Why was Manny a reaper?

[VampireNaomi]

El Virus, before I forget I must ask what kind of relationship Argentinians have with Brazilians. My friend told me that the two nations are pretty much at war over football.

 

Now VampireNaomi is the most loyal Grim Fandango fan I know of.

 

No, I'm not. There are a lot more dedicated people around here. Having Christmas holidays and no social life whatsoever gives me the chance to hang around here.

 

About the Lenin museum, I was talking about the one on the Red Square; but anything will do

 

Well, it's not much of a distance. Remember to visit St. Petersburg (you must see The Winter Palace).

 

I don't want to sound like I'm sticking my nose to other people's business, but the obstacles you mentioned, Charie, can be overcome. I mean, my mum is pretty much like you described yourself and yet dad married him. Besides, Virus doesn't sound like a particularly petty person.

 

</matchmaker>

[Charie]

VampireNaomi

the obstacles you mentioned, Charie, can be overcome.

Well, thank you for believing in our chance. Besides, today I've actually left house, made a bit new haircut (I don't have anybody to show it but the mirror, though), and with a touch of cosmetics - I thought I'm beautiful. As in, not that frightening at all.

But you mustn't forget the most horrible impediment, which I, by some accident, have failed to mention above: the unforgivable age difference. Let's face the fact: I'm too old for the boy.

 

...Hey, boy? Don't take offence.

[VampireNaomi]

Wow, there must be be something horribly wrong with me today. When I look at the profiles of the two of you I see that the age difference is about a year. That's hardly a problem. What am I not getting?

[El Virus]

I don't mind (though I wonder whether that's a good sign or bad). You see, I have left not only that, I've left all my life overboard at some point: school (I have a school-leaving certificate, but virtually I didn't attent it in my supposed last year, and didn't take exams - I was officially exused from them), preparatory arts school, friends, relations and everything else. I don't think I wasn't helped profoundly to abandon it all, but I certainly should have done something, should have resisted... Right. I know I couldn't have done anything differently.

It's just sort of hard to switch from the perfectly organized, happy ordinary life to a complete wreck of it.

 

Was there a reason for you to do it?

 

I think about leaving everything every once in a while; unfortunately, I then need to come back to my monotonous reality.

 

Yes, that's true. So far I've only met 'not my types' either. Well, I'm an 'unseasoned pear', as mother calls it, I don't have the slightest idea what should be.

Obstacles? For one, I'm not actually a 'mind-blowing romance' sort of person. At least I don't think I am. And you wouldn't like me: I'm plump, with green complexion and an awful Don-Copal temperment (*scared to read this myself*), and I sing all the time despite the fact that I've no voice. Oh, and there's the ocean.

Heartbreaking, isn't it?

 

Nah.

 

I'm thin, with white complexion(?), moody & insecure. I spend time playing the guitar and harmonica, despite not being so good at it .

 

What about the ocean?

 

Tango is loved all around the world. I think dances overall are great, when I see people dancing beautifully, flawlessly, well - just dancing, I feel sad about my total lack of aptitude for it. Can you dance? Tango? I guess you can.

 

No I can't dance. I've been repeatedly asked if I can (must be the shoes), though.

 

Lithuanian national character is nothing admirable. Petty, greedy and grave, with little interest in anything but practical mundane routines, and not welcoming in the scantiest. Narrow-minded. Of course, there are kind, nice, friendly and open-hearted Lithuanians, but those are more an exception to the common rule; I somehow don't consider them Lithuanians at all.

 

With that you've described about 82% of the world.

 

I wonder what's so astounding about these two songs for you. My friends and me were constantly singing "Ваше Благородие" when kids, among other popular songs from movies. I can't think of this song without remembering Sukhov and Sayid and others.

 

The nice lyrics, the great music and the fact that "Vashe..." comes from "White Sun of the Desert" a great Soviet movie. The other one...no idea, it sounds really nice to me.

 

No! Ai-yai, how could you even think that of me. I haven't had a crush on anyone, well, maybe save for unserious over-admiration for a couple of girls.

 

Well, the way in which you talk about him helps, in a way.

 

I have my reasons. Well, everything about me is either too much or too little. It's terrible.

As for yesterday - I guess I was excessively doubtful due to tiredness and worries about today. I still don't know how will I spend the New Year celebration. Most probably there won't be any celebration for me at all, but it still may be lunch with my father, or - - I'd prefer to know in advance.

 

 

Oh yeah, it's New Year today/tomorrow.

I guess I'll spend the day inside a car only to arrive at night into a small town.

 

Ditto, mon cher ami.

Let's pick and relish those scant diamonds in the dust our sorrowful ways cautiously present to us even on the darkest days of our lifes. Mes enfants.

 

Well said. o_O.

 

El Virus, before I forget I must ask what kind of relationship Argentinians have with Brazilians. My friend told me that the two nations are pretty much at war over football.

 

Football, don't talk to me about it. I'm fed up with it; everyone in this country seems to be obsessed with team sports, especially that one. All you hear, is football; no current events, no art.

 

But over all, the relationship is messed up; there is too much rivalry between South Americans.

I don't consider myself a typical one, so I have no prejudice against them.

 

But things are worse with Chile.

 

No, I'm not. There are a lot more dedicated people around here. Having Christmas holidays and no social life whatsoever gives me the chance to hang around here.

 

Name three, and I'll believe you.

 

Well, it's not much of a distance. Remember to visit St. Petersburg (you must see The Winter Palace).

