XII

[gifted_sight]

[Filter: Family]

It's over with Neoptolemus. Now please leave me alone.

[/Filter]

I thought I'd have a little bit more energy by today, but getting off the couch doesn't feel worth it yet. I don't even care that it's over and I'm sitting here alone there isn't even anything on TV to watch.

Comments

[catalystofwar]

What?
Good.
I thought you were happy.
You made the right choice.
Since when?
I'm proud of you, brother.

[gifted_sight]

Proud? For giving in? It doesn't seem like something to be proud of.

Filter: Helenus

[catalystofwar]

Giving in? What do you mean?

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

To what you and Polyxena wanted. It was hard to be with someone when guilt seemed to haunt everything I did.

Filter: Helenus

[catalystofwar]

Don't blame us. You felt guilty because it was the wrong choice.

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

This isn't right or wrong. I remember being happier before either of you showed up.

[Filter: Helenus]

[catalystofwar]

It's not like I had a choice in coming.
Maybe you forgot who you were, Helenus, and now that we're a reminder, you'd rather blame us than accept the truth.

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

I'm not
I can't-
Then tell me, who was I.

Filter: Helenus

[catalystofwar]

You were a Trojan. You were my brother. You were a strong soldier who put family and our people above everything else you encountered. There was nothing more important than our mission and our empire. Even when it began to crumble, you stood by my side and fought for what was right.

Too much time with him has made you forget. He brainwashed you into believing you were like him and that you could find happiness with him. I heard his stories. Your mind began to deceive you as a prisoner of circumstance, not because you are someone else.

I know it must be hard remembering and coming to terms with all of this, Helenus, but we both know you have no choice. Otherwise, you'll forever live in delusional quasi-happiness and nothing more.

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

You forgot one thing, I ran away, Paris.

I should be insulted that you seem to think I can be manipulated so easily. If I deceived myself it was because for once in over 10 years someone, who was not Cass, wanted me to be happy. Maybe being with him was selfish, and my selfish decisions usually end badly, but I still think there is truth in what he says. Either way, the war is over. Clinging to its specter will only further doom this family.

Filter: Helenus

[catalystofwar]

Never when I was there.
I did not say it was easy to deceive you. I said you did it because it was necessary. I don't blame you for beginning to believe in lies given what happened to you. I only blame you for being alright with them now.

What did he tell you that there's truth in?
That you deserve happiness? You do. All the happiness of your life so far again and much more. He will never give you that.

The war's not over so long as we're still willing to stay true to our family name.

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

He told me to my face he regrets what happened. I've seen his own pain. Have you even seen him face to face?

Why do we have to live with this pain? What is the point of that? I'm tired. Even through this apathy thanks to Prometheus I know I'm tired of constantly being angry. It does nothing for our family name.

And as long as we live with the war I can never forgive myself.

Filter: Helenus

[catalystofwar]

No. Tell him to denounce his family, his name, his title, and his kingdom and I'll feet him face-to-face.

What pain? The only anger I feel is that you would choose that traitor over Polyxena. I could never speak to you again if it was right, but she doesn't have that kind of personality. She's been sacrificing her happiness for you.

Why?

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

He would probably even agree to that.

I am already a traitor for my own actions. It doesn't matter if you were there for it or not. I never wanted to hurt her but why could I not try to be happy? Why is she so special?

There is no way I can forgive myself for my roll in Troy's fall if we do not move past it. They would not have gotten in without me.

[Filter: Helenus] ...meet. Not feet. Meet.

[catalystofwar]

I'll agree to meet him when he does.

I want you both to be happy. If he's your true love, you would not have left him under any circumstance. Since he's not, there's clearly someone else out there who can treat you much better. Then you can both find happiness.

Separate yourself from the Spartans and we can move past the war, brother. We will unite as a family.

[Filter: Paris]

[gifted_sight]

I wouldnt know if he was my true love or even a friend with you two not letting me just enjoy being with him. When it was just us ..it was fine. But its done now. Hopefully someone had come out happy.

Renounce your own Spartan.