[ voice ]

[underachieves]

[Dance music thumping distantly in the background, mostly indistinguishable but for the bass. He's at Fangtasia, actually, tucked away in one of the back rooms. But there's no video to give that away.

He sounds much more animated than usual, talking faster than his typical lazy drawl (although not precisely hyper):]You guys, death isn't even real

Comments

voice;

[quackery]

I don't think I get it... But even if people don't die for real, a lot of people grew up thinking that death is a really bad thing. So it's not that easy to just not care all of a sudden. And it's okay for people to be sad that their friends have gone home, too.

voice;

[underachieves]

It's not about good or bad or okay or not okay. See, time isn't a line. It's like... an ocean. And we're all floating in it. But then there's this island here in the middle of the ocean, and anybody can turn up on the shore and stay a while. Then maybe they go for a swim and float out there in the ocean some more.

But there's nothing to be sad about, 'cause your friends just went for a swim. And there's always a way back.

voice;

[quackery]

But not everyone comes back from that swim.

voice;

[underachieves]

They're still out there. Enjoying themselves. Doing what they wanna do. Why're you sad?

voice;

[quackery]

I know that! And I'm glad they got away from a bad place like this. But it's still hard to know that it could be a really long time until I'll see them again, or that I might never see them again. I know that's selfish...

voice;

[underachieves]

It's not selfish, it's just... Man, I dunno. Don't you feel it? Everything you ever had with them is still with you. You haven't lost anything.

voice;

[quackery]

But if they don't come back, then I lost the chance to see them again, even if I still have memories.

voice;

[underachieves]

That's totally not true. The chances are actually pretty good. But anyway, yeah, you've got the memories. You and your friend... You're still in that place where the memory was formed. You never left that moment. It isn't gone. You're both there forever.

voice;

[quackery]

I said if they don't come back! But being able to remember that moment and still being in that moment are different. It's like- I know that there are things I won't have the chance to do with them anymore, if they leave for good.

voice;

[underachieves]

I'm not talking about remembering. I'm talking about being in it.

voice;

[quackery]

I don't think I get what you mean.

voice;

[underachieves]

I mean you'll always be there.

[And he sees nothing flawed in that explanation. It's obvious to him.]

voice;

[quackery]

I, um... Not really!

Re: voice;

[frosty_mind]

It's only selfish to the extent that not wanting to be unhappy is selfish. Most people don't want to be unhappy.

voice;

[quackery]

But it isn't fair that I'd be sad if they left if they want to leave.

Re: voice;

[frosty_mind]

Life isn't fair. But you're only being selfish in the way we normally use the word if you want them to do what makes you happy instead of what makes them happy. Being sad because someone you like isn't around any more isn't what we normally call selfish.