chimericalclaw | open post

[A decision he almost immediately turns in agreement with, folding the map such that it's easier to handle while displaying their current trajectory.]

Wonderful.

[For all that he tends to offer his own reasoning and seeks the appropriate information in turn, the question wasn't one that required any particular justification. They're going to have to tackle all these paths at some point, anyway.

He steps along, tucking each prepared letter from his bag somewhere they'll be seen by the residents and marking them off with numbers on the map.]

It seems we've escaped the smell of fish for now, hm? Perhaps something to take into account while planning so none of the carriers get overwhelmed.

[An ocean and seafood guy Altius is not...]

[Echo turns her gaze back to the note pad.

2:36 PM
Mr. Altius commented on the lack of the fishy odor that is prevalent in other parts of the city.]

Yes, though it will be impossible to avoid completely. The tolerance level of each individual is also a factor to consider. Are you intending to have Chosen handle deliveries, or will you hire locals as well?

A mix of both, yes, especially given that none of us live here. [And the Naga seemed eager to kick the Chosen out, so it seems unlikely in the future.]

That is an important factor to bring up, just to make sure everyone is comfortable. Between the locals already being used to it, and the fact I've had fewer problems than I expected with my local employees in Aldrip, I'm confident the Naga have plenty to offer.

[Hmm. Not to mention...]

All the better to gain their trust and see what else any of them might remember.

[That last comment gets to Echo enough that she actually looks a little sad. And it's always a safe bet that she's holding back on emoting when it comes to her.]

Yes, it seems as though they've been through quite a lot. It would be good if they can recall more about themselves.

[...That's what he was talking about, right?]

[Altius blinks and turns his gaze halfway towards her.

... well, it hadn't been what he'd meant, but it's an understandable response. He's not without sympathy for them, but that aspect is much lower on his list of priorities than hers, apparently. He hadn't quite expected it out of her, though perhaps he should have.]

You feel badly for them? [It's more of a prompt for her to share her thoughts, rather than a true question; he's certainly not judging.]

[Echo nods. She'd leave it at that, but she's starting to learn when people expect her to do more than just give the actual answer without telling her so, and his tone implied this was one of those situations.]

It reminds me of what happened to Noise. The one who owned this body.

[She'd mentioned the whole "temporary personality" thing to him before; hopefully that sufficed.]

When she lost herself, she was so afraid that all she could do was lash out at people and hurt them.

[And try to be Vincent. One of him was bad enough to Echo...]

I do not want anyone else to experience that.

[He lets out a thoughtful hum, depositing the next letter at the next house. Echo's explanation along with her former statements paint an interesting picture, even if all the details aren't apparent. He wonders if she was created in part to mitigate this loss...?

Not that any of that particularly matters.]

Well, most of them here seem peaceful and unbothered, [he remarks at first, casting his gaze down the street.] Even the ones who regained some of their former self didn't seem particularly alarmed, even if they were concerned.

[He gets what she's saying, though. Fear can easily spur people into violence, and the loss of your own identity... Confusion can quickly turn into fear, as well.]

I can't say I would react the way they have—but anything can happen if your personality is overwritten, hm.

That's true; they have been placid, at least.

[Echo is also well aware that she only experienced the end of that process. She's pretty sure things were completely different for the earliest Echoes. There was no way of knowing if this was the end of the changes for the Nagas just yet.]

However, thinking about people not knowing who they truly are feels... [She's searching for the word. Emotions still aren't her strong point.] ...sad.

[Those are developments he's very much interested in following, himself...

... but it's interesting. He never would have thought very deeply about this topic before; he would have agreed with her, most likely, and moved towards reassuring her of his intent to help them regain themselves. And he may very well do the latter in time, but now, he thinks of a certain person...]

Would you feel the same even if they were unhappy, knowing and being the person they were before?

[Echo stares at him for a moment, if only to wonder where that questions may have come from. But her focus quickly becomes thinking over the question itself. She seriously considers the options she can think of, which may lead to an awkward silence for a while.]

Yes. Understanding your own will is important. If things have become completely different for someone, recalling a past that may be painful does not have to change what currently is.

[That's what she thinks about when Oz went through something akin to that, at least. So she's speaking with a fair amount of certainty.]

[He allows her that silence with no further prompting; he's patient, quietly watching her as he waits for the reply.]

I see...

[It's not a dismissive response; he truly seems to be considering it as he brings a hand to his chin, eyelids lowering slightly. He doesn't know that he fully agrees with it, but he can see the solidity of her belief.]

You didn't seem the type to believe that ignorance is bliss. [So he supposes it's good to have that confirmed.] But not everyone feels that way.

No, I'm not. I want to understand as much as I can.

[She clutches the notepad closer to her chest. It's not actually her diary, but it's sure being used similarly right now. And on that note...]

They don't? That seems unwise.

