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[drops_acid]

Date: July 19th
From: Anonymous


How would you define the word monster?


[A few recent conversations have gotten her thinking about certain things and she's genuinely curious about the answers she might get. Cardia is well aware that there are a few people who do know her secret and could probably guess that this is from her. But she's not brave enough to ask something like this without anonymity to hide behind.]

Comments

[sweetdeath]

It just means it's wrong to call somebody a monster over little things. Or even things where there's questions about if they meant to do something, or whatever.

Real monsters are the kinds of people who do the worst things, and they don't even care about it, or they like it.

[drops_acid]

I don't think it's wrong to call someone a monster if they are one.
And if you do terrible things to people, does it matter whether you like it?
Or whether you're sorry?
None of that changes the outcome.

text [1/2]

[sweetdeath]

Of course it matters!!!

or do you htink osopmedy whos pthla

sry

audio

[sweetdeath]

Sorry, this keyboard's really small, anyway --

Do you think somebody who, who's piloting a plane, and makes a mistake, and it crashes, is just as bad as somebody who stabs a hundred people?! Just because a hundred people die either way? Of course it matters if they mean to or if they feel bad. It doesn't bring anyone back no matter how they feel, but -- but it matters.

[He's stumbling over his words almost as badly as he stumbled over the keys, audibly upset.]

text

[drops_acid]

[His reaction is something of a surprise. It sounds like he feels very strongly about this. But then.... so does she.]

And if that pilot survives, even though all his passengers died, do you think the fact that he made a mistake will provide any comfort to the families of the victims?
Do you think they could or should forgive him?

[sweetdeath]

I don't know. But if somebody made a mistake that killed someone I loved, I'd feel a lot different about them than I would about a murderer. Wouldn't you?

It's different. It just is! Maybe some people would hate whoever's fault it was just as much either way, but that's --

[His voice catches, and he gives up on the sentence, insisting, instead:]

It's different.

[drops_acid]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.
I honestly don't know how I'd feel in that case.
But you seem very kind.
Thank you.

[sweetdeath]

Um --

[He hesitates, caught off guard by her apology, and swallows audibly. After a minute, he manages:]

Uh, it's okay. It's not being kind or anything, it's just... you know.

I don't like that word.

[drops_acid]

Monster?
To be honest, I don't like it very much either.

[sweetdeath]

Yeah. "Monster."

[Quietly, almost hesitantly, he continues.]

... because some people do think it means anybody who's different, and that's just wrong.

[drops_acid]

You're right.
Anyone who would believe something like that is wrong.
But there are some who definitely deserve the label.

[sweetdeath]

[He sighs, and, after a moment, replies quietly.]

Some... yeah.

[drops_acid]

I really am sorry if I dredged up an unpleasant memory.
But I'm glad that I was able to get your perspective on this.
It's given me a lot to think about.

[sweetdeath]

... I mean, I'm a shinki, so you -- didn't really....

[He's audibly uncomfortable, hesitating, before he rushes quickly on to add:]

Anyway, though, I hope it helps!

[drops_acid]

Forgive me, that was completely thoughtless of me.
I really meant it when I said that talking to you helped though.

[sweetdeath]

... I'm glad, then. You know, that it helped.

[He sounds, just a little, relieved.]

[drops_acid]

Yes.
I hope we get a chance to talk again someday.

[sweetdeath]

[His voice is awkward, but soft.]

-- Me too. You'll have to look me up, though.

[Since he doesn't know who this is....]

[drops_acid]

I might.
Someday.

[Not yet. She's not quite ready yet.]