Pieces.
*The hollow sounds of footsteps echo down the cooridor long before the breaker of quiet comes to the end. The doorway, once sealed tight against time and wear is now slightly ajar. A calloused hand follows a critical eye on an accounting run of damage; a split seam here in the doorjam, a few cracks along the door itself, some dents and a lock that doesn't seem to want to work anymore. The soft flaring of light shows the telltale sign of this places owner and his bad habbit; the disgusted look on his face and the cleanliness of his teeth indicates a tremendous slowing of it.*
*Darkness flees as the door breaks inward, a shadowed mans leg held firmly in air the only indication of why. Dropping his leg back down he walks in and flicks on the lights, a slow process of old lights beginning to stir themselves back to light with a speed and flickering that almost seems to cry out their protest against their disturbed hibernation. A familiar and dusty chair soon has a new adornment as his coat is tossed uncerimoniously upon it, the evidence of time filtering up to dance and weave in the newfound light before trembling back down to settle once more. But the dust isn't so thick as it should be, and here and there the evidence of recent events can be seen.*
*He found it. After searching a bit, remembering a bit, he found the key he was looking for: the one to open up his hidden hold. It was this hold that had drawn him back here to the recesses of his old sanctuary, to check on a treasure once stored to see if it still remembered, to see if he still remembered right. . . . . Only one was deactivated amongst the traps; the thief was good as most people couldn't make it past that first one, a doozy itself even by his standards though. Flashes seemed to be coming through his vision that held nothing to do with the flickering lights above him and he knew before he ever passed that final barrier... he knew. It wasn't gone.*
*Aside his treasured little gift, the most precious of things he has ever owned and touched he set beside it, when under less fortunate circumstances it seems, a letter and a photograph, both worn and old, as if the weight of their contents aged them beyond the dates listed. The softest of smiles skates along his lips as he looks at the memory encassed in his hands, of something that he had no longer thought of, a time he had forgotten. The letter was weighter by far, the contents not something he would have chosen to read had he known of them, but could not put aside once begun. It was long too, with many mistakes laced through it. Soon though he set it down as well and return to his most treasured of possesions: two glass globes of immesurable worth, gilded and filled within by a light that none had ever been able to truly explain, for there was no fading of this light with time and no cause for how it had come to be.*
*Eyes opened suddenly, wariness cascading through his mind, chasing after fear as his eyes chased along those in front of him: How long ago had he fallen asleep? There had been a third globe.... where was it? That's the thought that had done it, the one that had triggered the trap he'd laid so long ago for himself. It was gone.... he'd have to work to get that one back. A deal made is a deal kept and his eyes found strength in the eyes of those now assembled. He pocketed the two globes, they no longer needed to be kept safe; he was stronger now and could protect them. A wicked smile caresses his face and lights his yellow eyes as he takes hands offered and stands back up, laughing as they help to dust him off and clean him up again; it seems he'd been sleeping for quite some time, a thought that sparked the wonder of just how long he'd laid there cradling the globes? 'It's time to go. C'mon man. We had to search for quite some time before we found you here,' they whispered in their mighty voice. 'I had to grab a couple of things, needed them for the road. It's a long journey and I couldn't do it without you all, but I needed these too. I'm ready though, now.'*
*All locked and quiet once more within those patched and battered walls, the door repaired now for the damage from his last entry and theirs was severe. He didn't mind: it wasn't the kind of damage that was inflicted upon him, so much as a bilateral amusement like the scars he's collected on his wanderings. He looked around as they left the old recessed hideout, a place of lost memories and a time long ago. He wondered how much he's lost over the years while gowing through that place, sleeping in that damn spell. Shouldn't have read the letter, couldn't have stopped even if given the chance. He wondered just how strong that rag-tag old shack really was and marveled at the signs of the storms he'd passed inside of it, their marks and rage etched upon the outside while the inside was still just as sound. Smiling once more he hurried to catch up with his group, a grin alighting their faces en masse as he leaps upon one of the number and ebgins gnawing, biting, chewing and growling happily to the cries of "gerroff! gerroff! BASTARD! BLIGHTER!" It was good to be back with his family again, for though the rest was needed to get to where he could handle the road without true trouble once more, it was also required.*
"Where too now? Some of the paths are splitting you know... Where are you going now?"
*Busy with a mouthful of family he winked and got up, helping his long time companion up as well*
"I'm a bit rusty... I'm goign to be taking a little slower pace this time. You guys don't worry, I'll keep you all in sight but it might take a little bit to work out the kinks from that last trip. I'd forgotten a few things I'd laid to rest there and they kinda caught me by surprise."
"It took forever to get you outta there, you didn't seem like you wanted or were going to leave. A couple of us couldn't wait forever, it isn't as pleasant there forus as it is for you ya know."
