Deep Leffen Goes to Court: Part VII

This is part 7 in an ongoing series. See part 6 here.

In the last episode:

"and some people, mango... some people start a fire because they can't contain the flame that's inside of them. the first fire doesn't burn for long and the second one can't ever be put out. no matter how hard you, or anybody else, tries."

mango started weeping into armada's arms.

"you're a bright candle in a dark world, mango," armada said. "and if they ever find a way to extinguish your light, it will only be because you taught them not to fear the darkness."

armada walked away from mango as he sat, weeping silently.

the trial had resumed, and the prosecution and defense had finished their closing arguments. the judge turned to mango and asked, "mang0, how do you plead?"

"guilty, your honor. but i'd like to make a statement before i'm sentenced to the electric chair."

the judge nodded.

mango stood up from his seat, aimed his gaze toward the sky, and began to speak: "i'm not sure when it happened, but at some point, smash went from being a game that was fun for me to play to a game that i felt compelled to play. And somewhere along the way i forgot that i was supposed to be having fun.

i started to think that i wasn't allowed to lose. i started to think that i had to win every event i attended, because how else was i going to justify spending so much time on a video game? i had to convince myself that every victory meant something more than just another win under my belt. and one day i saw myself in the mirror, and i saw an older mango. and i guess i just started wondering what else i could have done with all that time.

"i've been a lot of things in the past, and i've done a lot of things i regret, but..." mango paused for a moment, "i've never been a coward. i've never been a quitter. i've never run away from a battle because it was too hard, and i've never given up on something just because i was tired of it." mango wiped a tear from his eye.

"so, i'm not giving up on smash, because you don't give up on the things you love. But sometimes you do say goodbye. So it's goodbye for now." Mango's voice was trembling.

"It's time for me to begin the difficult work of deciding who I want to be in this life. Because life is all about figuring out what's worth wanting. Until then, I'll be watching all of you from the angel platform, waiting for the right moment to become vulnerable again." 

the courtroom was silent.

"that's all i have to say, your honor. if loving smash and doing sick shit is a crime, i'm guilty as fuck." mango said, returning to his seat.

the judge said, "mang0, you have expressed remorse for your actions and you have learned from your mistakes. i'm not going to send you to jail, but i am going to sentence you to ten years of community service. you will be required to attend every major tournament and use your reputation to promote the game. you must use your status as a professional gamer to help educate your fans, to encourage them to pursue careers in STEM, and help the next generation of players avoid the same pitfalls that you fell into. do you understand?"

mango nodded, "i do."

"as for the other charges..." the judge began, and then stopped. he was struggling with something, something deep and meaningful. he stared out into the distance, and then turned to mango.

"mang0, despite your past transgressions, i still see the passion in your eyes. you aren't just playing the game, you ARE the game. i'm going to ask the court to dismiss the charges of aiding and abetting Leffen here."

the courtroom erupted in cheers. the judge stood up, fully erect.

every head in the room was turned toward mango. mango was crying.

the judge said, "the charges of grand theft smash have been dismissed. the charges of attempted murder have been dismissed. all charges for possession of banned substance have been dropped. the charges of sick schmovement have been dismissed, but not forgotten."

the courtroom roared.

"mang0, you are free to go."

mango, tears running down his face, walked toward the door.

"oh, and one more thing, mang0," the judge said.

mango turned around.

"candles are meant to share the flame."

mango smiled and nodded. 

the courtroom erupted in applause.

"oh, one more thing, mang0," the judge added.

mango turned around again.

"try to work on your girth. it's the only thing holding you back", the judge said, gesturing toward mango's "barely there" erection.

mango nodded in agreement.

"and, mango?", the judge asked.

mango backed up from the door and turned around.

"that crying shit back there was one of the saddest things i've ever seen. no one really cares about any of that stuff, and it kind of makes you look like a bitch."

mango nodded in approval, and continued walking to the door.

"oh and mango?", the judge added.

mango turned around for the last time.

"it's time to stop looking back. you've made your choice. nothing can be gleaned from living in the past."

mango stopped in his tracks.

"i know it's hard, but it's time to move on. you only have freedom to change the future. no regrets."

mango turned around and said, "thanks for the advice, judge."

"hey, i've got your back. you've got this."

the judge nodded.

"thanks for everything you've done for me."

the judge nodded again, this time with a smile.

"i'm not gonna let you down."

the judge smiled and nodded.

"you're the best judge. you beautiful son of a bitch"

the judge nodded while smiling.

the judge turned to the court and said, "wow... that was... that was really something. Can we get a round of applause for Mango?"

the audience erupted in applause like well-trained circus monkeys.

the judge cleared his throat. 

"Now where were we with this sorry excuse for a trial? Oh that's right, we were about to send this sorry excuse for a gamer to his grave."