Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Cal Hurst]

---

Marcus, still holding control over Vaen's body, thinking he has fooled everyone into thinking Vaen is dead, stands at Hanse's, glancing around at the normal gathering. Remaining completely silent. Then, a voice from inside begins speaking.

Vaen: Marcus...

Marcus closed his eyes.

Marcus: What is it, Vaen?

Vaen: Haven't you... done enough?

Marcus: Done enough?

Vaen: You've... killed my reputation... you've done harm to many... what more is there to do?

Marcus: I don't think you understand, Vaen.

Vaen: Marcus...

Marcus: I'm here to destroy you, and I'm doing a pretty damn good job.

Vaen was silent.

Marcus: Nothing to say, boy?

Vaen: ... I miss the old days.

Marcus: What old days?

Vaen: When... we would sword fight... for fun... at my old house...

Marcus was completely silent.

Vaen: You know... when we were friends... best friends... inseparable...

Marcus still remained completely silent.

Vaen: Marcus... what happened? Why are you so tainted now?

Marcus: Vaen, you killed me, have you not forgotten?

Vaen: It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. It's not easy to kill your best friend, Marcus! I regretted killing you! And I still do! I just... I don't know... it was a messy war...

Marcus: Indeed...

Marcus remained silent.

Vaen: Hey, Marcus...

Marcus: What?

Vaen: Do you remember Jolun?

Marcus: Jolun Pintum, yeah. Why?

Vaen: Remember what we did to him on his twelth birthday?

Marcus chuckled a bit, glancing around to make sure no one heard him.

Marcus: Yeah, I remember. He... was very mad at us... wasn't he?

Vaen: Yeah... He wouldn't speak to us for weeks...

The two of them remained silent.

Marcus: Hey, Vaen...

Vaen: Yeah?

Marcus: You know... I... I'm sorry about your mother, and all...

Vaen: I know... you loved her... just as we all did.

Marcus: I never ... really ... forgave my father... for killing her.

Vaen: I see...

The two of them were completely silent once again. Now, infront of Marcus, Gerta Stanim, his father, appeared. He began to telepathically communicate with Marcus and Vaen, and was also unseen by the other tavern goers.

Gerta: Marcus, what are you doing?!

Marcus: Oh, uhm. Hello Father.

Gerta: Don't you remember what this child did to you?

Vaen was silent, and so was Marcus.

Gerta: He killed you! You came here for death. Have you not remembered all the times that he caused you pain? Through your head, when you were going about, being you! He hurt you! He can't accept you for who you are!

Marcus: Father...

Gerta: Enough, Marcus. You came here to do something, and you're going to do it. If not, I'll see to it that your soul disappears from the life stream.

Vaen: Marcus... just...

Gerta: Quiet, boy!

Vaen was silent.

Gerta: You know what you have to do.

Gerta broke the link between the two of them and disappeared.

Vaen: Marcus...

Marcus: ...Shut up Vaen...

Vaen: But... Marcus...

Marcus: Vaen!! I said SHUT UP!

Vaen remained silent, and didn't speak any further. Marcus remained watching the tavern goers as a small tear dripped down his cheek. Vaen felt his pain, but was unable to say anything, for Marcus had blocked conversation between the two of them out of his mind.

Marcus (Thinking to himself): What a cruel, cruel, world.
_________________