"Really? Huh.... I'm sorry about that, I really am. I wasn't expecting it to turn out like that. I really didn't expect it to take that long, nor for me to get quite so dirty in teh process. Seems like I was thrashing a fair bit down ther while I rested. Did anyone get hurt, do you know?"
"You know that answer, mate. No, that's not so important now though. If you hurry up and catch the right path you can still find them, they're not gone just answering the call, you know how it is."
"Yeah... yeah I guess I do know, on both accounts. Huh. Damnit, gonna hafta make it up to em. Damn. Well, at least I got what I came for... I can still manage the rest, but it'll be much, much easier now."
"Hey, what the fuck *did* you go into that damn thing for anyway? It's not normal to be down there that long man, and the price was pretty hefty to get through there to pull you out. What the hell was worth that?"
"You didn't know? Huh. Yeahh... suppose you're right about that price. It is pretty high now that I think about it... but I knew the price before, or suspected really... and I'd pay it readily if I were to have to do it all over again."
"That's a rather cold and cruel thing to say man."
"No.... not really. Here, look... you'll understand." *Hands dip into safe pockets and draw out the two globes, their unique light radiating along the horizon before placing them back within their hiding place, a self-satisfied and mischievious grin now lighting his eyes from below.* "So, whatcha think?"
"I see. It was worth it... didn't know you'd put those there. Yeah, I can see why you'd pay the price. Still expensive. Sure it was worth it?"
"For these? I dunno.... No, yeah I do. I do know. It's an expensive price alright, but I'd have paid that price how many times over without these? Think about it? I *HAD* to have these to make it through, and I *HAD* to keep em safe 'cause of the beginning. I needed em, still need em, always will. The price? I wish I'd never had to pay it, and I hope I can earn back what it cost because it almost feels like it cost too much ya know? But I had to do it. I needed these. But, c'mon. Their gainin distance on us and I got some catching up to do."
*Running happily along to catch up his ears caught the last of the conversation, half-spoken words that alit a smile upon his face. Turning around in mid-stride, a practiced maneuver, his voice carried back to put in one final comment.*
"Hey, to have my heart, my love with me again it was worth it. But to have both globes? My Heart and Self are priceless you know! Getting them may have had a price, but I don't have all three yet! So as to what now? I think I know where my Dreams are kept... I at least know of some people who have pieces of them. Gonne have to reassemble that one."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you think you have a piece of my Dreams? Ask. I'll let you know. But remember, I need that piece you're carrying and I don't see a difference between you holding a piece of my Dreams and you holding a piece of me. It took a great many of you a great deal of time to get me here, and to get me away from where I was. Dreams can't be kept in a place like that, there isn't enough light for them to grow, they would only die. And so I put a piece of my dreams into all of your pockets, into you. Just because I'm a bit dirty, a little worn down doesn't mean I'm done. I fought and thrashed against that dark beast under my skin for a long, long time. I finally won, but I still cry for the price I've paid over time. I'm going to work hard to make up for that bill of debt I now owe, for the price wasn't really paid by me, it was all of you who paid it for me. Thank you, with all my tears and heart, thank you. I love you all so deeply, and miss you all so much. I needed to learn that for the beast inside to be quelled it needed to be accepted and made at home, much like myself. The difference in knowing that, for I believe everyone really knows that at some level and we (you and I) have probably talked about accepting that beast. But the difference in knowing that and being able to do that is the difference each of us has to figure out. Mine just took a little longer than I wish. It no longer fights against me, I no longer fight myself.
When you fight yourself you tire, fast, for the opponent is endless as it is fear and your own humanity. Or at least it was for me. The problem was that there is no end to fear and to humanity for me, for the dark things scared me and made more dark things for I was afraid of them being in control. In time there became too many of them and I couldn't control them all. Some got loose. I'm getting those back under control, but it really isn't easy. Some of em are rather far gone now and hard to reign in. But I won't stop until I do. I swear it. As for my humanity, it's really my love. I wasn't able to love, or be loved. Most especially be loved. I couldn't handle it. I didn't want the dark one in control, but I didn't want the light one either. I wanted to be in control. Eventually I figured out that if I kept hem together they balanced out, and I found within myself something that called to you all and calls to me: The evil bastard within me that offers a fair, honest, and good deal. The good person inside me whom makes a wicked offer. I am both, in great quantities, and it's that mixture of both that makes me smile, perhaps drew you in, earned the love of a good woman. I've missed him, for I've seen him in my dreams my whole life. Now he's home. I plan on keeping him there.
Someone once told me the story about the black and white dogs... Which do I feed? I feed them both. I need them both, for they are both worthy and both loved by me. I shall care for them with great love and loyalty, and they shall return it, I know.
Thank you.
I love you.
