losthunter | Knock unbidden on the door ((Schön))

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Knock unbidden on the door ((Schön))

The evening on which Schön and Hunter had agreed upon a TV marathon to watch 'Twilight Zone' episodes had come very quickly, even though it had been a couple of days since the Spring Fair and the last time they had spoken.

Hunter had a lot of artwork to keep himself occupied in the time between the two events. There were a couple of sketches in his notepad from the evening of the Spring Fair that he had wanted to get on canvas. Some are watercolors. Some are color pencils. Some are using the rose petals, soaked in paint. In all aspects, he had been busy.

During the day, before Schön would arrive at the apartment, Hunter had been quite busy finishing a charcoal piece depicting an elderly couple sharing an intimate, and touching moment. He wrapped that up right before he was expecting Schön, so had to jump in the bathroom quickly to get cleaned and dressed for the evening.

Then he went into the kitchen to bring out the snacks that he had prepared for the evening. There are delights such as cranberry pretzel clusters, brownie batter popcorn, assorted chocolate-dipped fruit (bananas, kiwis and strawberries), and a cheese platter. For a wine choice, Hunter had selected a Wild Vines strawberry white zinfandel.

With everything else in place, Hunter does one more walk-through of his apartment, to make sure everything is prepared for his guest.

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Schön, too, is trying to thread the social labyrinth. He'd prefer not to break Hunter's heart, either by commission or omission, but sleeves are such perilous places to wear the fragile things. Nor is he oblivious to the effect he has on people. It's a delicate balance to seek.

"How many speakers of truth have been called mad by the masses who simply wanted them to be wrong?"

"It makes you wonder how long the characters had been 'locked-away', before the truth was discovered." Hunter moves fluidly off the couch for the moment. He pours himself a little more wine. And brings the bottle back to the coffee table in case Schön wants more too.

"And how many people are out there... who are still thought mad."

"In the world from which I come," Schön offers, with an air not unlike admission, "there is magic fine as gossamer, delicate as a dream, that can only be seen by those who believe--and which can be destroyed by the doubts of those whose faith is strictly limited to what they can touch."

"I assume that you are one of those people who support that magic. And the believers." Hunter smiles softly.

"Support?" He gives a slight shake of his head, for such a phrase vastly understates his connection to it. "I am made of such magic. Outside the protection of the Nexus, a dull conformist is acute poison, and could scrub my very soul from the cosmos." It's a solemn admission to make, and a sobering reminder, for all his style and power, of his fragility.

Hunter takes a moment to let the statement fully sit in his mind, so he can appreciate Schön's role in his world. In a way, the admission makes sense to Hunter. He had thought there was something unique about Schön.

"I would not want to see that happen." He speaks softly.

"It must be so difficult. Even in the Nexus, to find people who aren't conformists." Hunter also knows that many people walk such strict paths, as if they are frightened of leaving the well-known trail.

"Nor I," Schön agrees quietly.

The slight change of subject allows him to relax and return to a more normal speaking tone. "It grows easier, the longer someone stays in the Nexus. People who can't handle a worldview broader than they already have tend to leave, and quickly. Thus, most of those who stay are, on some level, willing to accept the possibility of more than they know. The longer they stay, the more open they become. It's impossible to stay in the Nexus for too long without acknowledging the existence of magic, conflicting realities, and the rest."

"If there is one thing I can say about myself, my eyes were opened to the possibilities and power of magic long before I entered the Nexus. But even now, there are so many new wonders to explore."

"It is exciting. The possibilities."

"I'm glad to hear it," Schön notes. "Although there is a certain bitter irony--those who first thought it would be best for humanity to shun magic did so precisely because they were aware of the power and possibilities."

"It is a sad truth that there are people who would misuse magic, because of its power and possibilities."

Hunter reflect on what Schön mused earlier, about the possibility of him having some magical abilities. In a way, he is a little scared about it. But more nervous that he might not know how to handle any abilities he might have.

"I have felt only a small portion of magical power, when it was used on me. And it was painful."

"Magic can be painful, yes," Schön admits, "but so can many things, whether good or bad. Growth is famous for the pain it inflicts, for instance, and what could be more natural than maturation?"

"Oh don't get me wrong.... I also have seen the good of magic too." Hunter clarifies. "I hope to explore more of the magical opportunities, that are available to me."

"What is our next show?"

"I've no doubt you shall," Schön agrees.

"Next? Ah, next. Next is a story that I think may touch rather close to home." With no more warning than that, he starts the tale of a woman, her face bandaged, as doctors explain to her that they've tried everything in their power to correct her deformity.