 

Indeed, I will.

I still don't know when and how (but most probably next December and by train).

I'll mail you, if I ever need you or your help.

 

Let's face the facts: I'm too old for the boy.

 

...Hey, boy? Don't take offence.

 

Who gives a damn about age?

 

Argh, I'm not going to keep pushing this.

[VampireNaomi]

Name three, and I'll believe you.

 

James, who runs the DOD and finds the inspiration to update it regularly, Rei Nokato who not only writes good fanfiction but also runs the GF fan art club and we can't forget Thrik and his site.

 

I'll mail you, if I ever need you or your help.

 

Don't bother, I doubt I know anything you don't already know.

[Charie]

I've started writing this answer yesterday, but then the New Year had occured, with my father dropping in and staying till the morning (we were representing some sort of the 'two lost souls in an alliance', I suppose; both having nowhere to go and nobody else to spend the celebration night with), and after that I had a huge cleaning-of-the-flat marathon, and a nice looong bath, and a re-whatching of Vabank, and completely scrambled from the lack of sleep brains. So, I'm going to copy-paste most of the following from a saved file with a message I didn't get the chance to submit earlier.

Bear in mind, though, that my curret strenuous task is not to fall asleep on the keyboard practically at any minute.

 

VampireNaomi

When I look at the profiles of the two of you I see that the age difference is about a year. That's hardly a problem. What am I not getting?

That it's almost two yers, actually. Just imagine: when he was a naive innocent newborn, I was already a self-righteous cantankerous little bastard, refusing to share anything with anybody and knowingly manipulating unsuspecting parents.

 

<about El Virus>I doubt I know anything you don't already know.

That's the trouble with him, isn't it?

 

El Virus

Was there a reason for you to do it?

I think about leaving everything every once in a while; unfortunately, I then need to come back to my monotonous reality.

I didn't say I wanted it, or had much choice. It was not about 'leaving everything' but breaking down myself and abandoning the world of the living as a result. Out of shame, weariness, corrupted state of mind. Very corrupted. I hadn't been able to think straight for more than a year. Actually, it was only during that period of time when I'd pondered every once in a while as to what it might be like to 'fly away' - because I had nothing but wreckage and garbage to leave behind, then.

So, as I've said above, it was a breakdown: of my will, perception, sensibility, me. I've lived as a plant (*and it was as terrible as it sounds*). Not that I really live a normal human life at the present time, but at least it's not as insentient as before.

 

I'm thin, with white complexion(?), moody & insecure. I spend time playing the guitar and harmonica, despite not being so good at it .

What about the ocean?

<...>

Argh, I'm not going to keep pushing this.

The thing about the ocean is that it is big.

Or else we could look mutually complementary individuals. *right now, though, I can't help but wonder how a person may desire anything other than a good slumber; that's unfathomable*

And I didn't know you were pushing; that's alluring. It's such a distress that I live in this village of a country, when there's a hot Argentinian senorito with a most appealing proposal and serious intentions out there. That's what I detest about the Internet, you know: once you find a true love of your life, you also oftenly find out, as a special bonus, that he or she lives on the opposite side of the Earth.

 

No I can't dance. I've been repeatedly asked if I can (must be the shoes), though.

Must be origin. Argentinians must dance; what sort of Argentinians are they, otherwise?

By the way, is your origin solely... Argentinian or whatever? I mean, by blood. I mused whether you have some other relation to Russian culture except the pure interest, for example. However, I guess it's safe to assume you take great interest in a vast selection of subjects.

 

With that you've described about 82% of the world.

I see you don't have much faith in humanity.

I was talking about a national character. Russians are very open, for example; even when somebody does bad things, you feel it comes straight from his heart. Isrealians are careless-carefree, and cantankerous. Lithuanians are unwelcoming and reserved. I haven't socialised with other countries' denizens.

These were inane opinions of mine, you realize.

 

The nice lyrics, the great music, <...>

From "Песни Нашего Века" four albums I possess (the first one of which includes "Ваше Благородие", by the way) I happen to favour the 'In the memory of Francois Rabelais' song quite a lot, for some reason.

But I'm not really much into music, on the whole. From Russian tunes I usually listen to a couple of brilliant children's radio-plays I have in mp3, or sing children songs myself. "Прекрасное далёко" and "Крылатые качели" are on the top of my singing list (if you'd be brave enough to call my shrieks 'singing', surely). I suppose you know those.

 

Well, the way in which you talk about [your historian] helps, in a way.

*suspicious* Helps with what, exactly? I talk about him in a way he deserves, in my view. There're quite a lot of people I know and admire that I could talk volumes about.

 

-----------------------------------------------

A listless mention: you know, I've asked a couple of people yesterday that question of yours about Mauryan Empire. One asked me back whether that has something to do with New Zealand (those where some 'Maori', I reckon), and the other retorted as to why would anybody care.

[El Virus]

There will be spelling mistakes. But thank the keyboard, time, lack of a word processor and my tiresome.

 

James, who runs the DOD and finds the inspiration to update it regularly, Rei Nokato who not only writes good fanfiction but also runs the GF fan art club and we can't forget Thrik and his site.

 

Ohay, but you are still a more loyal fan than me.

 

Talking about Rei Nokato, will he ever come back to the forums?

 

Bear in mind, though, that my curret strenuous task is not to fall asleep on the keyboard practically at any minute.

