islandshore | 67

[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

We don't really have immigration where I'm from, though, and the last time someone showed up from another world, the mayor took her in.

[Needless to say, the Kingdom Hearts world is a... unique case, though, as worlds are very distant from one another, with individual nations hardly a factor, at least in some of the smaller worlds.]

As for crimes, there used to be plenty of bombings, fires, and direct attacks on civilians. These days, it's not as common, but the fact that they never took serious action's pretty telling in my book.

[That makes absolutely no sense to him, so he's just not going to waste his time thinking about Riku's world either.]

So not only is it not worth the time to think about their mindsets, but from what you're saying, they also seem to be rather idiotic. If anything that just seems to provide further evidence that it simply isn't worth wondering about.

Edited 2016-03-23 04:45 (UTC)

Fair enough. Guess part of the reason why I'm even bothering is because I've been here long enough that I've got nothing better to do.

But I think it's silly to keep to ourselves and forget the locals exist. I live in a huge city, so there's people everywhere, and since I run a business, I see a lot of them on a regular basis.

So exposure's another piece of the puzzle.

It's rather hard to forget they exist when they're everywhere, and as you've said, it's their world.

[For now.]

But if it bothers you that much, then why not go make friends with them?

[He doesn't plan on doing it, but go for it Riku, knock yourself out.]

Heh. I've at least tried staying on friendly terms, but I'd be lying if I said it was easy. That whole "us vs. them" mentality's a tough thing to shake, so I can see why you'd rather keep a distance.

[In some ways it's simpler, but he'd argue it's less fulfilling as a whole.]

I won't deny that I possess that mindset, but it's for entirely different reasons. After all, they're competition, aren't they?

[..or at least that's what he's going to say instead of going the honest route and saying something like "everyone sucks but me, Dio."]

Hmm, maybe the Gym leaders, but beyond getting badges and money, I'd argue that they're... pretty tame from a competitive standpoint. Besides, as far as they're concerned, all trainers should compete with each other.

They were doing it before we got here.

[So it's not like they're fighting over resources, right? Well, maybe if the local trainers bought up all the healing items, balls, or other gear, but the supplies seem pretty generous overall.]

Is there anything wrong with that sentiment? Because quite honestly, I find myself agreeing with it. All trainers should be in competition with one another.

[And he, Dio, should stand above the rest of them blah blah blah.]

Nah, but when some trainers don't even push themselves, it takes the challenge away. Like Youngster Joey-- he's always going on about how great his Rattata is, but a rat can only do so much.

I think it'd be great if there was more active competition.

[He has no idea who this Joey moron is but he won't show it.]

I'm surprised. You would think there would be an attempt to form at the least, an unofficial club of some sort. If not amongst us, then one made up of the likes of us.

[People from other worlds he means, not necessarily himself. Unless there's a loser like Jonathan to put in his place, he's not interested in making battle buddies or anything like that.]

Well, I've got the Training Center, but it's less of a club and more of a place for trainers to hone their skills. Wouldn't mind having another tournament, though.

[It's been years, after all, and some more organized competition would at least give seasoned trainers something to do.]

Another? I can't say I've ever heard of the previous one.

Can't blame you for that. It was... geez, at least three years ago now? Some bi-regional cup. Even had some Gym Leaders involved.

Hasn't popped up since, though.

[Which is a shame, 'cause it'd be a great way to get trainers pumped for battles outside of badges.]

Definitely before my time. Still, it sounds like I missed quite the spectacle.

Heh, you could say that. Ran into some pretty tough contenders for sure, and since you could only use three Pokémon, you had to really pick the right type combo, or one bad matchup could ruin you.

Well now, that does sound like quite the challenge.

[Not to him, Dio, of course, but to other people, sure.]

Yep. Makes you wonder why nobody's tried it since.

It's been years, so some trainers have left, others are more experienced. Think you'd compete if given the chance?

I'd certainly consider it.

[Oh please, like he'd miss the chance to show off in front of a crowd.]

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