373. Wonders of alcohol, 6

(Rose)

As our friends stayed with us for a few days, Bleue shared generously the best samples of her latest batch of liquor.

She had made some changes to her recipe and alchemy over time. It wasn't too strong, and more fruity now in taste.

The previous bacteria we selected and worked with loved it, and humans could enjoy it as well.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Though I shouldn't say that in front of Bleue and Ana. Birds are rare nowadays, and we certainly don't want to hurt our dearest birds here.

Ana too enjoys her sip of alcohol actually. She's a funny bird.

I drink a little as well this time. The taste is nice and the mood is sweet. Only the golden girl remains sober.

I try to explain to our friends that the last time Bleue and I really enjoyed our wine together a little too much, we woke up the next day with a new friend along with us.

Mushio says he can relate to that from his younger days and laughs.

I then mention the european name for daiûas. He now is puzzled.

I've got a feeling he did not meet many of them, despite being in areas where their energy field level should be higher.

I already can't quite remember who told me this area had a higher level of T.I. and how they knew. Maybe something is wrong or the drink is getting onto me.

Bleue is getting cuddly. Our friend laughs away his embarrassment.

Ana and the girl go outside to play probably. The adults try to discuss and share their knowledge.

Though over hours heading into the night, it's getting less and less clear, in either language.

I tried to tell him I was proud he adopted this girl, and that he was teaching her what he knew. It was touching for me. As I had been in a similar situation as her, once upon a different time, I can relate and appreciate.

He seemed to understand what I meant as he nodded quietly. I'm not entirely sure he grasped the extent of what I meant, but it's alright.

~

Bleue fell asleep on my lap. I'm caressing her hair. Her wings sometimes twitch as she dreams.

Mushio looks different. Drunk, but with sober thoughts and speech, roughly.

He speaks very slowly, careful with his words.

Since he's not smiling, and sometimes glares with a worried look at Bleue's tummy, I know what he's thinking about.

There's this slightly fatty bump or spot between the two abdominal lines of muscles Bleue now has. She's showing signs beyond doubt.

R - You still think she will die?

M - It's hard to say. If she was a human survivor, she definitely would. But you two... are very different from all the other humans I've encountered. Maybe... she'll be fine...

R - We've... Been through a lot.

M - I know that... You two are more two of them, than two of us...

I lose my smile, or what was left of it.

I won't deny what he's saying, but I don't entirely like it.

R - How many dünyanın çiçekleri have you met?

M - Aside you and your bird? Three.

R - Only three... How many spoke to you?

M - None could speak.

R - How many tried to kill you?

M - None...

It's like we come from two different worlds.

If the centre of Eurasia and Persia were peacefully deserted, Europe is littered with blossoming beings-like-her, good and bad.

R - You don't want to go blindly further into western Europe...

M - Different areas of the world were affected differently... I want to understand.

We don't know what lies ahead, nor what happened before.

It is a little spooky at times.

R - You were... Almost the only human I've met since I arrived. I've made two friends like you in England. I've seen others and everyone else killed, one way or another... How many humans have you met?

M - Hundreds. Villages rebuilt by survivors. Cities gathering together here and there, and also families isolated in remote areas.

R - Hundreds...

I can barely imagine it now. I'd like to see such a city.

M - Many of them... Probably have died now. I'm sure some will remain. At least for a few more dozens of years.

Cities he's seen in Mesopotamia and elsewhere on his way to older Russia will remain inhabited for a while longer for sure. But given that human reproduction is impossible, population will steadily decline no matter how many have regrouped.

And then humanity last surviving members will vanish gradually over time, like stars as dawn rises.

~

R - What about the computer network? How many survivors there?

M - About two hundreds in the first months. Only twenty left able to contact me the last time I checked.

R - Es ist die Götterdamerung...

M - Sorry?

R - It's... The end of our history that is near.

M - I... don't want to see that...

R - Bleue would say... Then you have to become a hero, and find a way to save this world you love.

M - We can't save the world...

He's getting sad. He looks at me, almost begging with drunk but teary eyes.

M - Could you save the world? Will you?

My answer is unexpectedly firm.

R - No.

~

I'm not that kind of hero.

I don't want to travel back into the past to change fate.

If history is over, then it's over.

I don't love it enough to try resurrecting it.

I don't need it to live and be happy. I'm selfish maybe, but it's what I think.

And I don't want a war of species against the others to claim back our world.

The world is fine.

Humanity, I won't try to save now for many reasons.

My friend is now unhappy with me, but unfortunately we both will have to live with it.

R - I don't want to become a world changing god.

M - You could be a hero, not a god.

R - No, you're wrong. Using your powers to change what is around you, it's the slope of these gods. Trust me, I've seen that slope, and beings-like-her sliding on it without realising where they stood in nature. It never ended well. It won't end well. It never will.

M - We're all dying, and you will let us...

R - I will save your lives if I can, but I won't try to change the world. It's not a war for me.

It's not a few artefacts that will lift the curse over our species.

I don't want to play god beyond myself...

He drinks abruptly another glass. He just wants to forget everything we discussed now.

M - Rose... You're selfish.

I'm a little hurt. I consider telling him off, but I contain it.

Try to be smarter Rose. Think... Why does he say that? No, just, what's a good truth to say...

Something he simply couldn't see from his perspective, or never considered.

He's never met a dangerous self-proclaimed god I also realise. Should I scare him?

No, something else comes to mind. I realise that when he spoke of saving the world, he only meant humanity.

R - You asked me to save the world...

M - Right...

R - The world is bigger than humankind. New species have already begun filling the voids we left. It is not our world anymore. It's the world of the dünyanın çiçekleri now. It doesn't need to be saved, and thought it's really sad, we have to accept mourning what humanity has been. Everything passes.

Mushio sighed.

Then we will forget.

~