video, un: tabris

[peripheries]

[On the video is a boy, who looks no older than fifteen at the most. He's smiling at the video but there's something unsettling about it. Perhaps because it's a little cheeky, like he knows something that no one else does. Or perhaps because there's the smallest tinge of sourness to his expression. Depends on how you want to read it.

Either way, you might find it just a little unsettling.]

Tell me. What is our purpose here? To survive, of course, as all living things try to do. But they must have greater expectations for us. Especially after they helped us regain our form. Surely, someone has made expectations known.

["Hmmm."]

Or did you have a purpose back home and now must find a new one? Are you happy to be freed from it? Or do you hope you can return to fulfill it?

Or is being here the opportunity to find a purpose for yourself? One that you never had before but always wanted? Or does this place put new burdens on you?

[The unsettling smile lasts a few more seconds before he pulls back from the feed, leaning back casually in a chair waiting for answers like he just asked what their favorite breakfast cereal was for a shopping suggestion instead the rather prodding line of questioning he actually asked.]

I'm quite interested to know!

Comments

video | un: sharpshooter

[azurestar]

Riiiight. [The word is drawn out with a guarded flat tone.] Y'know, most people give their name before diving that deep.

[peripheries]

Would me giving my name change your answers?

voice; un: abs

[armd]

(... yes, this is all very #deep and all, but-)

You first.

[peripheries]

My purpose? The truth is, I no longer have one. That's why I was curious about the people here. That's all.

voice, private; un: sapereaude

[killed]

[ Oh, how charming. There's certainly something off about this boy, something that prickles at him, though he can't quite pin what it might be at just a glance. At a first glance, it could be mistaken for the usual smugness of a boy at such a tender age - but he's studied enough of those to know that this isn't quite that. It certainly catches his interest, enough to humor this person.

He's not quite sure about turning the camera on just yet, but he at least switches over to voice. ]

Come, slow down now! You're going a bit too fast for people to keep up with, don't you think? You'll never get a half-decent answer that way.

[ There's a hint of amusement to his voice. No, even if a person were to answer each one, they would be rushed and half-thought. ]

It's best to take things one step at a time. A person's purpose here is quite simple, don't you think? It's merely to survive at all costs, just as you said.

[ Just as it always has been. What could matter more than preserving one's life? ]

[peripheries]

[Private communication. Backend channels. Like conversations between him and the Committee. Interesting.]

I only wanted to learn what kinds of people are here.

[He leans further back in his chair, hands in his pockets.]

But is that really going to be satisfying? Humans have always strived for more beyond just "survival".

Text - UN: CentaursTesticle

[alternia_strength]

D --> Attempts at teleological inquiry already I see
D --> I must confess that it is a topic I generally overl00k on any given solar cycle
D --> E%istence as a cyclical function generally is m00red in repetition that numbs the think pan of proper thought
D --> But given that I am e%pired and on borrowed temporal passage
D --> I would say that I establish my own purpose at this stage
D --> But that is not e%actly an answer to your querry is it

[His think pan hurt a little. It was a familiar feeling. Why did people in these places always insist on getting so damned philosophical?]

[peripheries]

Why are you typing like that?

[Is this a Lilin thing he was not briefed on?]

voice | un: givemeyourown

[unsheathedfromreality]

Which "they"?

[That's it. That's the response.

Oh, no, wait.]

Which "they" are having expectations for us?

[There's an odd distortion on the line, like the speaker's at the bottom of a rain barrel.]

[peripheries]

[Curious~ He likes it.]

The ones that fished us from the sea and encouraged us to regain our forms. Or perhaps someone they were doing it on behalf of.

audio | un: hardcore.

[deathrespect]

My purpose is to stop scrolling and go back the fuck to bed.

sorry for the late reply, I had to look up phones in canon

[peripheries]

Scrolling?

[Their cellphones are barely functional. No scrolling! What a term!]

(private) video | un: P.G.

[possessum]

( This is heavy and discomforting, and Peter's drawn to it like a moth to flame.

Gently, cautiously, because it involves Thinking About Things that he hasn't wanted to for a long time now, but... it's become painfully clear that ignoring it is no longer an option. Maybe part of him wants to talk about it, needs to. And the person being young-looking makes it a little easier to be able to talk to him, even if he's a stranger. And even if something about him is a little strange. Peter certainly can't judge, there. )

I'm not sure. It sounds kind of pathetic, but my whole life I never really thought I had like... a purpose? Then I found out I did. But it wasn't something I.... wanted.

( Finding out his fate is to be the container for a fucking demon is a pill he's still trying to swallow. )

...I guess that counts as a purpose. Is it a purpose if you don't want it?

( Despite being a bit shy as he asks it (and making sure his feed is set to "private"), Peter's earnest, attentive — genuinely curious what this guy might think about it. )

private

[peripheries]

[Ah, yes. Now this is what he wanted. Someone to engage, someone he can speak to about fate. Or at least that's what he thinks he wants. Or maybe he just wanted someone to commiserate with but he had no idea how to ask a genuine question or that such vulnerability even exists within himself.]

