#Horatio bothers mort

[laertesthelocalstranger]

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

"I think I might."

He wants to know more, dig deeper, pick apart the countless secrets that make him up. But he's done enough already.

"But you're not her, are you? I know how she moves, how she speaks, and you're...different."

He can't shake the unsettling feeling that this is some other creature wearing their skin.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“I’m called Horatio. Though ‘different’ works too, if you’d like.” The thing that looks like the ‘person’ he’d hurt, but doesn’t walk or talk like her, they don’t seem to be making some pithy joke or comment here.

Horatio means it. Doesn’t matter much what he calls them when they’re like this. Different is perhaps even the most accurate way to put it.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“Great.” He sighs. Of fucking course she had to make another enemy. Laertes doesn’t want that. But apparently in this world, trying to save a life gets you this.

“See you at family dinners, I guess.”

Laertes leaves the graveyard hollower than they were before, bearing more of a burden than a child should carry.

Maybe this used to be a place of hope and refuge. But now it’s been spoiled with the same blood as everywhere else in this godforsaken town.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

He needs to stop this, rein it in, be the temperate man he's always been. He can't.

He collapses back against the gravestones, his power spent, the Eye still gnawing at his mind.

"Fine," he rasps. "Fine. I won't kill him. But if you think that will fix anything, you're sadly mistaken. There are a half dozen people in this town alone who want his blood, and when you try to offer him an out and he inevitably pushes you away, because that is what he always does, you will regret stopping me."

Is this what he has come to? Threatening children?

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

The rips spread, and they don’t care.

“Nobody ever cares about the victims. They take it upon themselves to punish the transgressors, but they don’t care about making it better for the people who actually got hurt. They just need someone to take out their anger on.”

“So why is nobody mad at her? Where’s my justice? Why is the only thing I get in recompense more suffering?”

All of it is true. Each and every piece of awful knowledge. When will Mort finally see it? She might be crying. They don’t care about that either.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

"I said don't!"

He sees damage. He hears gunshots. He feels his limbs torn bloody from their sockets and watches them fall. He listens to the ghost of a last, desperate plea for absolution, and hears nothing in return but the absence of love.

Did she do that? Did she really? Or is what he's seen and been through clouding his eyes again?

He doesn't know. He can't know anymore. He was never made to know.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“Don’t what? Point out that they’re worse monsters than he is? Point out that you’ve let your sense of justice be corroded by affection and petty anger? Weren’t you supposed to be the fair one?”

They don’t want Jude hurt, don’t even want Pandora touched. He’s tired of the senseless bloodshed. But if Mort is going to devolve into the same kind of person he once hated, he shouldn’t be allowed to be the one to hold the scales.

“You have caused so much damage with your sight. You almost killed me with it. After that, I think you owe it to me to look. To see all the damage she’s done, to me and to him, the wrecks that she’s left us. To know it.”

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

"Don't."

That's all he has to caution them with. They have more of a mind than they pretend to. She knows what he could do, and she knows how long he's been trying to keep from doing it.

What's the point in continuing to fight unnecessary battles?

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“Yeah, no shit.” And they can’t even yell at Marc about it, because they know the resigned, hollow look they’ll get in response. The fire has gone out. And that just feeds the one she’d tried to keep buried.

“You know what? You make good points, actually. I’ll even bring the pitchforks and the torches. Are we hitting Jude and Pandora next?”

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

"No," he replies. "I'm doing it because I'm angry with him."

That's such an unnatural thing for him to admit to, particularly in such a calm and level way, but it's the truth. And he can't deny the truth.

"I'm angry that he's hurt so many of the people that I love, and no one's stopped him. I'm angry that he's killed children and gotten away with it. I'm angry that he's caused so much pain and been allowed to survive it. And I think, on a level so deep you might not even know it exists, you're angry too."

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“I understand that that isn’t the reason you’re doing it. So why should I take it as a justification?”

Laertes will fight off anyone that comes. He shouldn’t have to, and he knows that. It will damage them, and exhaust them, and might not even be worth it in the end. It’ll hurt them much more than it will hurt Marc.

So if convincing Mort here means one less hill for Laertes to bleed on once the shots start firing, she has to try. For her own sake.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

He knows he's telling the truth. And he knows he can't stand to fight a little child.

"Laertes, I - if I don't kill him, someone else will. And they'll be much crueler about it. You understand this."

Amelie already tore him open. His own kind are disgusted by him. His children don't want to be near him. And powers higher than any of them can fathom are out for his blood.

At this point, violence is merciful.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“Then you’ll do better than Marc is.” Laertes says bitterly. “But I don’t care. He can’t hurt me anymore. I’m not losing him just so you and Pandora can feel justified.”

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[residentsofhollowville]

He should have been put down a long time ago.

He presses a hand against his heart. Its beating in his ears is all that he can hear now.

"I don't know," he replies. "But when the time comes, I'll face it with dignity. I don't want to live like - like he's living now."

Like Mort's still trying to live. As a broken shell.

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”

[laertesthelocalstranger]

“Kinder for me, or kinder for you?” Laertes snaps. “After everything you and Pandora have taken from me, are you going to take my dad too? At what point is it your turn to get put down? At what time is it hers?”

Mort hears something moving through the graveyard. They cannot be called a someone, not with that light, unfamiliar tread, like an animal getting ready to pounce. But they are still a person, and he will treat them as such, even at a time like this.

He looks up from the grave he's resting atop and turns to them.

"Hello. Who are you?"

@residentsofhollowville

“Hello, gravedigger.” Horatio stops ten feet away. He may be softer, but they are not the forgiving smile that their counterpart is. They hold no grudge against this man. But Horatio will not treat him as someone who has never wrought damage before.

They’re only out here for a walk. An errand to the store, and she had been tired of the constant twitching anxiety that had started building again since the circus messages and the fight. It would be better to wear this face for the journey.

They also could’ve blipped, but being someone calmer for a while was an appealing idea he honestly was glad to have an excuse for, and Horatio enjoys walking places more than they do the quick route.

“I think you know me as Laertes.”