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dayfalwastaken · 9 months

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Higher Dialogue.

“Okay, picture this scenario then.” He raised his hand to better illustrate what he was about to say. “You have a lot of money and donate to charity. Why do you do it? Is it because it’s the right thing to do and makes you happy or do you do it because you’d feel bad otherwise? In both cases you cannot be truly selfless, since performing the action of donating to charity will nonetheless end up benefiting you in some way. By the same logic breathing is selfish, because it benefits you.”

The other just shrugged, crossing his legs.

“Breathing is done automatically though. You only do it consciously once you start thinking about it, and then it fades back to being automatic. You can’t call someone selfish for continuing to function as an organism.” His argument was met with a small frown.

“What about eating then? The act of hunting for prey, killing and preparing it is all done consciously to help continue your existence, by at the same time ending another’s. Plants for example do not kill anyone to continue living, with few exceptions. They feed off of sunlight, a resource that cannot really be consumed since it’s produced by the sun as a byproduct of its existence.

He paused, narrowing his eyes while he looked off into the distance. The rabbit nodded, inviting him to go on. The dots of light in Shadow Freddy’s eyes fluttered, but his expression did not allow for much to be gathered. RWQ still had no idea just what the other was thinking, as opposed to how it was for Fred himself.

“Therefore, sunlight is limitless during a plant’s lifespan despite how much of it the plant eats and the sun will never be impacted by the consumption of its light. The plant is eating automatically without impacting the thing that feeds it- or anything else for that matter, so in this case it is not selfish like other creatures.”

“But not everything is a plant- a simpler lifeform. It’s not my fault I’m not one. Evolution, a higher power, mere chance may have created me. I cannot be blamed for what I am on a base level when I have no control over it.” He placed a hand on his chest, gripping the velvet armchair tighter. In the meantime, the bear fixed his tie, listening along in interest.

“A human infant cannot be blamed for being born human, can it? Except the simple lifeform- depending on what you define as life, everyone and everything has to be a little selfish in order to exist. It’s the circle of, well, life.” A begrudging nod was his sole reward for the argument. “Nothing would be if not for some amount of self-benefiting action. That does not mean, however, that selfishness is inherently bad. It’s self-serving for sure, but in the case of survival it’s necessary.”

Then, a hopeful grin and a hint of pity graced the bear’s features.

“So you are in agreement with me when I say it is necessary for me to cause pain in order to further exist.” Shadow Freddy had said it more like a statement rather than a question. “That I am not selfishly evil just for the sake of it, my enjoyment of tormenting people notwithstanding since it’s a side effect.”

“No.” In return, a single eyebrow was raised.

“Why?” He asked, his tone even.

“Because in your particular case there is an easier, far less hurtful alternative.” The Devil tilted his head, urging the rabbit to continue with a simple hand gesture. “Leeching off of the pain already present in the world, as you say, that will never truly cease. If that wasn’t an option then I’d reluctantly have to agree. That is, as long as the pain was caused in as small amounts as possible to ensure you had just enough to keep living.”

But as soon as he’d said that, his friend had rolled his eyes, attention on the red sky above the both of them. Not what he wanted to hear, but then oftentimes that was the truth’s nature, wasn’t it?

“So, in your opinion, I am forced to do just enough to live and nothing else. My life is relegated to a- a silent existence, drifting boredly through space, without enjoying anything it has to offer...” He raised his shoulders in confusion. “But is it not in my nature to only enjoy the harm I can cause others? You said it yourself; you cannot be blamed for what you are on a base level. If what I am is a being that feeds on the negative emotions of others- in order to live, be happy, fulfilled, whatever- can I really be called evil?”

For a moment RWQFSFASXC was taken off guard by how calm the Devil remained even when his convictions were being challenged, but he chuckled at himself the next second. He was not talking to a mindless creature. There was reason to be found even in the vilest- by the general definition- of creatures. And there was nothing more that he enjoyed than having a levelheaded discussion with a gifted individual.

“All I want, like all sentient beings, is to be happy.” It had been said so innocently the rabbit could do nothing else but believe it. “Why should I be denied that? Am I wrong to pursue my own happiness and mental wellbeing? Simply because it comes at the detriment of others? If that’s just how it is for me- as opposed to other lifeforms- and I can’t change the very nature of my being, how can you call me evil? Why is it wrong to make the best out of the hand I’ve been dealt?”

RWQ inhaled, despite not needing to, and tilted forward, resting his arms on his knees.

“That would imply you cannot learn to enjoy other things.” He began, treading carefully. “That you are forced to conform to the hand. I like being in the company of people even when they’re unaware of my presence, for example. That is not considered normal for those like us. Of course, we are not the same person, but if a being so similar to you can evolve past it’s arguably primal need to inflict suffering, I believe so can you…”

He was walking on eggshells, he knew, but it was worth a shot. If there was a chance people would stop suffering at the bear’s hands, as a result of a peaceful approach, he’d have to take it. The Devil shifted in his seat, but not in a show of anxiety. It was more like the confident dominance of one that was taking a more comfortable position to consider what they’d just heard.

