Riana's Adventures
Dec. 26th, 2023 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aliyn_ravenShort sketches from the lives of a variety of people through the eyes of an ironic lady.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52497217
https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3370230/1/Riana-s-Adventures
Story-2. The Imaginary Bridge to Real Joy
"When I was a young and lovely girl who, instead of catching an advantageous husband, was searching for modern urban myths, I told everyone who reproached me for being unreasonable that in my old age I would watch TV-series without interference, gossip about the actors with other old women on the phone, and order the nurse at the nursing home to bring me juice. And after me, I will leave this world a legacy for an animal shelter. And she added that the nurse and the boarding house would be interested in my good mood and, especially, longevity, much more than any children and grandchildren, because they receive my money only while I am alive and not by will."
The old lady laughed cheerfully.
"Now I play video games, and it's much more interesting than television series. I hang out on player forums where age doesn’t matter, so I’m always twenty-one." The old lady smiled slyly, showing that she is well aware of the rating of fan fiction and can be a guide among a considerable number of juicy works. "And an apartment with AI, equipped specifically for the elderly and disabled, is much better than a nurse. And no one encroaches on my time or attention. I only do what I want."
Riana laughed in response.
"You've made an excellent life for yourself, Ms. Crane."
They were sitting in a small, cosy living room, outside of which there was a beautiful view of the city. Some people don’t like urban landscapes, but Riana thought they were energizing. Old Lady Crane clearly had the same tastes. Riana smiled and said:
"Your life is perfect not because it is better than others, but because it suits you best."
"Exactly. I understand that someone is happy with a dozen grandchildren and a dozen dozen of great-grandchildren, but this is their choice. And I enjoy my decision."
"And you deserve it, Ms. Crane. I understand how difficult it was in those years to preserve your real self, not to break yourself to please the crowd."
"Yes, it wasn't easy. And at times I was very scared."
"Unfortunately, it's still very scary," said Riana. "The world has become a little smarter and more diverse, but only a little. He still hates everything and everyone who doesn't fit into the long-outdated mold. Alas, life is not a social network; it is impossible to ban vile people there."
"But you can mentally create a wall between yourself and unpleasant people. Tall and thick, through which you can't hear or see anything," Crane advised.
"It doesn't help if you have to do business with vile people. And this happens often in non-digital life."
"Then imagine yourself as a spy like James Bond. Or a superheroine like Lara Croft. You need to save your friends from the enemy's camp."
"What?!" Riana was amazed.
Crane smiled.
"Only small children have imaginary friends, but it is considered absurd for adults. But childhood is the most terrible part of life, filled with a lack of freedom, injustice, and powerlessness. There is a hugely interesting world around, but adults don't let us use it; they force him to do all sorts of dull things and eat tasteless food. When we grow up, we understand that our parents and teachers were often right, but since childhood, we have survived in the camp of enemies. And imaginary friends helped us not to go crazy."
"I think I'm starting to understand," Riana said thoughtfully. "It's a bit like how people who have experienced the loss of a loved one are advised to volunteer at a shelter for the disabled. When you are dealing with the problems of others, there is no time to think about your own suffering."
"And all the soldiers say that you have more courage when you fight not only for yourself but also for a friend." Crane smiled. "Even if friends are imaginary, this doesn't mean that they are not real. How many thoughts and feelings do we give to the characters of films, books, and video games?"
"These are all crutches," said Riana. "But you can go with them. This is better than sitting and waiting for the abomination to deign to disappear."
"And the last bonus: imaginary friends help you break toxic connections in the real world faster and easier. You are not afraid of loneliness. And without hesitation, you leave those friends, spouses, and lovers who have become unpleasant or at least boring. Life is too precious to waste on those who create problems. But at the same time, life is not dimensionless. In order for there to be room for good in it, you must first throw out all the bad. And imaginary friends will willingly help you with cleaning."
"In any case," Riana decided, "this method is worth trying. We are still forced to make the good out of the bad because that is all we have got to make it out of."
"It takes a lot of manure to grow flowers," Crane agreed with her.
And Crane wrote Riana a check for a charity fund that paid for the education of talented children from low-income families in good boarding schools.
