║ seventy-fifth stanza ║ video

[mumbled_truth]

[The angle of the camera is upward, from the table in front of the couch upon which Todd is seated. Sullenly, he sits - head downward but eyes up, trailing an unseen figure stalking back and forth across the room in silence. At length, he raises his head, jutting his chin out. There's a tremble to the defiance, but he sets his mouth into a thin line.]

You're wrong.

[He flinches slightly, but doesn't pull back.]

You're not really here, but even if you were, it-- it wouldn't matter. I'm not worthless. I never was.

Comments

[mumbled_truth]

[Todd just gives a soft laugh at that statement. His invisible father doesn't like it very much, but he only gets spared a passing glance. He turns back to Justin with a slight shrug.]

I guess he's just always been trying to change it. He doesn't like the way I am.

[othersdie]

He doesn't have to like the way you are. We're not obligated to please our parents.

[Not that Justin should talk. He tried pleasing his parents for years before giving up and deciding that their opinion didn't matter.]

[mumbled_truth]

Yeah... he has a different view on that, too.

[He rolls his head to the side slightly, a lopsided, sardonic smirk to accompany. He's getting a lovely earful.]

I don't think I am, not anymore. I haven't for a while. It's just that I get to hear about it now.

[othersdie]

What he says doesn't have an impact on your anymore?

[mumbled_truth]

Well, it does-- I mean, I don't exactly like that my father thinks I'm worthless.

But I don't think he's right.

[othersdie]

Then it doesn't matter what he thinks as long as you know that he's wrong.