Lunch with your Immortal Enemy

Extending the olive branch. Making peace. Charlie had sent Angelo a letter, hoping to build a bridge over the chasm between the both of them, just a little chat to talk things through. This island was Charlie's home now, and it made sense to try and repair any interpersonal relationships he had damaged. He had been reading a book on the subject. It had been most informative. Self help books really were a booming industry. Angelo had suggested this resturant, so of course Charlie had to try the food here before they met. Charlie watched from one of the stools in the resturant as Angelo entered the resurant. He was hard to miss, with that mane of golden hair. After a few moments, Charlie walked over to the table, a cup of tea in hand. It was not good tea, it was not even nice tea, but it was still a damn sight better than coffee.

"Ah angelo" said Charlie, slotting himself into the booth opposite Angelo "You're early! Have you tried the branzini here? Its rather excellent."

He placed the teacup down on the table, and looked up into angelo's stony face. It was hard to read Angelo, but Charlie could tell he didn't want to be here.

"There's been a lot of hostility between us lately, and i asked to meet, so we could, well, talk things through."

Charlie sighed, and took a sip of his tea. Why did people have to speak in mixed metaphor, especially when something so important needed to be said. Charlie was a huge fan of politeness, but not when it came at the detriment of understanding. A cold war. Hmm... that implied that both sides had some violent goal, but that was simply not the case. Charlie loved his life here on the island, and any kind of violent action would damage that, so he was happy, doing what he did, finally teaching, and finally, quite content. After all the upset of the previous term, he was finally in a reasonably comfortable place.

"Well, yes, the situation is quite icy" said Charlie, with a short smile "so what's up? Why do you treat me, well, so frostily?"

@Romi

Charlie was expecting something along those lines. Admissions of attempted omnicide never went over well. He was surprised at the lack of mention of Shay, but nevertheless, it was very much the reaction he expected. But he wanted to hear it. But he wanted to hear Angelo say it. Its because of what you did before the pardon system. Angelo, an police officer, a symbol of the law and order Manta Carlos stood for, didn't like the pardon system.

"Yes. And Malara regularly talks about destroying planets. Or are alien lives not as valuable as human ones? Angelo, have you ever killed an ant? The common garden ant lives for fifteen years, the same as a dog, but if you ask someone to kill one, they will always choose the ant. Thats because you view the dog as more important than the ant. We say all life is equal, but we place more value in the dog than the ant. Imagine viewing people like that for millenia, like amusing insects, who corrupted everything they touched. Its all a matter of scale, a perspective i am trying to unlearn, so i can live in peace here. This island is my home, whether you like it or not. A home i wish to stay in. In peace. It's hard to unlearn my past behaviours, but i am trying. And surely that is worth something?"

Charlie sipped at his tea again.

"And as for symbols and rites, well, for the beginning of my life, they didn't exist. Why is there thunder? Because there is. Why are there less animals to eat this year? Because there are. Religion just doesn't make sense to me. It would be like you finding out somebody worshipped and venerated batman or the brady bunch."

@Romi

"No" said Charlie, finishing his tea and placing it down on the chipped plate with a clink "your issues were that I talked about my past in a public manner, that I have an undead army, and that I insult whatever symbols you hold dear. And i never said you had an issue with killing. Hell, this island is full of murderers. You have a problem with me talking about it. As long as it stays swept under the rug, you're fine. And you know what infuriates me Angelo?"

Charlie could feel that strange static in the tips of his fingers again, that annoying bloody feeling whenever he got irate. He was having better control of the power, but it was still a constant source of irritation. He quickly placed his hands into his pockets. Better not give Angelo another reason to hate him. Charlie's voice was quieter now, but the still hearable, and the mirth was gone.

"That yes I talked about my past. To you. Someone i used to admire, a figure of stability and order in this chaotic world. Wouldn't you if you found out what I found out? And yes, my behaviour at the bonfire was bad. I am painfully aware of it, since Shay loves to drill it in. You predict linearly. You go 'someone has done these things in the past, therefore they will continue to do them in the future'. And completely ignore the prospect of rehabilitation, or change. This island is a big change for me and i am dealing with it. Seeing the same people day in, day out. I've never done that before, not in all my life, and you expect me to slot straight in. And I try, goddamnit, i'm trying."

@Romi

"No i had never met you, but I had heard all about you from Shay, and formed my own opinion. A paragon of law and order. Someone who embodied the things I can to this island for. A second chance, as long as you obeyed the rules. Thats why I told you that, instead of Shay, instead of anyone else. Someone who I thought, would be able to help. Who could point me in the direction of someone to talk to, a friendly face, a person who would know what to do. But instead you took my job away for a month, my favorite thing about this island. You know what the goverment appointed psychologist classified my 'mental breakdown' as? A panic attack. This entire meeting was me trying to extend the olive branch, to make peace. To prove to you that I am at least trying to be a good person. To not be the monster I once was. But you won't even give me that chance. You act like you're the only person who has a plan to end me should the worst happen. You're not the only one who is planning that."

Charlie looked down at his hands. They were now on the table, gripping his mug, tightly. Crap. When did that happen. Beneath his hands, the paper napkin began to shrink and turn black. Charlie quickly returned his hands to his pockets. His voice was a lot quieter now, like the voice of a child being scolded.

"I'm aware a lot of people hate me. I'm just trying to fix things."

@Romi