𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐦; 𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐱

42‣ 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙

Felix had always wondered what the protagonists of movies and literature he consumed must be thinking when they were put in situations that were so otherworldly bizarre you could only see them on a screen or paper, he'd always wondered if these people actually existed as real living beings and something this odd and peculiar truly happened to them what would their internal monologue to it all be? They'd be confused and thrown off, of course, that's just one of the first things he had crossed out, but what then?

When the script reveals to us, the viewers, that the protagonist has come to terms with the chaos they are living in, do they truly ever just get over it like that and continue living their life as close to normal? He'd always thought if a spider bit him and he got superpowers out of it he'd never think twice before accepting it, he'd even silently prayed sometimes that happens, but then the weight of saving the world would be too much for his relaxation-loving shoulders and he'd likely cave into depression

but what of the protagonists who discover sinister truths instead of superpowers and choose to live with them? How do they tackle the sheer insanity that their life becomes, surely the directors and writers never discuss it properly on screen and paper because that would drive the readers away from the pivotal point of the literature (unless the tackle of truth is the pivotal point) but what would happen when such things occur in real life?

These questions that once plagued his mind in boring office meetings have now accidentally manifested themselves into existence, his actual life, and now he's the protagonist who is desperately trying to tackle the absurdity that has become of his life. He no longer needs to be curious about what they must be thinking because he has the answer with a physical example now.

He doesn't need to think of divergent outcomes that would've led him down a different road, this is the road he chose, and this is the hill he'd die on. The number of crazy things that have occurred to him within the short time of a few days have desensitized him enough that he can sit here in front of one of his friends who works for his mafia situationship and not lose his mind, just silently cutting through the soft waffles and pretending like the world isn't on fire, somewhere down the line he'd have enough senses to praise himself for handling all of this so well but right now he can't seem to find any of his senses that work

Later some night when Felix would be laying in bed he'd think about all of this and decide he finally has his answer; The protagonist mostly pretends like everything is fine until their mind becomes numb enough to not notice that what they are living through is the total opposite of normal. Albeit Minho's promise of 'catching up' neither of the three has spoken up at all during this painfully slow breakfast

the silence is so loud Felix can hear it like thunder rattling in the sky, the sound of cutlery upon cutlery, the silenced chew of food that is well-mannered enough to not be audible, and the loud as time sound of the magnificently large grandfather clock in the far corner of the dining room that hasn't stopped giving Felix the creeps since he stepped in here. The blond man however was only paying attention to the silhouette of Felix he could see through his peripheral vision and the clock's ticking sound

Even though he is not aware of the character, If Vecna were to decide now is the time to strike, Hyunjin wouldn't be upset, his mind is reeling from all the events that occurred and the Upside-Down sounds like a better place than here. But then, Felix is sitting at an arm's distance from him and it doesn't feel like he'd like to be far from the boy, not now, not eve--"So, Felix," Minho clears his throat, looking up from his plate and at Felix who is sitting across from him. As soon as Hyunjin hears the brunette's voice he's immediately alarmed, not sure if this is even remotely close to a good idea

Felix too, looks up from his food and stares at Minho's warm brown eyes, the ones he often resembled with honey but now the sweet delight is tainted with a scarlet vision he cannot wash away "Yes?" He replies, tone a little hesitant but Minho doesn't comment on it "What are you gifting the Piranha?" Minho's silk-like voice manages to ease some part of Felix's nerves even if he doesn't realize it, the mention of his best friend helps him feel closer to normal than he has these past days.