"A rock? really? that's what you've been sleeping on?"
"As in, they brought your ass all the way over to this run down dungeon, chained your wrist to that wall, and didn't even give you anything to lay your head on?"
"Like, not even a haystack? They didn't have that much to give you? Did the rats eat all the hay? That's the only thing this place seems to have in abundance. Rats.
You'd think there would be some spiders too, with all the cobweb. But even those are abandoned. They're just decorations now. All the spiders probably left because no butterfly was stupid enough to roam into _this_ god forsaken place.
Yes, forsaken. that's a good description. Forsaken."
"It's no way to treat a human, really. What they did to you, i mean. Your arm's been hanging from that chain so long, it's got no color to it now. And that rock, well, it's not even smooth is it. All jagged corners and sharp edges. Talk about comfort, huh?"
"You're not much of a talker, are you? rats get your tongue?"
...
"Wait, did they actually?"
...
"Never mind."
"It's no place for a human either. This... dungeon. Are you really alright? with this?"
"Are you human?"
"Shut up." <...> "Didn't you have dreams? I mean, I don't expect you to be confident. Your insecurity, your constant need for validation is what got you in here in the first place. We both know that. You've always been introspective like that. But you had dreams, didn't you? Didn't you want to be great? Didn't you take pride in your ambition? Didn't you love yourself, for your foolishness? for shooting for the stars? Didn't you hate yourself, for complacency? Who can shoot for the stars if they're too lazy to learn archery? Didn't you want to be king? Didn't you want to be loved? in every meaning you've known for that word, and then many that were new to you? Didn't you so desperately desire affection? To be loved? To love? Didn't you imagine being held under starry skies? Maybe by family. Maybe by a friend, closer than family. Maybe by a lover, with whom you might make family after all. Didn't you daydream? I've always loved that word. It's usually used in reproach, but it had a certain rebellion to it. To dream with no need for the moon or stars. To dream, defiantly, as the sun shines its disappointment down on you. Didn't you daydream? My my. You're finally looking at me. Is it because i understand you? Do you think i understand you? Do you want to be understood? I think that's where it all comes from. All of your little dreams. You want to be great, to be known, because then, many will understand you, even if it's just a little. And you want to be loved, of course, because then, you will be understood deeply, thoroughly, even if it's just by one person. To be known is to be loved. Although, maybe hatred can work for that as well. But no one wishes to be hated, do they? Humans, well, we just want to be loved. But maybe i shouldn't say we so confidently. Are you human?" <...> "Are. You. Human?" <...> "That arm of yours. It's all pale and lifeless now, because blood is subject to gravity. Gravity doesn't care whether the liquid is inside your body or not, y'know? So when you're forced to keep a limb above your body like that for so long, it just drags all the blood down. Makes the limb numb. Pale. Your arm should be numb by now, right?" <...> "That rock, you've slept on it for many days now. You should now every detail about it, really. So you should be aware, uncomfortably aware of that big jagged edge on it. It's pretty sharp, isn't it? You still have one arm free, don't you?" <...> "So why don't you answer this next question, for once. I know you're not fond of talking, so you can just show me your response. Show me."