Viatorus Atlas Durant (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heirtothearcane) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
nexus_crossings2018-10-23 08:05 pm
heirtothearcane) wrote in nexus_crossings2018-10-23 08:05 pm
Ceremonial curiosity
In the past few years the Nexus has become more of a home for Viatorus than his own world, despite its strange and changeable nature. So then perhaps it is not so odd that he finds himself feeling more comfortable here than there, able to talk to strangers with nary a stutter. Mostly. Though whatever nerves remain they're still a far cry from how he was when he first came here. Now he can sit and think, his head clear and undisturbed by the passers by.
He sits and watches the crowd flow through the streets, shuffling the ring on his ring finger in slow circles. For once he's without a book in hand, not even with a tea nearby. In fact, he looks quite composed for someone so easy to fluster. Perhaps it's the distraction of speculation, for he certainly sounds like he's been mulling over this a while.
"Do you think that ceremonies hold power? Do they influence anything or do you think they're purely symbolic? Are they an expression of hope, or a way of channelling power?"
He sits and watches the crowd flow through the streets, shuffling the ring on his ring finger in slow circles. For once he's without a book in hand, not even with a tea nearby. In fact, he looks quite composed for someone so easy to fluster. Perhaps it's the distraction of speculation, for he certainly sounds like he's been mulling over this a while.
"Do you think that ceremonies hold power? Do they influence anything or do you think they're purely symbolic? Are they an expression of hope, or a way of channelling power?"
[[ and poor viatorus is exactly the type of innocent cutie he would want to latch onto! ]]
His own responses come quickly, but he keeps his voice quiet, his tone even. “Would you be willing to do that? Affirm what you knew was a lie until everything about it felt real?” He mirrors Viatorus' curious little head tilt. “Even in the face of all contrary evidence?”
((And Johann is doing an excellent job of keeping off of Isidor's radar. Bravo, Johann!))
"Isn't that the kind of question everyone wishes they could say no to? People want to say they're sensible, logical, and smart enough not to be fooled, even by themselves. But… I think… The right lie? The right dream at the right time?"
His eyes slip away and he nods slowly. After a few seconds, he tilts his head at Johann with a little shrug. "How could anyone resist?"
[[ nothing to see here, isidor ]]
People need a little push. The right lie, the right dream at the right time. Then they wake up.
But of course the dreamwalker only understands dreams.
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More softly he adds, "The human mind is an amazing thing. Willpower, too. It's capable of so much we don't understand."
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“It is a little disturbing to think the truth could be so unpleasant that it is worth constructing elaborate lies in order to keep it out. But even if it is, humans are meant to be happy. I’ve always believed that.” He sounds so quietly hopeful and earnest, practically brimming with conviction about the importance of human happiness.
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He goes quiet for a moment, glancing off to the side to watch some random Nexus passersby. Friends laughing, couples holding hands. So much evidence that people are meant to live happy lives. Or so it seems, at least.
“What do you think happiness is?” His eyes flick back to Viatorus, always interested in hearing his thoughts.
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If Johann didn't seem comfortable with the silence between them Viatorus might have felt the need to babble incoherently. Instead he's content to think silently for a minute or two.
"I had been going to say that happiness is peace, but I don't think my sister would be truly happy if everything was calm and peaceful all the time," he explains, a somewhat sheepish smile accompanying his half shrug. "I think… I think happiness might be… Freedom. The freedom and safety to be yourself."
Content enough with this answer, he nods to himself and then tilts his head at Johann. "What do you think happiness is?"
just pretend it is a dinosaur in this random ass icon of johann hugging an iguana
He rests his chin lightly in his palm, deciding to tell a story about one of the Nexus’ other nameless monsters. It is a good, wholesome tale and Viatorus seems the type to enjoy those.
“I met a dinosaur here a couple months ago,” he begins. “An intelligent one, who communicated by scratching words onto the ground. Yet he had no idea what the word ‘friend’ meant. He didn’t even have a name.”
He pauses, giving Viatorus a chance to react to what may seem like an odd digression.
Awww Of course Johann would like Indo
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The sides of his eyes crinkle with a smile. He is fond of Indo.
“Anyway, I think the Nexus will be a good place for him. I imagine happiness is what will be left once the pain and sadness of his former life fade with time, now that he is free and safe. I actually think you summed it up rather well.”
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"I'm glad you helped him, and that he's in a better place now. I hope, once he's healed, he learns to be happy. Sometimes that's the hardest part."
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People (and dinosaurs) still want to be happy anyway. And so they will be. There is nothing remarkable about it, and it all works out well for the nameless monster, who uses that desperate desire for happiness for his own destructive purposes. That is all happiness is to Johann.
“Well, thank you for the interesting conversation,” he says standing, mindful to keep his presence relatively scarce at this stage. As much as he wouldn’t mind picking more at Viatorus’ brain or even hearing about some boring personal problems. Another time, perhaps.
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