remiss sighed lethargically, leaning back and propping his head up with his folded arms. he eyed the sky through the leaves of the tree above head disinterestedly, feeling spots of the sun's heat sway and dance across his face. he wasn't going to move any time soon, he was sure, not with the gentle wind playing with his bangs and the soft grass holding his heavy body. he sighed, closing his eyes.
isn't everything such a bother? he thought to himself, it's a real shame everything has to move so fast.
he heard someone call his name, but he made a conscious choice to close his ears. it wasn't important, or at the very least, it wasn't important enough to concern him. this day, as with every other, was a day on which remiss would mind his own business and relax underneath the tree outside his home. in the distance, there was a dull sound that might've been someone yelling.
i suppose so, indolence's thoughts came to remiss as a whisper, the only sound that was able to permeate his host's lethargy, but don't you think we should be going? we sit here every day, and it's a touch bland.
bland is good, remiss replied with only a moment's hesitance, i'd rather monotony than choas.
that isn't the point and you know it, there must be a cause for your behavior. indolence persisted, which remiss found at least somewhat odd. usually he could count on his partner to be just as willing to loaf around as he was.
what's with you, all of a sudden...? even the questioning tone in remiss' voice came after a delay, as if vocal inflection-- even in his own thoughts-- was too much effort.
i just figure it's about time we got around to doing something, that's all. remiss dismissed their own complaints, but their tone still held a bit of the same concern, gently nudging remiss with their words to encourage his movement.
fine, whatever, remiss hauled himself upright, bringing his head to his bent knees, resting his forehead there a moment. you're being a pain, though. if i wanted someone to hassle me, i'd have gone inside to see my father. he pried himself off the ground with apparent effort, placing one hand on indolence's hilt. i don't need this from you too, indol.
there was a faint sigh from the weapon, which replied gingerly, i understand, but you can't dodge your responsibilities forever...
grudgingly, remiss wandered back to his house, into the door where the person from before had been calling out to him.
"remiss!" his father exclaimed, more shocked than irritated by this point in his life-- after all, his son had consistently demonstrated the same behavior ever since he was given the news, "what's brought you inside today?"
remiss studied his father's face with intrigue. he did seem genuinely happy to see his son, at least, which was a step in the right directly. remiss felt his hatred melt under the caring eyes that were directed at him, he felt his negligence all at once burdensome and he mentally writhed. he found himself desperately wanting to run back outside, to duck underneath the tree and to hide in the world constructed by his own thoughts again-- a world where he could deceive himself into believing that somehow, in some way, his problems could all be tied back to his father-- his father who had raised the bar for remiss so high that he felt he could never hope to reach it. but, looking into his father's eyes, he froze.
"i..." his voice crept out of him, slinking along the floor, crawling. it was barely audible. "...was thinking i should probably start training with you, some time..."
- - -
remiss' father is the head of the royal guard, and he feels incredibly pressured to be as good as his father. he feels like he has too much to live up to, and this causes him to shut down. at the same time-- he's motivated by his dad and his partner indolence. his dad has done so much that remiss really looks up to him, but he's also really terrified to disappoint his dad for this reason. indolence is more like a friend to him, so his advice is easier for remiss to take. remiss wants to be someone his dad can be proud of, but at the same time, his motivation causes him to recede into himself, causing the lazy behavior he usually demonstrates.