 

That pretty much describes my current state aof mind. I'm on a humid cyber cafe (you know, where you rent a computer for an ever-increasing fare); full of people I couldn't care less to know, fighting with the keybord which is practically broken (and keeps including the letter 'a', without a clear reason [if you spot an unwanted letter, it's because of that]).

 

Sounds like you had fun yesterday. All I did was walk around the woods at midnight while the fireworks were going in the background (I'm not at BA, and I won't be there for a while; by the way).

 

That it's almost two yers, actually. Just imagine: when he was a naive innocent newborn, I was already a self-righteous cantankerous little bastard, refusing to share anything with anybody and knowingly manipulating unsuspecting parents.

 

All kids and babies are self-righteous bastards.

But age is a relative thing, one could argue that it's only purpose is making people wonder about their deaths.

 

-I doubt I know anything you don't already know.

 

-That's the trouble with him, isn't it?

 

By saying such things you inflate(?) my ego, so I begin to think I can take over the world, next reality strikes me and makes me realise I'm an idiot.

 

So, as I've said above, it was a breakdown: of my will, perception, sensibility, me. I've lived as a plant (*and it was as terrible as it sounds*). Not that I really live a normal human life at the present time, but at least it's not as insentient as before.

 

As long as you don't regret it, I guess that it's a right move.

 

Having a normal life is not as good as it sounds. What I would give to know how living amongst a strange family is...

 

For once I would love to act according to my emotions instead of my logic. Just improvise and make something impulsively; you know.

 

The thing about the ocean is that it is big.

 

Oh yeah, THAT Ocean.

 

Not that big a problem with this globalised world of ours.

 

*right now, though, I can't help but wonder how a person may desire anything other than a good slumber; that's unfathomable*

 

For some reason, I hate to sleep (but give in as soon as I'm exhausted); I consider it to be a waste of time. There's that little biological fact that makes it impossible not to, though.

 

And I didn't know you were pushing; that's alluring. It's such a distress that I live in this village of a country, when there's a hot Argentinian senorito with a most appealing proposal and serious intentions out there. That's what I detest about the Internet, you know: once you find a true love of your life, you also oftenly find out, as a special bonus, that he or she lives on the opposite side of the Earth.

 

[i should include a compliment and complain about my city too, but I'm uninspired to write something nice]

 

Ironically, the internet allows you to meet that kind of people.

 

But, yeah, it does become a problem.

 

Must be origin. Argentinians must dance; what sort of Argentinians are they, otherwise?

 

If I had the time to juggle school, Russian, guitar, reading and other activities, I'd definitely learn how to dance it.

 

Unlickly, the current stereotype is "Argentine people must play football the right way" (which I don't anyway).

 

By the way, is your origin solely... Argentinian or whatever? I mean, by blood. I mused whether you have some other relation to Russian culture except the pure interest, for example. However, I guess it's safe to assume you take great interest in a vast selection of subjects.

 

Half Italian, a quarter German and the rest a mixture of nationalities I haven't digged up yet.

 

Unfortunately I've got no Russian blood. But my aunt's husband (my uncle, technically), both of whom I like a lot, comes from that country.

 

But my interest comes from the propaganda my father would give me as a child, and my grandfather was very fond of the Soviet Union, despite it's reputation, so does my aunt; as you might see, it runs in the family.

 

You got it right there, I am curious about a vast amount of things; damn I've

even heard the history of the burial methods and toilets but that has more to do with my free time.

 

I see you don't have much faith in humanity.

 

It's more of a crusade against comformism.

 

I was talking about a national character. Russians are very open, for example; even when somebody does bad things, you feel it comes straight from his heart. Isrealians are careless-carefree, and cantankerous. Lithuanians are unwelcoming and reserved. I haven't socialised with other countries' denizens.

 

People in here are open and close, too close. Due to my tendency of not looking at people in the eyes, and un-desire to kiss everyone on the cheek, I am usually frowned at.

 

I suppose you know those.

 

Actually I don't. Due to the lack of imports getting music made in the Soviet Union is practically impossible. Getting things by Okudzhava was a sacrifice.

 

*suspicious* Helps with what, exactly? I talk about him in a way he deserves, in my view. There're quite a lot of people I know and admire that I could talk volumes about.

 

I know, I was just giving a reason to my comment.

 

A listless mention: you know, I've asked a couple of people yesterday that question of yours about Mauryan Empire. One asked me back whether that has something to do with New Zealand (those where some 'Maori', I reckon), and the other retorted as to why would anybody care.

 

The latter is the most common answer. That absent-minded and unprofound Nihilism is killing society.

 

If you must know, it was the first major empire of India (From around 200 BCE (before Common Era; not sure about it's abbreviation), and an important thing in that culture.

[VampireNaomi]

Talking about Rei Nokato, will he ever come back to the forums?

 

She. And I don't know. I think she visits from time to time, but has no intent of being regular.

[Charie]

El Virus

Sounds like you had fun yesterday. All I did was walk around the woods at midnight while the fireworks were going in the background

If only I've had fun; your New Year sounds much more enticing to me. I would have been much happier if I didn't celebrate it at all. Besides, I hate going out of my time-table, even rarely.

I consider sleep a waste of time as well, and would be glad to get rid of this - unfortunately - necessary nuisance for good, but I need to sleep around 7.45 hours a day to function appropriately. The longest I've ever been awake were four days, after which not even walking could save me anymore: I would just faint asleep on the move.

