Worker Bob

The water was at my ankles, but I wasn't worried. I'd told my superiors, and they assured me it would be fixed.

The water was at my shins, but I didn't mind, I had permission from my superiors to lean over rather than have to walk around.

The water was at my waist, but I was glad, I saved time on bathroom breaks, with my superiors' blessing.

The water was at my chest, but I knew it would be solved soon, my superiors wouldn't lie to me.

The water was at my mouth, but my superiors wouldn't abandon me now.

Future Generations

I don't hope that future generations will look back on this time and think good of us, that they will see the kindness, the ingenuity, the best of us that shone in the darkness.

But I don't hope that future generations will look back on this time and think bad of us either, that the evil, the stupid, the selfish, all the worst qualities on full display right now is what they focus on.

When it comes down to it, all I hope for is that we actually have future generations to think anything they want about us right now.

A Statement, But Also A Drabble

I am keenly aware of my limits in terms of reach and importance, in most regards but certainly about my place as a writer.

I don't believe I'm a bastion of artistic expression, nor is anyone looking to me to be their main source of artistic inspiration. (In the unlikely event I am, i thank you, but also I think you should broaden your horizons.)

But as a small part of the mass of content creators on the internet, I know I'm supposed to keep creating, for all our sakes.

But as you can probably guess, it's getting really hard...

Selling War

Leaders always sell war as being quick, easy, profitable. You have to, for those who remember previous wars will remember how it was long, hard, expensive. Because war always is.

Of course, if you're a leader and it's been long enough that most of your people have forgotten the last war, you still have to sell it as quick, easy, profitable. Else who would want to ruin the joys of peace?

But that is what leaders are for, selling what needs to be sold.

The real problem comes when the leader actually believes the war will be quick, easy, profitable.

Understanding How We Lived

The tool dug into the ground, disturbing the box beneath the earth just enough for the message to play.

"Greetings citizens of Stepberg of the future! This time capsule was buried on September 6th, 2022, with kind cooperation from Powlo Technology. It contains the most modern data retention technology available, upon which are thousands of messages from the town residents as well as historical recordings, which should give you so you need to understand how we lived!"

Of course, the roach ape had long since run away from the odd sounds, and was digging ants out of the ground elsewhere.

Take

Take the time to smell the roses.
Take the chance of telling someone how you feel.
Take your time.
Take a holiday, when you're able to.
Take stock of your life.
Take care to be good to others.
Take care to be good to yourself.
Take compliments graciously.
Take criticisms only if they are in good faith.
Take a bag of ice to a party.
Take the scenic route when it's available.
Take the side of the underdog when they're right.
Take the side of the overdog rarely.
Take the extra slice of cake.
Take the cash in the register.

At Least The Music Will Rock

I freely admit that until recently, I never got the notion that in times of war, chaos, and regressive politics, at least there will be great art out of it.

Because sure, one war had the good fortune to run in conjunction with a bunch of talented musicians making lots of great music, some of it directly in response to said war, but that's the exception.

I thought. But given all that is happening now, I'm producing lots of art from my anger.

All of it sucks, but I feel better for having done it, so there's something positive there.

Too Hard

I was one of the few who got off the planet before it happened.

As i stood there, watching my home planet burn, the Niexrtian who saved my life simply because we traded bad jokes on the extranet put a sucker on my shoulder.

"You good?"

"I... We were just so fucking stupid, ignoring the signs, refusing to fix things because it was too hard..."

They made a guttural coughing sound.

"Hey, everyone goes through that, my tribe ruined a dozen planets before we achieved balance. Next one be better."

That's when they noticed the lack of other escape craft.

My Death In This World

One day, I will cease to exist.

Before you start quoting scripture at me, even if your version of fantastical improbability requiring unreasonable amounts of trust turns out to be correct, this exact version of me in this exact level of reality will cease at some point.

And that scares me, as well it should. Certainly the world at large seems to be wanting it to happen for all of us sooner rather than later.

But there is one thing that brings me comfort.

Everyone else is going to cease to exist too, at some point.

And most deserve it.

Message From A Time Traveller

I can't tell you how this ends.

Not because of temporal paradoxes, that was the first test done once we thought we had time travel sorted, to our discredit since if could have ended everything. But it didn't, so I'm not worried about that.

Nor am I bound by causality, thanks to the dampners built into my machine. And no, I can't tell you how they work, I've got no idea.

No, the simple fact is, I can't tell you how this ends because I had no knowledge of this time.

I may have gone back further than I thought.