Will you hold that piece of my dreams for a while longer? If you'd like, I'll hold a piece of yours? We can go and find them together, for the peices are really just parts of maps. Get enough peices and you can find your dreams, weather you make the pieces and bridges, or find them.
Shall we go together for a while more?
_D
*Darkness flees as the door breaks inward, a shadowed mans leg held firmly in air the only indication of why. Dropping his leg back down he walks in and flicks on the lights, a slow process of old lights beginning to stir themselves back to light with a speed and flickering that almost seems to cry out their protest against their disturbed hibernation. A familiar and dusty chair soon has a new adornment as his coat is tossed uncerimoniously upon it, the evidence of time filtering up to dance and weave in the newfound light before trembling back down to settle once more. But the dust isn't so thick as it should be, and here and there the evidence of recent events can be seen.*
*He found it. After searching a bit, remembering a bit, he found the key he was looking for: the one to open up his hidden hold. It was this hold that had drawn him back here to the recesses of his old sanctuary, to check on a treasure once stored to see if it still remembered, to see if he still remembered right. . . . . Only one was deactivated amongst the traps; the thief was good as most people couldn't make it past that first one, a doozy itself even by his standards though. Flashes seemed to be coming through his vision that held nothing to do with the flickering lights above him and he knew before he ever passed that final barrier... he knew. It wasn't gone.*
*Aside his treasured little gift, the most precious of things he has ever owned and touched he set beside it, when under less fortunate circumstances it seems, a letter and a photograph, both worn and old, as if the weight of their contents aged them beyond the dates listed. The softest of smiles skates along his lips as he looks at the memory encassed in his hands, of something that he had no longer thought of, a time he had forgotten. The letter was weighter by far, the contents not something he would have chosen to read had he known of them, but could not put aside once begun. It was long too, with many mistakes laced through it. Soon though he set it down as well and return to his most treasured of possesions: two glass globes of immesurable worth, gilded and filled within by a light that none had ever been able to truly explain, for there was no fading of this light with time and no cause for how it had come to be.*
*Eyes opened suddenly, wariness cascading through his mind, chasing after fear as his eyes chased along those in front of him: How long ago had he fallen asleep? There had been a third globe.... where was it? That's the thought that had done it, the one that had triggered the trap he'd laid so long ago for himself. It was gone.... he'd have to work to get that one back. A deal made is a deal kept and his eyes found strength in the eyes of those now assembled. He pocketed the two globes, they no longer needed to be kept safe; he was stronger now and could protect them. A wicked smile caresses his face and lights his yellow eyes as he takes hands offered and stands back up, laughing as they help to dust him off and clean him up again; it seems he'd been sleeping for quite some time, a thought that sparked the wonder of just how long he'd laid there cradling the globes? 'It's time to go. C'mon man. We had to search for quite some time before we found you here,' they whispered in their mighty voice. 'I had to grab a couple of things, needed them for the road. It's a long journey and I couldn't do it without you all, but I needed these too. I'm ready though, now.'*
*All locked and quiet once more within those patched and battered walls, the door repaired now for the damage from his last entry and theirs was severe. He didn't mind: it wasn't the kind of damage that was inflicted upon him, so much as a bilateral amusement like the scars he's collected on his wanderings. He looked around as they left the old recessed hideout, a place of lost memories and a time long ago. He wondered how much he's lost over the years while gowing through that place, sleeping in that damn spell. Shouldn't have read the letter, couldn't have stopped even if given the chance. He wondered just how strong that rag-tag old shack really was and marveled at the signs of the storms he'd passed inside of it, their marks and rage etched upon the outside while the inside was still just as sound. Smiling once more he hurried to catch up with his group, a grin alighting their faces en masse as he leaps upon one of the number and ebgins gnawing, biting, chewing and growling happily to the cries of "gerroff! gerroff! BASTARD! BLIGHTER!" It was good to be back with his family again, for though the rest was needed to get to where he could handle the road without true trouble once more, it was also required.*
"Where too now? Some of the paths are splitting you know... Where are you going now?"
*Busy with a mouthful of family he winked and got up, helping his long time companion up as well*
"I'm a bit rusty... I'm goign to be taking a little slower pace this time. You guys don't worry, I'll keep you all in sight but it might take a little bit to work out the kinks from that last trip. I'd forgotten a few things I'd laid to rest there and they kinda caught me by surprise."
"It took forever to get you outta there, you didn't seem like you wanted or were going to leave. A couple of us couldn't wait forever, it isn't as pleasant there forus as it is for you ya know."
"Really? Huh.... I'm sorry about that, I really am. I wasn't expecting it to turn out like that. I really didn't expect it to take that long, nor for me to get quite so dirty in teh process. Seems like I was thrashing a fair bit down ther while I rested. Did anyone get hurt, do you know?"