 

By saying such things you inflate(?) my ego

Oh, no; we're just being modest and self-criticizing. *shuffle*

 

As long as you don't regret it, I guess that it's a right move.

Having a normal life is not as good as it sounds. What I would give to know how living amongst a strange family is...

I beg your pardon, don't regret what? In the whole situation there was nothing even remotely reminiscent of conscious 'moves', it was more like being taken away by a too fast, wide and deep river, lost every hope for a salvation and thus stopped struggling. I can't feel regret for what I regard as inevitable accidents, though I can abominate them, and so I do.

Normal life is a beautiful and craved for thing, when you have less than that. However, at the present moment I can't see any normality for myself; everything had been a bit too crooked around me in the past - in my view.

 

I would have liked to grow up and live in a perfectly normal, healthy real family. Not that my actual one is something outstanding, of course: they were two sincerely despising each other people with the notehead in passports, who had finally split up officially a a year and a half ago. Happens all the time. They had already been only tolerating one another by the time I was born; notwithstanding, they both wanted me, just separately.

 

For once I would love to act according to my emotions instead of my logic. Just improvise and make something impulsively; you know.

Do you mean you never actually act according to emotions? That would be impossible for me. I don't think I'm downright thick-headed, but mostly I do whatever I feel like doing at the very moment - spontaneously. Strange how sometimes I finally understand all the logical reasons underlying my actions only years after the actual event, and find that I would have chosen the same option if I were thinking at the time.

And, sometimes, I also like to act recklessly, deliberately abandoning conscious mind, because it is... interesting. As inebriated Ippolit in the "Ирония судьбы, или С лёгким паром!" movie had complained, 'We live boringly! We lack adventurism! We've forgotten how to climb in through our beloved women's windows. We've forgotten how to do big, nice fooleries!' Entirely true; there should be more captain Greys under the scarlet sails around us.

Don't you ever do such things? I would think you do.

 

[i should include a compliment and complain about my city too, but I'm uninspired to write something nice]

Ironically, the internet allows you to meet that kind of people. But, yeah, [living very far away from one another] does become a problem.

[i can commiserate that. You may think up my ablush answer to the imaginary compliment and condolences concerning your city.]

Rare cases of happy real-life marriages of the Internet couples keep gnawing at the back of my mind.

 

Unlickly, the current stereotype is "Argentine people must play football the right way" (which I don't anyway).

Really? I don't know a thing about football, and have no desire whatsoever to fill this gap of knowledge. I'm strictly convinced that Quidditch's the best sport ever. It's very weird to find myself lost in the midst of vortexes of heated football discussions, names and titles flying over my head, sometimes. What could be so exciting about football?..

 

Half Italian, a quarter German and the rest a mixture of nationalities I haven't digged up yet. Unfortunately I've got no Russian blood. But my aunt's husband (my uncle, technically), both of whom I like a lot, comes from that country.

Oh. What wind did bring you all together in Argentina?.. Unpredictable vicissitudes of fate, hm?

I'd got some 'propaganda' from my father as well, he's a very pro-Soviets person. Opinions on the country are oftenly so extreme. There's idealizing, berating, blame on some things or the other, praise or loathing. Easy to get lost, especially when the only actual thing you yourself remember about the USSR is the money substitution: rubles and kopecks giving way to lits and cents. I was three, I suppose, and needed money for bubble-gum.

 

I'm half Russian, a quarter Jewish and a quartrer Tatar, by the way.

 

I've even heard the history of the burial methods and toilets but that has more to do with my free time.

History of toilets definitely sounds enticing. Shame I prefer to fill my free time with Harry Potter and other endlessly un-educative matters, denying myself a chance to learn about such topical subjects. Seriously.

 

Due to my tendency of not looking at people in the eyes, and un-desire to kiss everyone on the cheek, I am usually frowned at.

Why, do they really do that all the time? Now that's something unheard of. To look somebody in the eyes is considered rude, or a sign of intimate trust, here. Or maybe extravagance. As for kissing non-relatives on cheek, I was kissed only once, by way of a thank-you, and still melt at the memory.

So, what you are saying is that antisocial elements like me would have been 'frowned at', too. Is that the feature of Argentina or the other SA countries as well?

 

Actually I don't. Due to the lack of imports getting music made in the Soviet Union is practically impossible. Getting things by Okudzhava was a sacrifice.

And what did you sacrifice?

Then again, getting something special is always troublesome, one would think. Everything else, however, exists somewhere in the Internet. That's how we get most of the music nowadays, after all.

Those two songs I've mentioned, they are by far the most famous, both from children movies. Maybe you just don't remember the titles. Weird. I couldn't find those on my computer either. Well, I've still got the disk. Also: how about Seweryn Krajewski? Or... All right, I'm curious as to what else do you listen to, from Soviet Russian music. Inanely.

 

The latter is the most common answer. That absent-minded and unprofound Nihilism is killing society.

Don't call ignorance Nihilism. Most people have many other things to worry about, things at hand. Besides, 'What the deuce is it to me? You say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work,' - had said once by no means the dimmest mind in the world, remember?

*muses* I probably am a bit of a Nihilist too, for I consider myself Subjectivist.

 

Yep, I've looked up that Mauryans were in India. The only thing I've heard about India before was that it's every province had it's ruler, making India a patched-up country, plus jungles and an exceptionally serious approach to religion. Vague at best, I know.

[El Virus]

She.

 

Oh, I tend to mess those things up.

 

It's just that it is not a common name (Oh right, Rei Ayanami it all becomes clearer now).

