IC contact for lastvoyages

[littlebattles]

[If I don't have an active post up, feel free to use this post to have your character call, videochat, text, or knock on June's door.]

Comments

[fork_off]

[He sits on one of the crates, as it's the closest thing to a chair.]

No, I've read a few translations from French, but no Russian. Do you like it?

[He'll start with light questions, before asking about more important things.]

[littlebattles]

They're long and depressing. But I do.

[fork_off]

Hm. Well, I suppose it takes all sorts. Didn't think people could like depressing books.

[The ones he reads are more "tale of adventure" type of narratives.]

[littlebattles]

You don't see why someone would want to read something depressing to make them feel better about their own life?

[fork_off]

I suppose I can see why someone would do that. It seems... cruel, though.

[littlebattles]

[June's smile here is dry.]

Not that I don't appreciate your compassionate spirit, but I don't think the people in the book will be bothered.

[fork_off]

[He shifts on his seat, awkwardly.]

Well, no, they wouldn't. They're not real, after all.

[littlebattles]

They actually are in this one.

[She admits, wiggling the book.]

But I still don't think they care.

[fork_off]

Not unless you found a way to communicate with them, no.

[He pauses for a moment.]

As interesting as this is, I didn't come to talk about books.

[littlebattles]

I figured.

[She sits up a little more in her hammock, her expression going blank.]

What did you come here to talk about?

[fork_off]

I've been reading over your file and... why is it, that you seem to think that there are only two ways to live?

[littlebattles]

Can't say I know what you mean, boss.

[fork_off]

Well, perhaps that isn't the best way to state it. But... you have made a fresh start several times, and each time you hide your true self from others. You don't seem to think you can just be yourself, you're either you and alone or someone else and not. Do you see?

[littlebattles]

[She sees, and she pauses for a moment, swallowing.]

To make a real fresh start, I can't have anything holding me back. If I'm myself, and I'm open about my past - you get how that would hold me back, right? It has held me back, every time anybody has ever found out more about me. It's better--

[Easier.]

-- to just be somebody less complicated, without any baggage.

[fork_off]

[Easier is not always better. He chooses his words carefully.]

But the deception adds another layer of difficulty, as well. When you're found out, bad things happen.

[littlebattles]

So I go somewhere where it'll be impossible to find me out. After I graduate, I'll go to another world.

[There's a pitch of excitement in her voice just at the thought of it - at the idea of completely severing herself from that baggage, yes, but also at the idea of striking out into the unknown. Like Blanky, she has something of an explorer's heart.]

[fork_off]

[He likes that about her, her desire to see new worlds. If only it wasn't wrapped up in her need to erase everything else.]

Ah, but you have to graduate, first. And I doubt that denying your true self will help with that.

[littlebattles]

So what do you suggest? A network post? "Hi, I'm June Harris. I used to steal identities for a living."

[fork_off]

Perhaps it could help? Or, at least, not hurt. Remember, we have dictators and mass-murderers here. You're not going to be dismissed out of hand for your darker deeds. Not by everyone.

[littlebattles]

But a lot of them would see me as more simliar to the dictators and mass murderers than they do right now. It's easy for even people who haven't been hurt by me to see me as a villain, Thomas. I know that from experience.

[fork_off]

[He sighs.]

But what if... speaking hypothetically, what if people knew even the worst and then you tried to be better, while also being truthful?

[littlebattles]

You're sounding a lot like the Robinsons.

[People she likes, generally speaking, but also people she finds painfully naive.]

I think I've had this exact conversation with John at least once or twice.

[fork_off]

Perhaps they've got a point. I'm not going to say that it'll be sunshine and roses, that'll never happen. But this cycle you've been caught in... the only one who can break you out of it is you.

[littlebattles]

What will you do if I decide not to tell them anything? Will you make that decision for me?

[fork_off]

It's not a decision I should make for you. I won't. But I do think that, if you don't do that, you won't be able to graduate.