Queen of the Universe

The tone had Delancourt scrambling to eat her words. “I didn’t mean anything by,” she stuttered, “Perfectly normal for people not to know how to dance! I just forget because it’s absolute bread and butter to me. I mean, the hours I spent having my toes practically mashed by Thyesus, by the stars. You’re lucky not to have had that, really.” The queen gave an awkward laugh as she realized she was rambling and quickly stuffed a bite of cake into her mouth. Sometimes she needed to learn when to shut up.

Swallowing down the cake, she looked to Lara again. “It is a rather fun past time, though, when you have the right partner,” she said, “If you ever wanted to learn, I’d be more than happy to teach you.” Delancourt wouldn’t count herself a spectacular teacher, but the movements of a waltz were as muscle memory to her as breathing, so at least she had that going for her.

lara shrugged.   lucky,   she thought,   was a way to put it.   the frivolousness was part of her dislike of the more refined spheres.   she’d found,   long ago,   an absurdity to their rules and regulations,  to their rationales and exceptions.  her last court assignment had nearly ended in disaster,  and her guild had limited her encounters since.  it hadn’t been a terrible disappointment,  her love pledged to chemical burns and more physical contract work.   even the most agonizing nights working to keep away night prowlers and bandits was substantially less painful.

A bright smile spread over pale lips as Mal gave permission for her company. “Well, you’ll certainly not get in trouble with me,” she said, “and I promise, I won’t tell on you.” She smirked like that was a clever joke.

Her smile fell as she watched Mal walk towards the door. His movements were so stiff and halted. “We should’ve gotten up long ago, Mal,” she said, “You should have said something.” The young queen made her way over to door but stopped in front of the mage, “Taking care of yourself is far more important the philosophy.” 

“I wouldn’t mind getting nothing done,” Delancourt said as she skipped along to catch up with the mage, “Like I said, I find this philosophy dreadfully boring.” Though she had to admit he had a point; Delan’s advisors would not be pleased that she was spending all her time wandering the gardens and halls of Revur instead of learning what was apparently important to be a good queen. How philosophy made her a better queen, she hadn’t puzzled out yet.

“I wouldn’t jump quickly to conclusions.”

“Whatever, don’t judge a book by its cover.”

“We just never stay anywhere nice.”

“I don’t want to kill the vibe, but we could just turn the lights on.”

“No, no, no, you’re gonna scare the ghosts away!”

“You can definitely smell the age of this room.”

“Holy shit, it’s a jacuzzi tub!”

“This is the best place we’ve ever… cleared? Stayed? Ghost-busted!”

“It’s like a ghost sitcom.”

“He didn’t like sinful activities, he didn’t like debauchery in general.”

“Well, he can go to hell.”

“Do you really want to talk about that night?”

“I stole them off a woman who died on the Titanic!”

“We can never go back there.”

“Shadows do tend to follow you, though. That’s sort of how they work.”

“It was booming with music and lots of other stuff too.”

“Were there Chads back then?”

“[Name] is afraid of you.”

“I think you should show him that you demand to be respected.”

“I never knew that this was that easy.”

“If there’s anybody in here, now’s the time to let us know.”

“You gotta fucking calm down, man.”

“Ghost 101. One, knock book of shelf. Two, uhh, hold a candlestick in the middle of the hallway. Three, sheets.”

“We’re gonna leave now, please don’t follow me.”

“If you can’t catch him here, just follow him home.”

“Stop telling the ghosts to follow me home!”

“I do not like this room at all.”

“Um, is there anybody in here with me?”

“This is one of the best days of my life.”

“If you don’t want us to be here, send us a sign.”

“Why do you have to phrase it like that?”

“I’m sorry I’m in here.”

“I just got the fucking chills, god dammit.”

“I feel like I’m gonna cry.”

“Was that you telling us to leave?”

“Ghost, I’m beginning to suspect that you’re not real.”

“Call it a hunch, but I’ve sat in a lot of dark rooms with this guy talking to the air.”

“There’s definitely a noise, but I don’t think it’s compelling in the sense that it sounds like a voice.”

“It’s your time to run amok.”

“Did you just take a shit?”

“I just realized what I’ve gotten myself into again.”

“Come out, rip my skull outta my head, pull my bones out and melt them in front of my face.”