Yes, I think so. Some of us are given purposes that we have no choice in. But it is what we were created for and we cannot deny it.

video; un: raiden

[eiternity]

[It appears that, if nothing else, Ei has already found a kindred spirit here. Most people would introduce themselves first. But most people don’t serve as a god.]

If my purpose were so weak as to change after being taken here, it would hardly be a purpose worth pursuing at all.

As always, my goal is to provide eternity to my people. Being here won’t change that, but it may be a chance at a new perspective.

[peripheries]

So you have determined your own purpose then? One that you would hope to strengthen in a new world? To fight to keep it?

[That makes sense. What is the point of having your own purpose if you aren't willing to make it matter. He likes that.

Then he cocks his head.]

What do you mean by "eternity"?

video; un: quibbler

[creidim]

[ Luna appears a little too close to the screen, eyes wide and thoughtful — silent for a while as she considers her answer. An interesting conversation starter from someone not too far off her own age, how curious. ]

I believe it's one of those things you just... find out for yourself. That's the thing about personal journeys, isn't it? [ But she'd consider it 'living' in amongst all the surviving, that's the idea of this place, she thinks. ]

I mean, I chose to come here rather than going home again because I wanted a new path for myself rather than what could happen back home. [ The height of war, on the eve of battle. She doesn't know her fate in that, but she decided to choose this path over the uncertainty. ] I have ideas of things I'd like to do, but I think really I'm just... waiting to see what happens. It's exciting.

[peripheries]

...A new path?

[There's a shift, the one of knowing something that no one else does fades, replaced by a genuine curiosity. Almost an innocence, like the idea has never occurred to him before.]

How were you able to determine a thing like that was possible?

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

I've been thinking about that a lot since I washed up here actually.

I guess at home it was my job to protect people. Or well... And I guess on some level people like me were meant to shine like mirrors to reflect the light of the world onto darkness.

I don't think I really have the ability to go back and do that anymore. So I guess I'm doing that here as best I can.

[peripheries]

So do you think your purpose has changed? Or merely shifted where you fulfill your purpose? Or is there a reason for your purpose back home that you cannot achieve here?

[So basically, he's grabbing onto her answer. Prodding. Not even arrogantly, but curious.]

voice | un: moonmochi

[hopticulture]

I think thinking about whether or not you have a purpose is a bit of a burden itself.

Even if something is expected of us in this place, it doesn't mean it's something we have to do.

[peripheries]

Or is there freedom in being able to question if you have a purpose? Because it means your fate hasn't been determined?

[To the second part, he gives a little nod.]

No. But if we know, then we can determine what we want to do more easily.

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Talk about a wildly random philosophical post..

.. but then again, messages like these aren't even all that random or surprising when people sure love asking huge questions about life on here, Ange thinks. And while she's tempted to just ignore it the way she usually does, there's something that sticks out to her. ]

Didn't we just regain our human forms by ourselves when we left the water?

[ Apparently someone sure feels touchy about the very idea of giving someone else credit for that, huh. ]

[peripheries]

I heard a voice. Asking me to remember my form.

[He's not all that concerned about if he was able to regain his form on his own. It's never even crossed his mind. People telling him what to do is sort of just the way his life has always worked.

Interesting.]

You returned on your own then? To your... human form?

video: un: ontherocks

[queenking]

Hell if I know, man.

[...that's. Helpful.]

[peripheries]

[He'll laugh a little. But it's a little humorless.]

So, you're not concerned with it? You're free from that sort of burden?

text; un: graham

[cognitivus]

Why the curiosity? What exactly are you looking for in these answers?

[peripheries]

I want to understand more about how humans think. And understand my own determination in this place.

Video | Un: Dawnknight

[searingwing]

So far this place seems focused on shedding burdens and preparing for new things.

It’s early enough we can’t determine if that’s the purpose of our being here or not. Time will tell if that is the right assumption or not.

[peripheries]

So you think of this place as an opportunity rebirth? It would be pretty dangerous if that was the assumption and then it turned out not to be the case, wouldn't it?

video; un: morningstar

[morningstud]

[Well, hello there, extremely creepy child.

Lucifer doesn't look entirely impressed by the creepiness, but he doesn't address it. Nor really see anything wrong with no name being given, apparently!]

Having a "purpose" is one of those human notions I've never understood. There is no grand plan for anyone; that's one of the only things my Father did correctly.

It is up to an individual to create meaning, not stumble upon it.

[peripheries]

[LOOK. It's good. There's nothing to be impressed with truthfully.]

There's a grand plan for some. Maybe it's divine or by humanity's read, but their fates have been predetermined. Of course, you can always try to fight fate.

[There's a glint in his eye.]

How does one create meaning? Is it the things you do? Or the connections you form with others?