Experience Tumblr like never before
THE ACTOR is shown hung upside down from the ceiling of what looks like an abandoned observatory in the city.*
THE ACTOR: Damn.
I feel so dizzy.
*THE ACTOR slowly begins to wake up*
THE ACTOR: Shouldn't I be used to this by now?
*Panels show time passing as OBSIDIAN dramatically monologues.*
THE ACTOR: Does this guy ever stop talking?
*OBSIDIAN stops monologuing and leans in close to THE ACTOR's face.*
OBSIDIAN: Are you even listening to me, hero?
THE ACTOR: Hm?
*OBSIDIAN stands straight up and crosses their arms*
OBSIDIAN: I knew it. You weren't paying attention.
THE ACTOR: Oh great.
OBSIDIAN: Aren't you heroes suppose to listen to a villains evil scheme so they can stop it from happening?
THE ACTOR: Here we go again...
OBSIDIAN: That's your job isn't it?
THE ACTOR: Oh no, sorry. I was listening...
... To the first part...
OBSIDIAN: Excuse me?
THE ACTOR: ...Then you kinda just dragged off into the cliche.
*The shadow of GUY appears in the background sneaking into the room, unnoticed by THE ACTOR and OBSIDIAN.*
OBSIDIAN: Cliche?
Now, what part of my evil plan is cliche?!
*The figure of GUY slowly is shown behind an oblivious OBSIDIAN.*
GUY: Well first off...
*OBSIDIAN jumps.*
OBSIDIAN: Huh?!
GUY: ...Your a villain monologuing your plans to a heroes helpless sidekick.
*Fear is shown on OBSIDIAN's face while THE ACTOR is annoyed with GUY's comment.*
THE ACTOR: Helpless?
Sidekick?
I may be acting helpless right now but I am NOT your sidekick, Guy!!
We're partners...
...Remember?
*THE ACTOR easily escapes from the ropes that tie them to the ceiling.*
GUY: We'll have this conversion later.
Besides...
...I was ranked number one in The Directors training classes...
*Mockingly* ...Remember?
*OBSIDIAN runs to the other side of the large room to retrieve a gun like weapon from a dusty table, they point the weapon at GUY from across the room.*
OBSIDIAN: Stay back!
This thing hasn't been tested yet...
...No one knows the damage it can do, not even me!
*GUY puts his hands up defensively.*
GUY: Obsidian, please. Put the gun down.
*OBSIDIAN prepares to shoot.*
OBSIDIAN: Make me.
*THE ACTOR shows up behind OBSIDIAN and knocks them out with a single blow to the head-OBSIDIAN falls to the ground.*
THE ACTOR: So...
Who's the helpless one now?
Ah, those were the times.
Gotta miss them.
A FEW MONTHS LATER
*That memory fades as THE ACTOR looks up from a picture of them and GUY on their phone before they angrily walk into their HQ in a torn uniform, GUY sits on the couch in civies.*
THE ACTOR: Hey!
Where were you? I've been sitting, tied up, in some wannabes lair waiting for you.
And don't lie to me, the tracker was on.
GUY: Sorry.
*THE ACTOR takes off their mask and puts their hair up to get more comfortable.*
THE ACTOR: Sorry isn't gonna cut it, Ry.
I risk my life everyday going out there and purposefully getting caught so we can find the bad guys base and take 'em down together as a team but it looks to me like someone is forgetting their part in that plan.
*GUY looks up to THE ACTOR briefly and then looks back down.*
GUY: Sorry.
THE ACTOR: Oh, I know what this is about...
...Your distracted by that girl again, aren't you?
*THE ACTOR sits on the couch next to GUY.*
THE ACTOR: What was her name again...
*THE ACTOR snaps their fingers trying to remember the name.*
THE ACTOR: Oh, it was Lily. Right?
GUY: Yeah...
*GUY takes a deep breath and turns to face THE ACTOR.*
GUY: Mars, I've been thinking...
*THE ACTOR tilts their head in confusion.*
THE ACTOR: Hm?
GUY: I think I'm going retire from this whole hero thing.
*THE ACTOR stands up from the couch from surprise.*
THE ACTOR: What?!
Why? What brought this on?
GUY: Its Lily...
...If we are going to be more serious I don't want to put her in any danger.
THE ACTOR: You do realize that you are throwing away your entire life's work for a girl, right?
