The Viper sat above Bree. Much like he always does. His legs swinging from the rooftop he sat upon, his eyes scanning across the skyline of the town. Yet, somehow, unlike any other day where he would waste away simply watching the world around him, he felt incomplete. He sat there, in simple thought. And he had a lot to think about.
Over the past few months things had went downhill for him. He had been stolen from, beaten up, harshly judged, even made a few more enemies to add to the ever-growing list. Atop all of his troubles though, was his wife, and her leaving him. This had effected him more than he had expected, and it was slowly tearing him apart, despite him knowing it was going to happen, despite him being ready for it. It was killing him. Or, well, something was, at the very least. For once in his short lifetime, the man knew not what to do. He had no idea what was next for him, or his daughter, and he didn't know how to move forwards. He tried, of course he tried, but to no avail. Set back after set back limited him, stopped him from seeing his daughter, stopped a 'fling' with Evangelline, stopped him from re-finding his purpose in life. He looked down to the bottle of whiskey in his hand, and wondered, "Is this it? Is this all I have to show for my life? A bottle of whiskey, a wife that hates me, a daughter that I can't even be a good father to?".
He had lost a lot in a very short period of time, something he thought he had gotten used to, but it stung at him like a festering wound. Dagramir, for that moment, truly had no one with him anymore. Anyone he had ever loved, were either six feet under, or hated his guts. Anyone he had ever tried to save, died tragically in front of him. And he blamed himself. For all of it. And the only way he thought to relieve his pain, was to simply shift off of the edge, and submit himself to the warmth of death. With alcohol in his blood, and a pain in his heart, he did indeed look over the edge. But instead of seeing the black abyss waiting for him, he saw a familiar face. Annsuel. The only person he had ever completely opened up to, and submitted himself to. The only girl who saw in him what no other could. He simply saw her smile at him. And that was enough.
With that one smile, he dropped his bottle of whiskey, and rose to his feet, standing tall on the beam, looking out once again to the skyline. He knew he could not submit. Not now. Not ever. He had vowed all those years ago to never follow in his father's footsteps, and he would be damned if he was going to go back on that promise. The Viper quickly grabbed for his mask that sat on his belt, but for once, hesitated. Staring over the mask, he contemplated his whole existence. What was truly more important to him? His wife, his child, and any other women who he dared show compassion for? Or a simple cloth mask? He knew that if he was going to fix his life.. Something needed to change. He could no longer be the monster he had become.. It was time for the Viper to be something else. To be someone else. A lover, a father, a husband? He knew not what he had to be now.. But the first step in reclaiming his life, started with losing the mask.. Before he lost himself.
