Pleasant Dinner Conversation (WWC?)

Target: Sableye
Difficulty: Medium
Character Count: 11125

So Spoiler gives away the plot basically, but there's nothing graphic or cursing of any kind. It's like a ghost story for teens basically. There's some implied stuff that might give you the willies, but I never really go into detail on depiction of it or anything. If you're still worried, then feel free to read the Spoiler to decide if it is for you or not.

I also did this all in one sitting late at night because inspiration struck, I guess. Not sure how I went from watching a comedy movie, to this. But, that's life, yea?

Spoiler

Not really sure how graphic this is since it leaves a lot to the imagination, but the implication here is that a Sableye is eating a kids parents in front of him, while basically trying to explain his insane reason for doing so...

Pleasant Dinner Conversation​

These houses are such a drag. Spaced out families struggling to get by. A man, a woman, maybe a kid or two.

It just seems like a lot of work, ya know? I mean, why struggle so hard to get by? Especially when you’ve already given up on your dreams.

The airs you guys put on. It’s really all superficial. You’re all in the same boat. Struggling to pay debts and to put food on the table, but none of you ever talk about it. This is supposed to be a community, right? I mean, you all love to gossip and dish out secrets, but it’s never anything genuine.

You’re all destined to end up in the same place. Why not get along more? Just seems weird to be so malicious towards each other.

CRUNCH

In the end, what are we all?

We are but spirits born from the earth and destined to return.

I always found it funny. These feeble people compared themselves to the precious stones and metals beneath them.

‘You shine like a diamond!’

‘Your eyes are as pretty and blue as a sapphire.’

‘A city of gold. Now that's what everyone dreams of. El Dorado.’

CRUNCH

These people don’t understand. There’s a fundamental difference between themselves and the precious gems they obsess over.

Clarity. Color. Cut. These are the three defining factors of worth for a gem.

If I had to judge these factors on humans, they’d all fail miserably.

Clarity — The older a person gets, the more blurred their innocence. That clear desire fogs over and gets replaced with something more sinister. The cold harshness of the world blinds them and ruins their worth.

Color — Every human strays from their initial color. They don’t even realize it. What was once unique sacrifices itself for conformity. They get an image in their head and they do everything they can to change into it. They don’t even realize how boring it is to blend in. How bland they look when surrounded by the same color.

Cut — The overall product. How the gem was shaped. What influences gave it the form we can see. How does light affect it? Does it make the product shine brighter, or does it reveal flaws?

The over-saturation that’s so pervasive these days just ruins it all. Kids start off so promising, but those in control find ways to blow it.

CRUNCH

'Do this; don’t do that.’

'Follow my directions.’

'Obey the rules.’

'These are your expectations.’

‘How dare you act that way?!’

‘You’re embarrassing us!’

‘I’m disappointed in you.’

You’ve heard these plenty of times, yeah?

CRUNCH

What starts out clear and pristine gets cut into something bland and boring.

What starts out brilliant and unique becomes just another cog in the system.

Is this the future you want? Is this dullness supposed to move the world? Where does the innovation come from? Who is supposed to bring change? Isn’t that what they all want: change? Then, why do they keep stifling it?

They all start out with grand dreams. They all aspire to something. You can see it in their walk. The way they talk. The way their eyes light up. I’m sure you have the same tendencies now!

Heroes. They just wanted to be heroes.

CRUNCH

Astronauts, they want to see the unknown. Doctors, they want to help people. Veterinarians, they want to care for those who can’t care for themselves. Athletes, they want to be the strongest in the world. Musicians, they want to be the first to hear a new sound. Actors, they want to walk in someone else’s shoes. Writers, they want to create a world no one has ever seen. Detectives, they want to solve everyone’s problems. Teachers… they want to be the change.

You kids have such lofty dreams.

So what do they do? They make them give it all up. Every kid must know ‘X’. If kid A doesn’t understand ‘X’ by the time he is 5, then he has something wrong with him. If kid B completely understands ‘X’ by the time she is 4, then she is smart and should start learning ‘Y’. Her reward isn’t freedom. Her reward is more problems.

Who decides ‘X' and ‘Y’? Not you kids of course. How could you know what you want to learn? You obviously aren’t conformed enough to know what is good for you. They know what is good for you. They are the ones to decide. If kid A decides he doesn’t want to learn ‘X’, then there must be something wrong with him. Why wouldn’t he want to be like everyone else?

CRUNCH

This is why I’ve become how I am. This is why my eyes shine like precious stones. I’ve devoured enough ‘imperfect’ specimens to finally understand the world around me.

You know the saying: ‘You are what you eat?’

In my case, it turns out that’s the truth.

Enough gems, enough rocks, enough dirt. Do you know what all that made me? It made me sturdy. It made me tough. It gave me perspective.

My eyes changed. They became hard. I’ve seen the constant cycle of lives. I’ve seen hardships and I’ve seen triumphs. These eyes have seen what the world has to give. They once thought the world was full of life and splendor. They now know how wrong that is.

Gaia didn’t make the dirt for no reason. She came from Chaos and brought her own order. Her own beauty.

Gaia created a home for the Gods. There’s no surprise that even the dirt would share her beauty. However, these rejected creations continue to taint her beauty.

