Questions (Phone)

[ceasetoexist]

[At first, there's just silence over the phone, like someone knocked it over and forgot to put the receiver back up. Finally, after a few moments of this and of fake starts, Pokey finally speaks.]

So, with all the stupid age crap going on, I got a question for you people.

If you could stay one age, forever, would you? Or would you choose to keep aging?

Because, I mean, why wouldn't you want to stay the same age, right? I mean, it's pretty much immortality, and you wouldn't really miss out on anything by not getting older or anything. Really, you'd be doing better then them, right? So yeah.

Sorry, stupid question. Because it's not like anyone WOULDN'T take immortality when given the option. Because everyone would choose immortality.

Right?

Comments

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

I agree, there are, but... how do you know about them?

I just don't want to stay a kid while all my friends grow up. It would be too weird. They'd have to go off and do stupid adult things, and they'd forget all about me because we're too different now. I'd miss them. The KND would give me a new team, but they'd grow up too. Eventually you'd just stop caring.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

I just do. [Entirely accidentally, but he knows at least one way.]

Well why bother trusting in people in the first place? I mean, really, all that's going to happen is that they're eventually going to hurt you anyway. The best idea is to form...business relations, I guess. Acquaintances, instead of friends.

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

Ugh, business relationships? Absolutely not. That's an adult's way.

Look, I'm aware that betrayal is commonplace. Back home, the biggest villain of them all would entice teenagers to join him in squashing all of the kids. And many operatives would go to him when they got too old... we eventually developed a policy of pre-empting the betrayals by erasing all operative's memories of us when they turned 13. That was Numbuh 86's job.

But we are at war, for our rights as kids. For the time being, we have to trust each other, or our teamwork will suffer. It's not just about battle. If we can't laugh and do fun things together, then what good is being a kid anyway?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[He's just quiet for a moment.]

People are less suspicious of kids. That's one way to get away with doing things you aren't supposed to. It makes it a lot easier. So there's that reason.

And sometimes you can just enjoy being on your own. That isn't weird.

[A pause. But since you mentioned her....]

In case you haven't seen...I live on the same street as 86.

...I don't think she's coming back.

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

I see... Where I'm from, it didn't really matter if they were suspicious of us or not, because we had enough technology and skills to get out of any bad situation. Everyone knew who we were and if they wanted to fight us so we'd get out of the way of their diabolical schemes to oppress kids, we'd just serve them some humble pie.
[sigh...]

But even as far as Mayfield goes, I'm not sure that's the case. I mean... they keep droning my friends, one by one...

Well, I never got along with Numbuh 86, but she was one of the best. I hate that they got to her.

...

Anyway, I agree that you can enjoy being on your own, but we go through a lot of crazy, sometimes horrifying experiences. If you don't have other people to pick you up, that make you happy just by being around them, I guarantee that your suffering is greater.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

[He laughs at that first part, Numbah One. Not his snide, cold little laughter he usually uses. He actually seems to like that idea.]

Yeah, I heard about that. I'd love to see a place like that, honestly. Your world actually sounds interesting.

....Same here. I mean....all the people I know...that is. They keep droning. I'm getting sick of it.

...86 was the first person I really got to know here. She was pretty much the one that invited me to join. So its just...nevermind.

Trust me. I've been through some crazy and horrifying times of my own. I can handle crazy and horrifying pretty well. And I don't have any....suffering. Not...not really.

1/???

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

[Nigel chuckles too. He's not sure what kind of world Pokey is from, but he's not sure his own is one to be envied. He likes his home way more than Mayfield, but it's STILL infested with supervillains. Then again, Pokey's part of the KND now, so if they all went to KND world together, he'd be certain to have plenty of excitement. It only sucks if you happen to be a victim]

Well, interesting is one word for it, that's for sure. It never got old for me.

2/2 derp sorry

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

[That "nevermind..."]

...You don't regret joining, do you?

[Nigel looks down a bit. He knows that Pokey's been killed twice since signing up. The KND hasn't done much for him in the way of "survival." He couldn't blame him if he did regret it...]

You must have quite a secret to it, if you've really not suffered at all.

LOL no problem

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it.

No. I don't do things I eventually regret.

[And when he does, he just goes ahead and does it anyway since he refuses to admit that he does regret it. But by now? No, he still doesn't regret it. And it's not like he could blame the KND for not helping him. He'll honestly admit them to be his own mistakes this time.]

[He laughs a little. Yeah. He's got a secret way of dealing with it. It's called denial.]

You just get used to it, I guess.

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

That's good. I think 86 is glad you joined, even if she's like that now.

[pause. And? But he doesn't continue...]

That's it? But that's so submissive! I think I could eventually get used to being force fed broccoli, but I would never like it.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

It's not submissive! It's not!

...Besides. I found I work better alone. So I'm at my best when I'm working alone.

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

It is too!

How do you know you're better at working alone?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

Is not!

Because I've tried working with other people before. It just...doesn't work most of the time.

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

Is too!

Because you can't just assume a couple of failed teams, or even a lot, amounts to everyone in the whole world!

I'm not saying that you can mesh well with everyone, but there should at least be a few out there.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

IS NOT TIMES INFINITY!

And what if there aren't?

[numbuh-one.livejournal.com]

To be honest, that sounds extremely unlikely. What are you, scared?

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

I'm not scared!

I'm just....nervous.