#thoit

‘The Gods can control our dreams. If they love us, they can give us wonderful dreams. … But usually they don’t.’

- Malatsa Thoit

*

Malatsa Thoit, leader of the continent Hu Keizuaka, enjoyed spending his time in the wild. His palace gardens were a mere forest, full of dangerous and exotic creatures, all of whom Malatsa Thoit had tamed. In the depths of his wilderness, amongst trees and nature, he felt most at peace. His young son Nomizon was sleeping at his side, while Thoit blew the smoke of his cigarette into the humid air. He stubbed it out on his arm and closed his eyes, relaxing enough to fall asleep himself.

*

‘The Gods of Birth is a nice being. Of course he’s nice, he brings life into the world… But if he wants to, he can take it away, just to see how much you miss it. So I suppose he’s a maniac as well.’

- Malatsa Thoit

*

When Thoit awoke, it was to a disaster. The smell of fire pulled him from his rest, and he opened his eyes to see that his beloved forest had burned to the ground. There was smoke all around him, amidst the sound of wilting leaves and frightened animals running for their lives. Thoit’s immediate thought was his cigarette, and a cold dread shot through his heart as he began to think that perhaps he hadn’t put it out. Had he done this…?

His mind was in a fuzzy haze, but he was alert enough to look down. Where was his child? “Nomi?” Thoit called into the burnt remnants of the forest. “Nomizon?” He stood and made his way through the debris, his eyes almost glistening as he looked at what had become of his creatures. There were bodies scattered all around the earth, of the animals that had been too slow or too lost in the smoke to run to safety. Thoit was a warrior, but he was not ashamed to cry… and he almost did. He almost cried at the sight of his lost animals, at his missing son and the fear he felt in his heart… when it occurred to him just how horrific this was. This was like a nightmare… and he was certain he’d stubbed his cigarette out on his arm.

Thoit stopped in his tracks, and sighed. “Alright.” He grunted. “Stop taking the fucking piss.” He reached into his pocket, for his cigarettes. He knew he had at least two… but his packet of cigarettes wasn’t here. Much to his annoyance. Irritated, Thoit glared at the ground, towards the Realm of the Gods. “Come on. Don’t be cunts. If you are going to give me a nightmare, at least let me fucking smoke.” “That isn’t a very nice way to speak to your Gods.” A sweet, young female voice came from behind him. Thoit turned around to see the Goddess of Love standing there, smiling at him mischievously, her bright red eyes sparkling. “It isn’t a very nice way to speak to anyone.” Thoit replied. “I want my cigarettes, then my son… and then I want to wake up. In that order.”

The Goddess of Love giggled. “Smoking is bad for you.” “So is living.” Thoit shrugged.

He watched as the smoke from a burning branch beside her began to rise, and form into the shape of a female. She wore a blue dress, and blue mist surrounded her. The air turned cold suddenly… it was obvious who this was. It was the Goddess of Death, and of course she had come to say her piece. “If you would like to die, we can make you die.” She spoke. “I’m sure the God of War would enjoy killing you for speaking to us in such a manner.”

Thoit stared her down, not the least bit intimidated by her. He wasn’t afraid of death, not even when he was looking right into her eyes. Fear of death only tended to plague people who never wanted an end to their life. Thoit wasn’t one of those people. He barely recalled when he had been. So… Thoit held the Goddess of Death’s gaze, for as long as it took… and eventually she sighed, and handed him a cigarette. She was even good enough to light it for him. “Thank you.” Thoit nodded, taking a drag. He allowed the smoke to settle into his mouth for a while, before he exhaled. “And tell him. Let him kill me if he wants – but then he will have to deal with me in your realm. So, it will be he who suffers.” He took a drag of his cigarette again, allowing the smoke to spill from his lips as he spoke. “I’m fucking shit company.”

The Goddess of Love giggled in amusement, while the Goddess of Death tried to stop a smirk forming upon her lips. “Where is my son?” Thoit demanded. “Look around.” The Goddess of Death shrugged. “What do you think happened to him? This is a nightmare.” “So not real, then.” Thoit walked back through the forest, back to the spot in which he’d awoken… and he sat back down. The Goddesses followed him, and he looked up at them in spite, angry at them for giving him such a nightmare… As if his real life wasn’t nightmare enough. If nothing else he was annoyed at them for taking his cigarettes away. He took another drag of his cigarette, and he exhaled as he gazed at them… and he sighed. “Can I wake up now?” “Aren’t you enjoying our company?” The Goddess of Love teased. “Not at all.” Thoit answered. “Forgive me, ladies… but I fucking hate seeing any of you.” He moved his eyes to the Goddess of Death. “Except you, my dear. I’m very much looking forward to seeing you… when your so called God of War decides to end me.” “I’ll bear that in mind.” The Goddess of Death smirked. “Now… if you’ll excuse me.” Thoit stubbed his cigarette out on his arm. “Fuck off and let me wake up – and next Halloween, please give your nightmares to someone else. My life is enough of a nightmare when I’m awake, I don’t need it when I’m fucking asleep.” “You don’t like seeing your animals harmed, do you?” The Goddess of Love smiled. “Or your forest?” “No.” Thoit answered. “I’ll tell the God of Birth.” “You do that.” Thoit closed his eyes. “If this was his idea, tell him he’s a cunt.”

He was answered by the sound of giggling, and when Thoit opened his eyes he was back in his forest. In the beautiful wilderness, exotic and unharmed. The sound of birds and insects surrounded him; he could hear the soft rustling of healthy green leaves blowing in the smokeless wind. He looked down to see his son still asleep at his side, and Thoit ran a hand through the boy’s hair. Thoit never told a lie; his life really was a nightmare to him… but in moments like this, at least he was granted peace.

*

‘Sometimes the Gods don’t send nightmares because they hate us. Sometimes… they just do it because they’re cunts.’