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]

Okay, ow. Lower the volume, I can hear you just fine.

[Kind of muttered, because if there's one thing the Once-ler is good at, it's digging himself deeper into a problem] Just saying it's weird how no one's bothered by it, geez.

[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]

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?

[wilder]

Yeah you know what that is? It's called tact. Even the most blunt show some of it when people die.

[The fact that ZELOS has to lecture you on tact is a sad sad sad thing]

[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.

[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]

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

[whichwayyoulean]

[T-a-c-t? What is this 'tact'? Isn't it a side dish you eat with spaghetti?] It's not like I said 'wow, gee, I'm glad that guy is dead'. I just don't get why everyone is so nonchalant about it.

[Yeah, Zelos, you're going to have to explain this to him in small words]

[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]

[And, of course, he ignores all that for the last sentence] ...Wait, they don't always come back? Of there some sort of coming back to life lottery? Because, wow that's unfair.

Oh. Okay. Well, that's slightly less horrifying.

[wilder]

...You're an idiot.

[But fiiiine he'll explain.]

The folks here aren't nonchalant about it. We all got our own opinions about the whole thing- hell I got plenty of reservations about it too.

But for some of the people who lost someone they love? Even just the idea that they'll be back in two weeks is what's making it possible for them to keep it together. Maybe it's not even right to rely on that sorta hope but...it is what it is. And for the rest of us? It's not really our place to question what they need to help them with grief, so we shut our traps about it.

If they don't come back...well...we'll deal then.

[encryptedlock]

They don't, and we're not sure why. [Well, he's not sure ICly anyway.] So it's not like people should just go around dying thinking everything will be fine. Because it's not. Those are not a pleasant two weeks.

Seriously, have you never looked around and noticed there are no zombies?

[whichwayyoulean]

It's still...really disturbing though. But I guess I kind of get why they're doing it.

[BUT IT'S STILL WEIRD]

[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... ]

[gunslinger]

Take it easy on him, he's obviously new.

[encryptedlock]

Being new doesn't excuse being offensive. There is such a thing as tact.

[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.

[gunslinger]

You say that like there's a right way to address that kind of topic here. He's just being clueless... It's easy to mistake the castle's attitude for nonchalance. He's not the first to think it, so it's not all him. We do act jaded, no matter what's going on in our heads. And there are plenty who actually are as jaded as they act...even if only subtly. So don't blame him for just taking things at face-value.

I know it's a sore subject, especially right now, [ God, you guys have no idea /SCREAM ] but jumping on the newbies just isn't going to get anything done.

[likethetragedy]

Yeah I know it's disturbing but, this is our situation. If we have any decency in us we'll try not to make it any harder than it already is for the people directly involved.

[Hint hint.]