Humannequin (twenty one pilots-RUBY)

3.Isle of Flightless Birds

July 2015 

"So spill, what's wrong?"

How did he know? "Nothing important," Tyler lied.

"If it upsets you, it is important."

"But it's stupid."

"I would never think that something that upsets you is stupid," Josh promised. He seemed sincere.

[you are ridiculous everyone should laugh at you]

"Maybe you wouldn't but I would and I do. Everyone should, really. Its insignificance is pretty objective."

Josh frowned."It's not. Anyway, all I'm saying is that you could talk to me; you don't have to be alone. I know how that feels like."

"I know."

"So...?" Josh looked hopeful.

"So I'm much better now anyway, therefore I think it should wait for another time."

"Okay, I won't push you."

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Tyler's ways wouldn't change so easily. He still wondered about Josh every day. He wondered if the boy truly liked him and how long that would last. If Tyler annoyed him too much and perhaps should leave him alone. But Josh always made him feel special and Tyler forgot all about his insecurities. At least for a while. Then the thoughts would come back.

"You just need to find a point," Josh had stressed. 

"There is no point," Tyler argued."Nothing has any point, we just desperately try to add some point otherwise everything would be pointless and we can't stand that thought. People would do anything to escape their meaningless, their insignificance."

"Okay so add the point, be the point. 'Be the change that you wish to see in the world'. I know that's cliché but don't be afraid to try it, you'd be surprised."

Tyler frowned. 'The world looks better through his eyes', he thought. "So you're saying I should 'see the world not as it is but as it should be'?"

_____________________________________________________

"They're all hypocritical bastards. Why should I be a fucking pawn in their disgusting game that everyone calls 'life'?" Tyler questioned.

"Okay, first of all you need to try these cookies." Josh was holding a small food container filled with delicious-looking cookies. 

"Well, I ain't gonna say no to food. 'I can resist everything but temptation'." Tyler tasted one. "Holy Fourth of July, this is one quality cookie!"

"Okay, first of all stop, speaking like that," Josh chuckled. "Also, thanks, I really enjoyed baking them."

"You know, I think this is the first home-baked cookie I've ever had."

"How come?"

"My mother doesn't, um, bake a lot. Well, except for our birthday cakes."

"I see... Well, anyway, not everyone is like that, Tyler," Josh began. "Or...or maybe...maybe all of them are. All of us. But the thing is they are just like us. They were young once, like you and me. Maybe they thought the same things you do, felt the same way. Maybe Mr. Anderson-"

"I will NEVER be like him!" Tyler cut him off, shouting." Never, never, never-"

[hitting his son every night]

"Hey, calm down!" Josh looked concerned. 

I bet Mr. Anderson is concerned about his son too.

"No..."

[His son is screaming] 

"I didn't mean it like that!" Josh desperately tried to explain.

["I'll be a good boy, dad, please stop! I'll be"] 

He couldn't help shouting again. "NEVER!"

[a good boy, dad !]

"Tyler, calm down, I know you won't be like him," Josh stated calmly. "I know that. But your parents are nice people, Ty. Maybe they're trapped inside this disgusting game too, but they are good to you. All I'm trying to say is, Anderson's father may have hit him too when he was a kid. No one is just born evil. But if they grow up without love..." He paused. "Your parents don't hit you, they love you and take care of you."

"I know..."

[Yes
Yes, he would be a good boy.]

"So...what do I do, Josh?"

Josh sighed."You do what you think is right. You keep having your morals, of course. But you can't live away from society. You'll be part of the game because you need to survive. But you'll also do your own thing because you need to live. Just don't get too caught up in the game."

Live. He needed to live. But I guess I've known that all along, haven't I? My "own thing". What could that be? Music?

[your stupid "poems" fucking suck, they are pathetic and disgusting, just like you
they are abnormal and morbid like your whole existence
that's why Mrs. Waltham gave you an F time and time again
They are garbage, you fool ! Garbage!
What good could these hands do? What kind of voice could this throat ever produce? What kind of thoughts could this twisted mind create?]

Tyler finally found the courage to answer.

"How do I...talk to people? I haven't made small talk in years. People have learned to avoid me, you know. And, to be honest, they seem to be afraid of me. I've sort of become the town's Boo Radley, I guess."

"Just start with something simple!" Josh smiled. He seemed obviously excited about the prospect of Tyler making this small (but oh-so-big) step. "Just think of someone you don't actually hate. Someone who has been kind to you, maybe? Someone who doesn't hit their kid or steal money from their work. There must be such people, Tyler...and next time you run into them, just try saying 'hi' or something."

'Hi'? Well...how could that be so bad? But a 'hi' could lead to small talk and anxiety and fear and-
stop it. It will be okay. It has to be. He has to do that for himself. He needs to be part of society in order to finally be able to live.

"Say 'hi'...Well, I-I think I just might do that," Tyler mumbled.

"Great! It will be good for you, Ty, you'll see." Josh had a huge smile on his face. "Do it when you feel comfortable enough."

"So you think it will be okay?"

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References/Quotes: Muse-Escape, Mahatma Gandhi, Ed Sheeran-Firefly, Glee, Oscar Wilde,Batman, Harper Lee-To Kill A Mockingbird.