Unknown: “Why do you go out of your way to ignore duality?”
Me: “Because nothing, and I do mean no thing, is that cleanly divided. Duality works for some applications, but in a limited paradigm and under certain circumstances.”
U: “But it works!”
Me: “So does kissing an ouchie to make the pain stop, but you don’t see random strangers kissing each others scrapes at the bus stop. Limited applications in limited circumstances.”
U: “But you display duality! Living eye, dead eye. Tattoos on good skin, scarred black skin. Even your bloodline…” ~slap~ “Ow!”
Me: “That kind of thinking leads to eugenics and genocide. Shut the fuck up. It’s so easy to fall into literal black and white thinking. Yes, my appearance gives the illusion of duality. But to see that you have to willfully ignore all my attributes that don’t fit neatly into your tiny box. And those attributes far outnumber the distractions that have you caught fast.”
U: “But…”
Me: “How do you fit my three part spirit in a two chambered box? How do you fit my gender fluidity in a two chambered box? Where does the Thrice Carved Elm fit? The Shambling Friend? I’m not even ambidextrous in the Waking! Where does that fit? How do you force a many faceted life into a flat plane? By ignoring what doesn’t match your expectations. By ignoring nearly all of me. Do not confuse happenstance with intention. Correlation is not causation.”
U: “So those that have duality worldviews are wrong?”
Me: “They might be. They might not be. It’s not my call to make for their personal life. Just like it’s not your call to make for me.”
U: “But I see it so clearly! How can you deny it!”
Me: “When you see where even Malphas can’t reach, then you have the information to make that call. But you still won’t have the right. You never will. I have had my appearances remade several times in just the past three years. I’m not done accumulating scars and marks. I’m not done exploring my pieces. Yes, there are times when a duality paradigm works for me. But there are many more when it doesn’t.”
U: “You should just pick a faith and stick with it.”
Me: “Faith? Where did that enter this discussion? The fuck does faith have to do with this? Are you conflating worldview with religion? Is that why you’re so persistent that I see myself as you do?”
U: “I see…”
Me: “Darkly. If at all. However, this little tête a tête has yielded an epiphany to me. And for that, I thank you. However, I still regard you as full of shit for ignoring my personal decisions and insisting that I think like you. Don’t cross my path here again.”
~exit~