text; morning

[bearshermark]

So I guess this isn't the first time I've been reincarnated.

It's happened to me at least once before, and it seems like it was just as confusing then as it is now.

I wonder how different I am from those previous incarnations.

Comments

[bearshermark]

It's cool to think I might have been that sort of person once. Think I'm good in this life just being myself though.

But yeah, I guess I can ask my mom to help me find some good waterproof stuff.

text;

[traceofeffort]

Yggdrassil, right? I remember us having a conversation like this. New information, then? Or something else?

[bearshermark]

Just that I was a reincarnation already in that past life of mine. Or so my past self's mom told me.

[traceofeffort]

Are we gonna need some kind of incarnation chart? There's you, then there's unknown-number-of-incarnations-back you that you know about now...

Holding up all right? [If at least one of the two of them is, that'll be a victory in her book. Kinda.]

[bearshermark]

I hope not. Just one past incarnation is enough to try to keep track of.

Do you think it's crazy to think that these memories might be real?

[traceofeffort]

If they're NOT real, my subconscious is holding out on me. I don't care if I don't speak Japanese, I could have made it big if I could write like that! So I'm choosing to believe they're real. If that means our lives are super complicated now, well, that's just kinda how it's gonna be, yeah?

[bearshermark]

Japanese? My mom's family was from Japan. That sounds pretty cool.

But yeah, I think it's easy to believe in conspiracy theories- anything is possible, if you put enough thought into it. A part of me hopes that they aren't, you know, because it does sound crazy and it seems like my previous incarnation's life wasn't the nicest, but I can't shake the feeling I have when they happen and it just seems so crazy that it might just be real, after all.

Which really might not make any sense at all.

[traceofeffort]

Oh hey, that does sound cool. Then you'll be on the short list to hear LOUDER when I've unraveled it enough to make it sound decent unplugged and missing three instruments, with Clarence. [She just about said something less wholesome, but she's in a good mood today.]

Those two ideas aren't exclusive, though. They can be real, but it's also not you. Not in the same way that YOU'RE you. If that makes any sense. It sounded better in my head, I think.

[bearshermark]

No yeah, it does. I'll just still experience it, you know? Because it did happen once, before.

Forewarning that I only know a few words of Japanese- mostly the swear words my mom uses sometimes. But I know it's a cool language.

[traceofeffort]

Yeah. It's gonna suck to be in your own shoes for that with a front-row seat. And for what it's worth, I'm here if you need someone to talk to. If they get too bad, I mean.

And hey, it's more Japanese than I knew, going into this. I spent a lot of quality time with Google and a bilingual dictionary. So now I understand more or less what's coming out of my mouth, I just have to make it still sound good.

[bearshermark]

I appreciate that.

But okay, that sounds pretty cool. I'll look forward to it. You said you're working with Clarence?

[traceofeffort]

Well, "working" meaning that he's listened to me flailing at it. I thought I'd be able to just pick up Sayo's guitar part and the vocals, and have a functional song. Turns out whoever wrote that knew what they were doing - it falls apart with only one instrument track.

[bearshermark]

So you were in a really good japanese band in your past life?

[missingache]

Isn't Yggdrasil from Norse mythology? Do they belive in reincarnation?

I'd ask the Bureau about that one.

[bearshermark]

In the sense that Yggdrasil represents the cyclical nature of life and the belief that no life ever truly ends, but instead exists in an unending state of natural transformation.

[Thanks for asking, he's done way too much research not to use it ok]

[traceofeffort]

It's strange - I think I was younger in that memory than I am now, and nobody looked older than me, but yeah, we were pretty good. We had a crowd with penlights, and a stage with properly programmed and timed spotlights, and the whole nine yards.

[bearshermark]

That's really impressive. Is that something you'd want to do in this life?

[traceofeffort]

Well, I kind of do it already - guitar, remember? That's the only reason I tried in the first place. So, then, either I keep going as I am and I accept that stuff just isn't going to sound right without a LOT of work, I try to form a band but I stay on guitar and vocals... or I try and pick up the bass. But then I'd HAVE to find a band. Bass isn't a frontwoman's instrument.

[bearshermark]

Well yeah, but you're in college working on a degree too, right? Is becoming a really famous musician your dream though?

[traceofeffort]

It always was. I've been in Nashville trying to get discovered since I was old enough to drive the couple hours each way. I gave up and came here to go to college because it didn't work. Three years, and nothing to show for it but more callouses and enough tips to pay off my truck. I'm no Reba, but... I told myself I was gonna be somebody someday. If I couldn't get there singing and strumming, I'd make the music for someone else. So... here I am.

[There's a break for a moment; she starts to type, then hesitates. Eventually:] It's why my visions of the other me are so frustrating. She's part of a band, and she's on a rhythm instrument, singing backup vocals. And she looks so happy, and her band is so GOOD, and her music is great. She's got a lot of what I've been searching for.

[missingache]

So... you just get reborn over and over again because of a tree?

[bearshermark]

[This might be text, but he still laughs]

A tree surrounded by nine worlds- one of which is our own.

According to the mythology anyway.

Anakin feels honored

[darkforcerising]

Whoa, hey, what just happened?

[bearshermark]

I have the tattoo

What even

[darkforcerising]

Wow, that's...

Do you think that sucks or is it awesome?