“Are we doing more of this or could I use the jacuzzi hot tub that we’ve been blessed with?”

“Are we gonna spend the night here and not use that?”

“We’re just two guys sitting in a tub.”

“I’m delighted, because this is the first place we’ve ever slept that has just a modicum of luxury.”

“It’s so dark in there, did you see that?”

“I wanna see if someone’s actually out there.”

“Maybe this is a lost cause.”

“It sounds not even close to my voice.”

“Is this not alarming you?”

“Between [name’s] snoring and this fucking ghost, I’m gonna kill somebody.”

“I’m a little spooked.”

“I bet he was just embarrassed.”

“There’s a ghost marching around for seven hours nonstop.”

“I’m gonna take the camera away from your stupid face.”

“This place is not haunted.”

“We gotta merchandise those things.”

“I really don’t know what to expect.”

“Voodoo is actually a very positive practice.”

“You would kill me? You would murder me??”

“It’s all hypothetical, I don’t really want to.”

“We argue on this, but I don’t want to murder you!”

“I never said I wanted to murder you.”

“You want to kill me!”

“Can you see over this without jumping?”

“The house is quite a sight.”

“You have to get that out of your head and just let it flow.”

“I’m fascinated and interested and I’m not afraid of these things.”

“I think you might intellectualize too much.”

“I’m just a guy who’s interested in this stuff and gets a little dizzy sometimes.”

“Is this a thing you recommend for anyone?”

“So we’re looking at bare bones right now.”

“You look so scared already.”

“I’ve been, uh, more comfortable.”

“It it best that you walk through backwards.”

“You wanna say anything to me or the little guy? What about to the giant?”

“I do find that more compelling than any of the other dumb ones you’ve dug up.”

“What on the street could possible make that noise?”

“It sounds like it’s literally in the room with us.”

“Any time you do that shrug, it’s like a victory for me.”

“It makes my heart warm.”

“I’m gonna buy you one of those for Christmas.”

“Any physical sensations that you’re feeling in there?”

“Put away your fear and just focus on what you feel.”

“I’m bad at feeling.”

“I wanna believe in something, outside the norms of physics.”

“He’s having a rough time tonight.”

“Maybe I’m too in my head.”

“If there’s anything here, it feels like it’s scared, too.”

“I took an improv class once, because I’m a white guy.”

“I always felt like something was watching me in the dark when I was little.”

“Find that source, you might dissolve some of your fears.”

“The spirit world is in your hands.”

“I just got the chills thinking about it, that’s fucking crazy.”

“So, the takeaway here is every little sound is a ghost?”

“No, the takeaway here is that sounds that don’t belong in that environment may or may not be ghosts.”

“Did you actually just comment on something that may have been paranormal?”

“I was just waiting for the logical explanation.”

“The kitchen is the darkest part of this house.”

“Let’s lock ourselves in the murder room.”

“I think you just want to watch me freak out.”

“If there’s anyone here, feel free to reach out to me.”

“I’m gonna die in there.”

“A lot of times I just do this because I know how much [name] will hate it.”

“His mind will eat itself.”

“I don’t really want to talk about what happened in there.”

“I’m gonna leave forever in a second right now.”

“There’s something creepy up in the attic.”

“See anything spooky?”

“I think something tugged on my shirt.”

“I gotta tell you, I’m really transfixed with this world.”

“You gotta learn to not be so scared.”

“I think you need to learn how to shut the fuck up.”

“I’m not even trying to be a jerk about this.”

“I just get tired of you asking if I get scared about things that I don’t believe in.”

“It’s like asking me if I’m concerned that when I fall asleep the moon turns around and winks at me with a big, evil face and has a boner, or something.”

“Of course not, because that’s not real.”

“Does the moon wear pants, then, to cover up its boner at all times?”

“This is the dumbest example you’ve ever given.”

“I think the moon having a boner is about as realistic as ghosts.”

