9S <YoRHa No.9 Type S> ([personal profile] twoaffirmations) wrote in [community profile] quietplace2018-02-02 10:03 pm

un: nines | "story time"

The native humans requested that we write a story for our trip up to see the Sound Eaters. We couldn't agree on anything, so we wrote separate ones.

I'm not really a writer, but... Actually, this is the first time I've had to write something that wasn't a report.

A child was born, a blade placed in his hand.

"Fight for us," his parents said.

He was happy to.

"When you're finished, you can see us," they promised.

But no matter how much he fought, he was never finished. The enemy was infinite in number, without thought or feeling.

No matter how fruitless it felt, he fought.

His parents' voices never seemed to come to him when he needed them most. They were hollow and distant. No matter how much he loved them...

He never felt any in return.

Fighting was lonely.

His life lacked a purpose outside of it, and as the satisfaction of it was stripped away layer by layer, he found himself an empty shell.

There was only so much he could do on his own. There was only so many distractions he could find.

There was only so much.

The day he got a partner was like being born anew.

She was beautiful and cool, but she was stubborn too.

No matter how hard he tried to connect with her, she always seemed to keep him away. At arm's length he admired her.

Together, they spent their time fighting.

Together, they did inconsequential things.

If it was with her, he would do anything. Even if his feelings weren't returned, that was okay.

As long as he could spend time with her, he was happy.

But one day he realized she wasn't sent to end his loneliness.

She was to immortalize it.

Through the boredom and curiosity that was spurred ever onward by his isolation, he'd done something he shouldn't have. His parents were angry with him, and she was to be their solution.

Even knowing the inevitable. Even knowing how it would turn out...

He stayed with her, because without her...

His life was meaningless.


This is "Fuwa-chan's" writing. I'm actually kind of impressed.

Many thousands of years ago lived a poor merchant with a rich heart. Year after year, he bought the same meager goods and traveled the same hard desert road, with the same tired camels in the same caravan he had traveled with his whole life. Even though he spent his entire life traveling, his world was really very small. And every night, his dreams were tormented by thoughts of the endless blue sky, which had no roads and no walls. One night, instead of dreaming, Saeed left his caravan and gave his wish to the moon and stars. "Before this moon is born again, let me make all my dreams come true! Let me travel the world and find all its treasures."

Just the sight of his own pitiful wares made him sick at heart. But once Saeed had sold them, he decided to buy something new, something he had never bought before. Perhaps if he bought things that were truly grand, then he could at last satisfy his longing for change. Although it took every last dirham he had, and his friends and family told him that he was a fool, Saeed bought a colorful carpet. Surely some wealthy man would shower him in gold for it!

But when he unrolled it that night to admire its pattern, he found that it had been wrapped tightly around a beaten and tarnished old oil lamp. Thinking that even this might be worth something, Saeed tried to polish it. Imagine his surprise when instead of oil, a genie spilled out! The carpet danced for joy to see that it had been reunited with its old friend, and all at once, Saeed knew his wish had been granted without ever saying a word. What dreams could he make come true with three more?

"I wish to fill my life with wealth and adventure from across the world." Saeed told the genie.

"But why search for it when I could grant you all the world's treasure right now?" The genie asked.

"After all this time earning my living, now I want to earn my life." Said Saeed. What good was a life of wealth and idleness if he hadn't seen the world and satisfied his curiosity to his heart's content? So the genie blessed Saeed with the power to sniff out treasure like a hound tracks a rabbit, and the three friends traveled the world for many years, seeking excitement and adventure while they gathered priceless treasures.

One day, Saeed told the genie "I wish to have my one true love beside me." For he had learned that love was the greatest treasure of all.

"But Master, I can't make anyone fall in love." Said the genie, who was sure he was asking for the impossible.

"What good is love bought instead of earned? Lead me to the one I'm meant to be with, and I will win her heart." Saeed promised. And so the genie granted Saeed extraordinary luck, until they met a beautiful woman named Isra, with hair darker than the night and eyes that shone brighter than the stars. He knew in his heart that she was the one who would complete him, but she was very sick. If he could concoct a potion that would heal her, then and only then would her father grant him her hand in marriage. Although it took many long nights of searching, Saeed brewed a potion out of magical powders and herbs he had found, and restored Isra to perfect health. Touched by his courage and devotion, Isra gave her heart to him, and the three friends became four.

Together, they spent many happy years, and Saeed satisfied his every desire as he became the wealthiest man in the world. Eventually, he grew old, and realized only one wish remained in his heart. He wanted to grant the genie freedom, just like the genie had given it to him. They made a promise together that underneath the full moon, he would wish for the genie's freedom, just like he had wished for his own so many years ago.

But wealthy men have many enemies. Not a week after that promise thieves forced their way into their home deep in the desert, and cruelly cut down Isra and Saeed. Even the genie was unable to take human life, or bring them back from the dead, so it seemed all was lost. Unable to bear the thought of these thieves defiling everything he had worked his entire life to build and grieving that he couldn't keep his promise with the genie, Saeed made his last wish. He wished to protect everything he loved from evil from now until the end of time.

The genie granted his wish this time without question. With a vengeful roar that shook the earth Saeed disappeared in a flash of light. That light surrounded the thieves, and grew and grew until it became a cave that could hold all the treasure Saeed had gathered over his long life. As Saeed screamed in grief and rage, lava poured out from the depths of the cave, and consumed the thieves in an instant. All that remained of him was his protective and loving spirit, and all that remained of Isra, his greatest treasure, was a shining gold scarab. Heartbroken, she flew off in two pieces, to reward those who were brave and cunning enough to make her whole again by leading them back to her husband.

But even if they earned her respect and found this cave of wonders, they still needed to impress Saeed and brave his curse. Only a true diamond in the rough, a pure soul whose real worth lay deep within, could ever hope to touch his heart enough to reach his oldest and dearest friends. Saeed and the genie fell into a deep sleep to await adventurers seeking the fabulous treasure that lay within, but the carpet could only watch, and hope that any who were brave enough to enter were also good-hearted enough to be able to escape.

The End
a2brutus: (024)

[personal profile] a2brutus 2018-02-04 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Are you going to tell her you know? I think you should.
a2brutus: (004)

[personal profile] a2brutus 2018-02-04 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
[A2 reaches over, and shoves 9S's head down, ruffling his hair with a surprising amount of gentleness before she pulls away just as fast, following it up with more signing.]

9S, she's not going to kill you. Not here, at the very least. Tell her. At least spend what time you have together in this place without any pretenses from stupid orders.
a2brutus: (024)

[personal profile] a2brutus 2018-02-04 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Tell her, or I will.

[She gives him a look. She's not going to deal with these idiots dancing around the subject.]

She's not going to kill you. Not here, and not back home. Call it a hunch.
a2brutus: (021)

[personal profile] a2brutus 2018-02-05 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Watch me.

[9S can glower all he wants, but A2 is still the queen of scowling. She's been doing this before you were even rolled out, 9S.]

So do as I say or I'll break the news for you.
a2brutus: (024)

[personal profile] a2brutus 2018-02-05 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll give you a month, how about that. If you haven't told her by then, I am.

[A month is being generous! Very generous!!!]