Riana smiled. Volunteering has often been beneficial not only for the Universe but also for Riana herself. And it was confirmed again today.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52497217
https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3370230/1/Riana-s-Adventures
Story-2. The Imaginary Bridge to Real Joy
"When I was a young and lovely girl who, instead of catching an advantageous husband, was searching for modern urban myths, I told everyone who reproached me for being unreasonable that in my old age I would watch TV-series without interference, gossip about the actors with other old women on the phone, and order the nurse at the nursing home to bring me juice. And after me, I will leave this world a legacy for an animal shelter. And she added that the nurse and the boarding house would be interested in my good mood and, especially, longevity, much more than any children and grandchildren, because they receive my money only while I am alive and not by will."
The old lady laughed cheerfully.
"Now I play video games, and it's much more interesting than television series. I hang out on player forums where age doesn’t matter, so I’m always twenty-one." The old lady smiled slyly, showing that she is well aware of the rating of fan fiction and can be a guide among a considerable number of juicy works. "And an apartment with AI, equipped specifically for the elderly and disabled, is much better than a nurse. And no one encroaches on my time or attention. I only do what I want."
Riana laughed in response.
"You've made an excellent life for yourself, Ms. Crane."
They were sitting in a small, cosy living room, outside of which there was a beautiful view of the city. Some people don’t like urban landscapes, but Riana thought they were energizing. Old Lady Crane clearly had the same tastes. Riana smiled and said:
"Your life is perfect not because it is better than others, but because it suits you best."
"Exactly. I understand that someone is happy with a dozen grandchildren and a dozen dozen of great-grandchildren, but this is their choice. And I enjoy my decision."
"And you deserve it, Ms. Crane. I understand how difficult it was in those years to preserve your real self, not to break yourself to please the crowd."
"Yes, it wasn't easy. And at times I was very scared."
"Unfortunately, it's still very scary," said Riana. "The world has become a little smarter and more diverse, but only a little. He still hates everything and everyone who doesn't fit into the long-outdated mold. Alas, life is not a social network; it is impossible to ban vile people there."
"But you can mentally create a wall between yourself and unpleasant people. Tall and thick, through which you can't hear or see anything," Crane advised.
"It doesn't help if you have to do business with vile people. And this happens often in non-digital life."
"Then imagine yourself as a spy like James Bond. Or a superheroine like Lara Croft. You need to save your friends from the enemy's camp."
"What?!" Riana was amazed.
Crane smiled.
"Only small children have imaginary friends, but it is considered absurd for adults. But childhood is the most terrible part of life, filled with a lack of freedom, injustice, and powerlessness. There is a hugely interesting world around, but adults don't let us use it; they force him to do all sorts of dull things and eat tasteless food. When we grow up, we understand that our parents and teachers were often right, but since childhood, we have survived in the camp of enemies. And imaginary friends helped us not to go crazy."
"I think I'm starting to understand," Riana said thoughtfully. "It's a bit like how people who have experienced the loss of a loved one are advised to volunteer at a shelter for the disabled. When you are dealing with the problems of others, there is no time to think about your own suffering."
"And all the soldiers say that you have more courage when you fight not only for yourself but also for a friend." Crane smiled. "Even if friends are imaginary, this doesn't mean that they are not real. How many thoughts and feelings do we give to the characters of films, books, and video games?"
"These are all crutches," said Riana. "But you can go with them. This is better than sitting and waiting for the abomination to deign to disappear."
"And the last bonus: imaginary friends help you break toxic connections in the real world faster and easier. You are not afraid of loneliness. And without hesitation, you leave those friends, spouses, and lovers who have become unpleasant or at least boring. Life is too precious to waste on those who create problems. But at the same time, life is not dimensionless. In order for there to be room for good in it, you must first throw out all the bad. And imaginary friends will willingly help you with cleaning."
"In any case," Riana decided, "this method is worth trying. We are still forced to make the good out of the bad because that is all we have got to make it out of."
"It takes a lot of manure to grow flowers," Crane agreed with her.
And Crane wrote Riana a check for a charity fund that paid for the education of talented children from low-income families in good boarding schools.
Riana smiled. Volunteering has often been beneficial not only for the Universe but also for Riana herself. And it was confirmed again today.