 

If only I've had fun; your New Year sounds much more enticing to me. I would have been much happier if I didn't celebrate it at all. Besides, I hate going out of my time-table, even rarely.

 

I'm not a big time celebrator either, It's just a new year for crisake.

 

I consider sleep a waste of time as well, and would be glad to get rid of this - unfortunately - necessary nuisance for good, but I need to sleep around 7.45 hours a day to function appropriately. The longest I've ever been awake were four days, after which not even walking could save me anymore: I would just faint asleep on the move.

 

4 Days? I can't last more than 24 hs. if I don't have a reason to stay awake.

I take off my hat to you.

 

I get around 4-7 hours of sleep per day during the school year (mostly five); and that is not the healthiest habit.

 

Normal life is a beautiful and craved for thing, when you have less than that. However, at the present moment I can't see any normality for myself; everything had been a bit too crooked around me in the past - in my view.

 

I would have liked to grow up and live in a perfectly normal, healthy real family. Not that my actual one is something outstanding, of course: they were two sincerely despising each other people with the notehead in passports, who had finally split up officially a a year and a half ago. Happens all the time. They had already been only tolerating one another by the time I was born; notwithstanding, they both wanted me, just separately.

 

Normal life may be desired or hated, it depends on the case (that's the thing with me, I want anything I can't have).

I'm the most abnormal person on a far too average family, and I dislike the fact that the normal relatives of mine can't seem to understand my difference and solitude.

 

Do you live alone now?

 

Do you mean you never actually act according to emotions? That would be impossible for me. I don't think I'm downright thick-headed, but mostly I do whatever I feel like doing at the very moment - spontaneously. Strange how sometimes I finally understand all the logical reasons underlying my actions only years after the actual event, and find that I would have chosen the same option if I were thinking at the time.

And, sometimes, I also like to act recklessly, deliberately abandoning conscious mind, because it is... interesting. As inebriated Ippolit in the "Ирония судьбы, или С лёгким паром!" movie had complained, 'We live boringly! We lack adventurism! We've forgotten how to climb in through our beloved women's windows. We've forgotten how to do big, nice fooleries!' Entirely true; there should be more captain Greys under the scarlet sails around us.

Don't you ever do such things? I would think you do.

 

I listen to my emotions often, but I don't pay attention to them on major decisions. If it is something relatively important, I will analyze every possibility to the extent that it will become a real tough dilemma, and then pick the best; the results seem to disappoint me on the long run.

 

I'm trying to balance that though, and make spontaneous choices more often.

 

Rare cases of happy real-life marriages of the Internet couples keep gnawing at the back of my mind.

 

-Happy real-life marriages are not as common nowadays, or so it seems-

 

Anyway, if you are up for it...

 

What could be so exciting about football?..

 

I ask the same question every time; I don't get the importance out of sports and competition in general.

 

Oh. What wind did bring you all together in Argentina?.. Unpredictable vicissitudes of fate, hm?

 

My country was one of the main points of immigration during the 30s; while English speakers went to the Northern part of the continent, the rest came to Argentina for it's similarity to Europe and good economical position.

[El Virus]

^ I cannot post long messages here ^

 

I'd got some 'propaganda' from my father as well, he's a very pro-Soviets person. Opinions on the country are oftenly so extreme. There's idealizing, berating, blame on some things or the other, praise or loathing. Easy to get lost, especially when the only actual thing you yourself remember about the USSR is the money substitution: rubles and kopecks giving way to lits and cents. I was three, I suppose, and needed money for bubble-gum.

 

I'm half Russian, a quarter Jewish and a quartrer Tatar, by the way.

 

I'm guessing the situation wasn't as bad as the [uSA-led/Cold War/Right Wing/Western Culture] made it seem like.

 

So you are indeed a Russian living in Lithuania, right?

 

History of toilets definitely sounds enticing. Shame I prefer to fill my free time with Harry Potter and other endlessly un-educative matters, denying myself a chance to learn about such topical subjects. Seriously.

 

Reading is educative (as long as it is not Tom Clancy or any of those), and you seem to know enough.

 

Why, do they really do that all the time? Now that's something unheard of. To look somebody in the eyes is considered rude, or a sign of intimate trust, here. Or maybe extravagance. As for kissing non-relatives on cheek, I was kissed only once, by way of a thank-you, and still melt at the memory.

So, what you are saying is that antisocial elements like me would have been 'frowned at', too. Is that the feature of Argentina or the other SA countries as well?

 

Our dialect is very informal (we have deformed the Spanish language a lot), so Argentine people are much closer than the rest of South Americans (or so I've heard).

I've been referred to as 'very cold' on more than one occassion (most times actually).

 

And what did you sacrifice?

Then again, getting something special is always troublesome, one would think. Everything else, however, exists somewhere in the Internet. That's how we get most of the music nowadays, after all.

 

I didn't sacrifice anything, 'Nightmare' should have been the word.

 

My huge collection of radio serials comes from the internet. And so do most of the Russian songs I have; but as I've described on another thread, I need to have the box and stuff to feel complete.

 

Also: how about Seweryn Krajewski? Or... All right, I'm curious as to what else do you listen to, from Soviet Russian music.

 

I'm a big fan of Russian folk and traditional songs, like the Russian sailor's dance; Калинка; and my favourite, Полюшко-поле; I also enjoy anything played on a balalaika.

 

I've never heard anything by Krajewski, but I'll look into him.

