s e v e n - v o i c e

[ladys_grace]

[A moment of silence before Grace starts to speak. She sounds more like she's talking to herself rather than trying to convey a message.]

Someone said... what was it... "monsters as people walk among you." And...and I've been thinking about it since then.

I mean, what makes a monster? How can you tell... when they don't have claws or sharp teeth or

Comments

[lolplottwist]

All people are monsters.

They all do disgusting things - you can't just single one of them out.

[ladys_grace]

....

I...guess you're right, in a way. We've all done bad things at some point.

[lolplottwist]

I am right.

All people are innately evil, some people are just too naive to see it.

[ladys_grace]

That's-

...that's the way it is, isn't it.

[johnnygarland]

...Grace.

C'mon. That's not--

I don't think you're a monster.

[ladys_grace]

....that's not the point.

[johnnygarland]

What's this about, then? And who were you dreaming about?

[ladys_grace]

I'm just thinking out loud, that's all.

...dad.

[prodigal_axe]

Everyone's got a monster in them. But no person is just a monster.

[ladys_grace]

Isn't that the same thing, though..? Maybe it's just... more noticeable in some.

[prodigal_axe]

No, no, it's not the same. Not at all.

Means you've got a choice. To struggle with that part of you inside, or to let it take over.

[ladys_grace]

But what if you can't win...? Or...if someone won't let you fight it..?

[theforceoncrack]

Have you ever had a pet, Grace?

[ladys_grace]

A pet..? We had a dog when we were kids, but it died.

[theforceoncrack]

A dog, huh? I like dogs. But I actually had a friend here who hated dogs.

Some people would call a dog a monster. They'd point out that dogs have claws and teeth for killing. They've got an instinct for it. But some people love having dogs as pets.

People are the same way.

[ladys_grace]

So not only does it matter what intentions you have and what you've done, but also how other people see you...?

I almost regret asking now.

[keepyou_safe]

There is no simple answer to a question like that. Even people with the best of intentions can do monstrous things and believe they are completely justified in their actions.

[ladys_grace]

...so, as long as the intentions are good it's...better? Not as horrible?

[keepyou_safe]

No. If anything, that makes it worse. Some would argue with me I'm certain, that the needs of many outweigh the needs of a few...that morality exists in a gray area and there is no clear cut right and wrong.

To an extent, they would be right. But true monstrosity has no excuse. Neither good intentions nor a hard life...nothing.

Humans have to struggle with their basic instincts to be selfish animals...some might call it inherent evil. But choosing to step above that, that's what keeps us from becoming monsters.

it took her a while to get through that.

[ladys_grace]

...I think I understand what you mean.

What counts as... 'true monstrosity' then?