Eighth Inquiry [voice] BACKDATED TO 3AM

[nottheanswers]

You now, there are some questions that you'll be unlikely to ever get an answer to you can share. Not entirely impossible, as this place has proven, but the usefulness of the information, how it may apply to anyone else, is always suspect.

I've got one in particular in mind, but the answers will probably be different between here and home, and there's good odds they'll vary from person-to-person.

But I'm using a lot of words to make a very simple inquiry. [sorry everyone, he probably hasn't slept in a few days] What do you think happens when you die? Or, at the very least, between when you die here and when she decides to bring you back?

I have my own thoughts, of course, but my answers aren't important right now. Just the question.

Comments

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[nottheanswers]

So, how do they know that's how it really plays out?

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

The older people, like the head of the family keep track of it I think. But sometimes you can kind of tell. Like when kids who hadn't seen each other meet and they just have this thing between them. [He smiles sheepishly.] I don't know how to really explain it.

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[nottheanswers]

You ever run into something like that?

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've seen it. It's interesting to watch.

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[nottheanswers]

Just secondhand?

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

I'm not one of them. [He looks uncomfortable enough that Vic can probably tell that's a lie.]

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[nottheanswers]

Really? The way you said it didn't leave much room for exemptions.

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

Well, I did say it only applied to important members.

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[nottheanswers]

So, does "important" refer to the originator of the soul, or the recipient?

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

Both I think. The originals were supposed to be very important people, and the new ones are influential over the family.

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[nottheanswers]

Sounds like a bit of a self-fulfilled prophecy to me.

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

I don't know, maybe.

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[nottheanswers]

What I mean is it's an awfully convenient and unobservable way to set up a hierarchy in the family structure.

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

That's how things have been run forever. It's not like we could say anything against it.

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[nottheanswers]

That's what people always say about oppressive systems.

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

I never said it was oppressive.

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[nottheanswers]

You didn't sound entirely happy with it, either. Enforced hierarchies arbitrarily set by "fate" don't tend to be a walk in the park.

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

It's the only life I've ever known. It might not be great but it could be worse. I keep myself away from it most of the time.

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[nottheanswers]

Then what do you keep yourself to?

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

Just away. I'm not too well liked by the head, so I try not to hang around much.

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[nottheanswers]

I'd say that hits the definition pretty closely. They're supported by the hierarchy while you're lower on the totem pole, so they have the power to run you off like that.

That isn't how a family should work. [Yes, Momiji is now hearing ideas about family from an orphan.]

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

No, it's not. But mine does. It's not something that can be easily changed. It's something that we've all learned to deal with.

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[nottheanswers]

Only because you've never had the opportunity to explore an alternative, I'm sure. A hierarchy can be changed, if the people can be convinced that they want something different.

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[whatmuttiforgot.livejournal.com]

People have tried to change it. It's not so simple as just wanting to; there's a lot more complicated things going on.

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[nottheanswers]

Have you had enough people working to change it each time? I have a feeling that only a few people, right as they may be, would hit up against too much pushback.