[He's grown familiar with the ways people cope, studying, picking apart behaviors and motives, learning how to best navigate to get what he wants. For Echo, who seems to understand so little about the nature of people, he feels the urge to share.]

Some people hide themselves from truths that would expose their own helplessness or complacency. And others find the past too hard to bear. Even if they can't throw away the memories or who they were, they attempt it regardless, in one way or another.

[Some far less healthy than others...]

It may seem foolish, but I'd call it a natural instinct for many—to cling to what happiness you believe you have and avoid what would threaten to steal it.

[Echo knits her brow a little, thinking over all of this information.]

It is nice to feel happy.

[So long as she's associated the correct feeling with that word.]

I'm not sure it's important enough to warrant masking one's true self, however. My experiences with it are limited, but I do not believe someone could remain happy that way.

[He lets out a brief hum, something between an impressed noise and an amused huff. The discussion of masking the self... it's always a little funny when that comes up.]

Many people never realize that, I'm afraid. Or they never have the chance to move beyond it.

[It's idealistic to say that people should embrace who they are. He isn't disdainful of the thought, but it is unrealistic to think that everyone has the capability, regardless of their situation.]

I'd say you're a perceptive one to have come to that conclusion.

[From what Echo witnessed, Noise did much better once she could finally remember something that was truly in her heart. And, for her own part, just accepting her own existence and that she had a will she could act on was crucial to her still existing now. She's not going to let go of thinking it's a good idea for everyone very easily.]

Th-thank you...

[Compliments are still something she's getting used to.]

Why do you think avoiding the truth might be better?

"Better" is a strong word for my own opinion. I only acknowledge that not everyone prefers to have answers the way that you and I do.

[And he'd thrown away his own "preferences" in the interest of a singular goal. The more he knows, the better the likelihood of that goal's success. No matter what horrid things he comes to learn, he won't shy away from them if they're useful.

Even so...]

... But I admit I wonder, when I see others in pain from things they could have avoided knowing. And with our scaled friends, they may not seem overly distressed for the moment, but will that last the more they recall?

[Echo isn't used to happiness being a constant; it's something brief, and for her, very special. It was fairly far into her existence before she'd even heard of it.]

I can't imagine being happy at all times. Does it really need to last indefinitely?

[She gives him a small, concerned frown.]

[His eyebrows rise, but not out of any particular alarm. His impression has been that she's barely been treated as a person for however long she's existed, so it's not a surprising mindset.]

Need, certainly not.

[Even at his most idealistic, even down to the core of him that detests the fact that people have to suffer, he would never imagine happiness to rightfully be a permanent state of things.]

But I would hope that it would outweigh the rest... or at least that the negative wasn't the greater part, even if it happened to be the productive sort.

[That impression is entirely accurate. Her very limited social circle is a big factor in why, though.

Echo looks off into the distance as she thinks over what he just said. She's still not sure if being happy would become less meaningful if she felt that more often than not. There's more she needs to unpack there, though.]

So...happiness is the positive? That makes it sound like there is a very clear distinction between what is favorable and what is undesirable. If that's the case, I can see why it might be seen as a problem.

Generally speaking, everyone seeks happiness in some way, whether for themselves or others. Though the way everyone pursues that is different, of course...

[Her answers do make him wonder.]

... What about you, Miss Echo? Do you have any goals or ambitions for yourself?

I see...

[She's certainly got a lot to think about, both in her life and what she's seen the people around her do.

But there's a new question on the table, and it gets her attention. She stares at Altius wide-eyed for a moment, taken off guard by it. Then Echo looks away again and takes a moment to think.]

I would like to make friends. I also want to understand everything that confuses me.

[She turns her face toward him again. She's pretty confident that was the right sort of answer, even if it doesn't look like she's feeling much of anything.]

[It's not the greatest of ambitions, perhaps, but it does fit with what he knows of the girl—and it's actually more of the kind of answer he sought than what he would have gotten out of a "typical" person's reply. He nods once faintly.]

It sounds like you're seeking a sort of happiness, yourself.

[Why else would one want to find friendship? Contentment, belonging, excitement; they're all their own form of happiness. Plus...]

There is a satisfaction that comes with working towards an understanding of a new concept, isn't there?

[Echo blinks and tilts her head a bit. She hadn't thought of it like that, but now that he mentioned it...]

I did learn about being happy from Lord Oz... The two being related makes sense.

[Oz being the one person she's positive is a typical friend ~~ironically~~.

She nods in response to his question.]

Yes. And it means I am not as confused.

Pursue that enough and you'll reach a point where you find much less in the world to be confusing.

[Whether he thinks that will grant her happiness is another thing, but... he doesn't let that come out in his pleasant conclusion.]

Between that and your hoped-for friends, I'd say it's a reasonable way to find that better balance against the distressing parts of life.

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