 

Don't call ignorance Nihilism.

[...]

The only thing I've heard about India before was that it's every province had it's ruler, making India a patched-up country, plus jungles and an exceptionally serious approach to religion. Vague at best, I know.

 

I exaggerate a lot, remember? I find it to be a better way to make my poiny straight.

Unprofound-Nihilism is just my far-fetched way of saying complete ignorance and uninterest.

 

If that quote is from Conan Doyle (and I think it is), I should add that I am not a big fan of him. Nevertheless, I somehow have to agree to that.

[Charie]

El Virus

I'm not a big time celebrator either, It's just a new year for crisake.

I don't think New Year is a 'just'; I'd love to celebrate it properly. It's the lack of the right people, right places and that supposed christmas-spirit that makes celebration undesirable. New Year and Birthday are the biggest holidays of a year, after all. Or Christmas and Birthday, for religious folks, I guess.

 

4 Days? I can't last more than 24 hs. if I don't have a reason to stay awake.

I get around 4-7 hours of sleep per day during the school year (mostly five); and that is not the healthiest habit.

I had a reason: I wanted to see how long I can last without sleep. Happened gradually: two days were usual for me at that time, then three, finally four. The more you skip sleep, the more drunk you feel. Like a constant hangover.

I envy those who feel perfectly all right sleeping only three or four hours a day.

 

<...>(that's the thing with me, I want anything I can't have).

Do you live alone now?

We all want to have what we can't, I suppose. Dreaming of it makes no difference anyway. Sometimes I'd like to be a male, for example, and I'm sure that if I were one, I'd have similar ideas of being a female.

 

I'm materially supported by mother, so, technically, I don't 'live alone'. Practically, now I've been alone in mother's flat for a month, while she was in Israel, but her return this Friday may rise the question of my accommodation once again. I hope it won't, though; I don't particularly have anywhere to go.

 

If it is something relatively important, I will analyze every possibility to the extent that it will become a real tough dilemma, and then pick the best; the results seem to disappoint me on the long run.

If results are disappointing in any case, then why bother with profound logic.

I think I've always been sort of accidentally thown into all relatively important events of my life; sometimes, when I try to weigh all the possibilities, it all becomes, as you have said, such a tough dilemma, that I end up acting instinctively at any rate.

 

-Happy real-life marriages are not as common nowadays, or so it seems-

Why do you think they were more frequent in the past? It's all the same, I think; people never change in these aspects. We don't have arranged marriages as a common rule now, at least.

Besides, happy couples aren't as rare as you seem to believe. This is what I believe.

 

I don't get the importance out of sports and competition in general.

Oh, come on. Sports, competitions, Olympic games in general - they're excellent, for those participating, - and even to watch the champions and wonder at fellow humans' unique abilities. And there're figure skating and gymnastics, by the way.

But it's one thing to admire that amazing strength and skill and and hard work of particular persons, and another, when two herds of inexplicit species in multicolored shorts run and jump around one stupid ball. In my opinion. Better they'd read some clever book. All right, I just don't understand it.

 

I'm guessing the situation wasn't as bad as the [uSA-led/Cold War/Right Wing/Western Culture] made it seem like.

I'm not sure what they made it seem like, really. Here, the largest pretensions concern the lack of decent food supplies and freedom of speech. But, well, looks like they lived on spiritual repast, so to speak; science, art, multicultural relations were on high.

 

So you are indeed a Russian living in Lithuania, right?

Uhum. My father's father was a military man, so after the War he'd been constantly moving with his unit around the Baltic part of the Soviets, and he was staying in Lithuanian SSR when he retired. My mother went to work in Vilnius after she graduated from university in Saint-Petersburg, by assignment. It was the same country back then.

 

Say, is Spanish your first language? Do you know Italian and German?

 

I've just noticed Astor Piazzolla's Argentinian. Seems I know at least something coming from your country.

 

Reading is educative (as long as it is not Tom Clancy or any of those), and you seem to know enough.

Who's Tom Clancy? -- See, I don't know anything.

Reading is educative, of course, but differently. You learn facts, and theories, and a lot of very handy and clever and important subjects from your books. I wasn't able to read at all for some time, and that what I now rarely read... khm. It teaches about human nature, maybe: various reactions to similar situations, reasons for unreasonable actions, good and evil traits of characters swapping over - about these ever changing elusive things, so that, naturally, it teaches nothing.

 

Besides, 'enough' is an elastic notion.

 

I've been referred to as 'very cold' on more than one occassion (most times actually).

Huh, I wonder what would you seem like in Lithuania, for example. These people can be icebergs, sometimes.

 

but as I've described on another thread, I need to have the box and stuff to feel complete.

In which thread?..

In the past, I had also felt like that, but as a collection grows, boxes become redundunt and inconvenient - for me. Isn't it much easier to stock and search for a needed item in the 100*-CD cases?

 

I'm a big fan of Russian folk and traditional songs, like the Russian sailor's dance; Калинка; and my favourite, Полюшко-поле; I also enjoy anything played on a balalaika.

I've never heard anything by Krajewski, but I'll look into him.

"Полюшко-поле"? Even the title sounds ridiculous. I guess I have no interest whatsoever in Russian folk-whatever. Was fed up with калинки-рябинки-берёзки since the early childhood, and have always considered such things being meant for toddlers. Perhaps it's all too natural, native for me to understand the supposed beauty of it. Your point of view is astounding. Калинка... Офигеть можно.

