THE MIDNIGHT CHANNEL (because it's midnight for someone, somewhere.)

[boyskytard]

( At 12:00 sharp, every TV set on New Moore turns to the same channel. The setting: what appears to be a child's bedroom, its muddy brown walls plastered with posters of mythical creatures and one boy's fictional hero. In the center of the room sits the boy in question, Tavros, sorting out the mass of toys he used to leave scattered across the

Comments

[misery_chic]

... What the hell is this?

[boyskytard]

I don't know, but it happens a lot.
I guess I just got lucky.

( Tavros watches as the hole in his room expands, occasionally tossing something else into it. )

It's kind of weird, having everyone watch.
I didn't even think this was how things would go!
But then people will just have to watch me push this stupid blubbering wriggler into this huge hole.
That's kind of cool, isn't it?
Besides, no one will miss him, anyway.

[misery_chic]

No, shoving people into huge holes isn't cool, regardless of whether they're going to be missed by anyone else. What's wrong with you?

[boyskytard]

Nothing's wrong with me. Not anymore.

( Tavros hangs his head a little. )

You're human, so you wouldn't get it.
I didn't understand either, but that's because I was stupid, and I didn't want to.
If people can't stand up for themselves or defend themselves, they die.
That's only fair, isn't it?
That's why I died, so it makes sense.
I don't know why anyone would want to bring me back.
But as long as I'm back, I can change.

( He eyes something off-screen. )

I'm not going to be weak anymore. Not like him.

[misery_chic]

So in your big quest to not be weak anymore, you think that picking on those who are weak is the answer. Sure, that makes perfect sense to me. Except that now instead of being weak, you've turned yourself into a bully.

[boyskytard]

[boyskytard]

I'm, uhh...

[boyskytard]

I'm really a bully?

[misery_chic]

That's pretty much the definition of a bully.

[boyskytard]

But isn't that what everyone else does?
That's why everyone else is stronger.

[misery_chic]

[siiiigh tavros.]

Yes. The world is overpopulated with bullies and jerks. This is true. But it doesn't mean they're stronger, just because it comes at the expense of those who are weaker. That's almost like cheating. Real strength comes from working hard to overcome obstacles, not taking the easy way out.

[boyskytard]

Oh...

[boyskytard]

So, uhh... what do I do?

[misery_chic]

In the immortal, overly-quoted words of William Shakespeare: "To thine own self be true."

[boyskytard]

i, uHH,

i GUESS i COULD DO THAT,

}:)

[misery_chic]

You may find you actually like it. Besides, the world is full of enough phonies as it is.