The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 7.4
copyright comidacomida 2018
Everything that had happened that night faded as if I were forgetting a dream... right until I stuffed my hands into my jean pockets and the right one encountered something other than my wallet. Pulling my hand back out I saw that I held a small, slightly charred wooden sculpture of a Fox. I realized right away that is wasn't real... it was made of Spirit, and only then did my memories of everyone and everything come crashing back down.
I could feel the power strumming through the Spirit matter, but I knew that, regardless of how much power it held, it wasn't infinite. Kon had said that there were many things I could do with it, but how could I choose just one? Climbing onto the bus, I could tell that the substance that made up the carving was already starting to fade. Purchasing a ticket, I went to the very back and sat down, looking at the carving.
Although I didn't really know what it did there was some kind of natural understanding as to how I could make it work. Closing my eyes, I leaned forward, holding it with both hands in front of my lips, and I cried, realizing that I wouldn't be able to apologize to Aiden personally if I wanted to save him. "Heal Aiden. Make him well again."
I had to fight back tears on the entire bus ride home, but I didn't really know why. My mind kept running a mile a minute as I fought to remember why I'd bothered being out so late, especially since I had work the next day. I never really had much of a reason to go to the park, which was obviously where I'd been, but why? Then again, I remembered, I'd been going to the park in recent weeks but, again, why?
The only reason to go to the park was if you liked exercise and the outdoors, if you had kids, or if you were going on one of those old-time-y dates with someone special; I hated exercise and didn't really care for the outdoors, I didn't have kids, and I didn't do old-time-y dates and didn't have 'someone special'. Lingering on that last thought, my need to cry only got worse, but I still didn't know why. Was I having a nervous breakdown? Was I falling apart?
By the time the bus arrived at my stop I wasn't exactly sobbing but I was far from in-control of my emotions; it only got worse when I walked up to the front door and realized what awaited me: absolutely nothing. I stepped inside and locked the door behind me. Once I got into the kitchen I tossed the keys and my wallet on the counter before turning to root around in the fridge. I almost laughed at myself when I realized that I was only looking for something to snack on because I was in a bad mood, but that didn't stop me from switching over to the freezer and grabbing a fudge bar.
Letting out a long breath, I went to the sofa and flopped out, puzzling over the best way to get through whatever funk had put me in such a depressed frame of mind. The TV remote felt like it was miles away but I forced myself to reach for it and, once I had it in hand, I began channel surfing. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but any kind of distraction from the strange emptiness that had filled my head and heart would have been an improvement. I fell asleep without having found anything that would do the trick.
* * * * *
I woke up with the TV still on in the morning; though I didn't specifically remember it, I must have turned on Netflix at some point because one of their super hero series' was on-- specifically, I woke up when one of the lines caught my attention. "Danny, what happened to you? Why are you back here?"
Reflexively, I almost went to answer it but my eyes shot open when the other character on screen responded for me. "It's complicated. And every time I try and tell the story, people freak out."
At that point I'd already got to the remote and hit the off-button. Glancing to my cell which I'd unfortunately not recharged that night, I saw it was almost 10am. I was due into the theater at noon so I started with the most important thing first: the phone got connected to the charger. After that I went straight to the shower, hoping that the water would wash away the last clinging depression that still hadn't gone away while I'd slept.
I'd dreamed and, I figured, that probably hadn't helped. It was one of those strange dreams-- the kind you realized at the time that you'd never forget but, after blinking your eyes and taking a piss you suddenly don't remember the specifics and, by the next day all you can remember is that you had a dream you can't recall. In my case, though, it felt like the dream lasted a week and I was only just waking up from it.
By the time the shower was over it finally felt like my day would begin taking on a more normal feel-- I still had that unpleasant feeling like things weren't right exactly, but it was 'good enough'. All in all, I realized, that was my life: good enough. Putting on my work uniform I made my way back to the living room with the intent of grabbing something for breakfast, and I walked in on that super hero series continuing-- I'd thought that I'd turned off the TV before I went for my shower, but apparently I hadn't.
I returned to the sofa and grabbed the remote, picking it up and pointing it at the TV. I watched for just a second before turning it off, right as the lady on the screen said "You healed me, Danny. You saved my life."
There was no reason why that line should have meant something to me but it did. It meant so much to me that I broke down into tears then and there. Slumping onto the floor next to the couch I cried and cried and cried. It was one of those feelings where joy is overpowered by loss and I didn't know whether my tears were from relief or from sorrow or both. It didn't make any sense... and not just because I'd never actually seen the show and didn't know who the characters were, but because-- well... I couldn't say why it brought up those emotions, but it did it in a really overpowering way.
It took me almost an hour to get myself under control but I pushed down all of the emotions that had ambushed me. I'd heard that some people became hysterical for no reason and I'd always thought the idea sounded insane but, as I walked out the door and headed to work I began to wonder if that idea was a little extreme or if maybe I was losing touch on reality. No, I promised myself, I'd make it through my work shift and prove to myself that everything was okay. Everything was not okay.
* * * * *
My job at the theater had been the best thing and the worst thing that ever happened to me. On one hand, it was a job and had a paycheck that came with it along with the fringe benefit of being able to see movies for free on off-hours when I wasn't on the clock. On the other hand, it was a dead end job without any real growth potential and didn't really have anything to do with what I wanted out of life.
