Five Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

So. When people die here, they come back? I mean, like: One day, bam; DEAD. And then suddenly, they're back? Like nothing ever happened? Am I getting this information right? And everyone here is okay with this? No one finds it...really, really creepy?

How about odd? Does anyone at least find it odd? I can't be alone here. That's pretty high on the 'unusual things that happens here' list.

[Of course, he'd probably show a little more tact if he knew his closest friend's fiancé was one of the dead people. But he doesn't, and that's a pretty big 'probably' anyway]

Unless that sort of thing is just...normal where you guys come from. Then I could get why you're desensitised to it. Or it could be back to that collective insanity theory of mine.

Wow, that's a lot of rambling. Way to go, me. Orrrr I could just remove my foot from my mouth right about now and we can go back to our lives. Sounds good? Goood. Let's do that.

Comments

[wilder]

Once-ler?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He's waving his hands at the journal pages even if Zelos can't see it]

No. No. Moving on. Nothing to see here.

1/2

[wilder]

Oh really? That's good because I was about to tell you-

[wilder]

SHUT THE HELL UP!

[encryptedlock]

Okay, first of all, what makes you think the rest of us don't think it's fucking weird?

Second of all, it's not like nothing happened to the ones who die.

[whichwayyoulean]

Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the nonchalant way people are saying 'when they come back'. That might have something to do with it.

I meant aside from the fact they die. That's awful. But...how does it even work? Are they zombies?

[encryptedlock]

It's a coping mechanism, asshole. At least people do come back here. People are probably just acting nonchalant because they don't want to show the rest of the world that they're fucking depressed. Also? People don't always come back. Saying "when" is a way of being optimistic, okay?

Jesus, no. You just kind of...wake up back in your own bed, fully alive like you were before.

[likethetragedy]

I think I can safely say none of us are okay with it. The fact that they come back doesn't mean anything. They still died. Everyone still has to deal with the consequences of it. Pointing out how odd it is would only be salt in the wound.

[whichwayyoulean]

So that's what this is? People are just pretending it's okay to spare their feelings? [No, this was not the first conclusion he leapt to]

Because at least that makes a lot more sense than actually just...thinking it's okay.

[likethetragedy]

That's what I suspect. The truth is it's harder on everyone the way things are here.

[gunslinger]

[ Wow, this is awkward timing. He hopes Arthur manages his announcement soon, because it's hard for Jr. to keep his mouth shut regarding this.

The timing is kind of tacky, but it makes sense... Jr.'s at least glad some people are still put off by it. For once he's keeping his mouth shut and just reading the replies...painstakingly. ]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Good job there, Once-ler.

And yes. He is put off by it. How can anyone be so chill about people coming back from the dead? Still, enjoy your reading, Jr. It's like watching a car crash, no?]

[gunslinger]

[ Indeed. B( Indeed... ]

[heal_theworld]

Once-ler...[She sighs. There's no use getting upset at him when he doesn't even know. Not that it doesn't hurt.]

No matter if they do come back, they're still dead. And it still hurts, that they're dead. Sometimes it's not even certain that they will, or that they'll come back...[She takes a deep breath.] the same.

It is odd, though, and I understand why you feel like that. A lot of people feel like that. We just don't talk about it. So ...perhaps you shouldn't post about it in your journal. A lot of people are [And another deep breath.] ...really upset.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh no Martel sounds sad this is the opposite of what he wanted D:]

...They sometimes don't come back the same?

[Okay. No. She sounds really sad. He's getting a horrible, horrible sinking feeling. It's a lot like the feeling he had when the Lorax finally turned away from him for good. It is not a pleasant feeling]

I'm sorry...did you know that Tim guy?

[heal_theworld]

Sometimes. Sometimes they might not come back at all. [Okay, she's trying not to cry here. She can hold it together.]

No, actually, I didn't know Tim. There was... [She can't even say it.]

[queensconsort]

[His response is written in elegant script.]

The silence does not mean they are not bothered by the idea of their loved ones coming back to life. However, it is better than the alternative, and that is why they do not speak of it. There is nothing natural or comforting in circumventing the cycle of death; the deceased still suffer for it, and it is not a guarantee.

You asked for answers and you shall receive them. I do suggest in the future that you speak your observations aloud before committing them to a shared venue. If they sound out of place or ignorant, it may be better to keep those concerns to yourself.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah. I'm getting that. It's just like they're setting themselves up for a lot of hurt.

Oh you mean that little voice people have that tells them to quit while they're ahead? Yeaaah, I don't have one of those.

[queensconsort]

It is called hope. They know it may not work, but there is still some measure of reassurance in having one's friends return. It would be cruel to take that away from them, even if it is to shelter them from further pain.

And that is why honesty is not always appreciated.

dictated;

[amiable]

[ She thinks people are being rather harsh on the new guy, even if she can understand why they're snapping at him. It's not an easy thing to talk about so openly. ]

Some places they do come back. Not all. Like my world they... [ You get the picture. ] It is odd and even a little scary, but if it means people can have a second chance then it's okay.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

Second chances. Even if all they did wrong was get on the bad side of...whatever it is that's running this place.

[amiable]

Sometimes it's that... or sometimes bad people do it. [ She won't go into detail with that, though. At least, not unless he asks. ]

Um, a couple of people died recently and there've been others in the past, so don't look down on them for the way they're reacting.

[ A pause. ]

I was really confused when I found out about it, too.

[hard_talker]

Yeah, I sure as hell find it odd. Problem is, you try to even talk about it here, and everyone jumps down your throat and tells you to shut the fuck up.

... Which it looks like you've probably noticed by now. So the consensus among the sheep is, you can have whatever kind of opinion you want, as long as you DON'T FUCKING SAY IT OUT LOUD! [he says it with a gleeful sort of anger]

Isn't that just the best, healthiest coping mechanism you've ever heard?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Wow, Mark. Sometimes he thinks you're kind of a little bit crazy]

Yeah, I picked that up, load and clear.

And from what I've learned already, most people here have pretty crappy coping mechanisms to begin with. Dumping them in a 'magical' castle just makes it worse.

[hard_talker]

[hey, no one ever said he wasn't, and if this is what it is to be crazy, fuck being sane, dude]

Yeah, it sure doesn't help. But then again, aren't I hearing this from a dude who reputedly doesn't come out of his room, like, ever?