Child's Play [Text] [Reboot]

>Look at him with an unamused smile.

>Threaten him, saying that that the next time he breaks one of your creations, you'll take apart one of his stuff and use the remains for your next creation.
>Also convince him to come inside the cave with you. It's dangerous outside.

My brother hovers in front of me, radiating smugness. I hold my ground and try my best to look unamused, though it’s rather difficult to emote since I can’t change my appearance to show my displeasure. I settle for picking up the biggest rock from my dome - still standing nearby - and brandishing it threateningly at him.

“What are you gonna do, throw that at me?” He teases. “You know that wouldn’t do anything.”


“No,” I counter, “But I know it was you that ruined my tower. I’m just showing you that I won’t stand for it! That’s just not okay.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault!” He whines. “I got bored waiting for the volcano, and it wouldn’t erupt even when I tried to make it. Then I came down here and you’re doing weird things to the planet. Father made it this way for a reason, so leave it alone! Besides, your sculpture looked stupid, Sister.” He punctuates that profound, classy statement by gathering some of the rain and spitting it in my general direction.

“I get bored just like you,” I say. “But I like doing things with my time instead of just wrecking everything. And do you hear how stupid you’re sounding? You’re so great at doing one thing and saying another that there should be a special word just for you. You say I’m messing with the planet, but you’re the one who caused that earthquake last time!”



“That would have happened anyway,” he says, restlessly turning in a circle. He can’t sit still, that one. “I was just speeding it up a little. But the land and the sea are never going to get up and dance like you want them to.”

“I don’t care what would or wouldn’t happen!” I yell, reaching my breaking point. “But the next time you break one of my things, I’ll make you pay for it! I’ll -“ And here I pause for a second, having trouble coming up with a suitable threat. The problem is, Brother doesn’t really care about anything, not the way I do. He has nothing I can break, or ruin. He gets all his satisfaction from being the one doing the breaking, from causing chaos and disorder and general misery. He likes forces of nature, like the volcano or the storm or the cold clear vacuum of space where neither of us are allowed to go. How do you threaten someone like that? Or should I change tack and say something else to him?

Show Content

SpoilerSuggested Listening: