o1. → text;

[hollowly]

Normally, I would think what I'm about to ask is an odd question, but given the location and the circumstances, maybe not so much.

( this is gonna make for a good first poke at the network, innit, sammy? )

How many of you actually know about monsters? Spirits, things that go bump in the night, that sort of thing? Because where I'm from, they're pretty common, and I've noticed from meeting others here that it isn't that way for everyone.

( which is how it should be, if you ask him. nobody should know that the thing in their closet is real. )

Next question. Would anyone be interested in learning about things like that, and how to protect yourself against them?

( there. it's out there. he's doing a good thing. )

Comments

[64th]

The only monsters are other humans.

[ she's purposely being kind of contrary, but she's a lot more afraid of what other people are capable than stories about things that go bump in the night. ]

[hollowly]

Metaphorically, I can't disagree with you.

( because he's no stranger to the whims of humans, under duress or through their own doing, and he can't fault her for her answer. )

But I meant more in the literal sense.

[64th]

Does it count if humans made the monsters?

[hollowly]

I think so.

( he has to think about that for a second, but when he does, it makes sense. )

Do you mean like experiments? Something like that?

[64th]

In a way. We call them mutts. They take regular animals and make them into monsters. For example tracker jackets were wasps but they did something to them and now they'll attack people and if they sting you the poison makes you delirious and might kill you

[hollowly]

I'm pretty sure that would classify as a monster, yeah.

What kind of person would do something like that?

[64th]

People who would rather make monsters than be an Avox

an Avox is someone who committed treason. the president sentences them to have tongue cut out and spend the rest of their lives serving the Capitol

[ normal government stuff, right? ]

[hollowly]

( sure. completely normal. entirely normal. )

So it's either do something like that, or have your tongue cut out.

( not a question. he's just trying to wrap his head around it. )

That would definitely make the person themselves the monster.

( he is not all right with that. )

[64th]

Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever.

Not sure what my home would be like without monsters of the human kind.

[hollowly]

I'm guessing it would have a lot less of people having their tongues cut out.

If you don't mind me asking, what's it like? Minus the human monsters.

[64th]

I think the word is authoritarian.

Our president has been president since before my parents were born. Anyone who crosses him ends up dead. Each of our districts produces something different and we give it all to the Capitol, and then they give the districts leftovers based on favoritism.

they make us send children to fight each other to the death. if you win you get money and prizes. I won. things got worse after that.

[hollowly]

You mean like a battle royale?

( he's liking her situation less and less the more he hears about it. no one should have to live like that. not at all. )

When you say 'children' ... how young?

( aaand prepare to be horrified, sam. )

[64th]

something like that.

[ one day she will learn to withhold horrific details but...today is not that day. ]

As young as 12. I was 18, my brother was 17. my district never sends the younger ones.

[hollowly]

( that's okay. horrific details are what makes his growing knowledge of other places, other worlds and realities what it is.

and if only you could see the horrified look on his face right now. )

And your president allows it. Condones it.

( okay so maybe he's a little angry about that. )

[64th]

He orchestrates all of it.

[hollowly]

I don't think words have been invented yet to describe how messed up that is.

[64th]

It's hard for me to imagine a world where there's anything else.

But you're right.

[hollowly]

I'm really, really sorry that's the only kind of world you know.

Some pretty messed up crap has happened where I'm from, but it was decades ago, and nothing like that.

[64th]

on the bright side, it makes this place a lot less shitty.

And maybe one day it'll be the past for my world, too.

[hollowly]

At least you can think of a bright side to being here.

( even if he still feels really, really bad for you. asdlkh )

I hope so. Human beings have evolved this far, there has to be time enough for them to get past their violent tendencies.

( maybe. maybe not. he hasn't seen much evidence that leads to the positive, but as they say, hope springs eternal. )

[64th]

It's a very short list.

[ yeaaah sorry for being a downer, new friend. ]

Or we'll all destroy each other. Either way. :)