A Daemon's Babble

Interlude

Life was a game.

A show, if you please.

A show, an act, a song, the audience for those poor, unfortunate souls that walked through their lives as if they were already dead. The list of actors and the list of scenes went on and on and on, never-ending.

She prided herself on not being part of any scenes, not being an actor. She prided herself on being a director, lurking behind the red curtain, melting into the shadows as if she belonged to them. She pulled the actors strings, tugged them this way and that; she sharpened their claws and she discreetly played the matchmaker.

Yes, she thought she was the best-

-but even the best make mistakes.

Life was a game.

A show, if you please.

A play, a scene, a shining opportunity for those overexcited, grinning fools who walked through their lives with a certain swagger, a cockiness that gave off the impression that they were better than everyone else. The list of inspirations and the list of possibilities went on and on and on, never-ending.

He prided himself on being center stage, the star of the dance floor. He prided himself on being an actor, a shining star, with the spotlight on him at all times. His roles were one of someone far above his level, complex roles that he did without any flaws.

Yes, he thought with certainty that he was the best-

-but even the best make mistakes.

Of course, their relationship had not started out as something sweet and innocuous. At a new school, a new state, a new show to put on, he thought it was going to be fantastic. But he was royally perturbed when he discovered that no, he did not get the lead role in the new play, that no, he was not going to be center stage, that no, he was not the best.

That damned director.

He had marched right up to her where she was lazily slumped in her red chair, watching the lead role in the role that should’ve been his recite a few lines and stuck his face right in hers.

“May I help you?”

“Why am I not in the lead?”

She had the gall to snicker. “Because I’m the director and I said so.” And that was the only reason she’d give and he had jumped to the conclusion that she was just jealous of his acting skills.

But then there was a time where their relationship was something much better. Maybe about three months, two shows, one secondary role and one fit later, where she had been gathering up her stuff for the end of the day, later than anyone would stay, just to make sure everything was in order for her next show. And she had walked outside, and seen a figure slumped on the side of the school building.

That damned actor.

She had marched right up to him, intending on telling him that no, he was not going to get the lead role, again, and she didn’t need him throwing a fit. He was curled up tightly against the school building, and she had tapped his shoulder and he had jumped and noticed her for the first time.

Actors are supposed to be perfection, and his perfect face was marred with black and blue bruises that bloomed on his face like deadly flowers. He certainly didn’t look like the charismatic, bumbling fool that she was used to.

Yes, he was the best actor.

She took a step back as he scrambled to his feet. They stared for a moment before he turned on his heel and bolted.

She found him in the handicap bathroom in the hall the next day, splashing water on his face and a new black eye. She shut the door behind her and he gaped at her. There was wary in her dark brown eyes, and panic and fright in his glassy green ones. Slowly, she pieced some pieces together and simply unrolled some paper towels to dry his face. He took them hesitantly and stared at her for another moment before breaking down entirely.

She hesitated. There were numerous things that didn’t happen. Romeo and Juliet did not get a happily ever after, people didn’t stop on green, and she did not go center stage. The best directors are unheard of, unseen.

But even the best make mistakes.

So she wrapped her arms around the too-skinny boy and permitted him to sob into her shoulder.

Of course, the next couple of months were hectic, with, after much persuading, the trial, speaking at the witness stand, and finally before she just told him to become his roommate. It did get lonely in that little apartment, after all. But it was something absolutely unheard of, her taking action and center stage for once, and him content with sharing a space with her, a living space, a spotlight.

Yes, they were the best-

-but even the best make mistakes.

“Hey, can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“…Wanna see a show with me later?”

She knew the implications and had stared at him, one eyebrow raised. He gave her a cheeky smile, the light illuminating a crescent scar under his jaw, the only remainder of a previous, sadder life.

“Why not?”

They sat in the middle of the audience, staring as the people danced across the stage, and she couldn’t help but think that person should’ve moved this way, not that, and he couldn’t help but think that he could put on a much more dramatic and realistic performance.

And then they turned to one another almost simultaneously, and stared, as they often did. The director and the lead actor both went against their instincts as they moved closer. Her instincts screamed that this did not follow the script, and his instincts screamed that this was not how an actor acted, all nervous and jittery.

But, after all, even the best make mistakes.

They improvised.

---

A/N~ Sorry that I haven't been uploading so much. School and other stuff just in the way. Hopefully I'll be back to a normal uploading schedule soon<3