You're not wrong, but you're taking this too literally. You need to look at it with your heart! Why do you think people smile when they see the sun shining up after the rain?
[Ryoji's not completely ignorant of the world: he knows that not everyone is a good person. There is a lot of strife and suffering to be found in living. And yet...]
Then the powers responsible for this place have drawn multiple individuals from your world and they just so happened to also be individuals you were close to?
Were you a researcher? That must be why you're so fond of the sciences!
[He's definitely different from his science teacher - cookier in some ways, way more pessimistic in the other. Maybe smarter too, if he's telling the truth about spending a lifetime on research.
Research, huh? He doesn't know why, but it sends goosebumps on his skin.]
...Do you want to be friends?
[The chances are slim, he knows, but might as well give it a shot!]
[If Ryoji had a nickel for the number of people he wanted to be friends with insist that they are nothing but pure evil, Ryoji would have two nickels! It might surprise Fandaniel then that his expression does not shift to that of fear or anger.]
In the first place, I don't think it's possible for anyone to be pure evil. The same way I don't think anyone could be purely a good person, either. That's not how humanity works.
[There's something otherworldly in the way his blue eyes stare back at Fandaniel. It's almost as if he's being viewed under a microscope.]
Your actions in the past don't necessarily have to be your future. And even if you end up rejecting all of that, being evil doesn't mean you can't have any friends.
[Beneath the intense scrutiny, something shifts in Fandaniel's gaze. For a fleeting moment, emotion is visible in his dark eyes. There is a flash of an ancient soul crippled beneath the weight of its own rage and despair.
His pale features twist into a grimace.
That's not how humanity works.
How would this boy know anything about that? For thousands of years, Fandaniel has fulfilled his role as the Observer, watching mankind and waiting for them to prove they are worthy of existence. He knows his answer: They are not. Whatever good lies in the hearts of mortals is outweighed by the bad. Life, with all of its misery, is ultimately meaningless.
None of these thoughts pass his lips. Instead, he throws his head back and lifts a glove to his brow.]
Oh! To be so tragically misunderstood! My poor heart aches!
[He brings the hand down and twirls to Ryoji's side like a dancer.]
Honestly, what are they teaching the youth today? Shouldn't you be playing with blocks and scraping your knees or doing whatever it is boys your age do?
[It only lasts for but a moment. Ryoji blinks - and with a sheepish grin, it's as if he's but a regular human once more.]
I do wish I got to finish school, but I got whisked in here before that. It hasn't been bad, though - there's a lot of things you can learn outside of a classroom.
[If anything, he's more confused by this stranger's sudden dramatics. Maybe he's someone who's into theatre?]
Oh, but what I said isn't something they taught in school! Hmm...I guess you could say it comes from a personal observation?
From personal observation you've determined there is no true evil in the world?
Oh, to be young again. Why, when I was your age I was...
[Fandaniel tilts his head and purses his lips. What had he been doing as a teenager?
Something... uuh... giant robots. With teeth.
Screw it.
He flaps his hands through the air in a dismissive gesture.]
Never mind, that was so long ago who could ever possibly remember!
My point is you are far too young for such conviction. Give yourself a few years and once life has torn away all your youthful exuberance let me know then how you feel about the inner workings of mankind.
[Hey Fandaniel why did you give the giant robot teeth -
But for all of his dismissals, Ryoji remains unfazed. Instead, he's trying his best to understand. He's seen apathy before, and the lifelessness that comes with it, but this seems different. Rather than being barely alive, Fandaniel seems like he's suffering from what he has seen.]
Isn't it more childish to think that true evil exists? Living beings are more complex to be defined by a single trait. Even a singular thing can change who they are for the rest of their lives.
...Is that what happened to you? Did something so terrible happen that all you could see in life is despair?
[He saw the Tower fall. He saw his people die. Then, over millennia, he watched countless thousands of mortals slaughter each other.
As far as he's concerned, life is not sacred. It is only a vehicle for suffering and in the end, nobody is anything but ash. He could recount endless centuries of despair if he wanted to. But who has the time?
Slowly, he steps towards Ryoji again, eyes as dark as a starless sky, and lifts a gloved hand, one finger hooked forward which he gently presses against the boy's nose.]
[Okaaay, he didn't expect that! That gets a confused laugh out him. It was surprisingly cute? But that doesn't disguise the weight on the other's shoulders, or the lightless look on his eyes.
...He's avoiding the question, isn't he?]
You don't need to tell me. That's a lot to ask on a first meeting, isn't it?
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
no subject
Ah, you're one of those sorts. I never know whether to envy or pity you people...
But no matter.
[He steps away from the gunwale and stoops into a bow.]
I have no intention of jumping just yet but if you'd like me to throw you overboard I'm sure that can be arranged.
no subject
[He waves it off like Fandaniel was offering him ice cream and not an attempt on his life.]
I'm not sure what in life made you feel so dark and gloomy, but there's nothing wrong with appreciating the sun for what it is.
no subject
...A massive sphere of gas burning tens of millions of malms away?
no subject
You're not wrong, but you're taking this too literally. You need to look at it with your heart! Why do you think people smile when they see the sun shining up after the rain?
no subject
One hand on the gunwale curls into a fist but his expression remains neutral.]
Oh, who knows?
Perhaps because they don't want to be wet anymore?
