7th l o s t s o u l ~ [Voice]

[mmmfilletofsoul]

[The last event left Cheyenne in a weird place and since then, she's been rather scarce around the village. Aside from getting food at one of the village restaurants, she's spent most of her time either in her apartment or in the forests just outside the village. Today, she's actually back to her usual spot: sitting on the edge of one of Luceti's many bridges, looking down at the water.]

[A few hours of this goes by until she finally opens her journal and poses a question to the residents. The very thing that's been on her mind all this time.]

It is not uncommon for others to ask questions using these journals, yes? [A pause. She wasn't really expecting an answer to that.]


...what do you think it means to be a "person"?

Comments

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

To live.

[illusional]

Simply living is enough for one to be considered a person?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a start. Necessary, but perhaps not sufficient.

[illusional]

Unless your definition of a person includes things such as trees and flowers, I would imagine so.

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

Still, I think the will to live is one of the most important parts of a person.

There's no single element that makes a person a person... but instead a collection of different things.

[illusional]

The will to live...

Yes, that does seem to be the case. Although I do wonder if it is possible for a creature to bear some of these traits and still not qualify as a person.

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

A human being can be alive but still be empty on the inside.

I wonder if someone like that still counts as a person, or is something else entirely...

[illusional]

[...]

When you say empty, do you mean that in a literal sense or a figurative one?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

Figurative. A person who lacks the feelings and emotions that they would normally have. Those kinds of things.

[illusional]

And what do you suppose you would call such a creature? One who bears no feelings or emotions. Could they still be considered a person?

Perhaps, even if they are not human?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

No, they would be something less than that. I'm not sure what I'd call such a thing, but they wouldn't be a human at that point.

[illusional]

[She makes a note to come back to this question, but first:]

There are many creatures in Luceti who are not human, but bear the same feelings and emotions as them. Would you consider such a creature to be a person?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

That's an odd question. [she takes a moment to think about it, before shaking her head.] I suppose I can only judge such people on a case to case basis.

Though at the same time... I'm no final authority on the matter, either.

[illusional]

I don't think there could be a final authority on a manner such as this. It seems to vary so greatly between others...

[A pause.]

You seemed far more certain of your previous answer. That a creature bearing no emotions or feelings would not be considered a person?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

More specifically, I wouldn't consider such a creature to be a person.

Lacking essential qualities like that would make you something else entirely. [she pauses, letting out a slight sigh.] A monster, perhaps.

[illusional]

A monster?

[A very slight smile appears on her face.]

That is something I can agree with.

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

Ah... it seems strange to realize this now, but I don't think we've been introduced.

My name is Mami Tomoe. Nice to meet you.

[illusional]

And I am Cheyenne.

Have you been here in Luceti for very long?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

This is actually my first day.

It's been a rather long one, but probably not enough to qualify my stay as very long.

[illusional]

I see. I do hope it hasn't been too challenging adjusting to the village?

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

Not so far, but I'm hardly done adjusting just yet.

[illusional]

Of course. You did just arrive, as you said.

Have others from your world arrived as well? Though there seems to be no pattern to it, it is not that uncommon for some to arrive in groups during New Feather cycles.

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

Two seem to have arrived shortly before me. I don't know if anyone will follow...

[sigh.] It's a bit problematic though. The two already here aren't ones I... get along with very well.

[illusional]

Oh? Is there a reason for it? An enemy, perhaps. [She asks as if such an occurrence isn't all that uncommon.]

[mamiries.livejournal.com]

One is an enemy. And the other is simply a person I can't see eye to eye with.