2023-04-27: Memories from Hell
- Log: 2023-04-27: Memories from Hell
- Cast: Dr. Hell
- Where: Neo-Germany
- Date: U.C. 0097 04 27
- Summary: Dr. Hell reflects on the past, present, and future, as he prepares to continue across the Neo-Germany news circuit.
CW: referenced bullying, referenced accidental child death
Dr. Wilhelm von Hell never expected to be heading his own press tour. Yet, here he was, arranging scheduling for yet another interview.
After assisting in Neo-Germany, he became a local celebrity. People wanted to support the 'lesser of two evils', especially after the miracle that saved Earth once more. A fool's miracle, Hell thought, but never said.
For most people, such a press tour would burn out quickly. Luckily, Hell knew how to optimize *people*. Even if he wasn't the most socially savvy, he could manipulate them with charisma and planning. He could turn themselves into their 'god', he thought.
He needed to keep rising. He needed to use every tool he could. He commented on everything he could, to keep himself in the SEO - Ronan Marcenas, the Gundam Fight, etc, and made it seem like it was genuine, not someone's attempt to stay in the limelight.
"Yes, that is fine. I will be there." Click.
Sitting on the bed of his hotel room, Hell opened his briefcase, checking to make sure the Rod of Bardos was still by his side.
He had time to kill before the magazine shoot.
And yet, he despised this. Why did he have to play to the press just to save the world? He knew exactly what he needed - but Koji Kabuto would never trust him. And for good reason.
Hell could never be true allies with a Kabuto.
He wasn't afraid of an assassin, so he decided to head out to a currywurst place outside the hotel. No one would ever be able to locate his vitals in time to take him out.
Sitting at the stand, next to a young girl whose mother was at an ATM, Dr. Hell was familiar to the vendor, who honestly didn't care who he was as long as the bills were good (they were).
But the girl had no clue who he was.
"Why are you blue?"
The vendor was about to say something, but Hell just smiled and took a drink of his coffee.
"Honestly, I've never quite been sure."
This was what he always told people. He could easily figure it out by now with a simple biopsy, but the mystery was the only one he'd ever have.
"Do you like the curry?" He asked the girl politely, as the vendor kept alert on him.
"I do! It's very spicy. Do you?"
"I do." He replied, taking a bite of his own. It wasn't that spicy, but he was used to it, as well as heat.
"My name's Marie. What's your name?"
"Wilhelm. Marie is a very lovely name."
"Thanks! Mommy always says so."
Dr. Hell took another sip of coffee. "You know, Marie. Very scary things are happening. But that doesn't mean there won't be miracles. You'll be brave, won't you? Believe in the miracles that are coming?"
Marie nodded, as her mother returned with the cash to pay for lunch, saw the blue man, and immediately began to escort her daughter away. Just because he was a 'hero now' doesn't mean you'd trust him.
Not yet.
"Bye, Wilhelm!"
Hell waved goodbye with a smile, and returned to his food.
Ah, to be young and idealistic...
"Mother, why won't the other children play with me?"
The preteen asked his mother, sitting by the fire.
"Well, Wilhelm... you're..."
"If you say it's because I'm blue, I don't think that's it. Anna never cared that I was blue."
Mrs. Hell rubbed her brow. "Anna was a very nice girl. Bless her soul."
"I told her not to play in the ravine, mother. And now everyone avoids me. They probably blame me. But it's not my fault."
"I know, Wilhelm. I don't think that's it, either."
"Then why?!"
Mrs. Hell sighed. "You know why. You rushed into the ravine, but..."
"I've read every surgical book the traders bring, mother. I thought I could..."
His mother looked over Wilhelm, trying to figure out how to break it to her son that he just wasn't...normal. That there was nothing about him that fit into their tiny rural society.
"It's because I'm smarter than all of you. Isn't it?"
"Wilhelm..." His mother was shocked by his boldness, as he turned his back to her.
"I'm going to the city, like father did. Maybe there they'll understand me. I'll...learn the sciences. I'll learn medicine, chemistry, biology...I'll no longer be a burden on you, mother."
Mrs. Hell began to cry, and embraced her son.
That winter, she passed away. Hell still felt like a burden. Instead of going to his grandparents, who were afraid of him, he travelled to Berlin.
He would be the youngest medical doctorate to ever come out of their schools.
Dr. Hell steps in front of the photo screen, dressed to impress. A few snaps, a few shots, a polite expression on his face.
No fear.
You're not a burden, Wilhelm. You'll never be a burden again.
You'll be their god, or their devil. Either way - you'll change the future.