Still, I'd never thought that I would quit... especially without something else lined up, but something snapped in me that night and I ended up returning home almost two hours early after flipping off my manager and walking out. My eyes were tearing up again as I stepped into my empty apartment and, for the first time since I left, my brain was quiet enough for those thoughts from earlier in the day to return. I spoke my concern aloud. "Maybe I AM going insane..."
I jumped in surprise when the television spoke to me. "Danny. Wake up."
It was that damn super hero show again about the guy with the metal fingers, and I was SURE I hadn't left the TV on all day... had I? Moving over to the remote, the characters continued talking. "Danny. You okay? Danny... Danny. Are you gonna talk to me about whatever's on your mind?"
Rather than pick up the remote, I went straight to the TV set and pulled the cord and made a mental note of it; no forgetting I'd turned off the set THAT way. Sighing, I trudged down the hall and back to my room before throwing myself onto the bed. I was suffering from depression I couldn't explain; I'd just quit my job; I felt like life was emptier than it had ever been. I was ready to just close my eyes and sleep for a week but, as I stood back up to change out of my work clothes my eyes zeroed in on two papers and a CD sitting on my dresser.
It took me a minute to remember what I was looking at but I slowly began to recall my last trip to the jam session cafe and, for a moment, the depression didn't feel so bad. The last time I'd gone there I'd ended up putting together a half way decent song. Scrambling over to the dresser I picked the CD up and slid it into my stereo. I sat down on the floor and listened to it. I started crying again, but it didn't feel quite so bad. It was a good song, and I'd made it. If I'd been able to make that then surely I'd be able to make another. Maybe life wasn't quite so empty.
Stretching as far as I could without getting up, I reached for the guitar case I kept in the corner and pulled it closer. Letting out a sigh, I promised myself I'd just strum a few chords without any obligation; I wasn't going to create a masterpiece or pound out the next billboards #1... I just wanted to get lost in the process for a little while. The photo slipped between the strings made that difficult.
I vaguely remembered taking the pic myself and I knew I must have taken it at the cafe because that was the only place I knew they had those ancient instant develop polaroid cameras. Looking down at it, I pulled the photo free from the frets and looked down at the off-centered selfie; it had definitely been taken at the cafe with me sitting, surrounded by emptiness... only, as I looked closer, the picture wasn't so empty.
It was a gradual thing but, as I stared, the picture changed before my eyes and four figures slowly took shape around me. At the same time, my mind began to fill in the blanks of my memory and, before long, I could name the four animal-men who had posed with me. Before I could say anything though, I heard my name spoken again but this time it wasn't spoken from the TV. "Danny?"
Turning, I--
B) -- looked up at Herne, who loomed over me flanked by Talapus and Aiden. The Elk actually smiled. "You didn't abandon us, so how could we abandon you?"
C) -- saw Aiden sitting right next to me. He had a smile on his muzzle, Blue eyes gleaming with joy. "There... that's better."
D) -- was relieved to find that I wasn't alone; I hadn't been alone even when I thought I was. My three Spirits were there, all waiting, and they'd waited long enough. Smiling, I raised a hand in greeting. "Hi."
.
Voting is now open and will close as of midnight (pst) on Friday, December 14th.
.......................
. . . Inclusive, not exclusive . . . So B or D
......................
D Group hug and a good cry. Start new in the morning.
And this doesn't mean the others aren't there... I'm sure they are.
-TGU.
I saw the tags and prepared for the worst - I literally had to make a fresh cup of tea before I read this - but I wasn't expecting the twist! You have all of my thanks and love, Comida, assuming you don't have plans to destroy this for me!
And now to business; For me it's between C and D.
Looking at D, I would imagine it would lead to a combination of the remaining options anyway. But C is more personal...Bah.
Edit: I actually went for D, then saw TheGoldenUnicorns comment, how the hell did I miss that???
C, please! Option C, right this second!!
Got it.
I may have to re-read this a few times, I've been reading a couple of comments and realising I've missed some pretty crucial things. I didn't even notice in the the option C that Herne nor Talapus were mentioned. Even more significant was the name "Danny" being used, which I'm sure Kon used to call him? Then again I think Aiden used it at one point and it was most probably him manipulating the TV.
Ultimately? I think D will win, and I'd still be more than thrilled with it!
[s]Will have to commission the What-if ending for Option C though![/s]
On a serious note, Could I actually commission a "what if?" of the blue-eyed Aiden ending when The Gift is all finished? I would happily pay money to see this.
The ending at this point is fairly certain-- there would be some minor differences if Blue-Eyed-Aiden had been the end result, including the poor Bat finally getting himself some Human, but it'll still be a happy ending this way too. :)
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to know this is a happy ending, but I still find What-ifs great fun to think about. Not to mention Aiden is the only person not to get a piece of Daniel, and it's clearly HIM that would deserve it most! ;D
But there can still be a happily ever after regardless!
(aka: FRIEND ZONE)
So (D) for me please, "Hi!" You had me at hello! ;) Glad Kon is still in the picture -- thought he might have been erased akin to Back to the Future. They can remember the best of him at the very least.
Now, I have to ask, even though it doesn't matter, do did Daniel have the points to make (5) work positively? Just curious ... :P
Daniel was short 2 points to make 5 work so, even if it got the 10 votes needed for it to automatically win and get a +1 to the total it still would have come up short. Thankfully, 5 wasn't chosen. ;)
Next: I have you down for a vote of D.