twenty-two. voice.

[goryteller]

[There's the soft sound of a heater in the background, a pleasant, continuous hum. Katurian's voice is clear but decidedly subdued, a contrast to his typically frantic nature.]

Aristotle once said that most of humankind is swayed by fear rather than reverence, that they refrain from evil not because it's the right thing to do but because they're afraid of punishment. It gets me thinking about religion more than anything.

[Pause. The faint sound of nails tracing wood. Tapping.]

After all, religion builds monsters to keep people in line. Fantastical beings. Or-- not so fantastical. But of course, I never needed them. I never payed attention to all the monsters that people cowered over in groups behind pews. The monsters described on clear blue pamphlets.

I'm a writer. I make my own monsters.

[Pause. Then, softer:]

There are, of course, quite a few people who don't refrain in the first place. I suppose that's what Aristotle meant. Most humankind.

[More tapping. Drumming.]

I suppose-- [Pause.] Well. I suppose that's it for today.

[Click.]

Comments

[goryteller]

That's a shame.

[Pause.]

And I know. I know that fear can make people into monsters.

[caprihorn]

What fuckin' shame is there at getting to be calmer without poison up at in your veins?

[goryteller]

You--

You're calmer?

[caprihorn]

_{It's what we all said, yeah.}

[goryteller]

[Pause.]

You do sound it.

[caprihorn]

That's fuckin' good to all hear.

[The smile is probably audible.]

[goryteller]

That's-- That's really a remarkable thing, I don't-- was that after you were sent to jail? After you were sent to jail, you got calmer?

[caprihorn]

_No. We were all getting calmer about five minutes before we got sent up at here.

[goryteller]

Why?

[This is just blowing his mind, Gamzee, honest to God.]

[caprihorn]

_{You ever get to hearing about or talking to a motherfucker about what a moirail all is?}

[goryteller]

I think so. It's something like-- like a mentor, right? Like a guide?

Did your moirail help you calm down?

[caprihorn]

No, moirails aren't up at needing to be mentors or guides. _{They're more like a life partner what calms you down and keeps you sane, but you don't need to get up at being their mate or anything either.}

And yeah, he motherfuckin' calmed us down.

[goryteller]

Is he here? Is he still here?

[caprihorn]

_{He's still up at in the City, yeah.} Think we would have moterfuckin' noticed if he all left.

[goryteller]

W-Who?

[caprihorn]

_{Uh, do you know a brother called Karkat?} That's our moirail.