008 ✿ Video

[flowerette]

I'm curious.

[ Raina is seated in her living room, legs tucked up beneath her on the couch. It's a relaxed and casual position, best suited for a relaxed and casual conversation. ]

So many people come and go here. There are very few of us who have been static for years. Even fewer who have been here since the beginning. But the longer you're here, the more losses you tend to face. And the more time that passes, the more everyone else forgets about some of those people who were once here. So I'd like to hear stories of friends who have gone, lovers who have vanished, and people you'll never forget. The only way we can keep memories alive is to share them. I mean, who knows when you or I could become nothing more than a memory...and the least we can do is honor those memories by talking about them.

[ She sits up slowly, draping her arm over her knees. ]

But more than all of that, and perhaps a more relevant question to the newer arrivals -- if you had the opportunity to visit a lost friend's world just to see them again, would you? Even knowing that there's a chance they might not remember you? It is a painful thing to be forgotten, but perhaps there could be a comfort in seeing them alive and happy once again -- a sense of closure that we so seldom receive in this world. Or as always, perhaps it's best to leave well enough alone. I'm just interested to hear where everyone falls in their opinions on the matter.

Comments

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[disguarded]

I don't have much preference on what world I'm in. Definitely not based on anything like that.

[Guess who is also lounging comfortably somewhere.]

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[flowerette]

[ Heeey, pretty lady. ]

Well, no. You'd have to be attached to have that sort of sentiment. But I do wonder if you would be curious to see some of our other worlds simply for the sake of seeing them?

voice;

[wizzardly]

What, really?

[you can hear the sentimentality fly right over Rincewind's hat.]

Have you heard about most of the worlds people come from? They're bloody dangerous! There's little chance you'd return from any one of them alive!

voice;

[flowerette]

Considering that I've already died in my own world, I don't think there would be much of anything to lose.

[ SORE SUBJECT, RINCEWIND. ]

But I suppose I can understand the sentiment.

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[resipiscent]

[He's conveniently ignoring the first half of this.]

I'd go see. I'm not a new arrival -- [evidently] -- but I'm from somewhere that inter-world travel is possible with the right equipment or vehicle. It'd be easy to blend in, most of the time, so if they remembered me, maybe they'd spot me. But if they didn't, then... they didn't.

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[flowerette]

Really? So you're no stranger to all of this, then. Has it been difficult for you to be stuck in this world for so long since you're used to being able to travel between them?

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[viced]

That's... a pretty depressing subject but...

It happens. A lot. It's... it's hard to make that choice, though, whether you'd want someone to be happy back where we're from, or... if you'd rather have someone here, just as goddamn miserable as you are.

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[flowerette]

Oh, there are plenty who can commiserate in their misery. But I don't think it's always miserable.

[ Teasingly: ] Surely even you have had people who can make you laugh and enjoy yourself.

[Audio]

[cadbane]

It's better to not have any so-called 'friends' at all.

[Audio]

[flowerette]

So you say, but I've found that to be an unavoidable outcome of being here for a prolonged period of time.

voice;

[oceanthief]

There's nothing worse than being forgotten.

[she may have had some sort of answer for the first half of Raina's post, but her question at the end hit a sensitive spot hard enough to jostle that train of thought right off the tracks.]

voice;

[flowerette]

I do agree.

[ There's something a bit somber in her tone. ]

Even death would not be quite so bad if you weren't so quickly forgotten. Especially if that death was the one and only time you did something self-sacrificing.

video;

[23wishes]

So many people... I've only been here a year but...

[Aerith's eyes are notably red. This is a tender subject.]

I never had many friends growing up back home, but here, I was able to make tons of them. Now only a few are left. It's hard. It's harder each time.

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[flowerette]

I do agree. It's amazing how close we can get to people in only a short period of time spent here. And also incredibly heart wrenching how fast they can be ripped from us.

[ Raina's tone becomes gentler, trying to steer the topic to something a little less depressing. ]

But what are some of your favorite memories with those friends? I've found remembering the good times can help them still feel like a part of you here.

