35th Crystal: [Voice]

[cladinthedark]

[This sentence seems to be to himself.] Three years as of last week... hmmm, it feels shorter.

A question, for those inclined to answer. How many of us here are above the age of thirty, and lack immortality? Given the age to which most sapient beings live, and the rarity of that particular boon, the answer should be more than half of the population, but... Somehow I doubt that's going to prove to be the case, here.

[Someone's feeling old.]

Comments

[Voice]

[mistlegacy]

I doubt it, as well.

[Pausing to put up a private filter.]

How are you doing, Golbez? You've been rather quiet for a while....

[Ever since that experiment, or just about so. Which does make her wonder.]

[Voice/Private]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

I'm... well, the experiment was an irritant, as I found myself compelled to stay away from everyone during it, and since then I've been... thinking.

[Brooding, more like.]

[Voice/Private]

[mistlegacy]

Thinking about that horoscope...or something else? What did you get, anyway?

[voice]

[paladinlost]

[He doesn't even bother answering that question.]

Three years? It's so hard to imagine...

[Voice/Private]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

"You will be alone forever". [He rolls his eyes.]

It was moronic, but oddly, it reminded me... of my parents.

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

There are others who have been here longer, but even so, I understand what you mean.

[voice]

[shred-the-sky.livejournal.com]

. . .

I'm a tad past sixty.

[ He doesn't sound a day over twenty two. ]

[voice]

[paladinlost]

...Three years of life experiences you might suddenly lose because of the Malnosso's whims. It's not as damaging as it would be to a child, but still...

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Much less than I lost to Zemus. [Which is one of the things bothering him right now.]

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Truly? Your appearance suggests otherwise.

... Not that I doubt you, of course. It would be an absurd thing to lie about. I am just wondering why that is. If, of course, you don't mind answering.

[voice]

[paladinlost]

You should live twice as much to compensate for all those lost years, then. Try twice as many new experiences. Meet twice as many people. ...I'd say read twice as many books, but you'll probably be fine.

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

I wonder... It may be actually possible. I've never asked uncle how long Lunarians usually live.

[voice/video]

[paladinlost]

[Silence follows his words, until Cecil activates the video function.]

...However long that is, we definitely feel the effects of their blood. I've not changed, these last seventeen years. And you look the same as you will in my time.

[voice]

[shred-the-sky.livejournal.com]

'Tis quite fine. The simple answer is that my father's bloodline plays more of a role in my age than my human mother's.

It isn't a unique affair on my part, mind you. Ever since the founding of Laplace, intermingling of species became much more common.

[Video]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

I see... have you thought about that, much?

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

You are as I then, though my knowledge of the lifetimes of my father's people is... lacking.

In fact, there is much about them I don't know. But such is natural when one has a parent from another world. Is that also the case with you?

[Video]

[paladinlost]

...I've not changed. Everyone else has. What do you think?

[Yes, the thought of outliving everyone is a rather present one.]

[Video/Private]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

I think that we should continue this in this way, for one thing.

[He enables a filter before continuing.]

Your situation is... not something I can understand well, brother. But if you wish to talk about it...

[Voice/Private]

[mistlegacy]

[A disgusted huff as he recites that horoscope.]

Moronic, indeed. I'm glad you didn't get the many that predicted bodily injury, but still.

[She pauses briefly, then her tone softens.]

Your parents? Go on....

[Video/Private]

[paladinlost]

...Do not worry. It's fine. Perhaps they'll all be gone with forty or fifty years. It's even probable. But I'll still have everyone I'll meet until that day, and I'll still have Ceodore. Or even other children, if Rosa and I are lucky. In fact, I worry much more about you.

[Voice/Private]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

When I was very young, I asked my father what it meant to love someone like he loved my mother. He was always indulgent of my curiosity, and he explained as best he could to a young child the concept of romantic love.

What stuck out most in my mind was the idea that the two of them would be... or at least wish to be "together forever, in spirit and heart".

[Video/Private]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

[He's not entirely certain he believes that Cecil actually fully means what he's saying, but it's the best view to at least try to take so he accepts it.]

Worry about me? Why, pray tell?

[Though... honestly, he has a feeling he already knows, and it's probably something he himself has been thinking about recently.]

[voice]

[folklorist]

There's a good few of us I believe. [ A pause. ] I'm thirty-three.

[ Thirty-four in a few days and boy does he feel old now. ]

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Counting myself, that makes four I'm aware of.

[There's dry amusement in his tone.]

If we multiply that number a few times, perhaps we will approach the population of teenagers.

[Voice/Private]

[mistlegacy]

I'm glad you at least got to seem them together. I didn't have the same chance with my own, but I wish I had. Perhaps it would have made it easier to understand, when it was my turn.

[Or not, but she can't help but feel wistful about the past.]

It's not a commitment made lightly, but...when it's time, it's worth it.