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[thirtybits]

"This is Judah's voicemail, no need to leave your number, I'll reply as soon as I can."



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[depicted]

One of us has to. And I'm better at having fun anyway. You can stay treasurer. [This is totally legit, yes.]

[thirtybits]

You can't tell me mathematics aren't enjoyable. Maybe not a conventional sort of 'fun', but...it's interesting, at the very least.

[depicted]

I love mathematics. [He sighs fondly.] There is a music in numbers.

[Flatly] And none in austerity.

[thirtybits]

Heh, well, I'm sure you know how I feel about taxation and all that.

[depicted]

I have an intuition. [He nudges Judas with a toe.] Feed the poor and rob the rich? You may as well be one of Robin Hood's.

[thirtybits]

I wouldn't rob anyone! But it makes sense that those who earn more and use more resources should pay higher taxes! The poor shouldn't be punished for being poor. That only perpetuates it.

i didn't want to write this tag

[depicted]

Wouldn't argue that part of it. But the economy is too global, and wealthy people like to keep their money. Too heavy taxation, and you send all the wealth out of your country.

Dorian Gray has Bad views

[thirtybits]

Well, of course, but it should be the same way for every country. For anything to work, it really has to be the same everywhere nowadays.

[depicted]

[Dorian grins.] That explains why self-interest has won the day.

[thirtybits]

Unfortunately, yes. But really it's always been that way, so, what else is new. [Judas shrugs. Not because he doesn't care, of course, but because it really isn't any news to him.]

[depicted]

It must've been easier, though. [Dorian draws his legs up so that he can rest them on Judas and lean back against the curve of a branch.] Not in my day, I mean, we were already well on our way then. But it must have been easier, a long time ago, to get one scrap of goodness—to make one place, if only that one, better.

[thirtybits]

[He takes a sip of his wine, along with another bite of food.] In theory, yes. But without the benefit of concepts like democracy, instituting change was just as much of a battle. Even if it was only within one place. Nothing really changed with Judea, after all.

[depicted]

Nothing ever does. [He may have drank a bit more wine in that sip than necessary. As he speaks, he only slumps more, as if all will to sustain himself fades with every word.] You get so tired of it—the same wars, the same struggles, the same arguments, over and over and over and over. This world is about as good as changing its ways as I am. Possibly worse. It's exhausting.

[thirtybits]

You're telling me. That's why I have to believe someday things won't be that way. Otherwise it's just too hopeless to live.

[depicted]

[a pause

followed by a slight smile]

You and I a little past that point.

[thirtybits]

[A grin tugs at his lips.] Well, you know what I mean.

[depicted]

You should just cut out of it all. Stop caring. You've already tendered your resignation from life, right? Then it isn't your problem, not anymore. You don't have to worry about it.

[He is definitely provoking Judas for fun.]

[thirtybits]

What? How could I ever do something like that! I admit back home I haven't really done anything, but it's hard to do that anymore, especially as one lone person! But I make sure we save enough to donate to charity, at least. And I definitely can't help watching or reading the news!

[depicted]

[He donates money to charity?? when he has none??? It's horrifying.]

What point is there in being informed if you don't do anything with it? Knowledge of evil without the power to change it is an exercise in self-laceration.

Oh, I see the point now.

[thirtybits]

[He's about to protest, but then the second half of the comment comes. And really, what can he say to that? It sort of is half the point.] ...Well, a bit...

[depicted]

[Dorian considers it thoughtfully as he consumes more wine.] Then as a friend, I'll offer you another way for you to torture yourself over it: you're using the misery and misfortune of others as a way to satisfy your own need for pain. Very self-centred, Judah.

[thirtybits]

[Judas says nothing. How can he? It hits him hard. Is that what he's doing? Is he self-centred? How could he abuse the problems of the world for his own satisfaction? That's awful. He's awful. The absolute worst. He doesn't even breathe, eyes wide, suddenly very still.]

[depicted]

You're welcome. [Dorian eats the last apricot.]

[thirtybits]

...D-do you really think so? I mean...it doesn't make me happy...

[...Except it sort of does, in its way. In that he loves to suffer and feel terrible about himself.]

[depicted]

You and your news broadcasts are like me and my picture. We look at them and make ourselves miserable because we must. It's how we know what we are.