The All Is Lost Moment

There's this thing in movies and tv and such, the all is lost moment. It's the moment where the hero or heroine is at their lowest point, they're usually near death with allies gone and powers lost and so forth. It usually comes at the end of the second act, right before the final rise and glorious victory of the hero or heroine.

I'm seeing people using this basic concept and trying to apply it to the modern world. But the problem is this isn't a movie, this is real life.

And I fear this is all still act one.

Problem Solution

Lots of little boxes, sitting in a row.
Lots of little people, shifting to and fro.
Lots of little dreams, hoping against hope.
Lots of little sins, the only way to cope.
Lots of little loves, bright spots in dark.
Lots of little lives, lived with no real mark.
Lots of little minds, unable to see from above.
Lots of little hates, incapable of love.
Lots of little problems, looking for a scapegoat.
Lots of little tricks, lies with a paint coat.
Lots of little troubles, needing a solution.
One big fix, but it'll need a hell of an absolution.

I'm Tired

I'm just so tired.

I'm tired of having to be responsible, having to make sure the people who rely on me get through the day and remain happy, or at least not unhappy, which is not the same thing.

I'm tired of the crushing, ever present doom that hangs over us all, the knowledge that without immediate action the future will be horrible, and that the people who can do that are actively working against it.

I'm tired of not getting enough sleep too.

I'd do the obvious, but the only thing worse that being tired Is not waking up.

The Evil In Our Hearts

The evil, the darkness, you can never win against it. No matter how hard you push back against it, you can never truly be rid of it. There will always be evil in some hearts, and there will always be others ready and able to entice that evil out, for their own beliefs, or for profit, or just for the hell of it. It's not possible to destroy it, there is always another dark pit, another depth ready to unleash itself on us all.

Which is why it's so important to fight them as hard as possible at every point.

The Saint's Day

In theory, I should talk of love.

Generally, because it's meant to be one of the few universal themes that we all experience, the list of which is not huge.

But specifically today, this is the day to discuss love. Either a simple, honest love story, or a cynical takedown of the concept.

Instead, this. Obviously. I try to avoid going meta like this too often, this is meant to be story-based, not a commentary track.

But today, I need to say this directly to you.

I hope you are loved, and love in return. To the amount you need.

Ineffable Messaging

There is presumably a reason, somewhat ineffable, why God works in this way. But the pattern is there. Every couple of centuries, God chooses one man to appear before and reveal the plan. Usually this is an extension of a previous plan, the need for a new testament, and then a new book on top of that, then a whole new branch of religion or whatever. Every couple of centuries, give or take a few decades.

Always a man though. That seems odd, but then again, if a woman had gotten a message, would anyone have believed her about it?

Too Many Butterflies

Don't ask me how I got a time machine, it's complicated. But what's more complicated is my current dilemma.

See, I wanted to go back and stop World War 2, but the problem was that it was inevitable after how World War 1 ended.

So I then set about preventing that, but then that was going to happen eventually because of the politics and rulers of the day, and their forefathers.

I kept going back until I found a perfect place to begin fixing everything.

But my dilemma now, is do I bother saving these Neanderthals that Humanity's wiping out?

Peg And Hole Metaphor

Speaking of metaphors.

Round hole, round peg.

You gotta fit in.

Square hole, square peg.

People tend to react badly to people upsetting the status quo.

Triangle hole, triangle peg.

So don't rock it needlessly.

Round hole, triangle peg.

Not saying you should lie to yourself.

Square hole, triangle peg.

But rather find the situation that fits you, rather than force it elsewhere.

Triangle hole, triangle peg.

But yes, there are times when the status quo is an issue.

Star peg, pinpoint hole.

So when some pegs deny holes, get a drill. And put some holes in them.

Metaphorically speaking.

The Price We've Paid

Cast the spell, pay the price.

You think crushed diamonds were just for show? To use magic, you gotta give up something. Precious metals and rare items are so often used because without them, the usual price for magic is a part of your soul.

Or rather a soul you have ownership over. Hence the market for demonic traders, and for slaves. It can be someone else's soul, if you own it.

Now, if one were to work out how to fool that process and use anyone's soul...

You noticed how little empathy there is to go around these days?

'Die Hard' As A Christmas Movie

Look, I get it. You can't just set a movie in December and toss in 'White Christmas' and have a Christmas movie. You have to have the morals and the themes to have one.

You gotta be about how family is important, about how friends, even new ones, can be family. Something about how money and things are nice but not the true meaning of the season, heck, maybe even something about how empty proclamations of morality aren't as good as true belief. And lots of red splashes.

And since 'Die Hard' has all of those, it's a Christmas movie.