Mizuki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mooninthewater) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sticksandbones2025-03-01 06:02 pm
mooninthewater) wrote in sticksandbones2025-03-01 06:02 pm
[ With the brand mostly gone, and Mizuki free from the confines of the big tree that showed up, things are finally starting to show some normalcy. The sea jelly in question takes some time before he goes around and gives out an apology. He is not tired - he'd had a whole month to "rest" after all - but he does have quite a lot to think about now. Whether or not his tumultuous sea of thoughts where it's gracious to say half of them are his own will allow him properly reflect on is its own issue. At least Mizuki is used to it.
For the first few days, he'll be found at the small shrine he made a small distance from the forest's edge. In it is covered in names of people lost to the forest, or otherwise missing. Some names might look familiar, some might not. Mizuki's been here for almost two years at this point, so perhaps it's not all that surprising he's seen so many come and go.
You'll catch him adding a little wooden plaque onto it with a new 'name'.
"Beiwe's Brother". ]
For the first few days, he'll be found at the small shrine he made a small distance from the forest's edge. In it is covered in names of people lost to the forest, or otherwise missing. Some names might look familiar, some might not. Mizuki's been here for almost two years at this point, so perhaps it's not all that surprising he's seen so many come and go.
You'll catch him adding a little wooden plaque onto it with a new 'name'.
"Beiwe's Brother". ]
Back on that philosophical BS (mix and match as you'd like)
mooninthewater
2025-03-03 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Surely being trapped with one's dead god for a month and dealing with an immense amount of grief would make someone just a little aware of the things they've done and are doing. Maybe change themselves at least a little? You know........... maybe stop being a weird freak obsessed with how people think??
...No? Okay, cool.
Mizuki is still himself - for the most part. The only physical change he seems to have is the fact his sclera are no longer white, but black, and he has oddly moon-like eyes. The sea jelly himself is still the same freak, though. Quiet until he's at your side... then grabbing your hand even if you're unfamiliar with him wholly.
He still cannot speak, but for what words he cannot speak, he signs, and accompanies it with a voice in your head that at least mostly conveys what he's trying to say. ]
Hi! Are you busy? [ He's not going to let you answer, he just excitedly leans into your arm. You're certain if this were a cartoon, he'd have sparkles around him with how delighted he seems. ]
a. What would you consider "free will" to be, really? Do you have it? Why??
b. What would you consider the responsibility of an individual in a community?
c. Do you think the gods have to think to love their creations or followers, or does it come naturally? Are we created to love them, too?
d. What constitutes the relationship between order and chaos?
e. Do you think it's sadness that nurtures happiness?
f. Is there an absolute to morality? Can anyone truly know what's "right" all the time?
g. Do ends justify means, or do you think that a horrid act will receive a horrid consequence, regardless of the cause?
...No? Okay, cool.
Mizuki is still himself - for the most part. The only physical change he seems to have is the fact his sclera are no longer white, but black, and he has oddly moon-like eyes. The sea jelly himself is still the same freak, though. Quiet until he's at your side... then grabbing your hand even if you're unfamiliar with him wholly.
He still cannot speak, but for what words he cannot speak, he signs, and accompanies it with a voice in your head that at least mostly conveys what he's trying to say. ]
Hi! Are you busy? [ He's not going to let you answer, he just excitedly leans into your arm. You're certain if this were a cartoon, he'd have sparkles around him with how delighted he seems. ]
a. What would you consider "free will" to be, really? Do you have it? Why??
b. What would you consider the responsibility of an individual in a community?
c. Do you think the gods have to think to love their creations or followers, or does it come naturally? Are we created to love them, too?
d. What constitutes the relationship between order and chaos?
e. Do you think it's sadness that nurtures happiness?
f. Is there an absolute to morality? Can anyone truly know what's "right" all the time?
g. Do ends justify means, or do you think that a horrid act will receive a horrid consequence, regardless of the cause?
[They've been working on the whole touch thing (thank you peepaw), but the sudden grab still makes them jump. They stare back in frozen shock for a couple seconds before processing what is going on.
