[A6I2] ==>
3X4CTLY HOW LONG H4V3 YOU 4LL B33N L1V1NG 1N DR34M BUBBL3S? OR 1 M34N... NOT L1V1NG It has 8een a very long time. So long, time has 8een stripped of the meaning it never really had in the first place. It doesn't really pass in the same way it does when you're alive. Concepts like "now" and "how long" are figures of speech used to make communication simpler. I've quit trying to give expression to the elusive temporal properties of this place. It's easier staying conversational. 8ut I will say that 8eing here "for so long" lends itself to a certain detachment from what you see. Otherwise, monitoring the atrocities stemming from our failure wouldn't 8e much fun. DO YOU M1SS YOUR WORLD 4S MUCH 4S 1 DO? Yes, sometimes. 8ut missing it usually invites memories of home to serve as the stage. Not that it's a su8stitute for the previous reality. 8ut the reminders of home are everywhere. WH4T 4BOUT YOUR FR13NDS? 1 GU3SS YOU ST1LL G3T TO H4NG OUT W1TH TH3M 4LL? Yes. I see them often enough. Except for one, whom I haven't seen at all since 8efore we all died. In fact, she's the only reason we are here in the first place, as opposed to merely ceasing to exist upon the scratch. In life, she was the only one I would have called a close friend, in a way. The thing is, no8ody liked her much either. We had that in common. ::::) WOW, 1TS B33N TH4T LONG S1NC3 YOU S4W H3R? Remem8er how I said the gods could keep you dancing around someone you're looking for indefinitely? Y34H BUT... B1LL1ONS OF SW33PS?? Well, "8illions," yes. In a manner of speaking. 1S SH3 BY 4NY CH4NC3 TH3 TROUBL3M4K3R YOU W3R3 T4LK1NG 4BOUT? That's right. In fact, we are on our way to visit her now. OH SO TH4TS WH3R3 TH1S BR4NCH 1S T4K1NG US! Notice the moon up there? And not the larger green interloper. That one never 8elonged to my world. It is your memory, not mine. Y34H TH3 CUT3 L1TTL3 BUBBL3GUM MOONS! TH4TS WH3R3 SH3 1S? It's the setting of the memory she entered. From her perspective, she has just arrived here. Your friends should 8e joining us too, 8efore your meteor clears the 8u88le. May8e together we can 8ring the Thief of Life up to speed.
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