09-14-2015, 03:52 PM
The man's reply rang with the force of truth and....what was that? It was something familiar. Dismissal? Resentment? There was something in those words. An entire life story spoken in one sentence.
He remembered all too well. Casual conversation when he'd first been accepted at Cornell. He still young and brimming with the joy of at last being free, at last being on his own, burning with raw ambition. A fellow classmate casually speaking of home, bright green eyes then turning to him. "And where's home for you?" And he didn't know how to answer. What did he call home? What did that even mean? He lived where he lived, for however long he was there. Your house or apartment or room or bed was where you slept. But....home? The word was alien. Finally, "I don't really call any place home."
And there it was. His entire life story told in one sentence. He ended up playing it off. As he recalled, he got on well with that student who seemed to view him with pity, to end up bringing him into her group. Those 'friends' he had made had proven quite valuable, as it turned out. Even more importantly, he'd accidentally learned one very interesting and useful lesson. The pretense of weakness at the right time and to the right person can open doors and provide opportunities.
This man's words said as much...and as little. He was a proud man, it was clear. Marcus decided on a different tack. They were getting close to their destination anyway.
He relaxed, allowing the seriousness on his face and body language to dissipate. He took at drink of the water bottle in his door. "I will confess that until you said something, the idea of 'monsters' existing was not something I had even considered. Despite the, uhh, power we share."
He smiled sheepishly. He had almost said Force. Not yet. He looked out the window and saw the moon peek in and out between the buildings as the car sped along. "In retrospect, foolish, I suppose."
He looked back at the man, allowing his real interest to show. "How did you learn of them?"
He remembered all too well. Casual conversation when he'd first been accepted at Cornell. He still young and brimming with the joy of at last being free, at last being on his own, burning with raw ambition. A fellow classmate casually speaking of home, bright green eyes then turning to him. "And where's home for you?" And he didn't know how to answer. What did he call home? What did that even mean? He lived where he lived, for however long he was there. Your house or apartment or room or bed was where you slept. But....home? The word was alien. Finally, "I don't really call any place home."
And there it was. His entire life story told in one sentence. He ended up playing it off. As he recalled, he got on well with that student who seemed to view him with pity, to end up bringing him into her group. Those 'friends' he had made had proven quite valuable, as it turned out. Even more importantly, he'd accidentally learned one very interesting and useful lesson. The pretense of weakness at the right time and to the right person can open doors and provide opportunities.
This man's words said as much...and as little. He was a proud man, it was clear. Marcus decided on a different tack. They were getting close to their destination anyway.
He relaxed, allowing the seriousness on his face and body language to dissipate. He took at drink of the water bottle in his door. "I will confess that until you said something, the idea of 'monsters' existing was not something I had even considered. Despite the, uhh, power we share."
He smiled sheepishly. He had almost said Force. Not yet. He looked out the window and saw the moon peek in and out between the buildings as the car sped along. "In retrospect, foolish, I suppose."
He looked back at the man, allowing his real interest to show. "How did you learn of them?"