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[chimericalclaw]

EXPIATION FLAVORED
⬬ the AI filled it out for him this time
⬬ saw something you weren't meant to see
⬬ the person he has to return to
⬬ the truth has to come to light
⬬ should have broken it a long time ago

GENERAL MEMERY
⬬ can't sleep, won't bother trying
⬬ well well well if it isn't the consequences of my own actions

OR check out this selection of memes I like!

OR whatever shenanigans you please!

Comments

[individualized]

[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?

[chimericalclaw]

"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?

[individualized]

[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.]

[chimericalclaw]

[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.

[individualized]

[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.

[chimericalclaw]

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?

[individualized]

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.]

[chimericalclaw]

[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?

[individualized]

[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.

[chimericalclaw]

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.