❝ These are men, not monsters. ❞

❝ Fuck those men. Fuck them for their shortsightedness. Fuck them for their ingratitude. ❞

❝ We should be cutting your goddamn tongue out for all the lies you’ve told us. ❞

❝ Perhaps my lack of education is showing. ❞

❝ Don’t be sorry. Do your fucking job. ❞

❝ If your friends aren’t capable of protecting themselves, then I argue they aren’t worth protecting. ❞

❝ I think that’s why you’re so frustrated with me… because you know all this, and because you know you are so much more like me than anyone you’ve ever met in your entire life.  ❞

❝ Stop telling me what it is you think I think. You sound fucking ridiculous. ❞

❝ How is it you see such a partner in them and such a villain in me? ❞

❝ Civilization needs its monsters. ❞

❝ I think it worth reminding you that in most cases a person trying to change the world fails for one simple and unavoidable reason… everyone else. ❞

❝ Brace yourself, but I’m the only person within a hundred miles of here who doesn’t want to see you dead. ❞

❝ Stay out of my fucking business. Consider this the only warning you’re ever gonna get. ❞

❝ If we are all going to make something of this place, perhaps it is in everyone’s best interest that you and I find a way past all of this, past your anger towards me. ❞

❝ If you’re anything like me, you simply cannot abide a liar. ❞

❝ There’s a feeling one gets when in the presence of the truly great men. It’s something quite indescribable. ❞

❝ The game you are entering into is a brutal and unforgiving one. ❞

❝ Great men aren’t made great by politics. ❞

❝ If your interests and mine were adverse to each other, there’s a good chance I’d cross you to save myself. ❞

❝ And the moral of the story… everybody needs a partner. ❞

❝ I’m not looking for someone to hold my hand. I need someone who can help me. ❞

❝ Strange pairs… They can achieve the most unexpected things. ❞

❝ When someone gives you a life, it ain’t truly your own. You owe some part of it back. ❞

❝ They can hate me, they just need to need me. ❞

❝ Hold that position for long enough and you might convince everyone you’re something more than you actually are. ❞

❝ This upsets you. This threatens you. I am sorry. There is nothing you can do about it. ❞

❝ It isn’t about getting them to like you, it’s about reminding them how much they dislike each other.  ❞

❝ My concern is for you. ❞

❝ If you are not strong enough to protect yourself, then I am urging you to cease behaving as if you are. ❞

❝ My concern with you is over that which cannot be known. That thing which arises in you when passions are aroused… good sense escapes you. All people have it. But yours… yours is different. Darker. Wilder. When exposed to extremes, I could not imagine what it is capable of. And of greater concern, I’m not sure you do either. ❞

❝ Know that all I have ever wanted for you is to be happy. ❞

❝ No matter where I’ve been, one thing is true. There’s always one. The one you don’t cross. It would seem readily apparent that in this place, that would be you. ❞

❝ Strange. You and I have never shared more than a few words, and yet I feel like we’re old friends. ❞

❝ Every person has their torments. Demons born of past wrongs that hound and harass them. You perceive the effects of the demons. Echoes of their voices. But I know their names. I was there when they were born. I know the things they whisper at night. So you can believe me when I tell you that within the chorus of torments… none of them look or sound like me. ❞

❝ I imagine there are two kinds of men who make their life at sea. Those whose sense of duty forces them to leave any sense of permanence or identity behind them and those for whom that is the attraction. ❞

❝ I think you’re someone who’s very good at managing how you’re perceived. ❞

❝ I think you’re powerless to do anything about this. ❞

❝ I will rain holy hell down upon them. ❞

❝ You have questions about my loyalties? Then accuse me. Challenge me. Fight me. Or shut the fuck up about it. ❞

❝ So you think that they see me as the villain in this particular story? ❞

❝ To pardon a traitor is the act of a coward. ❞

❝ I’ve put a lot of bodies in the ground for you, haven’t I? ❞

❝ People can say what they like about you. But you’re a good person. More people should say that. And someone should be willing to defend it. ❞

❝ It’s clear to me now that what lies ahead is the road to ruin. And I’m asking you to stop this right now before we’ve all gone too far to turn back. ❞

❝ Given a choice between capitulation and survival, I don’t imagine that to be much of a choice for you at all. ❞

❝ I have been the subject of enough ridicule and innuendo to know the difference between a little danger and mortal danger, and I’m telling you that what we face right now is the latter. ❞

❝ I have been loyal and protective and fucking committed to you since that day, and I am asking you to come with me so that I can save your life. ❞

❝ I tried to tell you once, I’m a hard person not to like. ❞

❝ You have proven me so very wrong. And I could not be prouder of you for it. ❞

❝ I think you are fighting for the sake of fighting! Because it’s the only state in which you can function! ❞

