#anywhere

Fort Davis...

No school, not really.

But this area is ignoring a lot of the masks and stuff...

so some kids meet in the park.

to 'go play'

Among them, a young boy who would really rather be reading than running.

And, HE is wearing a mask

Which isn't endearing him to the local bully

"Oh geez, check this Simp" A snort from his agressor. Who has a name, but the boy prefers to refer to him as 'The Unwanted Link'.. like the missing link, but no one wants to find him

He tries to focus on his book. He may have to go outside, but he's allowed to read

right?

Apparently not.. the book is torn out his hands roughly.

"What the...Mythology? that the fuck is mythology?" U.Link sneers

"It's legends" The boy says, straightening his glasses, "Of old gods.. like Zeus, or Thor..."

The Bully sorts through "Bullshit... there's no picture of Chris Hemsworth in here"

The boy sighs. He's tempted to ask the LInk if he's Gay For Hemsworth, but that's so 20th century.

"Chris Hemsworth is playing thor from the comcis, who is only marginally based on Thor from Norse legends..."

"margin..what the fuck does Butter have to do anything?" Link says "Hey, this is a library book isn't it?"

"yes, from the public library here.." Panic in the boy "it's city property"

"But YOU Signed for it, huh?" Link grins, eying the nearby sewer grate. The gaps might be big enough

"No!" The boy says and tries to take it back

"You say no, but I bet yes." And the bully shoves him "You just attacked me. So that's like, standing my ground. This? This is just fun."

And plummet, plunk, into the grate it goes, lost in the dark and muck

The boy feels hatred, anger.. and something him tries to stir, "May your name be stricken from you, may your songs be unsung, and all your dreams unspun"

It..doesn't do anything. Of course it wouldn't do anything. He's just a kid mouthing weird...jumbo... and the world doesn't work like that.

"FAG!" Link laughs, proving he is not out of the 20th century yet. and he shoves the boy again, and walks off

The boy goes into the dirt... and all he can think of as he reaches for his glasses that came loose is.. on some level, he really thought that should have worked.

but.. but this is the real world. Not a make believe place where words can have power to stop might

The Boy rises... and his shadow behind him, just for a moment tries to tell him that yes, Magic is real... we ARE Magic.. you just don't remember.

But then, he is just a boy. And they're not good for anything at that age. So thought a tyranical lord

So the shadow's reminder falls on mundane and thus deaf ears

(End Scene)