Human A: "If you try to kill yourself, I will fight you."
Human B: "...I would not win that fight."
(Note: This is part of a conversation that I actually had with my suicidally depressed partner. And yes, if I thought he was going for it, I would totally fight him.) -- Anon Guest
This, alarmingly, was a common conversation between the two Ship's Humans of the Fanciful Deal. Human Zae had issues that manifested as periodic bouts of severe depression. Their argument usually cycled around to "if you kill you, I'll kill you first," but this time, there was a note in Zae's voice that caused Human Avi to approach it from another angle.
"That's cool," said Human Avi. "I'm prepared to die to defend your life."
"Dude," said Zae. "That is simultaneously the stupidest and the sweetest thing you have ever said."
"You're worth it." Avi elbowed Zae in a companionable Human motion similar to combat. Typical of Humans. "I'd do just about any stupid shit to help you stick around with me."
"Why?" said Zae. "I'm a living train wreck."
"Well, we already covered my predilection for stupid shit," laughed Avi. "But you're a great buddy. This mood you're infested with is a temporary setback. I love you even when you're down like this and I want to help you have all the better days."
"That's still not a reason."
"You want it alphabetical or chronological?"
"You've sorted it like that?"
"The first day we met, you went out of your way to make sure I had a supply of my sanity snack. Even though you were obviously bummed at the time. That's filed under K for Kindness. I have hundreds more. Want me to go off? I got a whole notebook of material"
Human Zae was already smiling. "Ah, keep five for next time. Thanks."
Friendship means looking out for each other. Especially on things they can't help. Even when you've lost count of the number of times that the same problem has happened.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / SNR]
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