text, un: beatrix

[fiendennor]

This isn't something that I typically find myself asking or even thinking about, to be honest.
But I suppose I'm of age now, and "of age" is a somewhat irrelevant concept when the countries and laws we come from no longer exist, isn't it?

With that said:

In our current circumstance, where might one find an alcoholic drink?

Comments

[fiendennor]

Perhaps. That certainly does seem to be the case.
I've honestly, ah.

Never tried.
It doesn't sound like it's for me, though.

[maipokerface]

Never tried drinking or games?

[fiendennor]

Games, yes.
Drinking... not in any serious capacity.

[maipokerface]

Yeah, me either. After the snow and the dragon though, I'm willing to give it more of a try.

[fiendennor]

I suppose those are good reasons to do so. They're not mine, necessarily, but I wouldn't judge anyone for whom they were.

[maipokerface]

What's got you wanting a drink then?

[fiendennor]

[She doesn't want to tell people. It's embarrassing.

Maybe she should.]

Someone dear to me went back to sleep.
I'm... frustrated.

[maipokerface]

Ah. Yeah, I know that feeling.

[Frustration and annoyance is almost Mai's middle name.]

[fiendennor]

Have you experienced it yourself?

[maipokerface]

You don't even want to see the length of the list I could give you on my frustrations.

[Yeah sure, most were in the past and some were petty but they still existed.]

[fiendennor]

Ah, no. Apologies, I was unclear:
Have you experienced a friend going back into stasis sleep?

[maipokerface]

[Ah, that.]

Can't say I am. There was a guy here who was from my world... or, well, the future of my world anyhow. I wouldn't say he was a close friend though.

[fiendennor]

I see. Then I'm happy for you.

You say he was from your world's future? Do you mind if I ask a question about that?

[maipokerface]

I guess. I also haven't had anyone else wake up so...

[But enough of that, she moves back to the question about... well, asking questions.]

Sure, go ahead.

[fiendennor]

Do you remember the end of your world?
The Storm coming, I mean.

[maipokerface]

Yeah. It was... something else.

[To put it mildly. She thinks she gets where Diana is going with this though.]

So are you wondering how a future could even be possible?

[fiendennor]

Yes, that's correct.
You're not the first person I've spoken to who's experienced something like that-- a person from their future, despite us all remembering the end of the world.
There's little logic to it.
Other than the idea of worlds identical to our own that end at different points in history, there's no other explanation.

[maipokerface]

U had always figured it would have to be a different world. Like you said, there's not much other way to explain it. Even if our worlds hadn't ended and we were here just because we wanted to be, someone telling you they were from the future would have to be crazy or from so different world for any of it to make sense.

[fiendennor]

It is the only logical explanation, yes.
Though that does raise other somewhat disturbing ideas. If there are worlds that are identical except for where they end, that means there are other versions of us, doesn't it?

My god, the typos. I am so sorry.

[maipokerface]

Sure, that makes logical sense.

[fiendennor]

And then, it follows, there are alternate versions of our friends.
If someone we know wakes up, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the one of them we know.

It bothers me.

[maipokerface]

I can get why. It's not easy thinking about friends who may not know us. Or may be expecting another us.

[But...]

In the year I've been here, he's the only one from my world besides me who's woken up. And at this point I'd welcome them not remembering me just to know they were still there in some form.

[It sounds dumb and emotional to her but it's definitely the way she feels right about now.]

[fiendennor]

I understand that, certainly.
I don't mean to say that your take on the matter is incorrect in any way.

The Akko that woke up and was here for some time may not have been "my" Akko. I have no way of knowing.
But I was glad to spend time with her all the same.

[maipokerface]

Yeah, I get you. I guess in the end it's a little hard to understand if it's not your concern. Then again I can understand why it may bother someone... kind of anyhow.

[fiendennor]

It makes me feel uneasy, that's all. But even that seems silly. If our histories are exactly the same, even if they diverge in the future, what really distinguishes a version of my friend from a separate instance of our world?