07 | audio

[implying]

Do you know, I've been here for a year now. Oh, how the time flies, or whatever other cliches you might like! But then with all of this time flying, I'll get straight to business and stop wasting it.

I'd like to suggest a celebration. I personally will be celebrating a year here, but I'm certain we can find a good handful of other causes, if you're in need of one to allow yourself a little food, drink, and dancing!

Ah, let's see… we might celebrate that the Initiative has finally come to its senses and realized the value of a therapeutic trip to the beach. Yes? Lovely, that one. I'm sorry to any of our new arrivals who've missed it! Or if you're not a fan, for some reason, of sun, water, and half-naked people, then maybe we might celebrate a favorite holiday from home. Calendars between here and our collective homes hardly match up, so it shouldn't be any trouble at all if it isn't the right time of year for it. Or if you're of a grimmer persuasion, perhaps we might simply celebrate the fact that, despite the United Earth's occasional brutal efforts, most of us are still alive.

So then. What do you think? Shall it have a theme? I've already done a masquerade in Versailles, it would be unsightly to do a repeat performance. I don't suppose there are any suggestions? Food requests may be delivered to Adrasteius, who I'm quite certain won't mind at all managing the banquet again. He's very agreeable like that.

Comments

[charming_jerk]

[Oddly, he had a point, even if Vanadi didn't know it. Things were pretty bad back home for him. And he did have more friends here now than he ever did at home.]

it's the whole getting conscripted unwillingly into a war thing that i'm not happy about, but i suppose there's upsides, idk

[implying]

There are always upsides. It's simply a matter of allowing them to eclipse the downsides.

[charming_jerk]

no, there's not always. But at least in my case this place is still better than home for me, it being a rainy shithole aside. I'm not sleeping on the streets anymore so that's something

[implying]

No, I suppose not always. When you're dead, I imagine there aren't many upsides.

[charming_jerk]

i guess that's true

sorry but i'm not the most optimistic guy around

sometimes i think people looking for upsides to everything seem delusional or something. I mean, is it better to just suck it up and deal with reality, or just wish for things to get better? Idk man.

[implying]

Please, my dear. Were it only a matter of wishing, no one would get anywhere at all. Looking at a poor situation another, brighter way changes the outlook, and makes it much easier to bear. It's less delusion, more survival.

[charming_jerk]

["My dear"? Are you even for real]

I dunno man. I've wished long and hard for a lotta stuff that won't ever come true. I'd rather work for something i know is attainable rather than hope for something that may or may not ever happen.

[implying]

Ah, I begin to see the issue here. You're simply stubbornly set in your ways, so much so that you'd prefer even to avoid reading what I've written, yeS?

[charming_jerk]

i'm just saying wishful thinking never got me anywhere

[implying]

And I'm saying that's likely because you've never done it right.