Wait. "Полюшко-поле" - isn't that a military song? I don't remember hearing it, but - do you really call an army song 'folk music'?

 

And I didn't recommend Krajewski, I only inquired. Of course, I like him very much, but I doubt it has much to do with Russian culture. Nothing, more like.

By the way, yesterday was Krejewski's 56th birthday, which I had completely forgotten about.

 

I exaggerate a lot, remember?

I'll try to remember henceforth.

 

If that quote is from Conan Doyle (and I think it is), I should add that I am not a big fan of him.

I don't think I'm a fan of Conan Doyle, but that of Sherlock Holms definitely. It's sad that I've learned almost by heart all stories about him many years ago and can't enjoy the grand mysteries any more. Though I still have details to explore.

[El Virus]

It's the lack of the right people, right places and that supposed christmas-spirit that makes celebration undesirable.

 

I think that personally I'm just sick of the yearly celebration routine I have to stand.

 

I'm materially supported by mother, so, technically, I don't 'live alone'. Practically, now I've been alone in mother's flat for a month, while she was in Israel, but her return this Friday may rise the question of my accommodation once again. I hope it won't, though; I don't particularly have anywhere to go.

 

Does your father live in Lithuania too?

 

If results are disappointing in any case, then why bother with profound logic.

I think I've always been sort of accidentally thown into all relatively important events of my life; sometimes, when I try to weigh all the possibilities, it all becomes, as you have said, such a tough dilemma, that I end up acting instinctively at any rate.

 

That is why I am trying to change things. A balance between both would work out for me.

 

Why do you think they were more frequent in the past? It's all the same, I think; people never change in these aspects. We don't have arranged marriages as a common rule now, at least.

Besides, happy couples aren't as rare as you seem to believe. This is what I believe.

 

I believe in marriage and happy couples, don't get me wrong. I like the idea, furthermore.

 

The 'or so it seems' was there for a reason. According to the media there is a constane increase in divorce rates, and not all divorced couples end up in friendly terms. Of course, most of the things the media (television actually) says turn out to be fake or not so true.

 

Oh, come on. Sports, competitions, Olympic games in general - they're excellent, for those participating, - and even to watch the champions and wonder at fellow humans' unique abilities. And there're figure skating and gymnastics, by the way.

But it's one thing to admire that amazing strength and skill and and hard work of particular persons, and another, when two herds of inexplicit species in multicolored shorts run and jump around one stupid ball. In my opinion. Better they'd read some clever book. All right, I just don't understand it.

 

I'm not a sports fan, or a sportsy or competitive person for that matter. But I do prefer athletism over these silly team sports which are almost an obsession for some.

 

Do you like sports, are are you just a viewer?

 

I'm not sure what they made it seem like, really. Here, the largest pretensions concern the lack of decent food supplies and freedom of speech. But, well, looks like they lived on spiritual repast, so to speak; science, art, multicultural relations were on high.

 

Not sure whether that's irony or not .

 

But either way, decent food supplies and freedom of speech are not abundant in the so called free world or democratic countries.

 

In the United States of America (the auto-denominated freedom spreaders), back in the 50s people with political ideas similar to those of Communism, were black listed. Great minds who were banned from working include, Chaplin, Hammet and many other writers.

 

In case you are wondering, I don't believe in democracy.

 

Say, is Spanish your first language? Do you know Italian and German?

 

Yes, Spanish is my first language. I don't care much about Italian, and I like German, but I do not really want to learn it.

Only languages I know are Spanish, English, French; and a very tiny bit of Russian and Esperanto (not that this latter one is actually useful).

 

What about you?

 

I've just noticed Astor Piazzolla's Argentinian. Seems I know at least something coming from your country.

 

And most of us agree that Carlos Gardel was as well; he is the only national symbol I idolize.

 

 

Who's Tom Clancy? -- See, I don't know anything.

Reading is educative, of course, but differently. You learn facts, and theories, and a lot of very handy and clever and important subjects from your books. I wasn't able to read at all for some time, and that what I now rarely read... khm. It teaches about human nature, maybe: various reactions to similar situations, reasons for unreasonable actions, good and evil traits of characters swapping over - about these ever changing elusive things, so that, naturally, it teaches nothing.

 

Besides, 'enough' is an elastic notion.

 

Clancy is this writer from the USA which writes very long and redundant books. They all deal with the same, and are pure American propaganda and bull****.

 

With enough, I mean a lot; but I don't want to be over-complimenting you .

 

Huh, I wonder what would you seem like in Lithuania, for example. These people can be icebergs, sometimes.

 

No idea; my uncle was treated as rude when he warmly greeted a lot of people in England.

 

In which thread?..

In the past, I had also felt like that, but as a collection grows, boxes become redundunt and inconvenient - for me. Isn't it much easier to stock and search for a needed item in the 100*-CD cases?

 

I miss Adventure Games thread, while talking about game downloading.

 

"Полюшко-поле"? Even the title sounds ridiculous. I guess I have no interest whatsoever in Russian folk-whatever. Was fed up with калинки-рябинки-берёзки since the early childhood, and have always considered such things being meant for toddlers. Perhaps it's all too natural, native for me to understand the supposed beauty of it. Your point of view is astounding. Калинка... Офигеть можно.

Wait. "Полюшко-поле" - isn't that a military song? I don't remember hearing it, but - do you really call an army song 'folk music'?

 

Полюшко-поле's lyrics aren't anything special either, but the musical score is great and uplifting.

