maskormenace

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Here's my bit of charity to you, named and nameless collective of the stranded:
A theater class has issued the assignment to design and perform scenes of each student's own making, and, to no one's shock, many are deciding they're going to be making up bits based on imPorts. Rather, what they know or WANT to believe they know of them, and gods already know how dreadful an assessment PROFESSIONALLY published works are in that regard.

You're welcome to provide me with information of what you are...or are NOT, that I may, perhaps, educate or mitigate the onslaught of amateur theater to come in the following weeks. Doubtless you've seen rumors of yourself littering the shopping markets.

I'd lament that art is dead here, but I've been told washroom facilities are displayed as museum pieces here, so what would I even know about it. Humans are weird.

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[she has a kind of i know right? glare and offers a shrug.] I assume having just a general knowledge of some of these things suffices for most of the public? Though I'm told specialization occurs in the universities.

I'm not sure how much I buy it; not once while standing in line at a market or store have I overheard anyone discussing the plight of colonized islands or whatever!

I wonder if it's like...meant to pique interest? Like, if you find yourself fascinated by law, when you get into the universities, you can study it exclusively because of your past interest in it?

But, you're right. The only thing I hear people talking about is what's on the news. Hell, half the people in the stores don't even know how to give correct change.

And it is their own currency. [eyeroll. yes, she can judge. she'll judge! she's judging right now. she's good at it, she's 17!]

But it's of no impact to me; it's not like I'm guaranteed to last long here enough to indulge in any intricate and specialized study of the things in this realm, following their timetable. Isn't the average like a year or less for most of us stuck?

True, but there are outliers. I mean, my commanding officer has been here for five years I think.

Besides, isn't there any subject you found yourself interested in?

[dry:] Not exactly a booming volume of sorcerers about to cultivate study here, is there, Darin? [she shakes her head.] But I get what you mean. I haven't put much thought into it, because that'd mean having to plan for the long-term.

Well, what's wrong with that? Having a plan for the long-term? I mean, I don't even intend to go home now.

[she hesitates, looking uncomfortable. after a beat, she pushes off the vanity and paces over to plop on her bed, hugging her arms.]

I don't know. I mean--it's sensible, I suppose. But. I don't know. I don't...like the idea of building myself up for something that's not meant to be, I guess. Or maybe not meant to be. I don't know.

Cece...

[Darin crosses his arms. Platitudes wouldn't work on Cecelia. Just saying to 'keep marching forward' all rang hollow to her.]

...Let's change things up for a second.

You've been here for a few months now. Is there anything here you've found you truly like? Something that makes you smile? A person or...or a place...or an opportunity that you didn't have back home?

[her ear twitches. something she truly likes. like a person...a person she likes...

...ah.

she flushes, immediately screwing up her face defensively to compensate.]

Get to the point.

The point is...none of us know what's going to happen to us. Planning for a long future might seem foolish? But where does that leave you? It just leaves you...floating in a void. Waiting for something that may never come.

So...what's wrong with working on something that makes you happy? Sure it might wind up being for naught but...who says being happy only leads to enriching your own life? Believe it or not, happiness spreads. And if we're supposed to be heroes, shouldn't we be looking to spread as much happiness as we can?

[Darin gives her a smile and taps the partly empty sack of books at his feet.]

[how dare he.

she can't sit there and be petulant when he's out here saying things that actually make sense despite their hopeless shades of optimism. it'd just make her the foolish, petty one! she's tired of being that one!

at least she can scoff a little at that last bit.]

Heroes, you say. I don't think that title really takes for most of us? And I highly doubt it ought to for many.

You're right. It's a bit grandiose, isn't it? It implies a level of selflessness when really, we just want to live our lives.

So, you shouldn't let that stop you.

[she makes a face. stop that!! lifecoaching!!!]

Right. I'll get on that. Swords brandished and all that, or however the metaphor goes.

[Darin laughs a bit and stoops to pick up the assorted books and place them back into the sack. He scoops the bag up and heads for the door with it.]

Right, right. You're gonna be fine, Cece. It might not seem it, but you will.

We all find our own way.

[YEAH YEAH OK DAD WHATEVER hey wait--]

Excuse me, where are you going with those?

[Darin blinks and looks at the books.]

I was gonna...I dunno. Donate them or something? I didn't think you wanted...

[squint.

she gets up, striding over to snatch the bag--KIND OF BC 30 BOOKS IS KIND OF HEAVY.]

You don't--just give someone things and then decide to take them back! Rude! It's my problem now.

Okay! Okay, okay!

[Darin pats at the air.]

I'll...leave it to you then.

Leave me to it? To what? Do you think I'm going to sit here reading these trashy things?! What sort of girl do you think I am?! Gross!

I was leaving you to deal with them! I didn't mean it the other way!! It's your problem!!

And whose fault is that, huh?! Gods! You weirdo! Don't you dare assume I'd seek these out on my own!

I didn't! I just thought you'd like some romantic books! The covers are misleading! Everything about the whole genre is misleading!!

YOU'RE misleading! Get out! [she pushes him.]

Okay! I'm going! Quit shoving! Geez!

[GODS HE THOUGHT HE HAD SOMETHING THERE FOR A SECOND.]

[Either way, he's throwing his arms up and closing the door behind him before she can slam it on some part of him.]

[GOOD. a man can learn, fingers can be spared.

and, later -- like, way later, he can find one of those damn trash books set in his room. thumb through it and find several pages dog-eared and lines highlighted: the most egregious errors, names, spellings, and godsawful metaphors for genetalia. there's even a numerical rating on the last page on a scale of trash to irredeemable. maybe the author photo is defaced.

look how she suffered for your entertainment and APPRECIATE her sacrifice!]

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patchricide - 2019-03-04 05:27 (UTC) - Expand

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