[Text] [Anonymous]

[hachitaro]

[He still doesn't trust people, not here. Not anywhere, really. But he has to know. In a place this weird, he has to know.]

I'm just wondering... who here is not human? You don't need to tell me who you are if you don't want to, but I just want to get a sense for how many people who are not human are here.

I can't be the only one.

And a second question: is it safe for those who are not human here? I mean, I am definitely not like one of those beast things and I have no plans of attacking people. But human-dominated places tend to be somewhat unsafe for us.

And if you are some kind of mad scientist type reading this? Fuck off. We don't need people like you on our asses.

[Is that enough of a difference from his usual typing? He'll have to be careful about capitalization and punctuation so it sounds different from him, but...]

Comments

[kaientai]

Ah, I see! Makes sense that it'd take some time to adjust if that's what it's been like. Someone close to me isn't very fond of humans either, so I spent a lot of time talking her out of eating the ones she didn't like. I think I rubbed off on her a little, but it took a long time before she was even willing to acknowledge any of them, let alone be friends.

You're wise to ask around! It's always easier not to go it alone.

[hachitaro]

I don't eat people but I know some creatures who do. Or would, if they had the chance. I don't dislike (most) humans, it's just a matter of not wanting to end up on an exam table.

There's a whole hidden society of us at home.

Also what do you mean that you're not human 'anymore'?

[kaientai]

It's only natural to be cautious! I'm sure plenty of folks would be grateful to know there's one less someone around here willing to eat them though hehe.

I'm what's called a Servant. That just means this body is made of magic and I'm the spirit of a guy that died a long time ago. Where I come from we're usually summoned for one reason or another, so it's been nice getting to hang around and not be on the job.

[hachitaro]

... Okay that's weird. So you're like a complicated version of a ghost?

[kaientai]

Something like that! The difference is most Servants are known for something, so they're generally not your average ghost.

I'm just a third-rate Servant compared to most, but I do my best where I can!

Used to be it was pretty risky to reveal our True Name. Once someone knows who you are they know what you can do and what your weaknesses are, which is no good if you've got enemies, so you and I sorta have that in common.

[hachitaro]

Oh yeah? So what're you known for? If you're comfortable saying.

That makes sense. No one wants to give their opponents power over them. I know True Names are supposedly powerful, especially among the more western supernaturals. Fae and all that sort of thing.

[kaientai]

Hehe, nah, it's no big secret in this world since it really doesn't mean anything anymore. I sorta helped to shake things up real good where I came from, though. A place called Japan. You got one of those where you come from?

[ he's met several people from worlds more or less resembling the one he knows, but also just as many from very un-earth-like places, so ryouma never assumes, especially with a mysterious person on the other side of the network. ]

I can't take all the credit, but I guess a few of my ideas stuck around.

[ to make an incredible understatement, but he didn't do what he did expecting any praise. ]

[hachitaro]

Uh yeah. I'm from there originally.

If you don't mind me asking, who were you? Are you? Time words are hard when talking about ghosts I guess.

[kaientai]

Is that so! It's a small world! Or... small multiverse?

Anyway! I'm Sakamoto Ryouma, which may or may not mean anything to you hehe. Sorta makes you wonder if there's a version of everyone everywhere else.

[Private]

[hachitaro]

[There is a noticeable pause after that, before he slaps a private filter on it.]

Oh.

You uh. You died just a few years after I was born. And your son and I share a name. The family I hid among liked some of your ideals. That's part of why they left the country - they wanted freedom more than they wanted to be loyal.

Re: [Private]

[kaientai]

Huh.

[ now it's ryouma's turn to be surprised. whatever he might've been expecting, it wasn't that. ]

Guess that bit about a small world is kind of an understatement now!

[ it's a lot to consider. it's one thing for people to tell you you're famous and another to know what your legacy in the future looks like. it hits a bit different when it's smaller. lives outside of his family and his friends were impacted because he'd had an idea and seen an opportunity.

suddenly he feels incredibly unqualified. ]

So! What do you think? Not like I expect you to agree just because your family did. Plenty of people think I'm an idiot!

Pretend that said before not after, my brain is gone.

[hachitaro]

Honestly I think you were great. I've always tried to help others be free of whatever's pushing them down - government or otherwise. Freedom and safety have always been what I've strived for when helping other people.

I helped set up our secret society - the Underground - so that people like me could be free and safe from oppression.

So... um. Thank you.

[kaientai]

[ once again, ryouma is surprised by the response and rendered momentarily at a loss for words, even though he'd asked in the first place. compliments make him a little awkward because he never knows how to take them. ]

Oh.

Well! I'm glad I did alright! No need to thank me though. I just did what I needed to do.

Besides, that's pretty impressive stuff! Secret societies and such? Rocking the boat is easy, but keeping real people safe is a lot harder. You oughta feel pretty proud of yourself for that.

[hachitaro]

We all do what we need to do. That doesn't mean we all do the right thing.

I've been trying. It's been hard, given that there's people who are trying to seize enough power to make us... not secret. But I did my best to stop them. It's out of my hands now. But I'd like to think I at least helped some people.

[kaientai]

Well, as I found it, money makes the world go round. Back in Tosa, people like me were no better than dogs, but even somebody like that can make his way in the world if he got into business.

Easier said than done, of course, but that's why you take care of each other. I never could've done what I did if there hadn't been all kinds helping me out with all kinds of skills I didn't have. I'm glad the folks in this world understand that bit!

Whatever effort you made did help because of all the ways you probably can't see or never noticed either. At the very least, it sounds like you've earned a break from all that pressure. This world has plenty of dangers on its own, but sometimes it's easier to manage when it's different.

[hachitaro]

Yeah, money and power unfortunately still rule the world a century and a half later. But there's people who are vocal about changing things, bit by bit. The spirit still lives on, even if the flesh doesn't.

I mean... I know you're right. It started with a handful of us huddling in a warehouse and now it's a nationwide thing. It attracts more crime than I'd like - forgery and thievery's understandable, things like the sale of clearly unethically gained items aren't - but it's held together for a while now. Of course the people in power are trying to change things for the worse for everyone, but that's why I fought back in the ways that I could.

But I guess I've been permanently retired from that...

[kaientai]

Certain crimes tend to be easier to swallow when the alternative is the end of everything. It's not the sort of moral dilemma anybody wants to be saddled with, but it sounds like you did the best you could.

You had the courage to do what needed doing and left your world in a better place than you found it, so you better enjoy that retirement!

[hachitaro]

I tried, at least. I wish I could have done more, but I can't exactly go back and change the past.

I'm trying to, but Trench seems to be hell-bent on being Weird.