voidtreckernet | Day 28

Entry tags:

Day 28 | Video

[It's late at night. Not quite the early morning but certainly later than you would normally see Romeo around.

The video turns on into the kitchen, Romeo is a little bit away from the ICP, stirring something in a bowl but he glances over, as if to check that the ICP is recording.]

Um hello everyone. I hope I don't wake anyone up with talking so late but I was in bed and thinking really really hard about some things and my mind wouldn't go to sleep so I came to bake cookies but I'm still thinking and sometimes when you got lots of big questions in your head it's a good idea to talk about it.

[He gets closer, bowl in hand as he keeps mixing.]

I was thinking about Osiga and all the people we saved but also how we left all their bodies and I guess that's okay because we brought the bit that was properly them into the void.

But then I was thinking about what made a person a person because it's really confusing. Because some of the people didn't want to come into the void at all. Because without a world or a body then... that's bad for them I guess but I know lots of people without bodies or worlds and they are all people.

So I read a book that said a person was a person because of all their memories and experiences, that it's what we do and see and know that make us... us. But I knew I was Romeo even when I didn't have any memories at all. When everything was nothing I was still Romeo.

But then I wondered if I was. Because there's people here who look the same as each other and they are different people because they... had different lives I guess so am I the same Romeo as I was when I was alive? Because I don't remember any of that and all the things I did and my friends I made since then have made me me. But did that mean I wasn't really a person when I had no body and no memories?

It's really tricky to think about and I'm worried about all the people we rescued and if they are sad or scared about it because I guess it's different. If you have to live in the void 'cause your world was eaten then if you got snatched in the void but maybe can go home.

And that's different again then not knowing where you come from at all because I guess you can't really miss or be sad about somewhere that you don't even know about.

[Big Questions indeed. He sighed.] It's just really big. So I'm making cookies. If anyone is still awake they can come and get them, they'll be ready once they've been in the oven.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nell pulled on her boots, tucked Selena into a big pocket and headed to find Romeo. She went straight over to him when she got to the kitchen.

"First things first," she said. "Can I give you'un a big hug?"

"Miss Nell!" He was a little surprised to see her so late. But considering how many people had replied to him he guessed lots of people weren't sleeping good at the moment!

He nodded and put the mixing bowl down so he could go over to her and wrap his arms around her.

Nell hugged him tight and kissed the top of his head, ruffling his hair for good measure.

"Sounds like you're havin' a lot of deep thoughts tonight," she said. "I wish I had some easy answers for you, but I'm not sure I do. Still I figured I'd come here and sit with you and see if I could help any."

He smiled slightly at the hair ruffling and nodded into her, without letting go just yet.

"They are a lot of big thoughts." He sighed. "Thank you though. It's good to think about them with other people even if no one really knows the answers at all."

It was always better to think about tricky things with friends.

"How's about I get this batch of cookies out of the oven and maybe make us a little hot chocolate and you'un sit here with Selena," who conveniently poked her head out of Nell's pocket to peer at him, "and tell me what question is most on your mind right now?"

She scooped Selena from her pocket and cradled her in her arms for Romeo to take if he wanted. "She loves to snuggle and her purr is about ten times the size of her'un's tiny body."

Oh Selena is so sweet! Romeo took her into his arms and held her tight, carefully stroking her head as he nodded at Nell.

"That's so nice of you miss!" He likes hot chocolate. He was very lucky to have a friend like Nell! "She's very soft."

He was quiet a few moments as he held Selena. "It's all very mixed up. I was wondering about the people we rescued. Some of them got really angry and thought it was better to stay on their world and die then come here and be without bodies. So I was wondering if that made us less like people."

"Nope. I don't think it does," Nell said as she began heating up some milk. "We're people. We think and feel and love and get happy and angry just like anybody in their own body. Helps that I'm a firm believer in the soul livin' on after death, but I know I'm a real person and my body feels real enough for me."

She turned and smiled at him. "Plus I think if a body has the wherewithal to ask if they're real? They're real."

He smiled back, still snuggling Selena. "If you can ask the question... Then you are real. That's sort of what other people said too. If you can think then you are a person."

Which was an easy thing, so it was easy to be a person. "I'm a big believer of the soul living after death too."

Since it was true. He was dead and yet here he was.

"Well, see now? Not so bad when you get down to the nuts and bolts of it." Nell brought over two steaming mugs with hot chocolate.

"As for why people didn't want to leave... It's scary. It's unknown. They don't know us from Adam and we're telling them they need to leave everything behind - even their bodies - but it will all be good in the end." She shook her head. "I'm not sure I woulda been all that eager to go. Mighta taken some convincing."

"Yes. I wish we'd had more time. So we could have talked to them more and made them see it wasn't a bad thing and we weren't trying to trick them."

Because people could be scared when they didn't understand and when people were scared they didn't make such good choices.

"Me too. But you know what, Romeo?" She sat down next to him with her own mug. "Some of them still would have refused to come. Some of them still wouldn't have believed they'd be safe. Some of 'em woulda had a religious objection. Some of them just would have preferred to die in their own place. Nothing we can do about that."

Nell sighed. "Maybe a few more woulda come. But we need to think about all those people we saved. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of them who'll have a chance at a new life in a safe place 'cause all of us strangers came together to help. And that counts for a lot. You helped a lot of people."

Perhaps. Some people could be really stubborn. But that didn't mean those people should die and so it was really sad that they couldn't save them. But miss Nell was right, there were a lot of people who they had saved. Thousands of people who were safe now, who could keep living in the void.

"I think so. We did a lot of good and we helped so many people. So I hope they aren't too scared or mad that they don't got bodies anymore or anything."

It was sad, but life was just that way sometimes. And if Nell knew anything it was that Romeo was a dear soul who shouldn't have to worry about who or what he was.

"We sure as shooting did," Nell agreed. "I hope they're doing okay also. Of course, we're doing just fine without our actual bodies, so I'm guessing they will as well."

"I think they will be." He nodded, "And they get to be together, so that's good as well."

It wasn't like with them where people were the only one from their world to come to the void.

But it was worse because they might be able to go home some day and the people of Osiga never would.

Nell nodded. "Means a lot to be able to be with the ones you care about. I'm lucky to have you here with me."

She'd thought about that dilemma as well, but all she could do was hope they'd be well.

"Yes, I think I'd be a lot sadder if I was all on my own." It would be much scarier.

He reached over to poke one of the cooling cookies. "I think these are good to eat now!"

"I know I would," Nell said and leaned over to ruffle his hair again. She turned and looked at the cookies. "I say we eat some even if they're still hot. Always thought they were best right out of the oven anyway."

"Yes! That's when they are the most tasty!"

And absolutely worth burned fingers for.

"They already smell so nice!"

"They do," Nell agreed. "All right, let's risk it!" She snagged a cookie, tossing it a little in her hands, and took a bite.

"Oh, delicious!"

He grinned and took a cookie of his own, biting into it.

"It is delicious! That's good!"

When all else was so confusing, delicious cookies were a good thing!

"You did a great job with these, Romeo. A great treat for all the hard thinking we'uns have been doing." Nell toasted him with her mug of hot chocolate.

He toasted her back and grinned. "I'm glad they turned out good!"

And it was a good treat for all the hard thinking!

[Thanks for the thread!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Day 28 | Video

[Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

Re: [Action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

wrap?

Yes!