selfhelp | [voice/written/action]

Hey, ah... Vision - I mean, Jonas - of the Young Avengers got sent home. Sorry, if you knew him.

[Why is he always full of bad news? Ugh... let’s try to be less depressing for a while.]

There’s something else I wanted to talk about today: since I got here almost a year ago I’ve noticed how there’s this huge range of cultural norms across the multiverse- which makes sense, different worlds have different standards, I get it. People who are accepted in one world aren’t tolerated in another. Luceti’s kind of an anomaly, where there’s really not much, if any prejudice. I mean, there’s the whole Malnosso versus Us mentality, but that’s because of what they do, not what they are. Basically what I’m saying is that I think that’s great, and I want to do my part to keep encouraging that universal acceptance here for the people who might not be able to get it back where they come from, open up discussions to people who might not be sure about who or what they are, um...

Okay, this is a really roundabout way of saying I want to start an LGBT club. If you don’t know what that means, here’s a breakdown:

[Below is a jotted list-

L = Lesbian = girls attracted to girls
G = Gay = guys attracted to guys
B = Bisexual = guys and girls attracted to BOTH guys and girls
T = Transgender = People who feel like they were born in the body of the wrong gender (or genderfluid)
*Q = Questioning = Anyone not sure about the above or if they apply

And then it returns to voice.]

Those are really oversimplified, and there's still a lot of other words people use to define themselves, but you get the gist of it. I’d really like to meet up with anyone who matches any those descriptions, or feels like they might, or are just curious about it. I’m gonna put up some posters with suggested meeting times and places, but if you have any questions or just want to talk about it, you can use the journal (it’s okay to be anonymous!) or come right to the school. I’ve got a table set up and I’ll be here pretty much all day. I don't know if this is going to go anywhere, but it's worth a shot, right?

One last thing- we’re looking to make this a safe place, so if you plan to come just to make fun of people: we have a Hulk.

[And true to his word, Billy will be at the school, curled up in a chair at a plain table littered with papers. He’s designing posters and doodling various symbols to use for logos. Come bother him if you like?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's not sure if this is a discussion where he can necessarily come out on top- it seems very much an agree-to-disagree situation. This guy's got way more bitterness than he does, and from the sound of his world or time, it's for good reason. Billy just hopes he never becomes that disillusioned with... well, everything, it seems.]

It's been this long, and we're still standing. Whatever you say, I think that still counts for a lot.

[Giggling teasingly, he answers:]

When you say it like that, you make it seem as if you expect to wake each morning to the utter obliteration of your species, only to be pleasantly surprised that your inevitable fate has not befallen you quite yet. [There is the sound of gentle applause.] Bravo for having lingered another day.

[No, he's not quite finished.]

So... when and where, exactly, would you be from? If I am not so bold as to inquire, that is.

[Are you mocking him bro because it sounds like you're mocking him bro

You have nooooo idea how accurate half of that was.]

Well... I'm from one of the many, many Earths that apparently exist. For me it's the year 2011, and shockingly we live through enough alien invasions and world domination plots that it really is impressive that we're still around. So yeah. That's a thing.

[Over five centuries after his time, he muses. It's hard to fully appreciate such a long span of time.]

I did not think it possible... but 'twould seem you have made foes in greater numbers and have brought far more agony and destruction upon yourselves, the wretches that you are. [He snorts softly.]

...Why are you so critical of people? You're all smiles but there's nothing good about what you have to say.

[It's downright depressing.]

The truth is rarely kind, my dear boy.

The truth according to you, maybe.

...Are you sure?

Sure as hell it isn't the truth according to me, yeah.

Well -- [He heaves a sigh.] -- we cannot all delude ourselves into thinking the world to be a charming place where we link hands and blithely prance about in the sunlight, and where all is well so long as one hopes hard enough.

Edited (slight tweak of wording) 2013-05-17 03:25 (UTC)

It's not like I think we're all good and perfect. But we're not all bad, either. It's cliche, but the world isn't just black and white like that.

[If there were only evil men and women in the world, he knows would have been left to die as a newborn child. He would have never had a kindly sister, nor found a friend in Hector whom he had lost.]

What good and what beauty there is is few and far between. It does not last.

Like I said- that's where we disagree. The state of the world might change how much of it is there, but I think there's always good in the world somewhere.

Is there anything more you would have me hear, that my dear little heart might weep and know hope once more? ...Or will that be all?

I'm smart enough to recognize disinterest when I see it. Way I figure, the only way to convince people like you is to be the good I'm talking about.

[He laughs and it's a sharp, hollow sound.]

Then you should be bright enough to realize that there is no convincing a man the likes of myself whom has seen darkness and corruption in the hearts of those claiming to do good. What true kindness he may be shown... 'tis far too little too late. Think on it as you embark on your glorious quest.

[The subject matter has left him worn, wearied, and lacking the patience to await the other's response. He suspects he already knows what it will be and shuts his journal, refusing to give Billy the satisfaction of saying it.]

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