Schön is quite right in his assessment again. Once the TV show is complete, it appears that Hunter is deeply affected by what he had seen.

He really feels for what the woman had experienced, being perceived 'ugly' by those around her. Trying so hard to fit in.

"It's..." He pauses, trying to put his feelings into the right words. "It's too bad that the initial bond between the doctor and the woman didn't have the strength to carry them through the challenges."

"In a way, I don't think the ending really proves the point they trying to make. While the woman was accepted by others who looked like her... that ending just didn't feel like it had a big impact."

And while Hunter doesn't have so many issues about his own appearance anymore, he is realistic in knowing there would be no one else who looks like him. His only hope for finding love would be from finding someone who accepts him, no matter what they look like.

Edited 2016-04-18 02:56 (UTC)

"I've always taken it to mean," Schön offers, "that notions of beauty are highly subjective. This story was written in the midst of the Red Scare, when it was every red-blooded American's solemn duty to demonstrate that they were not secret Communist sympathizers by conforming to the established norm as firmly as possible. Consider that word for a moment: sympathizer. A society so xenophobic that merely expressing, even feeling simple sympathy for another human being could be sufficient to excise one from society... that is ugliness." He sighs. "Forgive me, I drifted afield of my point."

After a sip of wine, he makes another stab at his interpretation. "Beauty. Subjective, as I said. To look at a thing which is like oneself and say, 'there is beauty in this,' why that's no challenge at all. It's almost an exercise in ego! But to look at what is different from oneself, different from norms, what exists on its own terms--to find the beauty there is a worthy endeavor."

"I can't imagine how difficult that time must have been for those people. The writers of this episode must have been pretty brave to try to break the norms." Hunter listens intently to Schön's point.

"In many ways, beauty is still subjective. That was another lesson that I learned from Kendra."

Hunter sips quietly at his wine for a moment. "There is so much beauty in this world. Sometimes, just undiscovered. Hidden from plain sight."

"Rod Serling was a man of great courage," Schön agrees, "and he drew other brave hearts to him. In one of the most repressive eras, and a world of unmatched fear, his quiet monologues and peculiar tales reminded people that the strange could be wonderful, that knee-jerk reactions were rarely the right ones, and that the wisest thing we could do was question."

"Beauty has always been subjective," he affirms with authority, "and always will be so. I would not be the first to note that the doing of a thing simply because it is difficult has a merit and a nobility all its own."

"Makes me wonder, if there is a Nexus door out there, where one could just go... and watch the man write. To meet an artist like him would be amazing."

Hunter takes a moment before allowing his heart to speak for him. "It can be hard. To be that person that others look upon with fear or disgust.

"To have feelings for someone, and not be sure how they feel about you."

"I can assure you, Hunter, I feel neither fear nor disgust toward you. Although I do sense our conversation has moved out of the abstract, hmm?"

"I know you don't." Hunter's voice gets soft. "And I do care about you. I won't hide that truth."

Won't hide it? Schön isn't certain the lad could hide it, but he's a little too tactful to say as much. "I care for you, as well," he replies, "although I fear I may disappoint you, with the form my care takes. For all the passion I hold for art, I am not much the romantic type."

Hunter chuckles softly. "I am not disappointed. I am rather touched that you would be concerned about my emotional welfare."

He reaches out to take one of Schön's hands in his own. And meets the other man's eyes with another soft smile. "I admit that I am very attracted to you. But, even in the short time we have known each other, I have gotten the impression that you weren't the romantic type."

"And yes, there might be a sad part of myself that mourns the fact that romance is not in the cards."

"However, there is a much larger part of myself that is very content to have someone so compassionate in my life as a friend. That means the world to me."

Hunter's answer draws a smile from Schön, and he squeezes the younger man's hand. "Friends, then, and gladly. Which, here, may be more than any single world."

"It is such an incredible thing to have so many great people in my life, whom I consider to be close friends." Hunter smiles again. "Friends who I know would be there when I need someone to lean on. Whom could count on me for the same."

"I truly feel that I can be open with everyone of my friends."

"And since I am still a romantic at heart, in case you hadn't noticed..." Hunter winks, because he knows Schön has already assessed that little fact. "...I still have faith in my heart that someday things will align where someone special will enter my life that could lead to romance."

Schön chuckles. "Have no fear, I am confident your faith will be rewarded in time. I am a firm believer that there is, indeed, someone for everyone--perhaps several possible someones. It's why I never deal in love magic."

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