.o2 - Time?

[felis_fidelus]

... What is all this talk about spending ten years in this place? Like hell am I living here this long. Reconstruction from Omega could take years....

[a pause, before:]

If these... drones ask me to play hopscotch one more time, I'm going to scream.

[HAY WILLIAMS ROAD. You may well see Reeve sitting on the front steps of his 'house', surveying

Comments

[bornwithskison]

Just make up some lie about how you hurt your leg.

[felis_fidelus]

That's not a bad idea. I take it you've had to use it before?

[bornwithskison]

Once or twice here, multiple times with the neighborhood children back home.

[felis_fidelus]

Ah. So you're used to children.

Thank you for the tip. I'm... not quite used to dealing with them.

[bornwithskison]

I have a little brother, but I always played with him when he was small.

But... Dealing with over a million children, you learn how to deal with them.

[felis_fidelus]

... a million children?

Is that even humanly possible?

[bornwithskison]

No, but I'm not exactly human.

Whether you believe it or not, I'm the Kingdom of Norway. You'll find others like me, just a friendly warning, so if you want to call me crazy, go ahead. Putting it simply, some of us refer to our citizens as our children, but I don't know how many do.

[felis_fidelus]

[silence for several long moments as he considers this. Insane people are generally not this up-front about it.]

So you're the incarnation of an entire nation? It's... a bit of a hard concept to swallow, yes, but those that are mad don't generally give others the option of whether to accept it or not.

I'll withhold judgment until I've learned more, if you don't mind. Too many new phenomena in so short a time- I'm too old for this. [a bit of a chuckle]

[bornwithskison]

It was hard for me to grasp it when I found out what I was, so I know how you feel.

You don't sound that old. [There's a small hint of a smile in his voice.]

[felis_fidelus]

I can imagine so. That's a rather large responsibility to wake up to.

[a real laugh this time] Maybe not. There are days I'm so busy I can barely remember my name, let alone how old I am.

... though I expect I'll have more time on my hands now.

[bornwithskison]

What do you do?

Think of it as an extended vacation that nobody wanted to have. This town may look harmless, but it can become violent--or make us violent.

[felis_fidelus]

At home? I'm... sort of the planetary leader. Not something I'm planning to retain long-term; just until the wars are over and the population gets stable enough to handle the government on its own.

I've heard a few examples. I admit I wanted a vacation, but not like this.

[bornwithskison]

And I thought being in control of what happens to your people was big. I don't think I'd last as a planet.

I was happier back home... I could go to wherever I wanted for a vacation then.

[felis_fidelus]

Ah, I'm not quite in the same position. I chose to take on the responsibility. After the Jenova War, the cities were destroyed and needed to be rebuilt- I had the knowledge and access to the funds. It was the least I could do.

To be honest, I haven't been on a vacation in years. What would you do when on vacation?

[bornwithskison]

I'm sure your people are grateful to have someone like you taking care of them. It's not every day someone like you comes around.

Relax, maybe have a few drinks, enjoy the scenery of where ever you are... It all depends on the person.

[felis_fidelus]

'Grateful'... yes. I suppose so. I've not been a perfect person- this is at least one way I can make up for it. How do you put up with the strain of taking care of so many?

Ah. Gaia, I must need a vacation if I can't even think of what I'd do on one.