❝ Had I two rounds left, I would shoot both of you and be done with all of this. ❞

❝ I’m only sorry that you cannot see past your own pride to join me. ❞

❝ The idea that you could choose to discard our arrangement, that I would demur in the face of your unassailable rhetoric, either you’ve overestimated yourself, or you’ve underestimated me.  ❞

❝ I don’t hide behind the law. I don’t hide behind anything. I look him in his eye and I give him every chance to deny me. That is legitimate. ❞

❝ We aren’t criminals to them. We aren’t even men. We’re animals. ❞

❝ If I’m not what I was when I was born, and I ain’t what I’ve become instead… what the fuck am I? ❞

❝ Where else would you wake up in the morning and matter? ❞

❝ So easy for you to betray your oath? ❞

❝ It isn’t actually the pain they’re inflicting that’s the most frightening part of it. It isn’t the fear of future pain. It’s the knowledge that even when the pain stops, even if they were to let you go, that they’ve changed you. That pain, that fear, that despair… has made you someone else, someone you barely recognize. ❞

❝ I assure you, you will hear from me again. ❞

❝ There is always a life, there is always a future, as long as one is willing to build it for themselves. ❞

❝ I know that any appearance of civility from you is but a glimpse of the person you once were. A ghost that shows itself only while the darker things that now govern your soul lay dormant. ❞

❝ I’m forced to wonder if this illusion is no accident at all, but theater for my benefit, orchestrated by someone so awful, even monsters such as these have no choice but to dance to the tune they play for them. ❞

❝ What happens if that person decides the theater no longer serves his purposes and he lets the monsters loose? ❞

❝ So now I realize two things are possible — One, something has changed within you, something so significant that you’ve turned into someone I barely recognize, or, two… it was a fantasy that I ever knew you at all. ❞

❝ I heard men say it was because of the violence. I heard them say it was your charm. It was clear to me the reason why you were so good at bending men towards your will was you knew the power of a story and how to harness it to your own ends. ❞

❝ I have done what I have done to arrive at this point. I have done what I’ve done and I will live with it. But do not for a moment believe that that defines me. I will not be that person. ❞

❝ Everyone realized, like just about anything else in this life… the moment you stop fearing it, it loses all its power. ❞

❝ It is free today, and so long as I draw breath, it shall remain free. ❞

❝ I’d hoped you and I shared a love to make such a thing unthinkable. I’d hoped those warnings were wrong. But I know you too well, so I prepared in case they were right. ❞

❝ Those people out there heard him and they came to my door not to pay their respects, not because they loved my father… but because when this war begins, they want to make sure I don’t mistake them for enemies. ❞

❝ I cannot stand before you and claim to be without sin. ❞

❝ I feared the person I was about to create. I feared that someone born of such dark things would consume me were I not careful. And I was determined only to wear them for a while and then dispose of them when their purpose was complete. ❞

❝ Truth is… every day I’ve worn that name I’ve hated it a little more. I’ve been ready to return it to the sea for a long time. ❞

❝ What forgiveness are you entitled to while you stand back in the shadows pushing me out in front of the world to be laid bear for the sake of the truth? ❞

❝ Tell me when does the truth about your sins come to light? ❞

❝ You know nothing of my sins. ❞

❝ I want to see this whole goddamn city, this city that you purchased with our misery, burn! ❞

❝ I want to see you hanged on the very gallows you’ve used to hang men for crimes far slighter than this! ❞

❝ I want to see that noose around your neck and I want to pull the fucking lever with my own two hands! ❞

❝ The time for storytelling is past. Now is the time for cold, hard truths. ❞

❝ Is it for my welfare that you want me to leave or your own? ❞

❝ I was clear about what I wanted and I don’t think it had anything to do with begging your forgiveness. ❞

❝ Why did you betray those closest to you all those years ago? Was it really so small and vile as a bribe? The promise of lording over other men in this place? Or were you simply too weak to say no? Too cowardly to do the harder thing and preserve your decency? Tell me it was the latter. Tell me this is all happening because of your cowardice. I could accept that. I might forgive that.❞

❝ Even in this moment, alone with a condemned person, you are unable to speak the truth. ❞

❝ Being that far away, you see things differently. ❞

❝ Every time I said my name, they knew my name. The first thing they said every time was your name. Like we was two halves of the same thing. ❞

