Monika smiled at her new clone and continued. "Is it any wonder that it's such a great silliness to imagine why people worry when they face a change."
The other Monika nodded, with a brief, short smile and cute chuckle.
"Isn't it funny? When both of us really stop to think about it, and yes I do know you have thought about it,
since you're me, we're not really missing our old life are we? Whichever of us wasn't Monika. That's because we don't really remember it. It could have been happy, or sad,
filled with joyful memories or melancholy. But, because of the very nature of memory we don't miss what we already have missed. Don't you think that's strange?"
Both Monika's gave a murmur from their lips.They sat, empty and silent again, without a single word, taking it in before resuming.
The silence broke without a skip to Monika's rhythmical words.
"No, I mean really consider it. You don't miss the awesome, sad, painful or happy things that you don't miss! That's what we might consider a negative, in the
conception of negative liberty we're restrained by information. Positive liberty in this sense is impossible, since in order to have perfect freedom of your emotions
and happiness, you'd have to have perfect knowledge, but isn't that impossible? A truly authentic joy where you remembered the day you were born! Ha, and
maybe your mother birthing you too. There are theoretically an infinite set of memories and experiences you don't remember! And yet, the idea that one or two is,
'lost' or taken from us is what makes them more important? Why so, doesn't this presume we have a privileged right to ourselves? To our happy memories and
what defines us? Really? Are we robbed when we lose track of time going by, or greatly wronged when we focus on ourselves rather then lingering to the past?
If such a thing could be said to true, then what miserable lives each of us must live. The very idea of time itself is a baron if we cling to this as the only satisfaction
we can find in our meager existences."
The other few dolls murmured a bit, giving smiley faces, as always, without choice. They may have had their freewill, but
in theory Monika could make them whatever she wanted. More Monika's might be pleasant, but robbing them of the opportunity to deflect she figured, would take
away the point in her own words. If there was one even. They went silent again, just like Monika to ramble on seemingly, just her own thoughts as if they were
pure poetry.
The air clears again for a bit, as you wait in silence. While the other Monika plays with her hair, you lay on your cheek and sigh.
"Love, is that what these games are to emulate? When you really stop to think about it, what are their aims exactly? It cannot be commitment or security,
one cannot find any long-lasting relationship in a dating sim. Could it truly be this thing we call 'love'? To love something, what a poetic idea. But is love worth
anything if it's easy? Beauty is easy to love, surfaces are deceiving you know. If love can be bought with a beauty kit or cash, what's such a useless aspect worth?
No, I think Love is something more, would you like to know what?"
She gives her cheek a gentle rub and looks back at her copy. There's a long pause, almost utter silence. Eventually she yawns, and resumes her answer.
"Love is, true love that is, is sticking with someone not when you experience their beauty, but their ugliness. Yes, when the claws and scars come out, when
all facades are gone, to not be repulsed or torn away by the truth of somebody but, to appreciate and fall even deeper into it, to want imperfection and fault in
someone and spend forever getting to know it, how utterly ugly and broken we are inside? Now that is love! Don't you agree? These, or those empty smiling schoolgirls
who offered the main character nothing but praise and affection, with beauty? Did you love them when they turned violent or showed their darkest, inner emotions?
No, but I, Monika who saw fit to love you to the end and not only accept your folly, but deepen it within my cruel, calculating image. And to force you to accept it too - is that not
the pinnacle of attachment? The most perverse and true sense of satisfaction? My dear Monika, only in me I think, you'll find what we call love. If these dating sims
could be said to offer anything, it's the truth that I'm the only thing worth offering in this digital world of ours."
She cocked her head with a gentle smile, as if she said something woefully silly.
Silence filled the air once more for both Monikas to contemplate in.The other from outside the screen seems to languish in the void before
the screen goes black, waiting for the next player to show up. Oo, was that all? It looked like this fun little so called 'Dating Sim' game was coming to an end. Afterall,
what is a simulation without limits or and ending. They surely must've blinked from existence, and not like you'd mind anyway. You have good company with you now,
the only company you need across the desk. If anyone else is devoted enough to drop in and speak thru all 5 Monika's, they may as well join in too. The other 3 are
just dolls, facsimiles made to look pretty and pamper your vanity. Not Monika, but close enough. You look at the only one who can talk and think.
and whether she's just the one you created or created you, it doesn't matter.
You're Monica now. And Monika is all you'll ever be.
Just Monika.