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[am_i_a_monster]

You're assuming they'd be alive and happy in their world. It might be better to visit them in your memories.

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[flowerette]

Well, not all. But some will be. Others will probably be dead.

[ Like Raina. Like Abigail, even. Yes, Raina does know about Abigail's history. The perks of being Frederick Chilton's fiance. ]

But if there was a way to live on and visit those other worlds where your friends are happy, would you choose to do so?

( video )

[drizzle]

...I wish I could share any stories about those who I got to know in this world and have returned home. I don't know if anyone has since...

[A slight pause as she tries to put her thoughts into words. There was a lot to be said about this particular topic(s). No matter how much time has gone by after returning to this world without any memories, it was still difficult to comprehend living a totally different life half a year ago.]

I don't think it's hard to lose people. As strange as it may sound. I find losing your memories of other people that you were once close to to be more painful than being forgotten by others. Especially if they returned home after you lost those precious memories of them. Because, then, you won't have the chance to get reacquainted with them.

As for your final question, regarding travelling to other worlds, I want to, but it may be a bad idea for me. A few of my friends have difficult circumstances. If I find my way there, even knowing they won't know who I am, I'll still find a way to protect them while meddle in their affairs without a second thought. I think it may be best to allow me to watch them live their lives through a tv than doing so in person. [A sheepish chuckle will be given as she can clearly imagine herself making a mess of everything.]

( video )

[flowerette]

[ It's a nightmare scenario -- porting out and returning with no memories of the time spent in this world. Raina's expression is sympathetic because she's certainly imagined what it might be like to forget. ]

It doesn't sound strange to me. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to forget all of those times shared. I remember asking the network once if people would want those friends they had made to tell them of their previous friendships if they ported out and returned without their memories, and many said they would not. But how do you feel on the topic, having experienced it yourself?

[video]

[snowpointvictor]

In all honesty, I haven't really made friends here yet. I spent my first month here trying not to hurt my roommates with their stupidity and asking for advice. But I do miss people from home.

[video]

[flowerette]

Oh, give it time. I'm sure you'll be making friends here before you know it. It's pretty inevitable. Even those roommates who might annoy you now could very well become some of your closest companions later.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Since the beginning. We ought to have a parade for ourselves.

[flowerette]

And what would your float look like?

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[ex_clobbers559]

That—could apply, even to those we've lost at home. Nobody here would know them, probably. But it's not like a lot of ys haven't lost loved ones before we were ported in.

( She smiles faintly, nodding. )

Yeah. Because if they weren't happy or were in trouble, I'd help. Even if they couldn't remember me.

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[flowerette]

That is true. The loss of loved ones back home is usually to death. And while that doesn't make you miss their presence in your life very much, there's a certain closure with death. Here, it's a bit different. When someone leaves, it's often abrupt. And you know they are going home to return to their lives and forget you. You never get that closure.

[ Raina smiles softly. ]

But if you want to talk about those you lost back home, I would encourage it. It helps to keep those memories alive.

[trouvaille]

I don't think closure is real.

[flowerette]

Why would you say that?

[voice]

[hellrisen02]

[Oof, this one hits him right where it hurts.]

[He's thought about it a fair amount of times, run through all the scenarios in his head- how he'd stop him, how he'd save him. But realistically, now, he knows. He wouldn't be able to change a thing. It still hurts.]

Yeah. I'd shoot him in the face.

[This is about as deadpan as he's ever sounded.]

[voice]

[flowerette]

I....

[ There's a confused pause. This statement is missing a whole lot of context and was so unexpected that Raina isn't sure how to respond. ]

What?

VIDEO.

[arsiento]

If you can't do nothing about it, then what's the point?

Some things are worth moving on from. If you got the luxury, then you should.

[ Since some things, obviously, you can't. ]

VIDEO.

[flowerette]

Well, how do we know for sure there is nothing we can do about it?