cause sometimes the stars seem closer than they should

[oh_worm]

[ This week's party is... a quieter affair. There's not as much salad laid out, but courtesy of Beth and Otis, there's still some, as well as some hot dogs and some other assorted quick foods from the kitchen. There aren't fancy invitations, just pieces of paper slipped under people's doors. ]

Come to the lobby if you don't want to be alone. Sorry it's mostly salad again, feel free to bring other stuff.

-Beth and Otis

[ And that's that. Come mingle and try not to think about the death of a rapidly-aged little girl! :D ]

Comments

[udderly]

All right! Zhu Li it is. [Ruffles the puppy's fur.] When you're older, maybe you'll decide you like a different name better.

[Happens all the time! Sometimes you just get raised as a girl cow and then you grow up and decide your name is Otis. That's just how life goes.]

[carbonairhead]

[ is otis okay ]

Oh, ponies do that too! Well, baby ponies, sometimes, since some of them start out with the same name as their mom. [ ...'Cause THAT'S not weird! ]

[udderly]

[is PONIES okay]

Oh, 'cause sometimes you guys are born with the same symbols as your parents? [sure yeah whatever he accepts this] That's kinda cool.

[carbonairhead]

[ at least i'm not going with the "they are literal baby versions of the adult ponies" like in the uk comics ok ]

Uh-huh. That's exactly why. They're starting to really grow up now, so probably they'll...

[ Oh, growing up sounds like a bad thing to talk about considering what they just saw?? Fizzy goes a little quiet and scuffs her hoof on the ground, abruptly just-- ]

Do you think Zhu Li would like a puppy being named after her? She was very serious all the time.

[udderly]

I think everyone likes having things named after them. It's how you know your legacy and memory are being passed down, you know?

[carbonairhead]

Like how Paradise loves telling stories... [ Hm. ] I wish we could ask her.

[udderly]

Yeah. [Otis sighs, looking out at nothing.] It sucks, but death is part of the cycle of life - people dying means a chance for new life to be born, you know?

[carbonairhead]

Well, I know that. It doesn't change the feelings, though.

[udderly]

That's why we have to keep remembering people. Name things after them, remember the stuff they taught us and teach pther people.

[Otis gets up from where he's been kneeling to talk to the puppy and sighs.]

You can't change the past, but you can plan for the future. Ben taught me that.

[carbonairhead]

Who's Ben?

[udderly]

Oh, uh. [How does he explain Ben?] Ben's my dad, I guess. He raised me and died protecting our farm from wolves.

[carbonairhead]

[ Fizzy gasps softly. ]

O-oh-- oh, Otis, I'm... I'm so sorry.

[udderly]

It was a long time ago. [Like. A year or something, at least. Probably. Barnyard is unclear on this.] Don't worry about it, Fizzy.

[carbonairhead]

Ohh.... If you say so. ...He sounds like he was a really good dad. I'm glad you had him.