❝ I can’t be your wife. But you and I are gonna be partners till they put us in the fucking ground. ❞

❝ Everyone is a monster to someone. Since you are so convinced that I am yours, I will be it. ❞

❝ You are the protector of the law in this place and you brazenly disregard that at your own peril. ❞

❝ For people like us, power in this place is most effective when it is least perceived. ❞

❝ If anyone was going to make a trophy of you, it really ought to be me. ❞

(Possibly triggering subjects below)

“I knew you’d leave, it’s okay. I’m used to being left behind”

“We used to be so close and now I feel like I don’t even know you”

“Please don’t go. Please”

“I wish I meant something to you”

“Why do you you always shut me out?”

“You may have stopped being my friend but I never stopped being yours”

“I still care”

“Just leave, you’re better off without me”

“Why are you looking at me with that pitiful face?”

“Stop following me. I want nothing to do with you”

“I hate you for what you’ve done”

“Feelings change”

“You won’t even kiss me anymore”

“Don’t touch me”

“You never cared”

“You have such a beautiful way of telling lies. I almost believe them”

“You were the only friend I had”

“Forgive you? How could I ever forgive the things you’ve done?”

“I’m sorry I wish I could fix things. I’d go back in time just to take that chance”

“Why won’t you look at me?”

“You can say all the hurtful things you want but I won’t leave you like this”

“Running again I see”

“Yeah, walk by me like we’re complete strangers” 

“I should hate you but I don’t and I don’t know why”

“You terrify me”

“I wish I could just vanish”

“I’m nothing”

“I hate you but I hate myself even more”

“You’re useless”

“It seems like I always get off easy while everyone around me suffers”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you”

“I still love you”

“You’re destroying yourself”

“I hate what I see in the mirror”

“I’m a monster”

“You’re a monster”

“Nothing matters anymore”

“If only I was like you”

“This alliance is temporary and on record, I will hate every second of it.”

“So, we’re stuck doing this together…”

“Alright hey… maybe I did like that, okay? Don’t look into it.”

“This has got to be the worst work situation I could have possibly gotten.”

“You two getting along this well has resulted in me having opinions.”

“So how’d that turn out for you?”

“You did actually enjoy the time we had, didn’t you?”

“This is now entirely hopeless.”

“What are we supposed to do now?”

“To think this entire time… I’ve actually hated it!”

“I’m detecting there are feelings going on.”

“Admitting things to yourself isn’t always a god awful experience.”

“Is it really that bad, to like something like this without worry?”

“I get to be a little selfish right now. Screw everything else.”

“Alright… fine. You did win, I admit it. Happy?”

“Maybe someone being an absolute gremlin isn’t always unwanted. Sometimes.”

“It wasn’t an agonizing experience… I guess.”

“Oh I know what that face means. Can’t hide it, I know that that means!”

“You were smiling and giggling, and didn’t realize the time. Come on.”

“It… it wasn’t ever healthy for me, was it?”

“You need to come to terms with what happened, what wasn’t good for you.”

“Say it? Fine, I lost. Are you quite pleased with yourself?”

“I miss the good parts of what I had but… I won’t fall back into that trap.”

“Expectations are just… disappointing. I know that I’ve done that.”

“Hey, come here. It’s alright.”

“Shh. It’s okay.”

“You got me, and I’m not so bad, right?”

“I know what you need. Hold on.”

“I’m arresting you for being criminally cute.”

“Sleeping in? Hell yeah.”

“That was my blanket! Come on…”

“Don’t you dare. No, no puppy face of yours is gonna work…”

“I just found out I have $40 more than I thought. We’re getting take out!”

“Have some of this. You’ll feel better.”

“Ey, I got you. You know I do.”

“I’m glad you’re here. Truly.”

“Thank you for being gentle.”

“You did not just throw that pillow at me!”

“Door’s locked, lights are off… snacks are here, what’s next?”

“Your hands are cold, let me help.”

“You really didn’t need to, you know.”

“You needed a hug.”

“I will not be broken… I will not be… fine, you win stop with the face.”

“No, you’re cute. End of story.”

“I’m not cute. End of story.”

“Listen, we don’t have to fight, we can both be adorable.”

“…but I like it when you’re a soft dork.”

“Come on, get over here.”