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[The video opens to show an exceedingly nice terrarium sitting on a desk, which is located in the room Justin is borrowing from Neil and Todd. A copy of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is lined up neatly to the left. Aaand zoom in.]

From the Diapheromeridae family. [The view shifts to show this beauty.] And this one's from the Phylliidae family.

[Justin, clearly behind the camera, sounds even quieter and less enthusiastic about life than usual, which is an accomplishment.]

I plan on naming one Gregor and one Mendel, but I'm not sure which should be which. I'm open to suggestions.

[The video switches off.]

[Text]
I've never been interested in entomology, but this combination--plant and animal--is interesting. Worth buying on impulse, now that I'm financially secure for the moment. The bank had an account for me. I made decent money before I left.

The network is a good place to ask open-ended questions. I'd like to ask this: What do you do when you feel as though you're missing something? Not that you've misplaced something, but that there's something fundamentally important to you as a human missing. Drink? Are there any more creative answers?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He looks thoroughly perplexed.]

Why? You must have had a reason...

[Her eyes close. It doesn't seem to matter how many times she explains this. It hurts to think about that day. Maybe it needs to hurt.]

In my world... There is an ability called geass. There was a person with this geass who could make anyone follow any order he gave them. He...

He wasn't trying to give me a command. He was just explaining it to me. He gave me an example. He said I would do anything no matter how much I wouldn't want to even if... [Her voice falls quieter. As if afraid to say it herself lest it happen again.] Even if he told me to kill all the Japanese.

[She opens her eyes again. This isn't something she can hide from.] After that it was like a curse can be here.

[This requires some thinking and processing time.]

This... it's like hypnotism? The power of suggestion? That's manipulation of the mind, not--not you being a killer.

[He chances taking one of Euphie's hands and squeezing it.]

[She gives his hand a slow squeeze in return. She's grateful for the touch.]

I didn't choose to do it, but I still remember doing it.

...I was to address a stadium full of people from Japan that day. I ordered the soldiers to kill them. I fired the first shots myself. There were...thousands of people there that day.

I'm sorry that you remember.

[Thousands of people. Attempted genocide. He mostly wonders how Euphie can act so cheerful and content with this preying on her conscience.

And, of course, the only logical response is a confession.]

I killed someone--two people, if planning a death counts. That was of my own free will.

Someone needs to remember them.

[It was a burden she chose as much as it chose her, but his next words derail her thoughts completely.]

Justin? Why?

People do. Most people have others who remember them, at least for a while.

[Maybe that hadn't been so logical.]

I was stupid and cocky. I took a philosophy too far.

[She's still holding his hand too.]

A philosophy?

[He forgot.]

Of freedom and crime. Power. You go through life with no real freedom or power or control, and it... [He shrugs.] It sounds valid. When the world doesn't care and there's no changing it, not caring back... that's sensible.

Sorry.

But you can. You can change the world. You can make things better. [She sounds a little choked up.] You can try.

I didn't know. [He's not tearing up, there's just something in his--no, tears it is.] I thought the only way to matter was to... to be more than human, especially when I was so terrible at being normal.

[She lets go of his hand, but only so she can change positions and hug him instead.] You matter.

[Whatever is happening cannot be argued with. It just takes him a moment to remember to hug back.]

[She's glad. She wouldn't know what to argue right now. She just keeps holding on for now.]

[He comes to his senses and lets go of Euphie. She said he mattered. No one had said that before.]

I... um. This isn't what you usually do when you visit friends, I imagine.

Only on special occasions. [She reaches up and smooths out his hair gently.]

Then thank you for considering this a special occasion.

[She smiles softly.]

I did think we'd eat a pretzel and maybe play a game. Things have a way of surprising you.

[That was surprising, sure enough. He gives her a quick, uncomfortable smile.]

Would it be too late for that? Eating and playing a game?

[She smiles warmly at him.] It's never too late for that.

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