It's Called Brand Loyalty

[westfallcorndog]

 "So, I got a question..."

Asking today is Harrowheart, who's wandering the Nexus' Downtown district puffing away at cigarettes and stopping at holiday stalls up and down the major streets. He leans over now and then to consider the merchandise on display, pensively looking over the goods with his arms folded behind his back and his hands rubbing at his chin or scratching his sideburns. But he doesn't buy anything – not yet anyway. 

"Should you change things about yourself to get what you really want outta life? Or should you always be the 'You' that comes most natural, and get whatcha get outta that?"

Comments

[to_the_wolves]

"Maybe it's not completely impossible to have the best of both worlds. It won't be easy to figure out, but trying is still better than doing nothing." She's uncertain if those words will even sound encouraging, but seeing Harrowheart's forlorn mood only makes Marie's heart ache as well. She knows this feeling all too well, even if their situations are flipped. Without thinking about her own personal pride, she finds it easy to talk about her own past.

"It would be remiss of me to say I've been though your situation, because I haven't, but I can relate to the circumstances. I'm living a reverse life, in fact. My past involved living a mediocre and unfulfilling life, but I was content having friends and family with me." She pauses, nervously tugging at the fabric of her tie once more. "I gained a power that changed everything, no longer was I weak, however I had no one in my life anymore."

She sighs, trying to look at Harrowheart directly, but nervously turns away. "It's hard because I don't know who I am anymore or who I should be. The best thing I can do is try to balance the two different aspects of my life. Try to find harmony in the chaos." Her eyes finally rest on the cigarette he's smoking, the closest she'll get to looking at him without panicking. "Just know that you're not alone in that battle."

[westfallcorndog]

What this woman has to say speaks to Harrowheart, who listens quietly, thoughtfully as she explains her situation. They do live opposite lives, and yet he can't help feel there's some connection in that.

"You really feel like balance is somethin' a person like us can find? Can we spend half our days with folks around us lovin' us, wantin' us to succeed, while we spend the other half out there doin' worse things? Don't that just bring them down with us?"

He takes a deep drag from his smoke before he thinks to clarify, "Provided you're usin' your power the way I use mine, anyhow."

[to_the_wolves]

"My power..." Hearing that word causes her to stare at her hand quietly, noticing gow her fingers are tingling and shaking. There's no denying that she's afraid, yet powerful when taking on her demon form. "It's a curse, but one that I try to control to the best of my ability. To use for good instead of evil. It's that or I can choose to die somewhere far away from other people."

As for his other question, despite how impossible it may seem, she nods her head yes. "We have to try and find the balance. Helping others is good, but if we suffer in exchange, then are we truly living life? However, I completely understand what you're saying about hurting others. It's just difficult living two parallel lives. I wish I had a better solution to offer, instead of a difficult conundrum to reflect upon."