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]

...

Sometimes I wish I didn't have to make such a decision, you know? I never thought I would...I'm a pretty peaceful guy. At least, I thought...

[inafadingcrown]

I know. If it is not already apparent to you, I have also taken life- not one but many. It was necessary and had I to choose again, I would do the same. Yet the blood on my hands weighs on me still.

There are times when even a man of peace must fight. A truly violent man would not be troubled so.

[thehangedrose]

You have? Wow, that's...[He doesn't know what to say. Sad? Upsetting? Understandable?]

I guess you're right. I'm definitely not violent at all, but...when worst comes to worst, I have to do what protects me.

[inafadingcrown]

Such is the nature of battles and of war [She doesn't sound that upset about it. She's had to come to terms with it a long time ago.]

And I do not think this a fault.

[thehangedrose]

Are you some sort of leader, where you come from? It really sounds like you are, miss...?

It's hard to say what makes a fault a fault nowadays, really.

[inafadingcrown]

Forgive me, I should not have gone so long without introductions; I am Galadriel, Lady of Lothlórien. As the title implies, I am, indeed, a ruler.

[thehangedrose]

Oh...your name. It's very pretty! Lady Galadriel.

And very sorry for not introducing myself either! I'm Garry...and I don't really have a regal title or anything like that. I'm just Garry.

[inafadingcrown]

Well met, Garry. And you have my thanks for your kind words.