...
Hmm, nope! This still feels very random.]
Is there a reason why you're asking me? You could ask one of the goddesses here directly, you know.
...
Hmm, nope! This still feels very random.]
Is there a reason why you're asking me? You could ask one of the goddesses here directly, you know.
Oh, I know I could. But I don't necessarily want the answer outright. Rather, I want to know what people think about it. What goes through their minds and the thoughts on the gods to begin with. Those sort of thoughts and ideas fascinate me.
[ It's always going to feel random, unfortunately! But when Mizuki has the itch to go asking stuff to poke around in people's heads and see how they think, he's gotta scratch it! Imagine, an itch left unscratched. Truly miserable. ]
[ It's always going to feel random, unfortunately! But when Mizuki has the itch to go asking stuff to poke around in people's heads and see how they think, he's gotta scratch it! Imagine, an itch left unscratched. Truly miserable. ]
[They make a face. This question feels very targeted... but also, he wouldn't know that about them, so maybe it's just a coincidence. Still...
Loop sighs after a moment, looking away. Not bothering with their usual front for this one, their distaste for the topic is plainly evident.]
Sure, fine. What do gods think of their followers...
Some of them have favourites, I guess? Whether that's love or something else, I wouldn't know. The god I follow isn't like that.
Its creations don't have to love It, either. [speaking from personal experience,]
Loop sighs after a moment, looking away. Not bothering with their usual front for this one, their distaste for the topic is plainly evident.]
Sure, fine. What do gods think of their followers...
Some of them have favourites, I guess? Whether that's love or something else, I wouldn't know. The god I follow isn't like that.
Its creations don't have to love It, either. [speaking from personal experience,]
[It's not that Min-Gi minds being touched. It's more the fact he's never met Mizuki in his life and he's already way up in his personal space. Even weirder, it's like his voice is inside his head. Min's not sure he likes that.
He goes tense, the words not even properly registering immediately so Mizuki gets a delayed response.]
Free will means you can make your own choices. Of course I have it. Everyone does.
[Not entirely true. Min himself had to work himself up to making the choices he wanted to make, but he's freaking out a bit. Is he trying to imply he doesn't have free will??]
He goes tense, the words not even properly registering immediately so Mizuki gets a delayed response.]
Free will means you can make your own choices. Of course I have it. Everyone does.
[Not entirely true. Min himself had to work himself up to making the choices he wanted to make, but he's freaking out a bit. Is he trying to imply he doesn't have free will??]
[Soooo Till has not been here long enough to be okay with ANY sort of unprompted physical contact (A.B.A does not count, she literally bodyslammed him and threw him into the Inn), so when he feels somethingone leaning against him, he will recoil immediately like ????
Oh, god. The voice directly in his head, he hates that. There is a non-zero chance there are a lot of Aliens back "home" that can also do that, and he hates it every single time. Who is this lost child-]
What are you asking me for??
[He hates philosophical shit. He hates thinking about it. He's heard it all before, from their captors, from the other kids, even from the other adults. He doesn't want to think about gods, because if they exist they sure left them a long time ago.]
Oh, god. The voice directly in his head, he hates that. There is a non-zero chance there are a lot of Aliens back "home" that can also do that, and he hates it every single time. Who is this lost child-]
What are you asking me for??
[He hates philosophical shit. He hates thinking about it. He's heard it all before, from their captors, from the other kids, even from the other adults. He doesn't want to think about gods, because if they exist they sure left them a long time ago.]
You specifically, or why I'm asking in general? [ The emphasis on "me" should've been enough to answer that question, but Mizuki isn't good at picking up on tone, so... ] In general, because I would like a little perspective on it. You, because I think it's a pretty good question to get to know someone. How they think, what they ponder on, what their life was like. Little questions like this can give a lot of insight, y'know?
[Yeaaaah Till hears the words "what their life was like" and immediately starts trying to just
walk away, like a rude asshole.]
