Yup. [famine please consider she dumped her dead backstory on you like four days ago. tf else would she ask.] Are you answering my question with a question because you don't actually know? Or because it isn't something you can explain?
[the answer is mg logic, aerith, but that's fine.]
[ she did do that and i still laugh aerith what the fuck ]
I am asking because I don't know. If people have died in this realm before, it's never really mattered to me. And in my own home, nothing about death is confirmed.
Is it different for you? I suppose you must know where you go, if you think you can still stop a meteor.
[it's like akira telling the superhell npcs his ryo lore immediately.
she kind of watches them for a moment because okay, yes, fair. she is aware things are very different for her.]
Yes. [just. yes.] "What comes from the planet will return to the planet." When people die where we're from, they return to the lifestream. It's...you could say it's like the history of the entire planet. All of the memories and emotions of those who were alive make up the lifestream. You could say it's kind of like an afterlife, but also the life of the planet to protect it.
[ nods... she made some reference to that, but - ] Interesting. I hadn't realized it was literal.
That's not bad. That type of circular relationship.
It is less certain in other places. Where I'm from, people can only make guesses at what comes after death. Here, it is the same. Their bodies will decompose over time, but we do not know what will become of their souls, if you believe in such a thing. Maybe they exist, and they are somewhere.
Maybe souls aren't real at all, and they are nowhere.
[she sort of raises an eyebrow because she understands why they're saying that, but damn dude she's right there and possibly a soul? listen i don't fucking know she spends the last part of the game astral-projecting to cloud.]
Maybe here they aren't. But if that's true, then there's no way for them to return to their own worlds. Isn't that what that would mean? [that's. the problem.] Everything they owned has disappeared. But...I know some people wanted to provide a proper burial for them. Something with the hope that they can move on as peacefully as possible. Is that something that can be done if everything's gone including their bodies?
You may need to get creative with your funeral rites, if you insist upon them. Though those often bring more comfort to those left behind than the actually departed.
[ guess which camp they are in about souls. aerith's world and their take on souls is something but it doesn't necessarily apply here ]
But yes. I'm coming to realize that many of you don't seem familiar with the concept of how permanent death can be.
Maybe that's not so bad, considering how poorly so many people have been taking the news. [a lot of people are very upset out there? she has a 16 year old that immediately freaked out about boothill.]
I guess I don't have to ask you what your thoughts on death are then. [...but.] Where you're from. Do you think it's the end? Or do you think there might be something after?
[this is now just her being nosy if they've given it thought ever.]
No, I do not think it a bad thing. The act of grieving and mourning might be necessary for society to function, in unexpected ways.
[ as for the question, they tilt their head ]
I am an atheist. So I do not believe in an almighty being that will protect select souls while others burn and rot in the underworld. However, I know that if I'm wrong, I will probably be in the latter category.
Depending on what happens tomorrow, too. If there really isn't another solution, it'll be the three of them.
[which. hateful. anyway she does remember that they said they were doing this to see if the cult could successfully summon a god. it isn't like she was expecting a deeply spiritual answer, but it's possible to believe in one thing but not another.
instead now she's just like ??? hello???]
At the risk of presenting another morally complicated question—[the way she says this is, like, she knows it's subjective.]—are you saying you consider yourself a bad person?
As you've said, good and bad are reductive. I do not consider it so simple. However, in this theology where only the pious, pure, and devout are rewarded, I would not be accepted.
Though I also don't agree with a religion that has such strict measures on who ought to be saved, that's something else entirely.
[ frowns, because getting into spirituality is such an easy topic to meander but ]
I'm getting off topic. At this point in my life, I can simply say that I will save more people than I have ever harmed. However, that does not erase the harm that has transpired at my hands.
[i am sorry i keep bringing my very spiritual power of prayer connected to the planet girl to famine and asking these questions.]
I don't think it's as simple as sorting the good and the bad for us either. Everyone returns to the same place. [but...hum.] It doesn't erase what's happened in the past. But the future can continue to change. If you want to save people rather than continue to harm them, there isn't anything stopping you. [...] Is it something you regret? Or is it that the harm was necessary and now it's not?
[that's fair. this feels slightly similar to talking to scien and i'm just going to stare into the void. anyway she thinks about this because harm and pain aren't always exactly the same concept, but the fact that they seem to think regretting it would be more of an insult also kind of paints a picture here.]
...how? [how do you save people. this feels like they're implying they mean also back where they're from.]
Before I got here? I governed over my country, tearing down old unjust policies established from the monarchy and have been working to rebuild the system to grand more power to the people. In my spare time, I researched illnesses and saved sickly children.
Oh, so you are aware. [that's nice. she's going to bonk famine and war over the head for fucks sake. but simultaneously she sort of gets it. it doesn't change the things of the past or the motivations behind it.]
The only thing I share with Cloud is anything that changes our situation here. [she shares with other people but cloud's just the default who gets all of her infodumping.] Anything personal about any of you stays with me. Soooo guess your reputation's safe for now.
[a little bit of a joke, but her expression is more thoughtful.]
[that's a good question, and she doesn't have an immediate answer because despite everything aerith does to make people acknowledge their good qualities and convince people to look for the hope in situations and stay positive, she's not...great...at going "yeah i'm a good person" because it seems selfish to say so.]
