ANYTHING AT ALL
Raymond Zebronski had been an aimless genius. He was born with a great ability to learn and he had done all the things he was supposed to do, but it had been a half-hearted effort at most.
He had been sleepwalking through his life. Filing patents, inventing things, buying a house and paying for insurance. He’d been doing all the things expected of him… and he’d been so unfulfilled.
Everyone around him would talk about how wonderful and happy his life was going to be. He was limitless possibility and that was supposed to make him have a fabulous existence.
It had felt like he was disappointing everyone’s expectations. His unhappiness was a burden he was forced to bear in silence because he was supposed to be happy. And he wasn’t.
His smile had always felt thin and painful. A baring of the teeth rather than a true expression.
He graduated high school and college early, and suddenly he was expected to do great things. To work and make money and wow the world with his brilliance and bring glory to his family.
And he did it. He changed the world of technolgy and those that ran the world knew his name. He made more money than he could ever spend in ten lifetimes.
And it was empty. Meaningless. Because he was just as unmotivated as he’d always been. Just as empty and unfulfilled.
He wasn’t sad. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t murderous. He was simply unhappy.
And then he met Darkstar.
And suddenly there was something. There was music and light and food had flavor to it.
He was no longer an empty shell of a person slogging through every day.
He was filled with Darkstar. And it was good.
. *. *. *.
He knew that his feelings were because of Darkstar’s metability. His brain was being artifically stimulated and everything he felt was nothing but a lie.
And he didn’t care.
Because his brain was stimulated and for the first time in his life he could truly feel.
Darkstar wasn’t purposefully doing anything to him. Just by existing, he brought happiness into Raymond’s life. His presence, his smiles, his frowns, his voice… everything about him chased away the ennui.
By existing, Darkstar gave purpose to Raymond’s life.
So in the background of Darkstar’s life, Dr. Zee came into being. Smoothing the things that needed to be smoothed. Deleting videos and destroying evidence. Ensuring that while Darkstar received the attention he demanded, Vereint Georges was able to enjoy the anonymity he craved.
He arranged his first official meeting with Darkstar. Made himself an indispensable person in Darkstar’s life.
When Darkstar fell in love with Blue Ice, he thought he might feel jealousy, but he didn’t. His feelings for Darkstar were so pure and all consuming that they surpassed physical desire.
He would rather see Darkstar happy than fulfill his own desires. Would do anything in the name of Darkstar’s happiness.
He didn’t feel guilt over the laws he broke. Didn’t hesitate or experience regret as long as it was for Darkstar.
Before Darkstar there was nothing. He passed through his life like a ghost. Doing what was expected of him without having any dreams or desires of his own. Waking and sleeping, eating and pooping, every day passing one into the next without anything leaving a mark on his soul.
And after Darkstar, there was light and pleasure and when he touched things he could feel them.
Because he was real. Alive. Vital and full of the hope of life.
He was full of Darkstar and he would do anything for him. Anything at all.
=END=
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