago that things are the way they are because we're not powerless to change the world. Changing people, however, will be much harder, as you already know. "
She gave him a sincere smile, almost devoid of her usual sinister nature. A low rumble outside signaled a storm was approaching. Cel clicked her tongue at the sound of rolling thunder.
"Well... unless you want to stick around for a few hours, you should probably go... because it's probably going to be coming down pretty hard. Not something you want to be caught in, for sure."
Grayell chuckled at the notion and took her hand gently.
Cel - I thrive in the worst conditions. You should know this by now.
He smiled at her affectionately but only lowered his head to her hand, planting a kiss upon it. He stood and brought it to his nose and sniffed it but once.
Ah Jasmine. You are the best kind of distraction. And whilst that rain is sure to be quite hard well...
I must go. Truly, it pains me to say so.
He winked as he released her hand and then leaned in to kiss her cheek. He headed for the door with a smile. How the hell she could tear his very thoughts apart only to turn on a dime and cheer him up - leaving him smiling no less....
You take care Celephai. Perhaps you will dance with me in the rain some time.
Last Edit: Sept 19, 2011 0:06:24 GMT -5 by Grayell
Celephai learned not long ago that sometimes you just had to pick at people's minds to help them get their thoughts straight, even if they didn't like to talk through it. A mind is, after all, a terrible thing to waste.
"You behave yourself, Councilman. I'll have an eye on you."
She smiled and nudge the mattress toward a wall, before promptly falling onto it.