"You know that answer, mate. No, that's not so important now though. If you hurry up and catch the right path you can still find them, they're not gone just answering the call, you know how it is."
"Yeah... yeah I guess I do know, on both accounts. Huh. Damnit, gonna hafta make it up to em. Damn. Well, at least I got what I came for... I can still manage the rest, but it'll be much, much easier now."
"Hey, what the fuck *did* you go into that damn thing for anyway? It's not normal to be down there that long man, and the price was pretty hefty to get through there to pull you out. What the hell was worth that?"
"You didn't know? Huh. Yeahh... suppose you're right about that price. It is pretty high now that I think about it... but I knew the price before, or suspected really... and I'd pay it readily if I were to have to do it all over again."
"That's a rather cold and cruel thing to say man."
"No.... not really. Here, look... you'll understand." *Hands dip into safe pockets and draw out the two globes, their unique light radiating along the horizon before placing them back within their hiding place, a self-satisfied and mischievious grin now lighting his eyes from below.* "So, whatcha think?"
"I see. It was worth it... didn't know you'd put those there. Yeah, I can see why you'd pay the price. Still expensive. Sure it was worth it?"
"For these? I dunno.... No, yeah I do. I do know. It's an expensive price alright, but I'd have paid that price how many times over without these? Think about it? I *HAD* to have these to make it through, and I *HAD* to keep em safe 'cause of the beginning. I needed em, still need em, always will. The price? I wish I'd never had to pay it, and I hope I can earn back what it cost because it almost feels like it cost too much ya know? But I had to do it. I needed these. But, c'mon. Their gainin distance on us and I got some catching up to do."
*Running happily along to catch up his ears caught the last of the conversation, half-spoken words that alit a smile upon his face. Turning around in mid-stride, a practiced maneuver, his voice carried back to put in one final comment.*
"Hey, to have my heart, my love with me again it was worth it. But to have both globes? My Heart and Self are priceless you know! Getting them may have had a price, but I don't have all three yet! So as to what now? I think I know where my Dreams are kept... I at least know of some people who have pieces of them. Gonne have to reassemble that one."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you think you have a piece of my Dreams? Ask. I'll let you know. But remember, I need that piece you're carrying and I don't see a difference between you holding a piece of my Dreams and you holding a piece of me. It took a great many of you a great deal of time to get me here, and to get me away from where I was. Dreams can't be kept in a place like that, there isn't enough light for them to grow, they would only die. And so I put a piece of my dreams into all of your pockets, into you. Just because I'm a bit dirty, a little worn down doesn't mean I'm done. I fought and thrashed against that dark beast under my skin for a long, long time. I finally won, but I still cry for the price I've paid over time. I'm going to work hard to make up for that bill of debt I now owe, for the price wasn't really paid by me, it was all of you who paid it for me. Thank you, with all my tears and heart, thank you. I love you all so deeply, and miss you all so much. I needed to learn that for the beast inside to be quelled it needed to be accepted and made at home, much like myself. The difference in knowing that, for I believe everyone really knows that at some level and we (you and I) have probably talked about accepting that beast. But the difference in knowing that and being able to do that is the difference each of us has to figure out. Mine just took a little longer than I wish. It no longer fights against me, I no longer fight myself.
When you fight yourself you tire, fast, for the opponent is endless as it is fear and your own humanity. Or at least it was for me. The problem was that there is no end to fear and to humanity for me, for the dark things scared me and made more dark things for I was afraid of them being in control. In time there became too many of them and I couldn't control them all. Some got loose. I'm getting those back under control, but it really isn't easy. Some of em are rather far gone now and hard to reign in. But I won't stop until I do. I swear it. As for my humanity, it's really my love. I wasn't able to love, or be loved. Most especially be loved. I couldn't handle it. I didn't want the dark one in control, but I didn't want the light one either. I wanted to be in control. Eventually I figured out that if I kept hem together they balanced out, and I found within myself something that called to you all and calls to me: The evil bastard within me that offers a fair, honest, and good deal. The good person inside me whom makes a wicked offer. I am both, in great quantities, and it's that mixture of both that makes me smile, perhaps drew you in, earned the love of a good woman. I've missed him, for I've seen him in my dreams my whole life. Now he's home. I plan on keeping him there.
Someone once told me the story about the black and white dogs... Which do I feed? I feed them both. I need them both, for they are both worthy and both loved by me. I shall care for them with great love and loyalty, and they shall return it, I know.
Thank you.
I love you.
Will you hold that piece of my dreams for a while longer? If you'd like, I'll hold a piece of yours? We can go and find them together, for the peices are really just parts of maps. Get enough peices and you can find your dreams, weather you make the pieces and bridges, or find them.
Shall we go together for a while more?
_D