capeandcowl

Monster
--noun

1. an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure
2. one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character

a threatening force

an animal of strange or terrifying shape
one unusually large for its kind

something monstrous, especially: a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty

Once I would have said that I had never met anyone who could be called a monster. That nobody who was still able to think and feel could truly be a monster.

I'm not sure of that any more. But if people can be monsters, then what makes a person a monster? Is it their power? Or is it their will? If a person has the power to cause destruction, even if they don't want to, is that person a monster?

I want to think that a person's power doesn't make them a monster so long as they don't wish to use it to do harm. But it's possible to harm others without meaning to. Even if you're only trying to do something good, it's hard to know what will happen. I think, probably, not many monsters know that they are monsters.

If you try to help someone, and it ends up hurting many other people later on, what is the right answer?

If you think that, by killing someone now, you could keep many other people from being hurt in the future, what is the right answer?

This is something I have been wondering about lately.

[ooc: and I now apologize if "monster" no longer looks like a word.]

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[[a slight pause]]

Did you want to come over?

[[aka, did you want to talk about it but not near Keith and where it's less stressful?]]

Would that be all right?

Of course. You know you're always welcome.

Thank you.

Then, I'll see you in a little while.

Un!

[[and he'll be in the kitchen working on homework with water on for tea and some anpan freshly warmed up on the table waiting]]

Bakura? [the mental voice comes a bit before the actual knock on the door] It's me.

[[and a moment later the door is open]] Come in! [[all smiles, holding the door open.]]

The water's on for tea, or cocoa if you'd like some.

Oniichan's out and I think Kiryuu-kun's still asleep, so it's just us today.

Thank you. [he steps almost carefully in through the door] I'm sorry to be bothering you like this.

You're not bothering me at all. Really, you're a welcome distraction! [[says with a small, embarrassed laugh as he puts his homework into his text book and closes it shut. Madarame's notes had been utterly useless and near illegible so he was trying to teach himself the math he had missed. Having a legit excuse to take a break from it was a relief.]]

All right, then, if you're sure. [he smiles, albeit a bit wanly] Cocoa sounds nice. It really has gotten colder out.

[[nods as he goes to get the box of cocoa mix]] Somedays more than others! [[says with a small laugh as he works.

A moment later he holds out the steaming mug with a warm smile]]

Did you want to sit here or the living room?

[accepts the mug with a grateful nod]

Wherever you'd prefer is fine. I don't mind.

[[just sort of smiles. The "I don't mind" between then could go on for hours if they let it. ]] Let's sit on the couch, then.

Okay. [He'll follow Bakura's lead, falling kind of awkwardly quiet for a bit here.]

[[looks over at his friend after sitting]] So what happened...? If it's all right to ask....

It's fine, really. I'm just... not really sure how to begin. [he sits looking down into his cocoa] It's funny... as long as I've been here, up until now, I don't think any of the other Mu here knew very much about the things that happened when it became a war. At least, I think Soldier Blue knows a lot of it, but - none of them have been there for it. Not yet, anyway.

[[looks down slightly, thinking of the memories Blue had shared with him. That this Blue now only knew from seeing from him. He nods slightly.]]

Blue-san from before... [[hesitates. How to even say that...

Maybe he shouldn't]]

Is that what Leo just came back from? From when things got that bad?

It seems that way.

[his head droops a little more]

When he first got here, he only thought of me as a friend, even though I tried to explain...

I don't really know what happened while he was gone, but... he understands now.

[[reaches out to put a hand on Matsuka's knee to reassure him]] I don't think Leo's the type of person to stop being your friend just because you wound up on opposite sides of things.

[[Leo reminded him of Yuugi in that respect.]]

[tries a smile, pretty obviously not convinced] I can't really blame him. The things that happened... if I hadn't protected Keith, then probably... it could have been prevented.

Edited 2010-11-08 05:00 (UTC)

You can't let yourself think that way. Protecting someone you care about-- You shouldn't doubt that.

I know. But I can't just ignore how many other people have been hurt, either.

[[is quiet a long moment, thinking.]]

Did you have any way of knowing? What would happen, I mean?

I didn't then. But even after terrible things happened, I - I have still protected him. I don't think I can just say that I didn't know so it's not my fault.