531 Monstrosity & Morality: Dividing Lines of the Self and Other, Section 2

[idolpro]

Comments

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Well.

It sounds like you fucked up. And Hope fucked up, too. Nothing's ever gonna change that.

[...]

But, you know. You were always gonna fuck up some time. Maybe it woulda been nicer if you fucked up with someone who didn't matter to you so much. But...nobody's perfect.

[libraryofbabel]

"She tries pretty hard, though. Or, at least—I suppose a lot of people see her as perfect, even though she kept telling us she wasn't."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

She just has that look, I guess. Like she's always got her shit together.

[libraryofbabel]

"But you're not fooled, huh."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

It doesn't really work after she tells you about one of the worst fuck-ups of her life.

[libraryofbabel]

"You'd be surprised by how many people only see what they want to see."

She gives a little smile. "I don't think I expected this conversation to go this way."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

No? What were you expecting, then?

[libraryofbabel]

"You seem like the kind of person who'd say, well... 'just suck it up,' or something like that, you know."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

I mean, you probably should. Or else you're gonna spend the rest of your life crying in a corner and then you'll be no good to everything else that you do still want to protect.

[libraryofbabel]

"Pff. Are you really going to talk to your elders that way?"

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Sure am.

1/2

[libraryofbabel]

"Good."

[widenessofthesea]

And if you blink, then suddenly Hope is standing right there in her place—although she looks a little different; dressed a little more crisply and professionally, albeit all in black. A white rose is pinned to her lapel.

"Keep it up, young man."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Hope? What're you doing here?

[widenessofthesea]

"Well—specifically, it would be more apt to call me Grace. This part of me, at least. It was a lovely conversation."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Oh. Well. Glad I could help?

What do you mean "this part" of you?

[widenessofthesea]

"I contain multitudes. Or, at least, a handful—I've worn a lot of names, over the years."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Okay...

[he is still confused but at least sorta-Hope isn't crying anymore???]

Well, if you're feeling better, I better get going.

--Oh, yeah. Got any tips for the paper?

[widenessofthesea]

"Well—it seems like you do have an articulated thesis. You might want to go look up some sources for evidence, though—try Primary Sources or Essays, I think, for what your current take seems to be."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Uh... I'll head there next, I guess.

[an articulated thesis? what does that even mean???]

Oh--one more thing. When I was reading the retrospectives I found these bits in red in a couple of 'em. What's that all about?

[widenessofthesea]

...she frowns.

"Seems like someone decided to get a little opinionated with the grading pens. I wonder who, though—the Professor wouldn't write in a book like that."

[carrionmywaywardsun]

Guess I'll have to keep an eye out. Thanks for the help, Grace.

[heading over to Essays]