three paintings burned

[thehangedrose]

[If you ever went back in time and told Garry that one day, he would be partly responsible for someone's death, he would probably feel disgusted that you could say such a thing about him.]

[But after the events that happened in the gallery, that's now a brutal truth. He was responsible for a death. Not a death of an actual person, but still, a death nevertheless.]

[He had tried to forget about it, trying to convince himself that what he had did was necessary- after all, hadn't Mary wanted to kill him and Ib, or, at the very least, hurt them to the point where they could never escape? It was self-defense, that's all. But the image of her burning up like a piece of paper can never quite leave his mind. And then that book they found in her room...."How to Make Friends"...she was just a kid, a painting child who didn't know how the human world went around things.]

[She was just lonely....but then the image of that palette knife in her hand, aimed at his chest and quite ready to taste blood, returns to his mind.]

[He feels utterly conflicted about the whole thing. Which is why he finally clears his throat and asks a question that has been sitting in his head for quite a while:]

...

If you had to destroy someone because they tried to kill you and the people you care about, would...would that make you a bad person?

Comments

[thehangedrose]

Beats me. There was a diary entry by their artist I found which said that he poured some of his soul into his work...but I don't know how it's entirely possible.

[mom_to_us_all]

It does sound possible to me... What a wicked story.

[thehangedrose]

It does sound like a story, doesn't it? Though, I don't feel like a fairytale hero or anything...

[mom_to_us_all]

And yet, you might be.

[thehangedrose]

...?

[Him, a fairytale hero? What did he do to deserve such a title?]

Why do you think that?

[mom_to_us_all]

You saved those you care for. And who knows, maybe even others in the way. That's what heroes do.

[thehangedrose]

[There's a long pause, and then he lets out what seems to be an amused huff.]

You know...to be honest? I wasn't the hero in that scenario, if what you said was true. I didn't really do much. Ib did...the girl who was stuck in there with me. If she hadn't found and saved me, then I don't think I would be here, talking to you now.

...She was much more brave than I could ever be.

[mom_to_us_all]

[What a tragic story...]

What's your name?

[thehangedrose]

[You have no idea how tragic it could've been, Ammy. You really don't want to know.]

Oh, I'm really sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier! I'm Garry. And you are...?

[mom_to_us_all]

They call me Amaterasu, but also Ammy for short. It's nice meeting you, Garry.

[thehangedrose]

Oh, what a pretty name! I'm sure I've read it somewhere...but either way, it is a pleasure, Ammy!

How long have you been here?

[mom_to_us_all]

The pleasure is all mine.

I've been here for about six moons, what about you?

[thehangedrose]

Six moons...ah, six months, you mean? Wow, that's a while...I've been here for about two or three myself. I haven't been really keeping count, heh.