Gone are the age of the innocent ones

[isolophobia]

| characters | Pitch Black and you?

| date/time | 6/11-? (please specify date in header)

| location | The purple-blue Lifestream

| rating | G? (TBE if needed)

| summary | Fear has pointedly stayed away from the Lifestream. Now he's right next to it. Houston, you have a problem.



Usually Pitch didn't make much use of the dark moth's wings he had been sporting since coming here. But they really were ideal for silent flight between the levels. Most people were staying well away from the changed Lifestream, but not Pitch. He was unbothered by that feeling of being upset, stressed even. It was more sorrow than he preferred, but there was fear to be had here. Old fear. Harder to find, though, which may account for his presence here.

It was small, but still. Better than that golden light that everyone gathered around and felt so calmed by. Better to dance in the dark like this. Light without light. alone in the dark.

Comments

[isolophobia]

Pitch frowned as he studied Orcelito. He was young, but old enough to understand the patience that was needed to make paper from raw ingredients. Surely, after seeing the way Orcelito coveted that ink bottle, the other was not looking for a way to back out now.

"Surely you must know that the written word has power."

Whether or not Orcelito did know, or started to say anything, Pitch goes right on.

"It's that power I want, but those that recite are rarely still frightened of childhood scare-tales. That which is written endures."

Of course, Orcelito's past, before the tree, has been a mystery (because as long as he remained harmless and looked after Kit, Pitch didn't much care) buy he could recognize the tang of fear in the professed dislike of horror.

"A lot of the best horror authors write about things that scare them, but more authors in general do not care for it."

What? Did you think he didn't know already?

[princeandscholar]

The power of the written word could be debated. It is long-lasting, certainly, but coming from a world where most people are illiterate, he also knows that it can be unreachable. Once Pitch has finished speaking, Orcelito offers his counter. “The written word does have power but… I believe songs and oral storytelling have more. There is great power and breadth in a performance; hearing the inflections and the rise and fall of the verses… one voice can silence or move a crowd.”

And he does not wish to share his fears, in any form. But enough of that; he’s more curious about the why of this conversation. One word catches his attention: power.

“May I ask what your particular interest in these stories is?” It may be nothing, of course. This man is allowed to like whatever literature he pleases, and far be it from Orcelito to deny him a passing fancy. But it may not be… Orcelito has known those who liked fear and horror, or rather, the power they gained from inflicting it on others. Those people were more frightening than their subject matter. While Orcelito appreciates a good piece of literature or well-written verse, he cannot condone taking delight from the suffering of others. He doesn’t think Pitch is the sort to torment others for entertainment and control… but he can't be certain.