Are you really sure this is what you want to do...
*GUY stands up from the couch.*
GUY: I've thought this through a lot, and...
*GUY places his hand on THE ACTORs shoulders.*
GUY: ...And I think you are ready to be on your own.
THE ACTOR: ...What...?
GUY: I've seen how impressive you are in the field.
I know that you can be an incredible solo hero...
...Without me.
THE ACTOR: ...Rydel...
GUY: I'm sorry, Mars.
*GUY grabs a bag and walks toward the door before turning back.*
GUY: I really am.
ONE YEAR LATER
*Panel shows bells ringing and red lights flashing at a high tech prison, OBSIDIAN walks out of the building with a smug look on their face.*
OBSIDIAN: Ah, hero!
Glad to see you could join the show! Where's your *mockingly* partner at?
*THE ACTOR steps into frame.*
THE ACTOR: Enough of this, Roach. You know he's been retired for a year.
OBSIDIAN: Oh, so we're using our real names now, huh?
That's sad...
...I kinda liked it when you'd beg for your life to Obsidian.
*Panel shows THE ACTORs unamused face as OBSIDIAN mockingly acts out what they meant on their knees.*
OBSIDIAN: Oh no, Obsidian!
Obsidian please don't kill me!
I beg you!
Obsidiaaannnn!
*THE ACTOR tries to hold back a laugh, arms crossed trying to look tough.*
THE ACTOR: >tt<
I don't sound like that.
*OBSIDIAN stands back up*
OBSIDIAN: Maybe not, but admit it...
...You found that funny!
THE ACTOR: I did not.
OBSIDIAN: Did too!
*THE ACTOR smiles slightly.*
THE ACTOR: *Quietly* Did not...
OBSIDIAN: Your smiling!
You did!
HEHEHEHAHAHAHAAA
*OBSIDIANs laughter fades and their tone turns to be more serious.*
OBSIDIAN: So, hero.
Why do you come and intercept me here? I wasn't the one who caused this jailbreak...
...Perhaps you should go after whoever that may be.
THE ACTOR: I wanted to talk.
OBSIDIAN: Talk, hey?
And why would you want to do that? Hm?
THE ACTOR: Roach, this is serious.
OBSIDIAN: There you go again.
THE ACTOR: Hm?
OBSIDIAN: Hey, why is it that you get to call me by my name when I don't even know yours?
THE ACTOR: Maybe you'll learn it one day.
But now isn't the time, I need to speak with you.
OBSIDIAN: Well how about this, we can talk tonight.
Meet me at the city hall, on the highest floor. Its the meeting room, the one with the stage.
THE ACTOR: What time?
*OBSIDIAN smirks.*
OBSIDIAN: You'll know.
Now farewell, dear hero, until tonight.
THE ACTOR: Until tonight.
Obsidian.
What more foolish than to believe happiness is the ultimate ambition of a society whose very foundation is built upon a thwarted craving for meaning and its pillars insatisfaction ? Unhappiness and insufficiency are the driving forces behind economic expansion. The horror of contentment, the very notion of it is injurious to capitalism. So, in a way, a constant search for and accumulation of wealth is equated with success and to not deliriously overwork oneself in the name of ambition becomes failure, or as an excellently absurd term puts it ‘wasted potential’. Perhaps the implication here that any ability to create or produce is disqualified to be of any value unless it is yielded in a way enabling it to be monetised is collectively unacknowledged by society, or consciously endorsed. A bit of prodding into this brings one to the despaired question. What indeed is humankind’s core want? Or in other words, what would compel a thinking person to serve bureaucracy if their fundamental need were met and a decent standard of living provided?
Also another thing that bothers me is the quasi-philosophical belief that suffering is somehow superior to happiness in both meaning and virtue. The dreadfulness of pain masquerades as intellectualism and, to borrow a phrase from LeGuin, the banality of evil is wrapped up in folds of mystery. The ideology that ‘suffering should be endured for the potential of a reward later’ (and not to seek any meaning in itself, which, although questionable is a manifold better reason to engage in masochism) is one that is encouraged and spread by those in power. This is an abuse of religion and an exploitation of people’s values done more or less solely for the purpose of keeping people perceived beneath them in check. This state of affairs is more prevalent than it appears to be at first glance and is a disgrace to the few who actually work for the welfare of people. This has been a rant. Thank you.