Bleeding Heros

                          ❝    ONCE UPON A TIME                                                           There was a spider in a library                                                            With moon-bright eyes                                                            That could see every world…   ❞

                                    THE LADY RUBY

A MONTH.   It’s been one month since Miranda died, & one month of Karl leaving the village & beginning the work untangling his complicated emotions surrounding the whole situation. For the most part, he has settled down. A large fortune left behind by his previous family ensures he doesn’t have to worry about food or shelter, but he still opts to live a simple life. A small house, scarcely decorated, close enough to the woods that he has very few neighbours, but still near enough to civilisation that he can gradually get used to being around normal people.

He owns a pick-up truck. It’s old and rundown, but Karl had taken great pleasure in fixing it up himself - investing himself in a project to distract from the trauma of his whole fucking life. There’s a dozen blankets in the back, a make-shift bed for Tilly so she can travel with him. The pair of them pull up in the truck now, coming to a halt outside of Ethan’s new home. Karl has his hair tied back, sunglasses perched atop his head, and his look as been considerably updated.

Starters from songs featured in Bo Burnham’s 2021 Netflix Special: Inside.

“Interesting, now leave me alone.”

“I booked a haircut, but it got rescheduled.”

“It’s a beautiful day to stay inside.”

“Should I leave you alone?”

“Don’t panic, call me and I’ll tell you a joke.”

“These 40 minutes are essential!”

“It’s similar to a constant state of sleep paralysis.”

“How about you give it a try?“

“That is how the world works.”

“Are you gonna behave yourself?”

“I hope you learned your lesson!”

“Is this Heaven?”

“I miss sitting with you in the front yard.”

“It’s got a little better, but it’s still hard.”

“Who needs a coffee? Cause I’m doing a run.”

“I’m an unpaid intern.”

“Put your back into it!”

“Amateurs can fucking suck it!”

“I’m thinking of taking it slow.”

“It isn’t sex, it’s the next best thing.”

“I’m getting hot at just the thought of what I’d do to you.”

“They made the internet for nights like these.”

“When you’re a kid and you’re stuck in your room, you’ll do any old shit to get out of it.”

“Well, look who’s inside again.”

“Isn’t anybody gonna hold me accountable?“

“I want to show you how I’m growing as a person.”

“I used to be the young one!”

“I built a birdhouse with my mom.”

“And now my stupid friends are having stupid children.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Never mind, I don’t wanna know.”

“Is there anyone out there?”

“Are you feeling what I’m feeling?”

“I’m not really feeling like I wanna get lit.”

“I try not to fight it.”

“If none of it’s of interest to you, you’d be the first.”

“Which Power Ranger are you?”

“You did it! Congratulations!”

“There it is again, that funny feeling.”

“It’ll be over soon.”

“Are you feeling nervous? Are you having fun?”

“Don’t overthink this, look in my eye.”

“Did I say that right?”

“Has it only been an hour?”

“Hey, here’s a fun idea! How ‘bout I sit on the couch?”