[OOC][PLOT] The Seventh Thread of Planning for Arc 1 - Arrivals

[robkelk]

Actually doing some writing this weekend... but on the wrong story. Meh - I have to do it anyway in order to finish off the story that's officially on hiatus.

Have a teaser.

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Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
February 11, 2017
3:03 PM


"Got a minute?"

Rob looked up to see Frenda standing just inside his office. As he saved the spreadsheet that he had been working on for Funtom Canada, he answered, "Sure. Come on in."

She did so, and sat down before he could offer a chair. "It's about what we were talking about on Monday."

He might not trust her, but he liked that she didn't bother with small talk while he was working. But what she had said didn't narrow things down much. "We talked about a lot of things on Monday, Frenda. Anything in particular, or the whole conversation?"

She actually looked nervous as she answered. "The whole thing, basically."

"Did I say something wrong during the conversation?"

"well... basically, I don't know. Maybe I said something wrong. It's pretty obvious that Saten-san didn't like what she heard. And I don't like that."

"No?" One eyebrow went up, Spock-style.

"Hey, it's not like I like her that way, the way Shirai likes Railgun. I just thought that maybe we could have been friends, if she didn't know that I live in the darkness in Academy City."

"In a different world, you might say."

"Basically." She nodded in agreement. "And ..."

When it became obvious that Frenda wasn't going to continue without some prompting, Rob echoed, "And?"

"Those books that you and Shiage-san have. They say that everybody in ITEM ended up in the light. Everybody but me. I end up dead instead."

"It sounds to me like you're making a list of reasons why you should change your ways, Frenda. Do you want my help with that list?"

She shook her head. "It isn't that. I don't know if I can change, Mr. Donaldson. I've been in the darkness for too long. It's all I know."

"And you're worried that the darkness has claimed you for its own."

"Basically, yes."

"Hmmmmm..." He thought for a moment. "There are works of fiction where the light and the darkness are forces of nature, or opposite sides of a cosmic balance. A lot of the comic-book writers here like that kind of ... pardon the pun, that kind of black and white morality. But there are also works where dark isn't evil and light isn't good, and I know for a fact that there are people from at least one of those worlds here because I've met them. I can introduce you to Fate and Gil later, if you want."

"So, basically, even if the darkness has claimed me, I might not be so bad after all? Saten-san would probably like to hear that."

"She probably would. It would make her more comfortable."

"Yeah. But I don't want to lie to somebody who might become my friend."

Rob smiled. "It sounds to me like you've already started down the road away from the darkness. It won't be easy. But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight – got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight."

Frenda grinned. "I've heard that song!"

Rob nodded. "If I'm going to steal, I'll steal from the best. And Bruce Cockburn is a genius songwriter. But even if I am stealing the words, the thought is still genuine. And if you really want to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight, I'll help you."

"That's a big offer, basically. But what do you get out of it?"

"Besides Rui-chan being happier than if I didn't? Well, I'll put it this way: If you make your way to the light, you'll have seen both sides of that divide, and you'll be in a position to make your own informed decision - and right now this world needs all the people who can make informed decisions that it can get. I get a slightly saner world."

Frenda thought about Rob's words for a moment. Finally, she answered, "Okay, I think I get that, basically. How long will it be before I can say that I've looked at life from both sides now?"

"That depends on how deep you are into the darkness, and how much work you put into making you way to the light. And speaking of stealing lyrics..."

"You started it!"

They both laughed, honestly and loudly.

---

Concordance entries, for those who don't recognize the lyrics:

But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight – got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight.

Lyrics from "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", written and performed by Bruce Cockburn, from the album ''Stealing Fire'', © 1984 True North Records

I've looked at life from both sides now

Lyrics from "Both Sides, Now", written and performed by Joni Mitchell, from the album ''Clouds'', © 1969 Reprise Records. Frenda's probably quoting a cover version, though,