[And he nods. Of course, the soul thing—which she likely has no idea he even knows about, still. That would change the nature of religion irrevocably, wouldn't it? But how?
And then he gets to her last message.]
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org You know a ghost? Really? You've seen one?
Oh yes! They're everywhere back home. Well, maybe not everywhere, but there are quite a few. Everyone can see and interact with them, when they want to be seen.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Some are more like pests, but quite a few are helpful in one way or another. My friend Mortimer haunts a lighthouse. He's quite grumpy and serious, but I trust him whole-heartedly.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Actually you remind me a bit of him. In a good way, of course.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Yes, I think I'm alright. Everything turned out for the best, didn't it? Rapunzel and them took care of the dragon and I wasn't punished for anything.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org I can't allow myself to stay down. It's not like I have very many people looking to me for confidence or anything, but I feel like if people saw me depressed it might lower morale of some kind!
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Though that sounds a little presumptuous as well.
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org I don't know. Someone like you, I'd expect you to draw attention wherever you go.
[Then again, he remembers how still and drained she'd seemed after the dragon, as if all the life had gone out of her. And then she'd been in stasis. He'd worried.]
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org They killed the dragon?
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Thank you! I feel like people expect me to be optimistic, so I can't let them down. Not that I'm not optimistic all the time anyhow, but you know what I mean.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org As far as I know, yes! I think I was in stasis shortly before, but from what I know, yes it's gone. One less thing for everyone to worry about! I wish it could have gone another way, though. Taming it, maybe.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org I know, but wouldn't it have been fun?
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Outdoor Winnie! Do I have doppelgangers now? But no, I suppose you're right. Secret is out, even I can't be happy and optimistic all the time
[Then again, Simon knows that already too.]
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org I don't like being sad. I can't think of anyone who does, so sometimes it's good to fake it until even you start to believe it.
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org Maybe. And fun, yes, but maybe a little dishonest. And unfair.
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org What happened to Princess Whatchamacallit while you were in stasis, anyway? I didn't see her around after the first few days.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org Princess FLuffybottom! :( I don't know what happened to him. We were taking care of him up until I went into stasis. I like to think he escaped before everything happened and is somewhere safe and happy.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org It's a little late to pick up another madu, but I hope I can find another pet on the next planet. Paon seemed to like him a lot!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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And then he gets to her last message.]
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org
You know a ghost? Really? You've seen one?
[Well, he knows dead people too. But at home..?]
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Oh yes! They're everywhere back home. Well, maybe not everywhere, but there are quite a few. Everyone can see and interact with them, when they want to be seen.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
Some are more like pests, but quite a few are helpful in one way or another. My friend Mortimer haunts a lighthouse. He's quite grumpy and serious, but I trust him whole-heartedly.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
Actually you remind me a bit of him. In a good way, of course.
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Grumpy and serious, really? That's what you associate with me? I need to work on my image.
Actually, that makes me realise how long it's been since we talked.
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Well you are on the serious side. Comparatively speaking.
I suppose it has been a while. How have you been? I hope you're doing well!
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"Doing well". Let's say that I am. I was in stasis for a while. I think it helped.
I wanted to make sure _you_ were doing well. You seemed so worried before you went in.
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Yes, I think I'm alright. Everything turned out for the best, didn't it? Rapunzel and them took care of the dragon and I wasn't punished for anything.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
I can't allow myself to stay down. It's not like I have very many people looking to me for confidence or anything, but I feel like if people saw me depressed it might lower morale of some kind!
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
Though that sounds a little presumptuous as well.
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I don't know. Someone like you, I'd expect you to draw attention wherever you go.
[Then again, he remembers how still and drained she'd seemed after the dragon, as if all the life had gone out of her. And then she'd been in stasis. He'd worried.]
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org
They killed the dragon?
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Thank you! I feel like people expect me to be optimistic, so I can't let them down. Not that I'm not optimistic all the time anyhow, but you know what I mean.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
As far as I know, yes! I think I was in stasis shortly before, but from what I know, yes it's gone. One less thing for everyone to worry about! I wish it could have gone another way, though. Taming it, maybe.
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It would have been pointless. You know that.
Are you sure you're optimistic all the time? That sounds like outdoor Winnie talking.
[Way to babble nonsense, Simon. Or maybe she'll get it.]
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I know, but wouldn't it have been fun?
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
Outdoor Winnie! Do I have doppelgangers now? But no, I suppose you're right. Secret is out, even I can't be happy and optimistic all the time
[Then again, Simon knows that already too.]
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
I don't like being sad. I can't think of anyone who does, so sometimes it's good to fake it until even you start to believe it.
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Maybe. And fun, yes, but maybe a little dishonest. And unfair.
FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org
What happened to Princess Whatchamacallit while you were in stasis, anyway? I didn't see her around after the first few days.
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Princess FLuffybottom! :( I don't know what happened to him. We were taking care of him up until I went into stasis. I like to think he escaped before everything happened and is somewhere safe and happy.
FROM: prismall.winnifred@cdc.org
It's a little late to pick up another madu, but I hope I can find another pet on the next planet. Paon seemed to like him a lot!
How is your bahari anyway?
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FROM: wilson.simon@cdc.org
She's well! I'm a bit worried about feeding her now, but other than that.
Your madu was a boy? Really? _Really_?
[Omg, Simon.]