No thanks.
walk away, like a rude asshole.]
No thanks.
I guess there could be more options? But for this thought experiment, I believe you have to be willing to ponder things like this. There's this game I play that explores stuff like this, and it gets me to thinking about it a lot. It challenges you to think about the fluidity and identity of a person, and how the relationship between one's body and perceived self is a very delicate balance. You cannot change one without affecting the whole. And goes further from there and has the player question that if these changes stem from an horrible act, and you commit a horrible act in turn, should you also be met with a horrible act? Does the cycle just continue? "You", the player, are the perceived hero in this story. But the game challenges you to recognize your acts as violent acts, regardless of your reasoning or morality.
It's very interesting, and I'd like to get to know other people's perspective on the matter!
It's very interesting, and I'd like to get to know other people's perspective on the matter!
[ Bad news, Till, he's get your hand in a death grip!!!! (Not actually.) (He is still holding onto it, though.) (He has soft hands :)!) ]
You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. I have other questions I could ask, if that one is making you uncomfortable?
You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. I have other questions I could ask, if that one is making you uncomfortable?
Hehe, I don't!!
[ This is also not entirely true. In fact, he's got enough free will that he very pointedly is able to ignore the eldritch thoughts of actual gods - but, y'know, he thinks he doesn't have any. It's fine, he's good.
He gives Min-Gi's hand a little shake. ]
I'm Mizuki, by the way. If you would rather me just sign, let me know. I know a lot of people don't know sign language, though. Anyway, about your answer, is that the whole thing, or do you think there's a bit more elaboration there?
[ This is also not entirely true. In fact, he's got enough free will that he very pointedly is able to ignore the eldritch thoughts of actual gods - but, y'know, he thinks he doesn't have any. It's fine, he's good.
He gives Min-Gi's hand a little shake. ]
I'm Mizuki, by the way. If you would rather me just sign, let me know. I know a lot of people don't know sign language, though. Anyway, about your answer, is that the whole thing, or do you think there's a bit more elaboration there?
[Why are you holding his hand so tightly, how does he get you off, where did you even COME from-]
Yeah, I don't wanna talk about that.
[He doesn't want to talk about anything, actually, which is why he is trying to leave.]
Yeah, I don't wanna talk about that.
[He doesn't want to talk about anything, actually, which is why he is trying to leave.]
Hm... I see. [ He can tell Loop has a bad relationship there. Ho hum. Should he bring that up...? ] In your experience... what do you think a god "is", really?
Okay! I can ask something else. I guess... what's your name? I'm Mizuki! I'm a sea jelly!
[He hasn't really been volunteering his name much yet, but...he still hasn't found a suitable Thing to cover his neck with, so. It's not like Mizuki can't see it, if he looks hard enough.]
...Till.
[Then, after a pause:]
What's a "sea jelly"?
...Till.
[Then, after a pause:]
What's a "sea jelly"?
[ They can be self-conscious-about-necks buddies. :)
Mizuki teeters for a moment, trying to think of how best to describe a sea jelly. What's with all these people and not knowing what sea creatures are...?? ]
It's not easy to explain. They're ocean animals, mostly. But for me, I just have the traits of one. Like I can camouflage, breathe underwater, and I have tentacles, which sea jelly have or can do. But then all the other parts of me are human.
[ He does little jazz hands with his free hand. ]
It's nice to meet you, Till. I don't mean for this to come off as rude, but... are you usually so guarded?
Mizuki teeters for a moment, trying to think of how best to describe a sea jelly. What's with all these people and not knowing what sea creatures are...?? ]
It's not easy to explain. They're ocean animals, mostly. But for me, I just have the traits of one. Like I can camouflage, breathe underwater, and I have tentacles, which sea jelly have or can do. But then all the other parts of me are human.
[ He does little jazz hands with his free hand. ]
It's nice to meet you, Till. I don't mean for this to come off as rude, but... are you usually so guarded?
["Complicated" would be more accurate. They hold no love for the Universe these days, but it's not like that's ever gotten in the way of their faith.
