005. Staying the way you are also means solitude

[drydrown]

[It's...actually pretty late at night when the message hits the network; looks like someone's not sleeping well for whatever reason. Maybe.]

Well, it's good to see that my brain has decided to take this fine opportunity to provide me with new and creative ways to do basic calligraphy.



If you recognize that sort of thing any - congratulations, I suppose. I probably want a word with you.

Even if you don't, however, I'm feeling like escapism tonight. Tell me stories you know, either from your past life or this one. Legends, mythology, fairy tales people tell their children, even - it doesn't have to be anything complex. As long as it entertains me somehow I don't care.

Comments

[livingimpaired]

Feeling lonely, Cumore?

[maidofmistakes]

That looks... really pointy. Sorry, I don't. This is on the login screen of this laptop I just got in the mailbox, though:

[drydrown]

If you're going to ask that of me, you might as well ask everyone who posts to the network at all.

[drydrown]

I see. That seems a little counterintuitive...?

[livingimpaired]

It's just surprisingly late.
But I keep rather unhealthy hours so how about I keep you company for a bit.

So, why not tell me a story from your youth?

[drydrown]

I do believe I asked first.

[maidofmistakes]

You mean getting a computer where everything's in some weird alien language?

[drydrown]

I'm not certain if that's supposed to be a language or some sort of iconography, honestly.

[maidofmistakes]

You mean like cave paintings? I don't remember anything like that... Then again, I don't remember much except that we had togas and spaceships.

[livingimpaired]

Very well.

I once was confessed to by a girl from another class.
She mistook my looks to mean I had a personality worth knowing.
I have to say that back in Japan, I was something of a terror.
You see, Cumore, I didn't care if I hurt anyone because I didn't care about anyone's feelings.
When she confessed to me, I told her that I couldn't return her feelings.
Naturally, she asked me why. She wanted to know if, perhaps, I had a girlfriend.
I told her I didn't. I said I couldn't date her because I didn't care about her.
Confused, she pressed on. "Does that mean you mean you hate me, Shigaraki-kun? Have I done something to offend you?"
I told her that she didn't. I said I didn't care about her meaning I didn't like or hate her. Her very existence was nothing more than a conversation that I would remember but hold no meaning or worth to me.
She was dumbstruck, and I excused myself after a minute went by without her saying anything.
She was the only girl to ever confess to me, and so I remember it well.
I remember how I should have treated her delicate, youthful feelings better, too.

[drydrown]

Togas, of all things...?

[drydrown]

I can see why you said I should get better taste in men, should I legitimately be interested.

[To quote the immortal wisdom of frat boys everywhere: ...Bruh.]

So did you ever get yourself sorted and date anyone, or have you just unilaterally decided it's not worth it?

[livingimpaired]

Right?

No. I never dated anyone.
I was smart as a teenager to tell that girl I couldn't date her.
But I left a wound that I only realized after I moved to this city.

I am incapable of loving anyone.
It seems rather cruel to ask to date someone if I can't love them.
But if anyone asked me, I would date them.
Thankfully, no one has so I need not give my dissertation on how that would be a terrible idea.

Anyway. Would you like to tell a story from your youth?

[drydrown]

You aren't really missing out on much, in the event that you were ever curious about it.

[...Okay, Cumore, you do that.]

Is there anything in particular you would want to hear about, or am I expected to just see what comes to mind first?

[livingimpaired]

I don't think I will ever be curious.
But I do wish well the people that are dating.
I take it that you've been spurned by love?

And yes, any memory that comes to mind first is fine.

[drydrown]

I haven't been spurned so much as it was a series of experimenting that no one really cared about in the end. I haven't found anyone I've been in love with, and I'm not interested in seeking anyone out in that regard, either.

My sister and I were often left to ourselves during the day, when we were children. She would technically be taking care of me, I suppose, seeing as she's older than I am, but for the most part we simply did as we pleased. One of the oldest memories I have is of her trying to teach me to put makeup on; she was just discovering it, and I wanted to be exactly like her, seeing as I looked up to her greatly back then. She liked to dress me up as well, like some sort of doll; I never really minded it any.

We don't talk as much nowadays, though I do still wear makeup regularly - because I like how it looks, now, rather than because she would want me to one way or another. It's something of a habit now.

[odasaku]

My past life wasn't interesting.

[ because what's so interesting about being an assassin haha...right...? ]

But I'm writing a novel. I can talk about that.

[livingimpaired]

This is the part where I say that you are still young and can find someone. But really, if you don't want to, don't worry about it. Not everyone is meant to live with another person. We are all destined to die alone, anyway.

I see.
You really liked your sister, hm?
Could it be that is also your way of staying connected to her even though you two do not talk anymore?
A habit born out of remembering the person that you care about and finding in that memory, it is also something you like?

[maidofmistakes]

I don't get it either. Maybe it was just popular there.

[onemillion]

I received a book with strange writing in it, but it doesn't look anything like this. It's sort of pretty, though.

I don't have any stories to tell, but I suppose I could talk a little bit about the memories I've received, if you want to hear about those.

[blondferret]

Alex, mate, can you even read that?

[Derek, just wait until you remember Ancient Runes!]

I mean, if you don't want to talk about it I did just get a book: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and can try telling you about it. And by try, I mean it's mostly blank minus the introduction and a few entries.

[drydrown]

Believe me, I'm well aware that everyone dies alone. I've already done it once, if my memories are anything to judge by.

As for my sister...I suppose? It isn't as though I stand around analyzing why I do things.

[drydrown]

Like a group of ancient Romans. In space.

[drydrown]

I'd like that, actually.

[maybe he won't get snippy with you like he did shuji, who knows.]

[drydrown]

It's nice, I suppose. A bit odd to pick up out of nowhere, but at least it's doing me the general favor of not being ugly.

I wouldn't mind hearing anything you're willing to talk about, actually. Go ahead.