Interview #1: Mint
Good morning. I'm not practiced at interviews, but I think we can work this out together.
Mint: Good morning. I think we can. Sorry to see your sleep was interrupted, by the by.
It's all good. It's tricky for me to get back to sleep when I'm thinking about something that interests me. Hopefully this will put that thought, and me, back to bed. At least I'm dreaming again.
Mint: I can sympathize with that.
Do you have trouble sleeping?
Mint: Not usually. But it happens sometimes. [pause] Let's do a formal introduction before we get too far in.
Ah, good idea. Thanks for keeping me on track. So, for the benefit of future me, and perhaps external observers, I'm conducting a series of interviews. I'm hoping this series will help provide distinct, individual voices to a number of characters.
Mint: I don't wish to chide you over it, but you've elided the fact that you're interviewing fictional characters. Your fursonas. Do you worry others will think that's strange?
Not really. I don't know that everyone has OCs of one type or another, but I imagine most who can relate to conversing with them. Posting said conversation in public, on the other hand...
Mint: That could be viewed as self-absorbed. Or maybe deranged. You're "talking to yourself".
And I thank you for using the scare quotes, because I don't feel that way about it. I don't want you to be me. I want you to be you. So: who are you?
Mint: I'm Mint. I'm a unicorn. I like reading, and conversation, and hot beverages, and exercise.
[pause] I think I expected a more philosophical response to that. Rather, an answer that centered on your attitudes, or your beliefs, or your goals. I'm not disappointed, to be clear, just surprised.
Also, I want to note something for later discussion. I think I consider you and the gang not so much fictional as aspirational.
Mint: "Start small, and dig deep." We'll work our way to those in time. I'm an open book, but it's on you to do the reading. Also, noted.
I think I got hung up on the priority of it.
Mint: You expect I consider my attitudes or goals to have a deeper meaning than my interests or diversions? And, consequently, that I would lead with those instead of "coffee yummy"?
Yup.
Mint: You're right on the former. But I started where I started because they're easy jumping-off points. They're the first things you might see me doing. Things we could do together. Even if the more inner workings are what would drive or repel a deeper interest.
When you put it that way, you sound like you're speaking of romance.
Mint: I'm speaking of a more general person-to-person... interaction... framework? I'm just trying to paint a picture of how one person might relate to another. But it's telling that you detected romance. Would you date me?
I wouldn't be opposed to it. I'd worry I'd feel intimidated, maybe? Insecure?
Mint: "I wouldn't be opposed to it." The coward's yes.
Ouch. It's not like you to tease or be sarcastic.
Mint: Tendency and capacity are different. And I'd think I'm the one who should be saying "what's like me". But I know the bluntness of a sardonic comment (with a tinge of levity to soften the blow) can be disruptive enough to cause you to question yourself.
Now that sounds like something I should be saying.
Mint: Which is why I knew it would land.
I would date you, though. Assuming you didn't turn me down, but I don't think you would.
Mint: I accept most dates, time and energy permitting, of course. I think people are usually interesting to spend some time with, even when I'm not romantically interested in them.
I agree. But I think I lack the energy that you do, so I'm more used to turning people down.
Mint: Knowing you, there's an anxiety angle to that as well. No offense intended.
That's true. [beat] That's twice now. It's weird. I really wouldn't expect you to be so ready to tease or willing to be blunt.
Mint: I'm flexible in conversations. I can develop a good idea of what someone might need to hear and how they might best hear it. You expected someone who was more "[sips tea] Wow. Interesting! Neat.". Someone more acquiescent.
I think I did. Or I expected to you to be overly tactful, less chatty, more the strong, silent type.
Mint: I can be, when the situation requires. But that would make for poor reading. And I can't help but point out how silly it is that you went to interview me expecting me to speak "less".
I still have no clue how I'm going to speak with Ketra.
Mint: [shrugs]
Mint: You'll figure it out.
[beat]
Mint: You did interview me first, by the way. Am I your favorite?
You know I'm no good at picking favorites. But you are my oldest. And, misperceptions about how you would converse notwithstanding, I expected you to be good at facilitating the conversation.
Mint: Oldest living. Let's not forget Kirian.
That's fair. ...I was going to say he was more of a placeholder than a character. But that feels callous.
Mint: He was what you could shape at the time. But you didn't find him particularly noteworthy, and given his link to David, you felt it best to move on.
Yeah.
Mint: ...I was going to say this felt less like an interview, and more like a conversation. Instead, this feels more like therapy.
I expected it might veer off in that direction. Writing is therapeutic.
I think this is a good time to bring up what I noted earlier: that to me, you are aspirational rather than fictional.
Mint: I'm honored. Both to be a target of aspirations, and to be granted passage into the realm of non-fiction.
Well, I can't do the latter. Though I'm sure you'd do just fine out here. Let's get back to the structure of the interview: what do you think I mean by that?
Mint: I'm not sure it makes much sense to have me answer this question just so we can try to stick to the form. I'll answer anyway. You think of me less as an independent fictional character to admire and more as an idealized self to become.
Nailed it.
Mint: Do you think of the others in that way?
I think there are aspects of them that I feel that way about. Or sometimes I desire to have what they possess: a capacity for expressing emotions, an ability for doing things, or even just physical traits.
Mint: In a permanent sense?
I think they're more temporal, as passing desires or needs.
Mint: So you might want to channel Kyraea's cold anger. Or Tenille's leadership. But you want to *become• me.
That's accurate, and those are good examples. I would also emphasize that sometimes it does feel like more of a need than a want. I feel unable to do certain things in and of myself, but with their power those aspirations are within reach. Usually.
Mint: The "usually" being that you can't channel Tempeste's --
No, I can't. And I knew you were going to do that, which is why I'm not as flustered as you were hoping.
Mint: It is fun to tease.
I've created a monster.
...it's the trust that makes it bearable. I trust that you are being playful, not malicious.
Mint: It must be difficult to endure it without that trust. Absent that, it must just feel cruel.
It did. But it's past.
Mint: It's important to say that. To say that is to view that. To view that regularly enough is to habituate yourself to that. That's a tool you use to break or form a habit like being stuck in the past... or being hopeful for the future.
I am thankful you have less need of that than I do.
Mint: Is that how it seems to you?
That's the life I envision for you. Less struggle.
Mint: I appreciate it. But I appreciate having to put in the work as well. Without struggle, what do we overcome?
I can't deny the joy of victory. But sometimes I wish merely for the stillness of peace.
Mint: You should get more sleep.
I should. Thank you for the interview. Or whatever this was. Was this progress?
Mint: I'd say so, even if it wasn't what you expected or how you intended. It's certainly more than I've gotten to speak in ever. I'm thankful for your time.
And yours as well. We'll need to do this again.