I originally brought it upon myself to taste the beauty of this world. The rocks, the gems, the plants, the life. It’s all part of the cosmos she created, and the greatness I aspire to. With every pure consumption, a small piece of the filth I saw left my eyes.

CRUNCH

I once saw beauty leave this Earth. One woman managed to defy the odds. She broke the cycle.

Clarity. Color. Cut. She had it all.

She was unlike any other. Her uniqueness had never failed her. Her aspirations never clearer. Her cut had turned her into a worldly treasure.

She talked to me. She told me about her days. She told me about her dreams. She told me about my eyes.

This was someone who could make a difference. I delighted just being in her presence. I swear that the sunlight followed her just to illuminate her splendor. Beauty had emerged from nothingness, so there must be some hope. Maybe this whole system wasn’t flawed. If even one person emerged from the system with her amount of worth, then maybe, just maybe, my hunger could finally be satiated. Maybe this was all worth it in the end.

CRUNCH

It wasn’t meant to be.

She left to spread her light. I thought to myself that people would be foolish not to follow her. I thought that this world would be forced to see what they could be. What they were missing all along.

They didn’t. They revolted.

She came back one day. No more light. No more color. No more clarity.

Someone had changed her cut.

I could not understand. What had gone wrong? How could this have happened? Where was the girl who once wanted the world?

I saw it. I saw the evil that changed her.

A monster.

CRUNCH

He had a face, but he was still a monster.

He had a name, but he was still a monster.

HE. HAD. A. STUPID. GRIN. BUT. HE. WAS. STILL. A. MONSTER.

How one man could take something so beautiful and make it so dark. How one man could see such beauty and snuff it out of the world. How one man could destroy the future that everyone wanted.

She came to me once more. She talked to me one last time. She cried.

I don’t know if she felt guilty. I don’t know if she understood my eyes anymore.

What I do know, is that she changed me for the better that day. She gave me purpose.

My hunger was finally something I could place. Something I knew what to do with. Gaia hadn’t left me here to taste her wonders. She had left me here as judge.

CRUNCH

I started with my once precious gem. I fondly remembered her sweetness. Her glow. Her color. Her brilliance.

Never did it quite come out again, but as judge I couldn’t let her worth deteriorate. Her underlying sweetness eased my palate into the bitterness that’s now so routine.

You know, I’ve heard many humans compare the hardness of a skull to that of a diamond. I’ve had both now, and I can tell you my teeth are more thankful after they sink into a skull.

CRUNCH

But I digress, my new job has kept me busy and satisfied. I’ve taken new pleasure in sharpening my claws and my teeth. The taste of jewelry has opened my eyes to the idea of seasonings. I’ve become a much more involved chef. As well, I’ve learned to link my palette with my palate. Just one glimpse at the clarity, color, and cut of a soul and I can already place the taste. It has made it much easier to find the proper gems for flavoring.

So, truthfully, it has been a good period in my life.

Cleansing and the like has done wonders for nature around me. I feel much better knowing the monsters nearby are all dealt with. I’ve opened up my friends to my new mission, and flavors are a great new topic for small talk.

The only real problem is that visitors to our island have dwindled recently. Perhaps people are catching wind? I don’t know.

I can only hope this’ll just incentivize the change she wanted. Maybe this isn’t the way she wanted it, but I don’t have the captivating light she did.

Truth be told, I don’t even like the light. The darkness suits me all the better.

CRUNCH

Oh, please. You can stop quivering.

I already told you didn’t I? You kids are our future and haven’t been tainted yet.

As sweet and delectable as your purity must taste, it hasn’t been refined yet.

Did your parents forget to teach you not to eat food raw?

Yes or no?

Alright, let’s make this simple. Blink once for yes, twice for no.

They haven’t!? Well that’s a true shame! What about ripeness?

Oh good. I’m glad you at least know that much. Well, then think of it this way: as judge I can help you achieve the purity I want to see in the world. And well, if you don’t get there, you’ll be plenty ripe down the road. Don’t worry, I’ll find just the right flavoring to mix with you.

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

So, yeah. You understand why I’m here, right? Why I had to do what I did?

I mean, it was a long story, but I feel like I got my point across. Good, evil, Gaia, yada yada.

Basically, the whole point I’m trying to get across here is that I was placed here to eat the wickedness from this world.

It just so happened that your parents were pretty wicked people. Nothing I really could have done differently here.

You, however, have a world of options and opportunities open to you! You can shine bright just like you were always meant to!

What was your name again? Jimmy was it? Ahhh, that’s probably close enough.

What do you want to be, Jimmy? Ooooooh, you want to be a Pokemon Trainer! Well, Jimmy. That’s a fine goal. I hope you get there!

Remember to dream big! Just a heads up, though. You should probably stay away from my type. We can be a little volatile. Nothing serious, but it’s probably not worth the headache.

Oh! One last thing, Jimmy. Do you have any friends nearby? Anyone else I can warn about the darkness of society? Just point me in the right direction!

Did the Meowth get your tongue again? It’s fine, right? We’re friends now! I mean, I’d hate to show you what I do with people who aren’t my friends…

That way? Thanks a bunch!

 

Snag!

 

graded, deleted, and sent!