compnetwork | 03 - [Action/Video]

[Action- in front of Daemoniac Inc. Cancer District]

[Walk through the Cancer Ward, and you will probably spot the large building in the middle of it, a state-of-the-art structure that reflects the technological wizardry of the area. One might marvel at it, and the locals do seem to be doing so as their eyes wander over it, but there is one person who does not seem to be marveling at it at all.]

[You might look over this young man sitting on a chair outside an internet cafe, with his disheveled appearance and general unkempt hair that scream "possibly homeless or worse", but his gaze, strangely enough, never seems to leave the building. Look closer, and you'll see that the knuckles on his hand grasping the cup of water before him are white, he's grasping the thing so tightly. And his stare holds a level of malice that contrasts harshly with his general harmless appearance...]

[This is not the image of a man who is happy about what he is looking at, at all.]

[Video]

[Sam Erstwhile appears on screen, frowning sadly- while everyone is busy with the hubbub of the tournament coming up, it seems like he'll be the only person who will always be miserable, no matter what.]

Look, um...I hate to ask this, because it's totally unrelated to anything about the tournament, but I felt I really needed a answer to the question as soon as possible.

[He lets out a sigh as he scratches his shaggy head.]

W-what's the best way to get rid of nightmares?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, see, that's the key. You have to find someone who's not going to judge you no matter what. I know it might not seem likely, but those kinds of people exist.

I'd suggest talking to a friend, but that can be harder sometimes, you just have to go with what makes you comfortable.

Aaand at the very worst, write about it and burn it. Sounds kind've silly but it can help.

[A long silence.]

I...I don't have any friends. Not really.

The last thing sounds interesting, though...writing and burning it, huh? How does that help?

Mmm it's really just a ritual, it's supposed to be like...letting it go, I guess. If you write it all down and then burn it, you're exorcizing your bad dreams. Make sense?

And making friends isn't so hard, you should look into that.

Heh, like a demon, right? I've read about stuff like that in books...

[He actually seems to like the idea, judging by the somewhat happy look in his face. At the second part it falls, though.]

No, it's really hard. Nobody likes me enough to want to be my friend. Believe me, I've tried to make them think differently, but nothing works...

Yeah, kind of like that.

[Sort of.

Johnny shrugs at the second part and offers a smile.]

Hey, I'll be your friend. You don't seem so bad to me, and everyone should have at least one friend.

Bad thoughts like demons...almost poetic, really.

[A laugh, but it isn't at all happy.]

I don't know...if you really knew me, you wouldn't say that so readily.

Everyone has their demons, some more literal than others.

[In return, Johnny smiles, but it's obviously fake.]

And if you really knew me, you wouldn't be so quick to dismiss. It doesn't matter what or who you are, everyone needs someone.

Do we all...

[And something dark glimmers in his eyes, but it's quickly extinguished, and he just shrugs.]

I don't think people deserve me, though. I'm just an annoyance...who's saying I won't be the same for you?

[He doesn't notice, or if he does, he doesn't think too much of it.]

You aren't annoying me now. Why don't you cut yourself some slack and give yourself a chance? If you convince yourself you're that bad, you'll never change.

Edited 2013-01-23 18:46 (UTC)

But I've done nothing but see how much I've been bad, how can I just..avoid that, really?

You don't need to avoid the bad, just accept it and move on. You can't change what's happened, but you can make what you do from now on better.

[He sighs.]

That's easier said than done, really.

Nothing worth doing is ever easy.

[He seems thoughtful a moment but then smirks.]

Well, nothing except hugs and kisses~

...

[He isn't sure what to say to that.]

Only if you have someone to hug or kiss, I suppose.

Ahh, yes~ Well, maybe you should work on that one too~

[You've got homework, Sam.]

B-but I can't just hug or kiss just anyone, really! That's...that's personal stuff.

Well, yeah, but the point is to gt personal. It's really not that hard to get to a 'hugging' stage with most people.

I don't know. I just feel uncomfortable hugging people I don't know very well, honestly.