"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Both would agree with that – or at least in the worthlessness of material riches. He would value a good name, and she the respect and regard of others. He valued honour and integrity, and she wished the good attention of those around her. Both worked the same, and yet so different.

He had his name. He had worked hard for his name. It was a curse, a title, a benediction, and a legacy all in one. It was a story and it was his – none other's. He was a salesman, and yet he was honest. Brutally so in cases, and manipulatively so in others – but he kept his integrity. He would rather keep his word than have all the riches of the world, and he stopped at nothing to hold his end of a contract.

She had a name but she hated it. It was not honourable, and it was a nightmare rather than any dream. She walked through a room and all turned from her. If she demanded their attention, they hated her – if she bought it, they feared her. She desired the attention that held no ulterior motives, that promised no tears or loss. She wanted to be regarded on her own merits – not by force. She wished to start on an equal level with all those that were deemed 'good' – but she never could. A life begun is the end that must be.

They were both products of their surroundings, and they both survived. One lived in a world of torture and gleefully malevolent intent – in the world of a sulking child that reached for something he knew he was never meant to have. The other lived in the world where only the naively good and pure would succeed and all else would become villains or pawns. One choose to become the king of his hell, and the other became the queen.

They were not so different – they both reached for the same thing. One called it 'integrity', the other called it a 'happy ending' – but they both worked the same. They wished to level the playing field – to give themselves a chance to succeed. They fought against the chains they had been born with; and while they made themselves greater, they bound themselves eternally with those chains. They fought to live and succeeded in surviving. They reached for life and settled for winnng.

One looked at what he had become and he laughed. He had his integrity – his honour. It was not, perhaps, what others would call such – but it was enough for him. He reached for freedom and he found a crown and he took what he could. The other looked at what she had become and she mourned. She had her attention and her regard – but it would always come crashing down. She reached for freedom and she found a crown and she took what she could.

They were the same. They used a good name.


AN: still not sure if this is what I want – but it's better. Companion piece to A Bad Name to explain why I used that Bible verse. …...this is...Well, usually I characterise AFTER I've at least seen the character once. So...interesting! Sorry. 3-25-2016