relinquishing | [Video]

[Once the journal opens, this entry starts out pretty casual. The animals have been walked and fed and cleaned up, and this particular blond is now plopping down onto his bed, pulling off his gloves as he starts up his first question.]

Good morning, everyone. If anyone out there has got an itch for some hard work, let me know. I'm looking for a helper or two for a construction project. Nothing too big, don't worry.

Just ask for Guy over at House One if you're interested.

[One would think the entry would end there, but it doesn't. He grunts a little as he kicks off his boots, letting the pause sit for a moment.]

So, I'm still seeing a little bit of talk about what happened last month. Valentine's Day, right? I'm sure some people would rather forget. Or maybe it was actually a nice change of pace - who knows. Whatever the case, it's still always a big surprise to get caught in a change like that.

It got me thinking. Whether it went well or not, a lot of people have just moved on. Some have accepted it, some just choose to ignore. It's a Shift. Shifts happen in Luceti.

Like rain. Or New Feathers. Being manipulated for a day or two is a constant.

Right?

[He lets that hang for a long moment, his tone not quite so casual anymore. He's questioning, a quiet undercurrent of disbelief.]

So, Luceti. Is it alright to just accept Shifts as a part of life?

Threaded | Flat

Mmm, why not? After all, it is.

If it means getting to stay here, yeah, I can accept shifts. They'e bit messed up but... it could be worse.

[Don't answer, Asch. Don't talk to him. Just ignore it, ignore him, you'll be much happier and better off, there's no need to go back and make things awkward and uncomfortable all over aga-]

Stay here long enough and you'll probably drive yourself mad if you don't accept them.

[...Goddammit. How pathetic is he?]

May I ask what happened last month?

[Because talking in person is for squares, Ion is totally responding from his own room on the first floor.]

I don't think it's a matter of it being right or not. It would be difficult to go on living here without learning to accept the shifts for what they are. And dwelling on them too much might make you miss out on the life you have here.

The longer one stays here, the more accustomed they become to these shifts. They may become easier to accept.

But all in all, it is a matter of choice. It is neither right nor wrong to accept the shifts as a part of life.

I hate to say it but I don't think we have a choice. But that doesn't mean I'm going to like being treated like someone's guinea pig and I will fight back given the opportunity.

I guess? As they don't seem too bad. Then again, I haven't been here long enough to know if they get any worse.

[Yeah you have fun with your little construction project. Jade will abuse the journal as usual and talk to you from his cozy workshop.

And he sounds particularly flippant.]

Why shouldn't we? They influence us in ways beyond our imagining. It's beyond our power to go against the shifts, so why try to rebel? After all, by this point in time, they've become such a natural part of our everyday lives.

[There's a gleam in his glasses.]

Haven't you missed living with something like The Score?

[ Oh look another one from House One who is responding from the journal instead of in person ]

... I was led to believe when I first arrived that Valentine's Day was not a holiday but a monster formed by a Shift. In comparison to what had actually happened I'm not sure what to think. But I haven't been here long so it would be unwise for me to actually offer an opinion on the matter.

I'll help out! What do you want to build?

I'm not much of a carpenter, I'm afraid. Are you building something in the house, Guy?

[Because there are Shifts to do that for him and he won't have to rebuild the whatever every time the house falls down...which happens less, these days. But still.]

[Asbel remembers the name Guy. Peony mentioned it in their conversation. Maybe this is that same Guy? Guess only time will tell. But for now, to address the topic.]

I don't know if I'd call it "accept", but... I guess I "acknowledge" they're something that's going to happen here whether we like it or not.

They are what they are, aren't they? I think it would be more detrimental to try and ignore them. [Not to say she's okay with how they meddle with their lives, there are a number of Shifts she knows she could have done without.

And there's others that she just can't bring herself to hate, because of what they resulted in.]

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