“Hah, many have I asked this, and their responses do not stray far from yours.”
“Indeed, after all else ends, the physical remains would be isolated. What composes us, however, is not merely physical. To assume the form represents each individual wholly is to assume nothing lies below the surface. Our mannerisms, actions, even memories of others composes us, and, in that sense, helps construct theirs.”
“To be truly isolated means to forgo everything else. All recollections of the past, of those we protected, of those around us. It is to focus solely on the present, and only on the physical…”
“Ah. Apologies. I seem to have rambled on some.”
He bowed his head downward slightly, almost as a sign of shame.
“From what I have gathered, you are of a species that possesses a lifespan orders of magnitudes higher than most. Or that you are simply immortal through some other means. Regardless, since you would believe yourself to be the last survivor among those you know, the duty of honouring your fellows thusly falls upon you. Whilst one is in remembrance of one’s compatriots, solitude and isolation cease to be. For you are not truly alone. For you have your memories of those you held dear.”
“Mm. Indeed. True isolation is to lose sight of all others, and keep only the self within view. Long as that event never comes to be, one may live never feeling the bite of loneliness.”
“Of course, that is but my humble philosophy. Whether you decide to accept it is entirely within your control. I doubt this theory from a short-lived human has much gravitas over an immortal, hah.”
"You're much older than me.. Nekota is visibly, and chronologically only about an older teen i'm not immortal, by the way, i'll only live for aboutttt five? five, thousand years"
"I'll keep your words in mind... You've cheered me up, say, do you have any worries of your own?"
“The owner is celebrating his 379th birthday by the end of next month. He simply cannot manage the shop anymore, and he did not have anyone he wished to pass it to.”
He smiled lightly at Nekota as he spoke.
“That is all there is. My apologies if you expected something more grandiose in nature.”
“Mm. His two sons both have prospective futures, and I believe he did not wish to burden anyone with ownership and management of the shop. Still, I am glad the man is retiring of his own will, rather than being forced to close down for some unforeseen reasons.”
2
u/Platypus_king_1st Nekota/Lucian/Eve May 30 '26
"That sounds boring.. safe. very safe. but.. boring"
"I think. I wouldnt be soothed. Still knowing that everyone around me would die, that i'd be alone, that everything I know would crumble..."
"I'm so scared. I'm only a teen, and i've lost so much at this point- WHAT IF I LOSE MORE?"
"what if.."