Chapter 40: I Rather Not Introduce Myself Again
(You Should Remember Who I Am)
I am well aware that it is traditional, and occasionally vital, to have a villain monologue about their motivations and the mechanics of their scheme so that the audience may receive a comprehensive understanding of the plot. However, when time itself is broken, who needs such conventions?
I think I see a hand.
Good. I am glad some of you agree with me.
When so much is in disarray, any sort of consistency becomes a novelty by comparison. So yes, I shall be doing my own version of this beloved trope and it really does have to be my own version. For, though I would describe myself as an antagonist, my level of villainy is up for debate. Figuratively. This is not a debate club. I will leave such futile nonsense to the other POVs.
Let me begin my descriptive essay with this:
I do not wish to rule the world, or enslave humanity, or gain immortality, or any of those other cliché short-sighted goals. I am already immortal. Thus, I am uniquely positioned to understand the meaning of forever. The closest approximation I can give to a mortal like you is to ask you to remember a time when you were bored, very bored, so bored that hurting yourself or someone else felt like a good idea. Suddenly you've scratched off a scab, or ripped too much skin off from your fingers, or kicked the girl's chair in front of you, or…started up a conversation that was bound to supply a different sort of boredom and pain.
In that moment before you came up with the dark impulse to end your suffering with more suffering, you were experiencing a taste of eternity. Can you now see why the gods are all petty and selfish?
But I think I see another hand.
No. I do not want to hurt anyone.
There are other, more productive, ways to solve boredom. My preference and perhaps yours as well considering where you are is a good story. But here is where you and I will differ. I have little tolerance for the familiar and the nostalgic when it comes to stories. Remember boredom is the enemy. I must have a new story. The world deserves a new story.
Is that so villainous?
Is that so wrong?
Yes?
No?
Maybe?
I see you need more information to make your hopefully educational guess. Very well. Here's another pair of questions for you:
Which one do you prefer?
Which one will make the best new story?
Percy?
Annabeth?
Andi?
Peter?
Or perhaps you like New Moon?
We all know Percy, good boy that he is. Many a story has been written about him in name if not personality.
His lover, Annabeth, has her charms to be sure. I am also sure that there is a plethora of smart ambitious girls out there that no one actually likes.
Andi was an undisputed protagonist once, but no one will call a Mary Sue novel, especially not our Peter.
Yet Peter is hardly without issues himself. The boy is tied with New Moon for being stuck in a past no one else can seem to remember. Of course, you could argue that this flaw is what makes them interesting and relatable.
Even I admit it is a difficult decision, but I expect you to answer regardless. You already met my brother and have lived for a time. You ought to have gleaned some sense of how important choices are. The ones made for you, the ones you made yourself, and what you can remember of both is what makes you who you currently are.
I have already made my choice. My answer has brought me here to this moment and to you.
With that, I think it is time to conclude my first interlude. To review:
In this chapter, I discussed my motivations as an antagonist. You were introduced to the concept of eternity and the need to alleviate boredom. We also reiterated the importance of choice and I assigned you four multiple-choice questions which are due at the start of my next chapter. For those of you looking for a bit of extra credit, you can show me your notes after this chapter. Don't forget to put my name at the top and be sure to include all available Greek and Latin translations for full points.
I am sure you have other stories and POVs to read, so I won't keep you any longer.
Have a nice day.