“ yeah… well, tired is better than DEAD; you don’t have to worry about being bored when you’re dead. ” or do you? maybe. ‘depends what happens to you after you die, he supposes, and he can’t profess to understand the afterlife in it’s entirety, especially not for a being like Saima. but he doesn’t think he’d MIND ‘immortality’ too much– the thought of NOTHINGNESS after you die is much more scary to him; someone whose constantly trying to keep busy and occupied… but obviously, it had it’s drawbacks, too.
“ I just think it’d be hard; being around humans… it’s like setting yourself up to get hurt. ” knowing you’d be around long after they were gone… “ but it’s kind of like getting a pet, I guess.we get attached, even though we know they only live a few years. . . not to compare humans to hamsters, or whatever, but it kind of makes sense, right? ” he laughs, a little, but it’s a sad thought, though. hopefully, Saima had companions that didn’t have gerbil-like lifespans, compared to themselves. “ do you know other people– like you? ”
This seems to just be the fundamental difference, they’ve known people who have died and come back from death a number of times. To the point that they can sympathize with that kind of craving for a true end. Which is just something most humans would not really have any idea about that being the case. So it’s hard to make a statement based on info that’s not readily known to everyone. “Hm. I suppose it’s really a matter of perspective either way – how you actually feel about it.”
Saima gives a bit of a dark laugh at that. “You’re dead on about that. There’s definitely a lot of pain that comes from being around those who you know you’ll outlive. Sometimes the memories are comforting. Sometimes, they just make you question why you’re still here.” They give a bit of a shrug. “I get what you mean. Yeah, I do know some people who live pretty long time for different reasons. Either they’re other mythical folks or representations of areas. Both of which tend to have long lifespans – so I’ve had some company over the years.”
“ yeah… well, some of us are tryingto make it better… ” an entity having millennia of experience is a little hard to argue with about the human experience; they’ve pretty much seen it all. but he still thinks humans can, and do, improve. and besides, age wasn’t everything! the old could be just as stubborn and blind as the youth, in some ways. “ maybe… you just have a hard time seeing it that way. I think anyone would get cynical after awhile, you know… ?” he tries to consider what it would be like to be around for so long, but he can’t even imagine. there are moments that he feels jealousy towards those with unlimited time on Earth, and no mortality to worry about, but other times… ? well, he’s not sure what to think…
“ do you get bored? ”
It was almost amusing to see since this kind of way of defending the human race. Despite their exhaustion with the cycles, Saima did have a fondness in the way they continued to stick around to look after folks. “Trust, I never said no one was trying to make it better. It’s just.. how humans are. Many try in the face of great failure while many try to get over others. It’s nothing new – but it’s always interesting. There’s usually a hint of progress to look forward to, if nothing else.”
“Ah yeah. Long lives tend to lean towards a bit of exhaustion. And frankly, I’ve encountered many much more cynical than myself. So.. it’s really hard to say. Bored? Of course, tired? even more so. It is a bit annoying knowing that you don’t know if you’ll ever get some real rest.“
“ just a few? ” he almost laughs: they say it so casually, like it’s nothing unusual or considerable. he supposes in some ways it’s not: it’s not like he’d never met anyone beyond the usual human age limits. but the fact that they didn’t even KNOW their age anymore made it seem so much longer. “ I guess you lose track after awhile, huh… ? ” he would imagine keeping track of the passage of time felt a little pointless, after that long. he has other questions: do they stop aging; are they mortal; can they die? but it feels a little personal, so he stops before getting ahead of himself. “ I don’t think we’re THAT bad! ” he’s not really offended at all; actually amused at the other’s observation. “ but I guess humans are pretty much all I know, so… I’m probably just used to how IRRITATING we are, ” he smirks, playful, but he’s aware of the flaws of humanity. “ well, there’s definitely bad: but there’s a lot of good, too… it kinda balances out. ” at least, most of the time… he hoped…
They chuckle a bit. “I wasn’t exactly counting. It’s probably more than that. ” When one gets used to being around for a long, long time, actually marking the days doesn’t seem all that worthwhile. Saima gives a playful eye roll at the comment about humans not being that bad.“ Maybe they aren’t – but I’ve seen the same things. You probably just see that as quite ordinary. Which.. isn’t necessarily wrong.” Flaws were part of every species and humans were definitely no exception to that.
“ so… how old ARE you? ” is it rude to ask? absolutely. will he do it anyway? by mistake, yes; he means no offense, but the finer points of social graces sometimes slip by him. “ sorry– I just mean… you must’ve seen a lot. does it ever get annoying? like… is it true what they say– about history repeating itself… ? ” he would HATE to be stuck in some kind of endless loop, watching the same stupid mistakes over and over. but he thinks the world has changed; humanity had evolved, in a good way… “ – I mean, I HOPE we’ve gotten better; learned some things… right? ”
but how could he know for sure? he’s lived a mere twenty some years… that he KNOWS of.
A pause at the question, they know it isn’t the check the id kind of question that tends to happen. But it’s a solid question and Saima is thinking about the best way to answer. “Uh, a few millenia, at least.” That’s the best estimate that they’ve got and they are rolling with it. “I’ve seen a lot and frankly, it does get terribly annoying. Because while I’ve seen a lot of fascinating progress and ways where humans do get better – but there are definitely a lot of the same human vulnerabilities and irritating traits that never seem to change. Just adjust to the surroundings that they are in.”
Seekesotsibteadmist 