Maybe. [a middle of the road answer.] I don't think it's really fair to judge myself as a good or a bad person. There are probably things I've done that have hurt people even if they were things I wanted or needed to do. But in the grand scheme of things...as long as I can help somehow I guess that's what matters. Even if my actions may not always be seen as kind.
That's Shinra's calling card. [she sounds pretty annoyed, actually.] Not to mention Sephiroth. Both threats who refuse to believe what they're doing is causing harm to the planet because they only care about what's "good" for their own people.
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Are you asking me about what happens after people die? Very existential, isn't it?
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[the answer is mg logic, aerith, but that's fine.]
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I am asking because I don't know. If people have died in this realm before, it's never really mattered to me. And in my own home, nothing about death is confirmed.
Is it different for you? I suppose you must know where you go, if you think you can still stop a meteor.
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she kind of watches them for a moment because okay, yes, fair. she is aware things are very different for her.]
Yes. [just. yes.] "What comes from the planet will return to the planet." When people die where we're from, they return to the lifestream. It's...you could say it's like the history of the entire planet. All of the memories and emotions of those who were alive make up the lifestream. You could say it's kind of like an afterlife, but also the life of the planet to protect it.
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That's not bad. That type of circular relationship.
It is less certain in other places. Where I'm from, people can only make guesses at what comes after death. Here, it is the same. Their bodies will decompose over time, but we do not know what will become of their souls, if you believe in such a thing. Maybe they exist, and they are somewhere.
Maybe souls aren't real at all, and they are nowhere.
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Maybe here they aren't. But if that's true, then there's no way for them to return to their own worlds. Isn't that what that would mean? [that's. the problem.] Everything they owned has disappeared. But...I know some people wanted to provide a proper burial for them. Something with the hope that they can move on as peacefully as possible. Is that something that can be done if everything's gone including their bodies?
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[ guess which camp they are in about souls. aerith's world and their take on souls is something but it doesn't necessarily apply here ]
But yes. I'm coming to realize that many of you don't seem familiar with the concept of how permanent death can be.
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I guess I don't have to ask you what your thoughts on death are then. [...but.] Where you're from. Do you think it's the end? Or do you think there might be something after?
[this is now just her being nosy if they've given it thought ever.]
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[ as for the question, they tilt their head ]
I am an atheist. So I do not believe in an almighty being that will protect select souls while others burn and rot in the underworld. However, I know that if I'm wrong, I will probably be in the latter category.
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[which. hateful. anyway she does remember that they said they were doing this to see if the cult could successfully summon a god. it isn't like she was expecting a deeply spiritual answer, but it's possible to believe in one thing but not another.
instead now she's just like ??? hello???]
At the risk of presenting another morally complicated question—[the way she says this is, like, she knows it's subjective.]—are you saying you consider yourself a bad person?
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As you've said, good and bad are reductive. I do not consider it so simple. However, in this theology where only the pious, pure, and devout are rewarded, I would not be accepted.
Though I also don't agree with a religion that has such strict measures on who ought to be saved, that's something else entirely.
[ frowns, because getting into spirituality is such an easy topic to meander but ]
I'm getting off topic. At this point in my life, I can simply say that I will save more people than I have ever harmed. However, that does not erase the harm that has transpired at my hands.
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I don't think it's as simple as sorting the good and the bad for us either. Everyone returns to the same place. [but...hum.] It doesn't erase what's happened in the past. But the future can continue to change. If you want to save people rather than continue to harm them, there isn't anything stopping you. [...] Is it something you regret? Or is it that the harm was necessary and now it's not?
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[ only when necessary ]
Lately, it simply has not been needed. So you are right. These days, all I do is save people.
[ they still think they'll probably burn though ]
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...how? [how do you save people. this feels like they're implying they mean also back where they're from.]
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Before I got here? I governed over my country, tearing down old unjust policies established from the monarchy and have been working to rebuild the system to grand more power to the people. In my spare time, I researched illnesses and saved sickly children.
[ a beat ]
Do not tell the others that, though.
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Oh. [OKAY. SHE GUESSES.] Why wouldn't you want them to know?
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[ heaven forbid someone thinks that ]
However I've told you in the context of being good or bad, and I do think that the damage I've done is still considerable.
But people are already trying to think that I am a good and secretly kind person, which is far more inaccurate.
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The only thing I share with Cloud is anything that changes our situation here. [she shares with other people but cloud's just the default who gets all of her infodumping.] Anything personal about any of you stays with me. Soooo guess your reputation's safe for now.
[a little bit of a joke, but her expression is more thoughtful.]
You seem more pragmatic than anything.
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but famine nods at that. hets probably. "aventurine?" fridged for heterosexuality ]
That's a fair word to use.
And what of you? Would you call yourself a good person, in the grand scheme of things?
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Maybe. [a middle of the road answer.] I don't think it's really fair to judge myself as a good or a bad person. There are probably things I've done that have hurt people even if they were things I wanted or needed to do. But in the grand scheme of things...as long as I can help somehow I guess that's what matters. Even if my actions may not always be seen as kind.
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[ they say it... as a statement, not a question, but they tilt their head after as if prompting her to confirm or deny ]
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[so. she's a better person than those people but there's still the hesitance because it just feels odd to confidently say it.]
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[ said wearily. ]
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