A short silence descended between them, which RWQ broke almost immediately by swallowing his own fear and pushing further. He hoped to God his courage wouldn’t get him and many others killed. It’d be difficult to live with himself afterwards if he’d been the cause of a rageful rampage.

“All sentient beings can choose to change, for the better or worse. You just need to try. To give yourself that chance to move past what you see as regular behavior- and be different than the norm that we’re expected to conform to...”

He proposed, trying to appear as reassuring as possible as he smiled. That may’ve had the opposite effect however. Shadow Freddy broke eye contact, leaning back into his chair to rub his chin.

“There’s always a choice. To improve your situation, as best you can, even when the difference might very well be miniscule, is still a choice worth making, I believe. To ignore that choice is what would make you evil.”

The rabbit could see the metaphorical gears turning underneath the top hat, and he prayed that was enough to convince his friend to at least take it easy on those poor, young souls. With bated breath he watched as his suggestion was weighed, and as he did so the bear laughed, probably amused by his anticipation. Well, at least it wasn’t a malicious laugh, so there was a silver lining somewhere in there.

A long sigh of relief escaped him upon hearing Fred’s response.

“…Huh. I’ll admit… I hadn’t thought of it like that.” The Devil stood up all of a sudden, clasping his hands together. Thick black smoke rose from his back as he extended a hand. “You’ve given me a lot to consider, RWQ.” He admitted, seemingly impressed. Shadow Bonnie glitched for a brief second, before smiling sheepishly and taking the hand, letting himself be pulled up. “I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad if Miss Schmidt was permitted a good night’s sleep.”

He almost jumped up in happiness, but managed to contain his excitement before it got the better of him. Lord knew Cassidy deserved a good rest more than anyone.

“Baby steps. That’s progress. But what about the boy?” He asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

There were countless other questions he could’ve asked, and none would provoked the same reaction from the entity in front of him. Anything else and he would’ve received a curt explanation, another question maybe, or perhaps silence. But none of those potential inquiries would’ve led to what he’d heard next.

In a low tone and a snarl that radiated nothing but pure, utter disgust, the Devil growled, barring his fangs and clenching his teeth so hard literal cracks formed before being sealed a moment later. No longer did he look like the calm, collected and amicable person from moments prior, or even a person for that matter. Instead, the visage of a monster, so filled with hate and sheer anger that existing should’ve been impossible, replaced him. It left RWQ wondering how something so awful could be real- how one could be while carrying so much… Rot within themselves. Ironic, coming from a being made out of agony and remnant of pain.

“Little rabbit… Sad, naïve little rabbit… If you had actually paid attention to those memories, you would’ve known better. There would be no reason for you to ask why or what about…” In spite of the repulsion coming off with each word, the Devil smiled. He held onto RWQ’s arm and sunk his claws all the way through it. Shadow Bonnie grimaced, but his shudder did not aid him in escaping the iron grasp.

“And you were doing so well being a makeshift therapist. I would’ve enjoyed talking to you further.” He was taller than an average human, but the Devil dwarfed him by a good margin, and for all the bravado, RWQFSFASXC felt smaller than ever.

What could no longer be called Fred sighed, cursing under his breath.

“You just had to go and ruin it… A truly unfortunate development.”

Shadow Bonnie’s long ears lowered like those of a cornered animal, and he took a step back, the invisible color draining from his face. As he stared up into those empty sockets, he realized he was staring into the eyes of Death, which he had just awakened. And all that had taken was a question.

While the pinpricks of Life disappeared from Death’s gaze, RWQ felt sorry. Sorry for the humans who had to live in an age where the Reaper had just been angered. Sorry for the boy and those around him that were sure to suffer thanks to his foolish mistake, and, allowing himself an ounce of selfishness, sorry for his own fate at the hands of this unending inferno, one which he’d just stirred.

The red chairs they’d sat on were gone, he noted. The wind had picked up as well, lifting the fallen leaves high into the air and circling the two of them like a forming tornado. At the same time, the lake had frozen and the ground had begun breaking under their feet. Out of the glowing cracks, the smell of sulfur rose, filling the atmosphere between them. Lightning struck somewhere to the left, startling him, but he was too transfixed on Death’s cold expression to acknowledge it.

“The Big Man should learn to keep his hands to himself, but I suppose complaining makes me a tad hypocritical when I don’t really mind cleaning up after his strays. Someone needs to look after those abandoned by him, no? What are you gonna do? The men in charge often get lazy. As for you, my dear friend…” Without warning his hand was ripped straight out of its socket and dropped to the ground, glitching into dark mist. RWQ did not scream, but he did clutch the bleeding wound as it healed.

The Devil leaned forward, close enough for their foreheads to touch, and whispered musingly into his ear.

“Run, rabbit… Run.”

…

It won’t help you, but go anyway- was left unsaid. RWQ didn’t need to be told twice. He teleported away before his arm even finished reforming. Guttural laughter saluted him on his way out, leaving a chill to go down his spine.

“Shit.”

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