islandshore | 67

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67 - video;

[It's late at night when Riku turns on the feed. Judging by the starlight surrounding him he's outdoors. Lights from the surrounding cityscape shimmer from afar. The camera hovers behind him as he rests along the edge of a roof.

It hovers closer, and he finally turns around, gaze distant despite the camera's close proximity.]

You ever stop to wonder about our place in this world?

[Why, yes, it's one of those messages.]

I mean, think about it. We're dragged from our homes, dropped here and expected to play by their rules. And sure, some of us are successful. We've had businesses sprout up from nothing, helped fight off giant monsters, been invited to proms...

Still, we're outsiders, and sooner or later, we might disappear, and all the work we do here gets left behind.

[He looks up, sighing softly.]

It just got me thinking... What do the locals think about us? Do we count as citizens, even though we aren't part of the world? And how much do they really know about us in the first place?

[Heh.]

But maybe I'm over thinking it. I mean, this is a world that somehow manages to sustain itself even without an obvious education, limited career paths, and a surprising amount of pacifism in the face of crime. Community service as catchall punishment's kinda light, after all...

[Leaning back, Riku shrugs.]

I don't know. What are your guys' thoughts? I've got time to kill.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're right; it is an open canvas, and I'd say I've changed for the better during my time here. I'm just surprised at how... simple things get. It's gotten me wondering where all the professors come from. Heck, where all the nurses come from. The engineers, the cops, all the people whose talents don't relate to battling and breeding.

[There's a short pause as he gazes up at the moon.]

It'd be nice to hold onto those memories, though. It's just a tough call. Some people come back remembering their previous stays, but others don't. Plus, there's those weird weekends where people come pouring in like a tidal wave...

Glad to hear that you're having a good time, though. The end of the world sounds... well, rough's kind of an understatement, isn't it?

Honestly, I don't know. Maybe there's training academies we just don't know about.

[He sighs and glances over at some of his Pokemon off screen, smiling slightly.]

Yeah. It's... well. I made some bad choices. I didn't help things. Then I got shoved into a... bad situation here.

[The Pokemon he was staring at - a Vulpix - wanders over and plonks herself on his lap. He pets her as he looks back at Riku.]

But I think now I've settled into something that's a little... easier. And I can have kind of a normal life. I grew up pretty rich and separated from other people, but here... no one cares how rich I was, or who my family was. I've had to learn a lot of things, but I think I'm better for it.

Heh. Think I might know what kinda situation you're talking about, but I won't press it.

[There's one bad situation that always comes to mind: Team Rocket. He's seen innocent people shoved onto the team before, and while most broke away, it was far from a pleasant experience.

Still, that's none of his business, so rather than pry, he opts to fidget with one of his Pokéballs.]

Guess a normal life's kinda refreshing after what you went through before. I'm kinda the opposite; always wanted more than what I had. Still kind of do, even now. Is that weird?

[Good, because he's not going to mention it on a public network post.]

... No, I don't think that's weird. I think that's a natural part of growing up, honestly. I was the same way, back home. My family wanted one thing for me, but I wanted more than that. Here... I actually get it, in a lot of ways. Sure, I didn't account for the animals that can spit fire, but I can actually have whatever friends I want and listen and dance to whatever music I want without worrying about them breathing down my neck and disapproving.

Let me guess. They wanted you to follow in their footsteps, right?

[That seems to be a common trend. Overbearing parents shoving their expectations and regrets on their kids... He may or may not have experience with this.]

There's definitely a lot of freedom here. For some reason, the locals let their kids go at such a young age, so I guess the expectations aren't so strict. Honestly, I'm amazed this place is as stable as it is with so many ten year olds running around, but I guess there's a nice kind of innocence about it.

Yeah. To lead and to command, really. They were very... business-focused, and my brother... I think he wanted me to surpass him in a lot of ways. He just didn't... expect me to do it the way I did.

[Because he had, hadn't he? He'd grown stronger... but at the cost of too much.]

