Conversation · Tiago

"Yeah, I guess I have a bit of a problem, and it's been getting out of hand lately, but..."

He's a born preacher. Enjoy the rhetorical flourishes, but remain vigilant -- don't let him get too close. He's crazy.

Vigilance is practically my middle name. I won't let anyone talk me into anything unreasonable.

That's right. You've got to watch your own back.

Wait, what qualifies as too close?

Giving away all of your possessions, sacrificing a limb to appease an angry god, trying to live on air and light alone as though you were some kind of plant...

Hey, you already practically sacrificed a limb when you got shot in the tribunal... it's nothing major!

I think I'm willing to try crazy. Anything to stop this suffering.

Seems it's already too late. Have fun on the kooky train.

"I'm not scared. I just don't understand why the female sexual organs have to be associated with weakness."

"You've really got a case of frayed nerves. Pussy in this usage comes from pusillanimous. Everybody knows that."

Uhm.... oops?

"Chill out, man. Here you can receive the Mother's love, and, when you're ready, she will take your hand and lift you out of the despair at the bottom of the bottle."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to receive the Mother's love. You can, too, homes. And, when you're ready, she will take your hand and lift you out of the despair at the bottom of the bottle."

"The right place for what?"

"Hey, who's there?"

Say nothing. Be quiet for now.

"This is the police. Show yourself!"

One day, you may be able to scale this tower. But it won't be today. Neither your sinews nor your spirit could handle this ascent.

I'm a man in his prime. I should be able to do anything. This isn't fair.

You might be that numerically, but you've really done a number on yourself too.

When your mind is clear of the neurotoxins you've been injecting it with for years, and your body regains some nimbleness and swiftness, you might achieve such a feat.

You're not doing that bad. But, yeah, there's some distance to go.

And your mind's pretty clear, all things considered. In fact, it's too clear for you to be buying into this climbing vision quest.

(Look at your bottle.) But it makes me feel more powerful...

That's just whiny bullshit. Get it together.

"Hey, man. I see it in you -- you are prepared to surrender yourself to the fire of revelation. But you're still a bit shaky spiritually." He looks you over. "You're also just, physically, shaking."

"Keep the flame in your soul alive, though. One day you'll make it up here, if you put in the work."

I don't care about the physical stuff -- I'm in it for the spiritual experience.

Some people will find that attitude admirable... but it's not going to help you scale these beams.

I feel like I am failing as a man. I am ashamed.

There still may be time to recuperate. Just grit your teeth.

Yeah, you were getting a tad too ambitious there.

But, can't deny it -- your mind's pretty clear, all things considered. In fact, it's too clear for you to be buying into this climbing vision quest.

Seriously what were you even thinking? You haven't been putting the work in to pull off a stunt like climbing to great heights like a cat.

When, then?

When your mind is clear of the neurotoxins you've been injecting it with for years -- and your body regains some nimbleness and swiftness.

Oh well, didn't really care about climbing up some stupid beams anyway.

Yeah, sure. There are other things we could do. But, man, it would have been cool.

Nope, not happening.

Sorry, but you just don't have it in you right now.

"What were you even trying to do, man? I believe you can overcome your problems eventually, if you purge yourself of your wilfulness and seek the Mother's guidance. But this, right now, would be some suicidal shit."