Rapt0r & Ibuki/Moravia

[killerwaves]

Comments

[rapt0r]

Then what makes you not human?

[divector]

Hmm? Normal humans don't exactly have the abilities I do, but I also don't quite fit the definition of a Vector. Therefore, I'm neither. That's all.

[ What a question to ask. ]

...I'm more interested in what you define yourself as.

[rapt0r]

I wouldn't call people without abilities normal for one.

[ A pause that might be thoughtful. ]

I'm me. But I've never cared about distinguishing what's "human" like the talking heads or the religious nuts do. The ones who care about mutant evolutions are fossils.

[divector]

I can't see why you wouldn't.

[ What else could they be? That was the line drawn in the sand for as long as she could remember, one she could never cross. ]

Still, that's an interesting way to put it. Though I can't say I know exactly what you mean by fossils there.

[rapt0r]

[ He's really not big on definitions, at least ones like this, so it'll go mostly unexplained for now. But maybe this'll make a bit more sense with the next answer. ]

When people started getting powers it changed everything. Some of 'em were deemed "good" and others "undesirable". Growing a tail meant you were a freak, but being able to fly meant you could be an idol or whatever.

The current do-gooders have moved beyond that into more "acceptable" ways of managing society.

[divector]

Ah, I think I get what you mean, if only part of it. The colony I was born in have long since started walking that road. They preferred those uncomplicatedly useful for their purposes. And anyone else was there to be fodder or stepping stones for ones with more "desirable" powers.

[ The image of Yukinami's face after trying to prove his worth to the researchers enters her mind. ]

It sounds like such a joke to label it "acceptable".

[rapt0r]

Give 'em a while and they'll find nice terms to dress it up in while patting themselves on the back of how it's for the good of everyone. Calling it that is how they sleep at night, or profit from it if they're the type not to care.

And when most people buy into it, anyone that doesn't fit or thinks otherwise gets dealt with one way or another. Or just plain left behind.

[divector]

Oh, I completely agree, and that they deserve every retaliation coming to them. Their ethics only extend to how to keep their image clean before the public, and they expect the lives they ruined to be its building blocks.

I hope their reckoning is close at hand?

[rapt0r]

Really close. But now I'm here, so it'll be a bit longer. There's always a long sidequest right before the end.

[divector]

Not entirely sure what a sidequest is, but from context clues, I'll agree. But I'm curious: is there something important you get from doing this that'll help with that?

[ Asking for a friend interested in changing human society as they know it... ]

[rapt0r]

I didn't come here on purpose. But yeah, there's something here that I can't get anymore in my world. So I'll take that too.

[divector]

I see. An extinct dinosaur perhaps?

[rapt0r]

Not something like that. Something that could change the war back home. We'll win it anyway, but this is like farming an item that was only supposed to drop once.

It makes winding up here more than worth it.

[divector]

Makes sense. Well, I'd take the same opportunity in your shoes. Which is a little frustrating in my situation, I'll admit.

[rapt0r]

Why?

[divector]

Hmn, pragmatism, I guess.

[rapt0r]

No, I meant the frustrating part. Or is it because you're on that side?

[divector]

Sides... I guess so? I'm more annoyed I wasn't given a heads-up.

[rapt0r]

Like I said, none of us were.

[ ... ]

But there might be something here that could make it worthwhile for you, in the destruction angle. If you're really committed to that.

[ There isn't doubt here, but something like curiosity? And a bit of thinking out loud too. ]

[divector]

Still inconvenient either way, but what's done is done.

[ She does remember that being said, so she won't say anything more on that front. ]

Well, I'm willing to hear it out at least. I do want to avoid unnecessary fights with the kids and my group at Tau after all.

[rapt0r]

Depends on what you need.

[ Which is to say, he's not the type to just blindly offer things. ]

1/2

[divector]

[ Good call. She hums, thinking about what to say. ]

That's a tough question. The most obvious answer would be to neutralize the psychokinesis of Blooms and anyone else who could take their place, since they're the ones protecting the researchers and the colony... But anything like that could apply against me and my friends as well. So that could easily backfire.

2/2

[divector]

[ After a moment, she starts chuckling. ]

Whatever you're offering could be interesting, but you called it a bonus, right? I don't think I necessarily need anything that isn't already back home anyway.

[rapt0r]

It's not an offer yet.

[ He's not that kind. ]

I don't usually get that kinda answer when I say I wanna destroy everything, so I guess I'm kinda curious. Need might not be the right word anyway, but buffs and upgrades are sweet.

But since you're sticking 'round, we'll have more time to chat, huh?

[divector]

I know, you want me to sacrifice someone first after all. We can discuss more when it comes up in a more official capacity.

[ She doesn't sound bothered by the idea. ]

But anyway, I wanted to learn a bit more about you and what you wanted to say. So good talk. Unfortunately, this means I'm interested in you not dying now.

[ That probably shouldn't be the takeaway from all this, but Moravia's just gonna be as self-serving as always. ]