I think it is a pro-soviet military song, yes. I guess calling it a folk song wasn't the right thing.

 

What do you mean with your point of view is astounding? It all has to do with the culture, if I would have had to endure those songs constantly as a child I wouldn't be a fan of them either.

[kolto]

I'm sure this has probably been debated quite a lot before but you'll have to forgive me because i'm new to the forums. So... Manny doesn't seem to have been a bad soul in life judging by his actions in death so why was he made to be a reaper?

 

My theories are that maybe when you die it might change your outlook on "life".

 

Or possibly you are made to forget so you don't spend your time looking back and cursing your actions instead of helping other souls.

 

i don't find either of these ideas really satisfying so if there are any other theories out there i'd like to hear them

[neon_git]

Wow, I had no idea people were still posting in this thread.

 

*sigh* it takes me back to the good old days when I didn't have to pay for my internet connection.

[Quoththeraven]

the problem of Salvidor introduces a whole new thing into the paying off time thing. He had a ticket, all along, but he was once a reaper. So, why? How could he both be good enough for the number nine, and yet still need to pay off time?

[Smon]

They probably lied to him. They told him he had a debt to pay, just so they could sell his ticket.

[Quoththeraven]

But if Manny was a reaper even before the corruption took place, and if Salvidor was cheated by said corruption, then he'd be working at the same time as Manny. And Manny doesn't recognise him.

[Smon]

Hm... maybe the corruption took place before Manny was there, and he just never noticed because the phase of the plan where they steal the tickets wasn't initiated until the time around where the game started.

[neon_git]

Okay, here's one for you ... maybe the game's internal logic doesn't extend that far.

 

I mean we've already got the whole deal with Celso in Rubacava ... so maybe the game contradicts itself, maybe there is no explanation.

 

But maybe, just maybe it doesn't matter.

 

And maybe I'm being cynical but we're at what? 5 pages now? And still no compelling answers (I assume, I didn't actually read the whole thing). Perhaps it's time to call it a day.

 

But maybe that's just me ...

[VampireNaomi]

We can never have real answers for any of these questions. We can only speculate and, honestly, no speculation is better than another.

 

There could be many reasons why Manny doesn't recognise Salvador. The DOD building is huge; maybe they worked in different parts of it and never ran to each other.

 

However, somehow I get the impression that Salvador was a reaper before Manny's time. Maybe the corruption didn't spread very far in the beginning, so that it would remain hidden. So, maybe Salvador got screwed, left the DOD, Manny came, was a good salesman for a while until the corruption spread to his floor? No one knows.

 

I agree with neon_git on that repeating the same thing over and over again can get tiring, but what else do we have to do in here? Besides, someone comes up with a fresh idea every now and then.

[Torque]

(Hmmm, well regarding Celso it is possible that he spent a bit of time walking, got attacked by some ugly demon, defended himself with his walking stick, fled, then someone else (who earned a sports car) offered him a ride to Rubacava.)

 

Back on topic,

 

What did Manny do to become a reaper since he doesn't seem such a bad guy?

 

First of all, I don't think becoming a reaper is really the worst form of punishment. It may actually be even better than having to walk all the way to the Ninth Underworld. Maybe there's some kind of "retirement" plan where reapers get transport to the next world and don't have to walk four years. I mean, hell, Manny even got a Number Nine ticket as a "retirement present" for helping rid the DoD of corruption, even thought he originally didn't earn it. (And no, his ticket wasn't stolen, the storyline seems to be pretty clear on that.)

 

It makes no sense to give the most immoral people a job of such a great responsibility. They just wouldn't do it right and would abuse their position for personal gain the first chance they'd get.

 

Let's consider a few facts:

1) Manny claims he doesn't know what he did. (He may have tried to hide something from Domino when he claimed this, but this is extremely doubtful considering the context in which he said it.)

 

I say that maybe he's just in denial. He kind of suspects what he may have done, but doesn't actually want to fully admit that what he did was wrong out of pride or something else. There's almost no way you can commit a very immoral act and not realize it. People like that are usually considered insane.

 

I really don't think he did something that bad like kill someone in cold blood or steal something, but it is possible that he may have been a very selfish and greedy person in life and that his decisions, actions or words, although not illegal or particulary immoral, may have still significantly influenced someone's else life in a very very bad way.

 

He may have hurt women's feelings by pretending to really care about them, he may have refused to help someone in desperate need, even though he could have very easily. Maybe he was in a high position and because of his selfish or harsh decisions, someone may have been forced into bankruptcy or suicide or something.

 

Exibit A: Even in death he displays somewhat selfish behaviour. He says "one of these days I'm going to ride the Number Nine out of here", despite knowing quite well he didn't earn a ticket. He doesn't really want to help Salvador or Meche at first, he just wants to do anything he can to leave the 9th Underworld. Of course, he seems to change over the course of the game to the point where he refuses to enter the 9th Underwolrd until the whole mess is sorted out and all the people are saved.

 

Exibit B: He kind of resembles a woman-chaser type.

 

Exibit C: He's very competitive. It's hard to believe you can just become a nightclub owner despite being broke and then a ship captain so easily without being at least somewhat greedy.

 

Exibit D: The punishment itself. What better way to punish a selfish person other than to force him to help countless souls out with their lifetime rewards.

 

Exibit E: On the Day of the Dead, he reveals that the reason he's not back home visiting the living is because there's "noone back there he wants to see". This strongly implies that he was never much of a family man.