[He shakes his head.]
Do you have a habit of trying to cheer up strangers?
no subject
That makes sense. Especially if you forgot to bring an umbrella around.
[He displays a sheepish grin at the question, as if his deep dark secret has been found out.]
I guess I do. I like people, so I try to be nice to everyone I meet.
no subject
Yes. Well. In the future, you may want to consider that not everyone is worth being "nice" to.
no subject
[Ryoji's not completely ignorant of the world: he knows that not everyone is a good person. There is a lot of strife and suffering to be found in living. And yet...]
But I'd rather give everyone a chance, first.
no subject
And in your estimation do many people ever ruin these chances you so generously give them?
no subject
[His optimism is practically blinding, and so is his smile.]
This place has been great. I've made so many new friends, got reunited with a couple of old ones, and I've been discovering something new everyday.
no subject
Old ones, you say?
Then the powers responsible for this place have drawn multiple individuals from your world and they just so happened to also be individuals you were close to?
[He rubs his chin, his eyes narrow slightly.]
...Fascinating.
no subject
Yeah! There's also someone I've never met but they're a friend of a friend. Do you think there's some rhyme or reason to it?
[There's another hypothesis he has in mind, one that makes his cheerful grin grow wider.]
Perhaps there's a friend you're looking for?
no subject
No, I fear not. I do not have any friends.
Blame it on a lifetime spent hunched over dusty old tomes and test tubes.
[He steps away from the gunwale and approaches Ryoji with a child-like sway of his hips.]
There are other people who live in my world, of course, but let us hope they never come here. Dullards, the whole lot of them.
no subject
[He's definitely different from his science teacher - cookier in some ways, way more pessimistic in the other. Maybe smarter too, if he's telling the truth about spending a lifetime on research.
Research, huh? He doesn't know why, but it sends goosebumps on his skin.]
...Do you want to be friends?
[The chances are slim, he knows, but might as well give it a shot!]
no subject
[He says this without much pride.]
A mad scientist.
I'm evil, you understand. Very evil. Rotten to the core of my fetid being. Devoid of any moral virtues...
[This he says with a wry, lightless grin.]
Do you think I'm worth being friends with?
no subject
In the first place, I don't think it's possible for anyone to be pure evil. The same way I don't think anyone could be purely a good person, either. That's not how humanity works.
[There's something otherworldly in the way his blue eyes stare back at Fandaniel. It's almost as if he's being viewed under a microscope.]
Your actions in the past don't necessarily have to be your future. And even if you end up rejecting all of that, being evil doesn't mean you can't have any friends.
no subject
His pale features twist into a grimace.
That's not how humanity works.
How would this boy know anything about that? For thousands of years, Fandaniel has fulfilled his role as the Observer, watching mankind and waiting for them to prove they are worthy of existence. He knows his answer: They are not. Whatever good lies in the hearts of mortals is outweighed by the bad. Life, with all of its misery, is ultimately meaningless.
None of these thoughts pass his lips. Instead, he throws his head back and lifts a glove to his brow.]
Oh! To be so tragically misunderstood! My poor heart aches!
[He brings the hand down and twirls to Ryoji's side like a dancer.]
Honestly, what are they teaching the youth today? Shouldn't you be playing with blocks and scraping your knees or doing whatever it is boys your age do?
no subject
I do wish I got to finish school, but I got whisked in here before that. It hasn't been bad, though - there's a lot of things you can learn outside of a classroom.
[If anything, he's more confused by this stranger's sudden dramatics. Maybe he's someone who's into theatre?]
Oh, but what I said isn't something they taught in school! Hmm...I guess you could say it comes from a personal observation?
no subject
Oh, to be young again. Why, when I was your age I was...
[Fandaniel tilts his head and purses his lips. What had he been doing as a teenager?
Something... uuh... giant robots. With teeth.
Screw it.
He flaps his hands through the air in a dismissive gesture.]
Never mind, that was so long ago who could ever possibly remember!
My point is you are far too young for such conviction. Give yourself a few years and once life has torn away all your youthful exuberance let me know then how you feel about the inner workings of mankind.
Ha!
no subject
But for all of his dismissals, Ryoji remains unfazed. Instead, he's trying his best to understand. He's seen apathy before, and the lifelessness that comes with it, but this seems different. Rather than being barely alive, Fandaniel seems like he's suffering from what he has seen.]
Isn't it more childish to think that true evil exists? Living beings are more complex to be defined by a single trait. Even a singular thing can change who they are for the rest of their lives.
...Is that what happened to you? Did something so terrible happen that all you could see in life is despair?
no subject
As far as he's concerned, life is not sacred. It is only a vehicle for suffering and in the end, nobody is anything but ash. He could recount endless centuries of despair if he wanted to. But who has the time?
Slowly, he steps towards Ryoji again, eyes as dark as a starless sky, and lifts a gloved hand, one finger hooked forward which he gently presses against the boy's nose.]
Boop.
no subject
...He's avoiding the question, isn't he?]
You don't need to tell me. That's a lot to ask on a first meeting, isn't it?
no subject
[Fandaniel shrugs.]
But if you find yourself relentlessly curious about me then try again at a later time. Perhaps I will finally tell you my tale.
[Sordid, depressing and horrific though it is.
He decides he doesn't mind traumatizing a teenager.]