ANONYMOUS TEXT

[irwins]

[Shaun is not usually one to post things anonymously. He's always been a blogger. He's used to life in the public eye back home. But this... Well. This discussion isn't one he's quite ready to have openly. Not with Georgia around. Not with Becks also here.]

So none of us asked to be dragged to this place, right? But now that we're here, I can't be the only person who doesn't want to leave.

I know that could change. It could change fast.

How do you handle it? Living a life that could get ripped away at any minute?

I know that's always true. I know it real fucking well. But it's even more true and immediate here somehow. So how do you deal with that besides super heavy denial?


[And denial only works so well when there's a quiet voice at the back of your mind, one that hasn't been given a chance to put down deep roots or find its volume, but one that is there and waiting to whisper the worst sort of warnings and worst case scenarios.]

Comments

private - un-anon. username: smason

[irwins]

The not telling much part was mostly so the people from my world didn't see and know it was me immediately. Only half worked anyway.

I appreciate the offer. I'm not great at talking.

Well scratch that. I'm awesome at talking until it's talking about feelings. Then I'm shit at it.

private

[topmeup]

Yeah, people we know how a habit of picking us out. I suck at being anonymous at anything, anyway. Don't bother even trying.

If you don't feel right about it now, don't force it. You've got my number now. Hit me up when you just need someone to bounce off. No strings, no judgment.

And nice to meet you. Since we're doing this in reverse.

Re: private

[irwins]

Trying to get anything past my sister is goddamned impossible. Story of my life.

And yeah, nice to meet you as weird as this goes for meeting. Name's Shaun by the way.

[topmeup]

Sisters, man. It's like a superpower.

So, Shaun, which porter city did you get dropped in?

[irwins]

It seriously is. I mean, in this place one of her super powers is actually knowing when someone is lying, but she was already scary good at that to begin with.

Nonah. Home sweet home for the time being. You?  

[topmeup]

My sister has a look and it makes me spill my guts immediately. Another reason I never bothered lying.

I'm in Maurtia Falls. Was original settled in De Chima, but they did a shuffle a while back and moved us around for housing reasons or whatever.

[irwins]

Yeah. I don't lie to my sister either. That's one thing she wouldn't forgive.

They shuffled people? Huh.

George was already here when I arrived, so I just moved in with her.

[topmeup]

Yeah a lot was going on around then and Jeopardy showed up. A bunch of people got relocated to even us out more.

I'm glad you've got your sister here with you so you weren't alone.

[irwins]

Huh. Jeopardy just... showed up?

Yeah.

...

[Well hell he went private so he could talk about things. It's not his usual to open up to, well, anyone. But what the hell.]

She's why I don't want to leave. This world has her in it. And mine. Well. Mine doesn't anymore.

[topmeup]

If someone I lost showed up, I'd probably feel the same way. It's the gift of coming to this place.

I know you're gonna worry about it, but I hope you don't let that worry hold you back from really enjoying the chance. You deserve to enjoy it.

[irwins]

That's what I'm trying to avoid. You know? Harder than I hoped it would be.

[topmeup]

Just ask yourself what's more important and work towards that. It's not always easy, but I think the more you do it, the easier it gets.

What do you think is holding you back?

[irwins]

Fear? That's usually it, right? Afraid I'll wake up and be back home. No George. Just the walking undead and me.

[topmeup]

Usually, yeah. I don't like to jump to conclusions about this shit, so I didn't want to assume it was one way or another for you.

Not that anything about walking dead sounds fun. Shit like that is why I don't do horror movies.

[irwins]

I mean, zombies aren't the worst thing. I used to think so anyway. Hell, my career was poking them with sticks and seeing how that turned out. For education and entertainment value.

Kind of lost interest in a lot of it though, after.

[topmeup]

Poking zombies with sticks for science? Your world is a hell of a trip, man.

I wish I could help more, but I can at least be an ear for you. Can't do the work for you, but if you want to talk it out when it's too much, don't be afraid to hit me up.

[irwins]

Horror-themed theme park of fucked up twenty four seven three sixty five.

Thanks, in general. Gonna sound cliche as hell, but just getting it out helps, a little.

[topmeup]

I'm sorry you had to go through that. It couldn't have been easy. Hope things settle down so you can take advantage of being here and not there. Least for a while.

And you're more than welcome. Good luck, bruh.