44th Insane Speech // Voice

[liebe_krieg]

I have been thinking about monsters.

The question of what humanity there may be found in monsters has already been asked and discussed many times. Do they have a soul, are they capable of love, and other romantic notions. [The Major can be heard scoffing] My interest is focused on the other side of the coin: what depths a human being may sink to before they receive the label ‘monster.’

One hears it thrown about of course: ‘you monster! You fiend! You mad demon!” [Laughter] Such vicious rhetoric! But do the people who say that really mean someone is devoid of all humanity? That they lack the things which truly make a genuine human?

A claim like that carries great implications, you know. A brief look at the history of humanity shows that a great many of us have done things which might prompt some to cry ‘monster!’ Would it follow then, that a significant portion of humans on this Earth have never been human at all? Whatever would that mean for the concept of ‘human?’

These questions are of keen interest to me. And part of that interest is what you think on the matter.

Comments

[liebe_krieg]

Feelings, hm. The nature of the monster is deeply tied to emotion. It is true, they are rarely weakened by empathy or sentiment. But they are constantly driven by the base and unyielding desire of bloodlust; to destroy and devour. Based on that, I would say that it is the human who generally has more capacity for sense.

[maggotbone]

You call bloodlust an emotion. I call it instinct, especially to destroy and devour. The over-compulsion of that is what we demons like to identify as gluttony.

You say humans have more capacity for sense? Right. They might, but not a lot actually listen to it needless to say follow it.

[liebe_krieg]

You separate between emotion and instinct? Very well, I will accept that. And I enthusiastically accept that the human potential is quite often squandered without shame.

Our capability to think and dream- and to feel, for that matter- can raise us to almost any height imaginable! And yet... well, I am sure you have experienced enough of humanity to know what becomes of that potential.

[maggotbone]

Please, humans are one of our best clients.

And also one of the most pathetic, ignorant creatures to observe. I guess that's what happens when a species is so young.

[liebe_krieg]

Young? I confess, I rarely think of us that way. But I suppose to an immortal, the entire sweep and breadth of civilization's history must appear small indeed.

I suddenly find myself wanting to ask your age. But that would be an impolite question for a lady, wouldn't it?

[maggotbone]

Well at least you have manners.

Yeah, no, I'm not like 600 years old or anything, but yeah it's a little impolite. I'm in my twenties- that's the best you're getting. I'm just saying that demons have existed much longer than humans have- along with almost everything else on this planet.

[liebe_krieg]

I see. And do you predict our species will grow out of being 'pathetic and ignorant' if we survive to become older?

[maggotbone]

See, the keywords here are "survive" and "become older".

I'm not so convinced you idiots wouldn't destroy yourselves first.

[liebe_krieg]

We will survive. There is no doubt of that. Nothing is forever, but the human spirit is indomitable when it comes to ignoring such inconvenient facts.

[maggotbone]

That's a fairly optimistic outlook.