Journal Text: comfort is a mystery

[mortal_son]

Sender: Shinjiro Aragaki
To: All
Subject: Dream rules?

hey so I got the typical(??) talk from the dream guys here now but

when they say we're dreaming -

do standard "dream rules" apply?? I don't see people flying all over the place, that's a dream thing for most people, right? idek I don't dream much

and what about that thing when people die in dreams? does that mean they wake up and go on with their normal lives?

k thanks for your time

Comments

[mortal_son]

sorry bout that. I'm not usually the cheerful type but I usually don't make my bad mood someone else's problem.

good - it seemed like most people had a good time. can't say it was my thing though.

[ectoherbology]

People's inner turmoil often become external in this place. I think we will all, in time, have our deepest wounds laid bare.

People here are at least sensitive and courteous about it.

[mortal_son]

makes sense, if we're all stuck in the same boat.

some people might take advantage, though

[ectoherbology]

Abigail says that if you get bullied, we'll beat them up for you.

[mortal_son]

[ He found himself smiling, and shook his head. ]

thanks for the offer, you two. you're good kids.

but I can handle myself. if someone bugs you ... you probably have better options, but you can grab me if you don't find them, deal?

[ectoherbology]

There are quite a few, yes. I am sure you'll meet them in time. A few in particular: Della Duck, a man named Asura, a man named Dante, and a man named mister Inumaki. They are very helpful, if you need assistance from anyone.

[mortal_son]

I'll keep them in mind, but I can take care of myself.

[ectoherbology]

I find the easiest place to not get bothered by others to be the library. It's a good place to avoid drawing attention.

[Because she, too, Gets the need to not be pestered.]

[mortal_son]

thanks, Wendy.

I think I saw something like that - great big tree on the outskirts of the main town here?

[ectoherbology]

Yes. I have been able to find almost all of Edgar Allen Poe's work there. It's been nice.

[mortal_son]

he's some english guy who wrote spooky poems, right?

[ectoherbology]

American, yes. He wrote more sincerely about mourning and death than many writers do in contemporary spheres.

[mortal_son]

never really got far in English

wait

what do you think you're writing in right now?

[ectoherbology]

English. I also know a bit of French sign language.

[mortal_son]

well. shit.

I'm writing this in hiragana mostly because my kanji is kinda shit. but that's not what you're seeing at all. and I didn't hear you speaking english earlier.

weird

[ectoherbology]

Hiragana? Is that one of the far eastern languages? I hadn't had a chance to study much of the far east in tutoring.

[mortal_son]

yeah sorry. it's a way to write japanese. I guess english doesn't have more than one way of writing stuff? if I remember right?

guess this is more dream magic at work

[ectoherbology]

I see. There's only print english and cursive english. But cursive is a form of calligraphy stylizing the letters.

[mortal_son]

got it. didn't get so far to even hear about cursive. kinda dropped out of school.

if you ever get back to anything normal again, don't do that. stay in school, it's dumb but it's worth it.

[ectoherbology]

I always liked school. But I'll tell Abigail you said so. She never liked it.

[mortal_son]

glad you're enjoying it. for some people - maybe your sister's one of them - it kind of feels like a pointless hoop to jump through.

but that's life in general. some things you simply do to prove to people you're making an effort. it's less what you're doing, and more the fact you showed you bothered at all. and society doesn't want to waste time on people who don't bother.

[ectoherbology]

There are a lot of things that society doesn't have much patience for; it rarely matters what you're doing or not doing. That is just how adults can be.

[mortal_son]

right on the money

still, it's good you like school - it'll make things easier down the road

[ectoherbology]

Studying and reading has always been interesting. I like learning about plant life and insects. Tiny ecosystems are strange and fascinating.

I haven't had the chance to read about those for a while, though. I've been busy experimenting and studying what I am dubbing ectoherbology.

[mortal_son]

never read much about them myself.

what's 'ech-' ... 'eto-' ...

[ One moment while he copies those characters slowly, carefully, as he writes them down; ]

ectoherbology ?