Who: The Port's Latest Shadow Televisions Stars! And Thousands of Home Viewers!
When: Midnight, Wednesday December 21st
Where: In front of your Television Sets or Streaming NV TV. (Digital Cable? You'll still get the analog effect.)
Summary:
Full Plot Details HereWarnings: Please Put 'em In the Subject Lines As Necessary, Kids?
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Can you set me free from this dark inner world )
[Disco thumping fills the streets as Franz's shadow appears. He has his shirt open, his eyes glowing a foreboding yellow.]
Well, well, well. Look what the lap dog dragged in. Have you finally decided to join the party, sweetheart?
[Franz is trembling. He lowers the sword, keeping his voice quiet.]
Genesis... ignore him. Don't attack. This is between me and him.
What a handsome guy. I'd like to get my lips around that.
[Color leaps to Franz's cheeks.]
Sh... shut up!
That's all you want to do, isn't it? That's what life as a faggot amounts to. Just fucking around and doing as you please. That's the life.
[Franz clenches his teeth to keep from speaking.]
No one's expectations to fail to lie up to, no one depending on you, no pressure... just pleasure and humiliation.
[Franz swallows hard.]
No...
[Kurt had warned him he would have to accept himself. The shadow Franz just nods. He seems bigger. Getting that much closer.]
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As the shadow draws closer to the other man, Genesis can't help but speak out in concern.]
Franz...
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I'm you, after all. I know everything you want.
I hate my life. I hate my job, and my stupid frigid boyfriend who doesn't even want to marry me. And what's the point of being a degenerate if you do everything you desire? No, I think it's time to get to what I truly want. Parties. No duties or obligations or stupid, unappreciative people! Just fun to take my mind off of how irritating this place is!
What the hell kind of life is that? I'm not some kind of tramp!
Better to be a tramp and get what I want then live a meek life and be afraid to go after it. I'm sick of choosing the path of least resistance. I won't lay down and die like last time.
[Color floods Franz's cheeks.]
That's not what happened!
You know it is.
[The Shadow yawns exaggeratedly, admiring his nails.]
Bored now. I've got a glory hole with my name on it to get back to.
[The Shadow does a sassy slink further into the Darkness. Franz raises the sword.]
We have to go in after it. Cover me, please!
[And he goes chasing it into swirls of shadows and glitter, until they're many blocks from the apartments.]
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Without hesitation, he follows Franz's lead, taking notice of the small shadow monsters that are trying to follow them and taking them down with quick bursts of magic.]
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Face me, damn it! [He shouts to his Shadow, who's once again writhing with mostly-naked men.
No one, even Daedalus, his lover, or Genesis, his friend willing to fight by his side, could understand the depths of which the sight hurts him, embarrasses him.]
Oh, honey. You're the one who won't face me! No, you want to fight! And I'm not talking about naked jousting.
[As Franz gets closer, he can see this shadow version is bleeding from his stomach and mouth. Unconsciously he moves to guard his own stomach.]
Why are you... I haven't hit you yet!
[The Shadow continues its deplorable behavior, even as his dramatic hand gestures and speech have him spitting and dripping black blood everywhere.]
I was so relieved the Count was a monster. Then I had a reason. A reason to lose the boy I loved, a reason to hate the man who was taking him away! What a pain! I hated them both! If I couldn't have what I wanted, there was no point!
Everyone is such a pain! No one cares about me! No one loves me! They never think about what I want, only what they want! No one's ever asked me!
THAT'S NOT TRUE! Not now. Please... stop all this...!
[And that's when the Shadow starts to grow in strength.]
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And then he hears the shadow speak out his desires. He watches Franz for a moment with full concern, wondering for once if he felt like his shadow, even subconsciously. He blasts down a few smaller creatures trying to take down Franz as he was focused on his shadow.
Then he notices the shadow growing stronger. Immediately, he gets on his guard once more, getting ready to fight if the shadow dared to hurt Franz. But he knows full well that he has to face him on his own.]
He's gotten stronger...
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[Franz uses the sword to deflect some of the blood that's flung at him and winces when he hears it sizzle on Genesis's blade. Damn. He'll have to pay to have it prepared if it's corroded...]
I am you. I'm everything you are. Poor little rich boy, sad and lonely and full of loathing. Never the same since Papa died. Always looking over his shoulder, looking after others instead of himself.
But the truth is I just do it to be loved, and I'm sick and tired of putting my needs before theirs! If they won't love me, if I can't be the center of their lives, then I should just live however I want! If what I am is wrong, let me be as wrong as possible!
[Franz is trembling so much he can barely hold up the sword. He lowers it slightly, bowing his head.]
Enough. Enough now...!
[And still it grows. The caricature is awful, the blood still flowing from a giant in nothing but a gold thong and lipstick with a feather boa, but still noncing about, flinging black blood that covers everything.]
I just want to have fun, you know? I just want to be a normal guy who parties and never thinks of anyone else! I want to drown it all out! They don't care, so why should I care?
[The beast grabs at its crotch, palming a sizable erection... covering it with that brackish blood. The wound from his stomach won't stop bleeding, it's bubbling and sizzling like a toxic lake.
Franz covers his mouth with one hand, repressing the urge to vomit. The beast sounds distorted, but still speaking with his voice, with that exaggerated lisp and 'feminine' dramatic manner of speech.]
I'm not even the type of person who will be missed when I die! Might as well make use of a healthy body that still feels pleasure while it can!
Enough!
[Franz wails out, looking up.]
Okay.
I know it's ugly, I'm ugly.
I'm pathetic. I don't like most of my life right now, but I don't know any other way. I do think about running away and living a shiftless, worry-free life.
You are me. Angry, sad, lonely, bitter, and no way to think of expressing it except with resentment and lust.
[And thus the beast begins to shrink back to a more recognizable form.]
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That is, until Franz finally cries out to accept his shadow.
Genesis watches him then as he speaks, and somehow, he can sympathize. Angry, sad, lonely... it sounded much like himself during his degradation. He watches Franz and wishes he could do something for him... perhaps give him a chance to let loose at least once.
Then he watches silently as the shadow shrinks down. He knows it will soon be over. But he won't put down his guard yet. He knows there are other beasts lurking in the darkness.]
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