13th elevator-Voice

[honeytoes]

[ Today Gary is in something of a reflective mood today. He'll just be sat in the library surrounded by books on mythological creatures. He might have used them to slaughter hundreds of teenagers over the years but there has always been something fascinating about them. Befriending Mal and talking with Dumbledoor have got him thinking though.]

Hello class.

One of the many things I've noticed during my five months at Casa di Wonderfuck is the many variations on "Monsters" or what supposedly makes a monster.

Ok for those who don't know what the fuck I'm on about...In some worlds vampires are creatures of the night that live in big fuck off castles and like to drain the blood of Innocent virgins that run around showing way more cleavage then they probably should. Yet in others they're upstanding members of society who have civil service jobs and are a benefit to the community.

I'll give another example...mermen. In some worlds mermen are savage beasts who live only to drag sailors to a bloody violent death and yet in other worlds they have their own societies and language.

I guess what I'm saying is my stay here is helping me to redefine my term monster.

How do you guys define monsters? And can you give any specific examples of them from your homeworlds?

Comments

[deductiongeek]

In my world they don't exist. Things like ghosts and demons are nothing more than stories and hoaxes. Only humans become monsters.

[honeytoes]

You sure about that?

I mean sometimes there's a lot more to the world then what you see in front of you.

[deductiongeek]

Of course I am. There is nothing in the world that cannot be explained. Every time anyone has tried to prove that such things exist, it has been proved to be nothing but a hoax.

[honeytoes]

Maybe that's what they want you to believe kiddo.

Maybe there's a higher power at work in your world...one that thinks your better off not knowing what else exists out there, and covers it up.

To keep you both safe and sane.

[deductiongeek]

There isn't.

[Unless this guy was talking about the Black Organization. Although that group could hardly be said to be keeping anyone safe or sane.

All the same, Conan resolved to keep an eye on him.]

[beastisbeauty]

That's...complex. My home world has monsters. Some are human, some aren't. I think what makes someone or something a monster is a certain selfishness, disregard for the lives of others...something that glories in destruction or cruelty. Killers.

[honeytoes]

Yeah I'm aware humans do just as many killings as beasts do.

[They had their fair share of humanoids in their vaults after all. Kevin and the plastic bag killer were two names that sprung to mind.]

So I guess the key difference is when somebody kills without a purpose?

[beastisbeauty]

I don't think it's quite that simple. You can have good intentions, but if you kill because it's easy or it seems an efficient way to meet a goal, that's still pretty monstrous.

Anyway, you don't really have to kill in order to be a monster. There are other ways to show cruelty or disregard for others.

[honeytoes]

Yeah…I uh guess so.

[Although Bruce didn't intent to...those words felt like a dig at him. He never really thought of himself as being like the creatures they kept. His killings were part of the greater good.

But that’s just his slightly guilty conscience raising its head and he'll be damned if he's going to show it.]

I think I see where you're coming from. Species shouldn't come into it...it's more about the mind behind it.

Dictated

[radiantwingedone]

In my world, "monster" is used to describe anything that can, in other worlds, be described as wildlife. There are the house cats and dogs, city birds and seafowl, along with wolves, but there are also eggbears, axebeaks, hysteric purple, and roccus.

To me, the definition is more vague - that which would attack any other thing with little to no reason, or would act in a way that would destroy the world it lives in. Self-protection or seeking food are not of those reasons.

[ His personal definition allows for humans to fall under "monster", but that's his bias. ]

Dictated

[honeytoes]

So in your world...killing and destruction have to have very definitive reasons to be justified?

Dictated

[radiantwingedone]

I think they ought to. [ Grumpy sounding, oops. ]

Generally, for anything to make it from one city to the next, it requires guards or that the traveler is skilled at fighting - creature-monster populations are generally high, and territorial. I disagree with the labeling of "monster" for them.

[ Because they often make more sense than humans he's talked to. ]

Humans, on the other hand, are the only ones I have known to find ways of creating ease that results in destruction for others. Generally, if killing can be avoided, it ought to be. [ ... that might have been added as almost an afterthought... ]

Dictated

[honeytoes]

If the population is as high as you say it is then hey no doubt they'll be a few skirmishs along the way.

I mean any animal is going to be pissed if it thinks you're invading it's home..."Monsters" are no different.

You can't stick your dick in a beehive and not expect to get stung after all.

[hard_talker]

Depends. You wanna know about the fake Halloween type monsters, or ... what I've learned the real monsters are?

[honeytoes]

Ah I think I know what I need to about your typical type monsters...you know your zombies, vampires, mutants and so on and so on.

Tell me about the real ones?

[hard_talker]

[he's quieter than usual when he answers, and there's a gravity to his words] That special breed of adults who forget what it was like to be young, and confused, and to care so much that it hurts. Before time made 'em numb.

[honeytoes]

No I hear what you're saying dude...the type of adults that are stuffy, bureaucratic and have a stick lodged so far up their asses it's a wonder they don't crap wood chippings.

You think they're capable of great evil? All I've found them is to be major pains in the asses that never get invited to the office party....or any kind of parties for that matter.

[waterproofed]

If you've read Greek mythology, you already know about the monsters in my world. But that doesn't make them evil or anything! I know a harpy who's really sweet and friendly, and a Cyclops who wouldn't hurt anybody unless a friend was in danger. And the hellhounds? Well, some of them are just really really big dogs.

[honeytoes]

[Intresting...]

I'm familiar with the workings of Greek mythology.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not exactly throwing water over the arguement but if they are friendly then where did the stories of them being fearsome beasts come from exactly?

[waterproofed]

Oh, believe me, there are plenty of the bad kind, too. But I think it's just more their circumstances. It's just the same as people. And really, besides the fact that monsters don't have souls, they really aren't different from people.

[and he doesn't like thinking of the no soul thing, so he doesn't elaborate on it]

[honeytoes]

They're like people...you mean they complain about the monday rush hour, collect meaningless porcelain crap from the shopping channel and talk about the latest reality tv show with each other over dinner?

[He's being flippant yes but that's partly because it's his humour and partly because he's genuinely curious about Percy's world.]</i

[kungfuwitch]

[She smirks]

The thing is - they're not called monsters in my world. At least, not by my circle.

[honeytoes]

So..what are they called then?

[kungfuwitch]

Usually by what they are. Mermaids aren't monsters, for example. And, while demons and wendigos and whatnot could technically be called monsters it doesn't really make sense to lump them all together.

[honeytoes]

Right...the difference being one is more likely to tear your eyeballs out and the other isn't.

I get it.