Ashley Harker
Inferno-Plaza
Afternoon
Harker's body moved automatically.
He knew, intellectually, that he could not save any of the people in the plaza. That the world that was already so hopeless had become just a bit more so. But...
There was one thing he definitely could do.
There was one thing that only Ashley Harker could accomplish in this situation, as he stood before a contractor of a devil. After all, the Pride Faction may be extending welcomes and farewells, but there is that single, annoying ant underneath their feet, pricking at their toes, gnashing at their heels. And sometimes, a single person is all that is needed to change the world.
Tell me, what do you see when you dream?
Hopeless idealism. An irreversible diagnosis, someone once told him when he asked why this city was so cruel. Best to just ignore it and keep his head down.
A wish and will is all it takes to change the world.
And yet, after his wish, what had he truly done? Helped whoever he could? Tried to save those that were left? Was it so wrong? A misuse of his power? To save one person, sacrifice ten. To save ten people, sacrifice one hundred. To save one hundred people, sacrifice one thousand. Yet... why would they have to be sacrificed? It plagued him, as he tried to sleep. As he stared at the stars and thought of Alexander, of a hopeless, idealistic dream and a contract he swore to one of the greatest demons in all creation.
What is thy desire?
The person in that corner was unquestionably strong. This was simply a fact that Harker had to acknowledge. To be in such high esteem in the Pride faction would not be a simple task, as he knew very well. But he had to try. His body moved without him meaning to. He ignored the screams, the dying, even as he desperately wanted to turn, every atom of his body screaming to try to save those around him as he was once saved. But he could not. Even in the sad eyes of the man who had originally bought him, he had known to his very core.
Not everyone can be saved.
A fact that he didn't want to be true. A truth that he refused to acknowledge as fact. Everyone is definitely a person who can be saved. No matter the creed, the cause, or the purpose -- there is not a person in this world unworthy of justice.
His body stopped moving as he stood in the alleyway, staring at a man who could kill him without a second thought. He raised a hand, and smiled kindly.
"Pardon me, but would you so terribly mind removing the flames? I do believe we could still aid the people here. They are not your enemy, after all."
This city is dying.
He knew it was a hopeless task. In no world would anyone reasonably listen to him over something so meaningless and ludicrous as this. The person before him was too cruel by half, too callous by half, to listen to such naivety as 'everyone can be saved', and 'there is always another solution'. But...
Was it so wrong to try?
Was it so, terribly wrong, to try to find a noble solution in this ignoble world?
Harker sighed, running a hand through his hair with a despairing smile. "Apologies. I am sure you have more important things to do then listen to me prattle. My name is Ashley Harker. This city and its people are under my protection."
Kid, listen to me.
Intellectually, it was obvious. There was no simple way to victory here.
In your life, you're going to run into a lot of people who hate you. You're going to meet more who disagree with you.
With merely words, he had no way to convince the person before him of his cause.
In this city, kindness is a sin. If you do something noble, someone else will do something ignoble.
They were simply too different to agree. That was the way the world worked.
But kid, you can't only think with your heart. I know you've got a head somewhere in that idiotic soul of yours. Not every fight can be won with words. Words are wind if nobody's listening.
When words failed...
"I would prefer a non-violent solution," He said slowly, looking at the man before him with warm eyes. Both men knew it was impossible, but Harker wanted to try. The attempt has meaning, even if the results are meaningless. He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply.
His mind closes.
His heart closes.
His eyes open once more, steely determination filling him to the very core of his being, iron flooding through his veins as he smiled at the man, his mind already making note of what could be used in the area for his upcoming task.
"But if words fail, then all that we have left is swords, is it not?"