destiny
There's a concept in a certain genre of media that I really enjoy; the 'Doomed To Be a Problem' character.
Maybe they're cursed, or destined, or bound by their nature, but wherever they go they just fuck things up. It could be world-ending, or merely an inconvinient repetition. There's a rare few who relish it, but the more interesting ones are discontent, naive, or resigned.
They don't want to bring malady and misfortune to everything they touch. It just seems to happen, and it sucks, and they wish they could escape it. They wish things could be different.
Usually we arrive at the narrative at some point just before a big change: a new project, a vital task, a lover found. We are given enough context to understand the trends, the sordid and guilty history, the Way This Is Going To Go.
It may not become fully apparent until later, but the thought crosses their mind, however briefly;
"...Perhaps I shouldn't do this. I shouldn't let this happen again."
Enter The Greater Good, stage left.
In the 'world-ending' cases, this is usually some mentor or authority figure offering the quick and painless death, sacrificing the one for the good of the many.
Probably our Doomed Unfortunate will balk at this to begin with, understandably scared of oblivion. Then the depression sinks in, and they accept the argument and submit to assisted suicide. Finally, at the last minute the Magical Girl Friendgroup dramatically steps in and insists "no! there must be another way!"
Thus the Greater Good becomes the (probably penultimate) Big Bad, and the Battle Ensues.
In less severe cases, the Greater Good may not be an outside influence at all, but is instead either the Unfortunate's Conscience, or possibly their Demons, or quite often their Demons masquerading as their Conscience.
You should stop touching things, it says. Every time you do, those things wither and die. Perhaps it would be better if you lay down and let yourself wither and die, so this stopped happening. Wouldn't it be nice not to deal with the guilt anymore? Don't you want to stop running from your mistakes?
As before, the Demons/Conscience almost manage to sneak this one across the finish line, before the Magical Girl Friendgroup shows up and reminds the Unfortunate that they are Worthy/Redeemable/Not All That Bad After All, Actually.
These are happy endings. Predictable, fluffy, preaching a moral about how everyone can better themselves, usually through the power of Friendship and Self-Esteem.
There is the third, funnier kind though.
The Doomed Unfortunate who accepts their fate - and in doing so, commits the ultimate act of defiance. Not with relish, (because that would just make them The Secret Big Bad All Along), but with an edgy mix of resignation, stubborness, and spite.
Perhaps this makes them the antihero, guaranteed to be the audience favourite and the Rival of the Protagonist (except when a BIGGER world-ending threat appears, of course).
Perhaps they are the protagonist of the tale, and their choice is portrayed as one of self-love and rampant emotion, of Never Giving Up, espousing the beauty of the human psyche with all its flaws, a metaphor to spit in the face of eugenics everywhere.
Sometimes its a bit more nuanced than that. That'd be cool.
Regardless, there is usually no Magical Girl Friendgroup here to take the knife from their hand, gently guiding it away. They have to find that strength themself. There is a dramatic crack of thunder as they fling it to the ground, or spin the blade outwards towards the world with bloodsoaked fingers.
"I didn't ask for this," they say. "I didn't choose to be this way."
"It's not fair. I tried to be a good person, and they wouldn't let me."
"I want to do the right thing, but I'm so tired. They keep telling me it would be better for everyone if I stopped trying."
(There is the impression of a deep breath, a grandiose swell in the music, and a sunrise reflected in their eyes).
"But I don't want to lay down and let myself die."
"I deserve to live too. I WANT to live too!"
Even if that's the selfish choice. Even if that makes them the bad guy. Even if they are doomed to repeat the cycle over and over, and maybe never get it right.
Perhaps they are disillusioned. Perhaps they think world deserves them. Perhaps they believe they can still do better. Perhaps it doesn't matter.
They make the choice.
Fuck the world,
I want to live after all.