A too familiar problem · 6:42am May 14th, 2020
Hey Fallout dude 50 does blog stories in this style, and his are also generally happier. While you're there, follow him.
Yes I'm blatantly using his style, it's good for these short little entries.
I'm still doing this while I work on the sequel, it helps to keep my mind running along different avenues.
Starlight found James sitting in his den. Lucca had told her earlier that James was not doing well right now, but the silence she found him in was concerning.
James? Lucca told me you'd be here, what's wrong?
Nothing. Just ... nothing.
That's the problem, isn't it?
*Scoffs* No. It's better than I deserve.
We both know that's not true.
James turned to face Starlight, but instead of locking eyes with her he stared right through her. She could only describe the look as hollow. And for the first time she could remember James appeared to look every one of his more than five hundred years. The man before her was old, tired, and defeated.
It really is.
James closed his eyes and took a breath. Right now, in these moments of silence, he could hear the screaming, and worse, the crying.
Are your nightmares back?
Memories. Nightmares would be a welcome change.
Once, with Luna's help, Starlight had seen on of these memories as James tended to relive them in his sleep. She'd seen the blood splattered streets of the destroyed city, the wreckage of a war waged by James alone. She'd had nightmares of her own for weeks after that.
James had never forgiven himself for what he had done back then, and Starlight believed he never would. But he hadn't been that person for centuries, even though the mental and emotional scars would show themselves from time to time.
Would you like to talk about it?
James shook his head as he continued to look though her into the distance of his own memories.
Let's talk about something else then. How about ...
Starlight's mind fumbled for any topic, anything that could hopefully pull James out of his own head. ... All she could come up with was kites.
*Awkwardly* ... kites?
It's alright. I'm not going to do anything stupid. I'm just *sighs* remembering.
Damn I wanna help