text;

[bearshermark]

In the vision I had, there was a giant, floating tree called Yggdrasil. Someone in it said its leaves were responsible for death and rebirth or something. So I looked it up, and it's something from a myth.

I can't stop thinking about it.

A past life. Other worlds. Is the Bureau saying that reincarnation is real?

I'm so confused. I don't know what to tell my mom. She's going to think I'm crazy.

Advice would be great, if anyone has any.

Sorry for the trouble.

Comments

text;

[traceofeffort]

They sure seem to think so. I'm not sold yet, but I guess we'll have to find out. As for telling other people... I have't figured out what to say either. I had to hide it from Mama and that's killing me slowly. Mama might think I'M crazy too, and I couldn't handle that. Sorry, I'm not much help either, but... maybe we can come up with something together? Two heads are better than one and such?

[darkforcerising]

There are so many possibilities, right?

Reincarnated lives.

Glitches in the simulation.

Massive unethical science experiment.

text;

[bearshermark]

Yeah. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about all this, too.

I'm going to start doing some research at the library. It's the only place I can think to start, but I'm open to suggestions.

[bearshermark]

I think I'd prefer reincarnation over those other two.


God, how is this our lives now? I just wanted to pass my classes and get into college.

[darkforcerising]

If it's a glitch in the simulation, maybe it will be fixed with the next patch?

[bearshermark]

Just thinking about it that way is unsettling.

Re: text;

[traceofeffort]

It's not a bad place to start, and it's not like we can ask for help. If we tried to explain they'd probably call the cops. And I don't want to think about there being a library set aside for us or something.

Hey, uh, if I can help, I'm here for you. Maybe we can get more done if we work together or something?

[temptationaccomplished]

Yggdrasil isn't just "something from a myth." It is absolutely central to Norse cosmology. It is said to connect the Nine Worlds. Which, admittedly, seems to be an intriguing concept in light of recent events.

As for your mother, might I suggest you tell her the truth, and if permitted, bring her to a support group meeting. The Bureau should really address this with parents directly.

[bearshermark]

I really don't want to worry my mom, but I'm not good at lying. I think I'll have to, when she gets back from her work trip. Maybe by then I'll have come up with a good way to explain it.

But I'll have to do more research on Yggdrasil, I guess. It's hard to believe, but it was just there, floating in the sky and radiating light. There's definitely nothing like that on Earth. But if there are myths about it here.. what are the odds of that?

Nine worlds is a lot to think about.

[bearshermark]

Yeah, that might be good. I guess there's a lot to this Yggdrasil after all. It sounds kind of interesting, but it'll be tough to study it, reincarnation, and do my schoolwork too. I'd appreciate your help.

My name's Elliott, by the way.

[temptationaccomplished]

I think you shouldn't lie to your mother if you don't want to. Perhaps an explanation will present itself in time.

The odds of overlap? I don't know; there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy, my young Horatio. Who is to say, however, that this is a modern anomaly, what is happening to us. The Bureau obviously predates us. This condition may predate their creation and Yggdrasil may well have been introduced to this world's mythology through the influence of an early Different.

Or perhaps it's all ineffable, something not to be spoken of.

Even one more world is certainly a lot to contemplate.

[darkforcerising]

Why's that?

If it gets fixed, will we remember this?

[bearshermark]

That doesn't make it fine now.

[darkforcerising]

Huh. mIf something doesn't matter in the future, does matter now even matter?

[bearshermark]

It matters to me right now.

mIf?

[bearshermark]

But that myth is pretty old, right? That would mean the Different have been around for a really, really long time.

Who's Horatio?

[darkforcerising]

mIf = typo = If

Okay, so what can you do about it?

[bearshermark]

[excellent, instead of learning some Hip Internet Lingo, El gets to feel like an idiot]

Freak out a little more, I guess.

[darkforcerising]

Okay, what is 'freaking out a little more' mean to you?

[bearshermark]

Breathing exercises and Youtube videos.

[darkforcerising]

Okay - tell me five things you can see around you right now.

[bearshermark]

What, why?

[darkforcerising]

Identify five true things you can see around you, say them out loud and take a deep breath between each item.

It's about identifying your reality.

[bearshermark]

Okay. Uh.

Bookshelf. Table. TV. A painting. My mom's bamboo plant.

Is that a- like a therapy thing?

[darkforcerising]

Yes. And there's more to it. You go through each of your primary senses.

5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste

You can change it up for whatever senses work best in what order.

Or you can switch them out with just five true facts about yourself.

My name is Anakin Skywalker. I live in New York City. I have a prosthetic right arm. My front door is bright yellow. My birthday is August 3rd.

See?