maskormenace

[ Here's Kitty, wearing a smile and giving a little wave to the camera. ]

Hullo. It's Kitty here. I was just thinking about how it's about time for us to get another wave of new people - and then I remembered how last December, we didn't get any, and then I realized that I've now been here for over a year and that was just mad to think about.

It's easy to focus on all the horrid things that happen to us here. Because there are so many horrid things - that's true. The war with the Soviets is just terrible, and sometimes you just want to take the President by his shoulders and shake him until he stops - and those groups that detest us, they've made things a bit hard at times, as well. [ There's a little sideways twist to her lips as she says that; that's a grotesque understatement from a girl who had quite the history with one of those groups that detest us. ]

But it's always easy to remember the bad above the good. That's how the human brain works, isn't it - it's designed to remember hurts so that it can avoid those hurts in the future, which isn't bad, but which means that we sometimes lose track of the fact that there is so much more kindness than cruelty in the world. So I was just sitting and remembering all the good that's come to me over the past year.

Because this year, in this world, it really has been filled with impossible goodness. When I first came here, I was so scared, but there were people who took me in and helped me and protected me until I got a little more courage. And now here I am. I've made so many friends, amongst them someone I thought was my direst enemy. I saw people whom I'd never done any good for - I saw them forgive me when I was cruel and wicked and spiteful towards them, saw them risk themselves to help me and to save me.

And I've lived amongst the people of this world, who have been so good to me. So good. I've made friends amongst them, too. I've been kept on at work when I really have been the worst employee, when I've been unreliable because of my other obligations. And we've been allowed to speak our minds, speak freely. We've been allowed to travel far and wide. We've been supported in everything we do, which is far more kindness than has ever been extended a group of refugees at any time in any world. We've lived at peace. We've lived well.

So -

[ She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. ]

I'd thought - if I could trouble you all - that we could spend a little bit of time, all together, remembering the good turns that people have done us.

Talk about whomever you'd like. Talk about the people who have been kind and helped us when they didn't have to. Talk about the wealth that is the other people we know here. And I thought we could talk about the natives, too - I was thinking I might put together a little something, a few quotes, that we could pass along to the natives of this world, so that we know that we appreciate them. Let's take some time to overcome our brains, and remember the good - focus on the good and remember how kind the world is to us. How well we live. How strong and brave and honest we can be here.

[ Translation: 'All of this is a somewhat underhanded but well-intentioned PR thing that will let me package some stuff to make the natives less furious at us in an ongoing attempt to avert all-out war between us and this world.' ]

Anyway. There's that, if you can spare some time. Oh, and, erm - come by Krakatoa, while I've got your attention. Best club in town, bar none. And the employees are simply gorgeous.

[ A quick, half-sheepish grin, and then she gives a little nod and waves her way off. ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I'll spray them with a flame-retardant coating, then, won't I!

So he played you. Kind of. [Jaime frowns, uncertain.] You think he actually cared, or was he just manipulating you? That's kind of a rough one, getting into a resistance like that.

Both, I think.

[ She says that without anger, without regret. ]

He saw someone who'd stood up to the magicians, and he wanted to help me because of that. But he also very much wanted something from me. Taking care of my fees...That accomplished both things at once, didn't it.

[ Kitty shakes her head very slightly. ]

He was a lot better then, honestly. A lot kinder. Genuinely idealistic. We all lost sight of that later on, especially him. But in those early days, he really believed. And he really wanted to help those who needed it.

Right. I remember you telling me that things didn't exactly end the way that the Resistance wanted things to.

[He frowns, glancing down at his feet, thinking about everything that he's seen over the past few months, everything that he's heard other people do.]

That's how a lot of bad things start, isn't it? By people who just want to do some good?

[ She gives a grunt of acknowledgment. ]

You know how the saying goes - The road to hell is paved with good intentions. [ A beat. ] Of course, what bothers me about that quote is that it's about only ten percent of the picture, since good intentions are also the paving stone to better lives and better worlds, aren't they. It's how a lot of bad things start, but it's also how all of good things start. The problem is never wanting to make things better - the problem is going about it in the wrong way. Or forgetting what it is that people really need.

Eh, I still think it's good to keep in mind. Too many people think that if they're trying to help people, that means everything they do is justified, like the people they fight against don't think they're right too. [As always, his position is temperate, moderate.] I don't think anyone who uses the expression is actually saying that there's a problem with wanting to improve things.

[ She sounds a touch dubious. ]

I don't know. I find that people are very often...Oh, either indecisive or outright apathetic, and use past examples of things gone wrong to justify inaction. It's one of the many reason change is often so difficult. Pessimism in the guise of caution kills it.

Hey, I never said both problems don't exist. People who wanna do good forgetting themselves doesn't mean that other people don't care. It's not like one problem's more important than the other.

Well, fine! I'm still getting whiskey out of it! See if I care. [So there!]

[ HAH. ]

Good. Glad to hear you've seen reason.

[ i.e., glad to hear you've finally given up on this stunningly stupid argument. ]

Whatever. Your face hasn't seen reason.

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