Yeah, it... really is nice. The people here don't care about what your expectations from your world were, because it doesn't matter. You're a trainer or a breeder or whatever, and... it's a decent way to learn responsibility, I guess. They don't make kids work too hard, but they also teach them how to function in a society. Maybe it's better this way.

Geez. Didn't they realize that shoving those expectations on family usually backfires?

[Probably not, seeing how it's such a common trend in the first place.]

And sure, it's a good way to learn. Caring for Pokémon is hard work, especially since they're so intelligent. It's different than raising a pet, I think. Sure, you've gotta feed them, but it's so easy to take training in the wrong direction.

I should know.

Maybe. I can't exactly ask him now.

[Ugh...]

They definitely have a mind of their own. I have a few Pokemon who are convinced they're heroes of justice or something.

...You too?

[He snickers, shaking his head in amusement.]

You should see my Hawlucha. He's always tossing around roses and striking stupid poses in front of the mirror.

Oh? That sounds... pretty hilarious.

[He manages a small smile.]

I wish I could tell more easily what some of them are thinking, but my Psychic-types... they're kind of... they don't like listening to me very much.

My Psychics are usually pretty cool about communicating, and when they aren't, I've got my Weavile.

[And it's here that he probably owes an explanation... Smiling sheepishly, he adds--]

Slash... talks. And by talks I mean he never shuts up. Spent a whole year trying to learn how because he got the idea in his head that he was "sophisticated."

It was... an experience. But do your guys actually try to fight crime and stuff?

... Huh. Really? That's... weird. And no, they don't really go out and rescue people but if they're out and someone trips and spills their books or something they have to go help. Dramatic poses and everything.

It's actually kind of funny to watch - or it would be the first two or three times. After that it just gets kind of annoying.

Oh man. Do they ever succeed at helping, or do they just make a big show out of it?

[He suspects he already knows the answer, but it's worth asking all the same.]

At least they aren't making a big deal about how Pokémon have the potential to rise above their limits and be seen as equal members of society. Because seriously, that gets old fast.

Kind of the latter. But... it's weird, to try to think about that. Just how smart are they compared to people?

I'd say it varies from species to species. Like, plenty of Pokémon are specifically stated to be as smart as humans. Lapras, Lucario, most Psychic types.

Most of mine seem to at least understand what I'm saying, but then there's my Aerodactyl, who's... pretty feral. Used to try and dismember me any time I went near her, and reasoning with her was out of the question.

Mm. True. I have a Vulpix who acts like a lap cat, and a Rapidash who acts like most horses that I've seen at home. Still... I have to wonder what they think of us sometimes.

You could always ask. Even if they can't talk, all the Pokémon I've seen are pretty expressive.

[Granted, animal body language can be tricky to read sometimes, but after six years, it's not quite as jarring.]

But honestly, I'm more concerned about the Pokémon like Yamask and Phantump. I mean, they used to be humans, and now they get captured like any other Pokémon.

I dunno. Maybe that's just how the afterlife works here...

Could be, but doesn't it raise some weird questions? Like it actually okay to train them? How do they even feel about it?

Maybe I'm over thinking things, but it's a little unsettling...

I... guess maybe you could ask them? I mean some people have beliefs that they'll reincarnate into an animal or something, so I guess you could ask if it's okay to train a dog or whatever. I guess if they don't seem to mind - and a lot of Pokemon seem to be perfectly capable of making their wishes known - I don't think it's that bad.

Yeah, you're probably right.

As it is, the people here are so into Pokémon that they'd probably find it cool. I mean, when your entire culture revolves around them, it might even be an honor.

Plus, they'd get powers, and that's always a plus.

Still, Phantumps are dead kids, and that's different from just reincarnating after old age.

... Yeah, it is. It'd be... nice if people could come back if they died before they got a chance. It'd make things... fairer, in some way?

Maybe not. Maybe it's just a story that people made up. I mean, can anyone really know for sure about that kind of stuff? But if someone you know died young it would be... nice if you could see them again.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

67 - video;

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[Video] sorry this took so long! was at a con

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