The second round of questions is a bit easier. They shrug, speaking confidently.]
A god is something powerful and omniscient. They act in different ways and have their own priorities, but even the laziest of gods are still powerful.
For example! The people of Vaugarde worship the Change God. An ever-shifting being that encourages freedom and Change in all forms... but even their own followers call them lazy~ They don't really do anything, but they're still more powerful than any human, and they know all sorts of things beyond mortal comprehension.
The second round of questions is a bit easier. They shrug, speaking confidently.]
A god is something powerful and omniscient. They act in different ways and have their own priorities, but even the laziest of gods are still powerful.
For example! The people of Vaugarde worship the Change God. An ever-shifting being that encourages freedom and Change in all forms... but even their own followers call them lazy~ They don't really do anything, but they're still more powerful than any human, and they know all sorts of things beyond mortal comprehension.
“Lazy”… How is that? Do you think Gods have duties they are bound to? Or do you think they are more like concepts — embodiment of a thing? If that’s the case, how are we sure they understand concepts like lazy or love?
If they are powerful and omniscient, does that make them better than people? If humanity strives towards perfection, is it striving to godhood??? How omniscient can a god truly be?
If they are powerful and omniscient, does that make them better than people? If humanity strives towards perfection, is it striving to godhood??? How omniscient can a god truly be?
Experiment! It's a science to explore the psyche. So experiment is fitting here.
[ Hm... Fern seems tense. Did he say something wrong...? ]
I don't think it's junk. I think it's fun to think about stuff like that and learn from other people what they think is the answer.
[ Hm... Fern seems tense. Did he say something wrong...? ]
I don't think it's junk. I think it's fun to think about stuff like that and learn from other people what they think is the answer.
[ Oh. Yes, he absolutely said something that was making him tense. Mizuki doesn’t seem apologetic in the slightest, either, but not in a malicious way. Rather, he’s excited. About the psychology of it or just because he’s looking forward to another patient… both, really.
He swings their hands together in some sort of hope to anchor him a little. ]
Did you do something bad…? Related to this?? Oh, that’s such a coincidence then! And even better to talk about!!! Would you like to tell me about it? What is “bad” about what you did? What do you perceive as bad?
He swings their hands together in some sort of hope to anchor him a little. ]
Did you do something bad…? Related to this?? Oh, that’s such a coincidence then! And even better to talk about!!! Would you like to tell me about it? What is “bad” about what you did? What do you perceive as bad?
It varies? They're more like concepts, I guess, but I don't know why you'd follow a god that doesn't have anything to offer. Some of them definitely claim to understand love and all that, but I wouldn't know how much of that is true. [their only experience with the Change God is a secondhand account, and the Universe...
What about the Universe? Does it care at all? They stare blankly, straining to draw out an answer.]
... I don't think it's the same as love. It's like... they represent something, or embody something, and when people can exist within that something...
The Change God likes its followers, because they try to embody Change too? And the Universe is everything, so It has to consider everyone equally... you can ask It for things if you know how, but It doesn't see solutions on the same scale as people do. That's why you're not supposed to ask for too much.
[...
In a weird way, that does make them feel a little better about it. The Universe doesn't hate them... probably. They're the one who should've been more careful.]
... Well, anyway. Gods are more powerful than me, so they can probably see everything all the time? Maybe that varies too, I don't know.
What about the Universe? Does it care at all? They stare blankly, straining to draw out an answer.]
... I don't think it's the same as love. It's like... they represent something, or embody something, and when people can exist within that something...
The Change God likes its followers, because they try to embody Change too? And the Universe is everything, so It has to consider everyone equally... you can ask It for things if you know how, but It doesn't see solutions on the same scale as people do. That's why you're not supposed to ask for too much.
[...
In a weird way, that does make them feel a little better about it. The Universe doesn't hate them... probably. They're the one who should've been more careful.]
... Well, anyway. Gods are more powerful than me, so they can probably see everything all the time? Maybe that varies too, I don't know.
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