caughtinanetwork | [Voice] Puzzle II

[Guess who's been reflecting on various things since waking up and all of that jazz..]

The past is a curious thing. No matter how hard one desperately seeks to escape it or keep it from affecting just who you are... it's still there and it still can influence you, you views, your personality... everything about you.

People can change, this much is true. But how much? One can not actually change their past. No matter how much they crave to, it remains to haunt them.

A person can claim to not fear their past or their past actions, while actually still being held very much in the grip of terror over it affecting them once again, allowing that fear over it to affect their current actions, despite any claims that they've dealt with it and it doesn't control them any longer.

And while a precious few can actually place their past actually in the past and not allow it to haunt them, have actually moved on from it... what of those who still remember their past deeds? What if they can't let go of those actions themselves? Because sometimes its not just our pasts which haunt us and affect our lives and our views... some times the past actions of others can have a ripple effect, touching many. And people tend to judge others by the actions they've seen.

Those impressions are just as hard to shake off without considerable work...

Some reside in darkness, while claiming to to be free of it. Sometimes it is easier to lie to yourself than face the truth of things.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, he gets some of what you're talking about.]

Are you- thinking of somebody in particular?

[Indeed he was largely thinking of one certain person, though he was also thinking of a few others as well.]

A number of people actually..

What if you remember your past, uh... deeds and you're trying to put it behind you?

[//Filtered]

I mean, I'm still trying to put the whole 'sleep with someone while dating someone else' thing behind me. It's normal to have trouble with it, right?

I guess you're not about to explain.

[That would be too simple really.. and perhaps rather revealing on some points.]

Those involved in the Organization or Castle Oblivion could and would likely understand what I meant by my words. Really, though, it could apply to almost any one out there in various ways.

[Trust you to think of your sex life-sleeping habits from something like this.. really, Demyx.]

All I can say is keep working toward it. Perhaps eventually, you'll succeed.

[//Filtered]
I wouldn't know anything about that Demyx... considering I've never actually done it myself. But possibly so, I'd guess.

_{[That's how his cookie crumbles, bro.]}

Just keep working toward it, huh?

[//Filtered]

...I'll keep trying my best, the--Wait, you're still a--_{[No. Better not say that. Of course he'd still be one... The guy did lose his heart as a kid, then with the Organization working all the time...]} ...Dude, we gotta hook you up with someone or something. S'kinda fun!

Well, yeah...

Did you want to get away from all that, too?

Indeed.

[//Filtered]

[You didn't just threaten to actually play matchmaker....first the kitten and now you want to try hooking him up with an actual person? Oh, for heaven's sake. Have a rather drawn out sigh at your words and implications.]

Yes, I am... that doesn't mean I need a significant other or sexual partner. Regardless of how much fun you claim it is.

Okay. ...Thanks, dude.

_{[And now he'll perma-lock this with a laugh.]}

Not even a one night stand? C'mon, Zex! We're free here! We can do whatever we want for once!

If it was possible for me to, perhaps.

There are some, unfortunately, that are of the opinion that we don't deserve it though. Obviously enough, we never got the chance to back home from what I've heard.

We're here, though. And I haven't heard anything about not deserving it here.

Just because we might be free, doesn't mean I need to get laid as I've heard it put before. Why should I even bother to do that with a complete stranger anyway?

There is one person here I know who still carries a grudge against me, but perhaps you may have a point. Why should I let their lack of ability to let go of the past affect my own attempts do the same thing, hm?

It doesn't have to be a stranger. Er... I had one with a friend.

_{[That they both know. Whoops.]}

Right. I mean, grudges don't just go away. It's not something you can wait around on.

It doesn't help that I don't have any friend's here which are not already involved with someone... [Or way the hell too young for him to be doing anything like that with. You should realize he can count the actual number of people he'd consider friends with enough to do something like that with on one hand, Demyx..]

Point granted. After all, as Demyx says, we're free here to do as we want. So why should we let the opinions of others continue to dictate our actions?

That's what I figure. This place has its downsides, but I'm gonna take advantage of it anyway.

[Xion is definitely one of the people that understands part of this, at least.]

So... how would you try to put your past behind you, then?

...If I wasn't involved, you know I'd totally offer. _{[Yep, that was said in an actual whisper with a nice chunk of embarrassment right along with it.]} You are pretty much the only guy from home who remembers this place. _{The only one who hasn't really forgotten who I really am. You're part of the family I made for myself.}

What would you know of 'facing the truth'?

[Yes, he saw - heard, whatever - you did there. Trying to call him out while attempting to remain subtle about it? How very like you. Unfortunately, he's definitely not in the mood for pleasantries. Especially since the last time he'd seen someone in their worlds, they tried to kill him inside an illusion. Kind of hard to forget that ~~also your buddy's axe sword, owwww~~.]

A foolish attempt, considering the past is what makes us who we are. Though, perhaps "regret" would be the better word in place of fear?

One can both feel regret and fear over it I believe, so perhaps the word regret could join that of fear. It would depend perhaps on just what lay in that past of theirs, on which of the two words could describe their feelings over it. Some fear repercussions from past events in their lives while also regretting the actions which they took in their past.

[It takes just a moment, but he knows this voice. He hadn't heard it for some time since he'd left for the Castle, but he knows it all the same.]

Not letting it control you or your actions, might be a good first step. We're free to do as we might like here, Xion, despite our nature. Perhaps if we let go of the fear of being persecuted over what we are, we can begin to move forward to just being ourselves.

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[Voice] Puzzle II

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