[Open]

[hornedomen]

Date & Time: June 24, during the day.
Location: Within the city.
Characters: Ico, OPEN.
Summary: A group of children bully Ico and a fight begins.
Warnings: Violence.


[Five children surrounded Ico. Their ages varied though they were all near his age. They teased him for his strange clothing and especially for his horns. Ico was smaller than they were and he had a tendency to wander alone, which made the children feel in control. He tried to understand for as long as he could. The recent attack along with the sudden change in the citizens' mood made it obvious to him that most citizens were only looking for someone to blame.

The event escalated quickly when they began to grab his Mark and pull his horns. Within seconds, it turned into a bitter fight. Children, Ico included, shouted at each other while punching and kicking.]

Comments

[hornedomen]

You have? What happened?

[knightofcourage]

Well...I was bullied a lot in the town I used to live in. I was new, and they blamed me for the monsters that came around the same time I did, among other things.

[The monsters kind of actually were his fault, in retrospect.]

[hornedomen]

They blamed you for a coincidence? That doesn't make sense.

Are you returning to that town if the Initiative sends you back?

[knightofcourage]

No, I'm not. But I wish I could, actually. There were some other things that were going on back then, too, but things have changed since I left there.

[hornedomen]

Why can't you go back? If it's because they're treating you badly, maybe you can get help. Do their parents know what they did?

[knightofcourage]

It's a little more complicated than that. I've made peace with those people, but I can't go back for other reasons.

[hornedomen]

[He did not understand, but he did not pry.]

Where will you go when you return?

[knightofcourage]

I have a duty I need to carry out. So I won't be able to go back there.

[hornedomen]

Can you return after you finish your duty?

[knightofcourage]

It'll be too late for that.

[He shakes his head.]

It's fine. I finished my business there, so I don't have a lot of regrets. I didn't mean to bother you with all that.

[Protip: this is what he likes to think, at least.]

[hornedomen]

[Ico was unconvinced, but he could not help. All he had was hope.]

Maybe something good will happen. For almost my whole life, I thought I'd never be able to return to my village. Because it's part of my duty. Then on the day I had to leave, it all changed. When I return, I can go home again.

[knightofcourage]

[Emil knows he won't be able to go back, not if everything goes as planned, but he can definitely understand that. Hearing that somebody else can get another chance, even if it's not him, makes him feel a little happier.]

That's great. I'm glad. It should be good to see your friends again, shouldn't it?

[hornedomen]

[He tensed. This was a sore subject for him.]

I don't think I'll see my friends again.

[knightofcourage]

[Well, he did a great job there.]

Oh. I'm sorry.

[hornedomen]

When I get back, I'll end it so she'll never hurt anyone else again. Then I can return to my parents.

[knightofcourage]

That sounds like a good plan.