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[jericoded]

Is this really it?

[The half-incredulous tone of a guy who is obviously gearing up for an impassioned speech of some sort, but still valiantly fighting the urge.]

A handful of paperwork, [and here he holds up his own file folder,] a mark on the wrist, and an assignment to placate us?

[Someone's vlogging, because as he walks past a nearby burn barrel he tosses his file into it and doesn't even watch the sparks fly up as he continues on his way. Something about symbolically burning the whole damn thing down to the ground comforts Markus enough that he moves on from suggesting outright revolt. For now.]

I'm not moving into a stranger's home, so no one living in De Chima #004 has to worry about a new roommate. And if anyone would like to be a dating app developer, the position is currently up for grabs.

Anyone of a like mind, I'd appreciate your perspective.

Comments

[jericoded]

The helplessness, for sure. [Markus isn't so ridiculous as to think there's a single person here who hasn't suffered it at least once in a while.] That's part of what makes me question whether or not the job assignments really are haphazard. I'm sure someone just wanted to give us something to occupy our attention.

[h2no]

I wouldn't be surprised if you're right on that one. It's a rough situation for all involved. I understand that they can't control us being here as much as we can't control arriving.

It's one of those things that would be nice to have an easy solution but instead everything's on fire for everyone all the time.

[...]

Er. I guess that makes it sound really bad for everyone. I know some people who deserve the break they can get here because of things happening in their homeworld.

[jericoded]

Deserve the break? [Even with all the terrible things happening back home, Markus wouldn't trade that for the triumph they've achieved. If he were being honest, he's itching to tear his way back into the complex and shove himself into the Porter until it sends him home, but he's at least not that stupid. Sometimes.] Must be really rough for people out there. I'm sorry for those whose situations are that dire.

[h2no]

Yeah, me too. It's just how stuff does; it may not be a needed break for me, but my experience isn't universal, of course.

[he shrugs.]

It's the two ends of the scale, I suppose... and the people that get an escape they might not deserve, but that's not as common.

[jericoded]

Difficult to run an immigration vetting process on people from another dimension, I suppose. [Well, Markus isn't particularly interested in that, anyway.] I've been warned of some unrest with imPorts. Is that a result of the ones who don't deserve an escape?

[h2no]

And there's decent arguements for and against it.

[do people deserve a new start here no matter what? does what they did in another universe matter? archie, who almost ended his world through his own hubris and is an ex-mad man villain thinks it does, though he can never tell if that's actually fair or just his self-loathing.

that's not a thought he'll burden markus with, though. poor guy has enough on his plate.]

No. Life has never been kind enough to be as simple, aye? I won't say that ain't contributed to some of the unrest, but despite all the attention we're given it sometimes seems that imPorts become demonized for small things, things outside of their control. I can understand the native frustration-- this is their world we're here in, the transience of our existence here can make it hard to care about lasting effects of some actions.

[...]

I'm probably makin' it sound like it's terrible all the time, but assumin' you're not the kinda guy that likes breaking things and hurting people, it's pretty easy to keep your head down and get by. Prosper, even, dependin' on the powers you got and your general skill set. It's not bad, 'cept when it is.

[jericoded]

A ringing endorsement. [Markus sounds more amused than anything, at least. If he'd ever heard a sales pitch that straddled the fence like this before...]

You don't have to worry about overwhelming me. It's true there's a lot to take in, but I've got a knack for adaptation. I'll manage.

[h2no]

One that could apply to pretty much anything, I'd imagine. Have you been given those files written by Kaneki? They're quite heavily in use, mostly because they're an accumulation of other people's work.

I can't really offer anything else, 'less you wanna know where there's a good happy hour on.

[jericoded]

I got those, yes. Might take a few days to go through everything, there's a lot.

I appreciate what you've given me. I did ask for perspective, after all.

[h2no]

There really is. Uh... let me know if you need any other help, I guess?

--Ah, can I ask what powers you got? They're sometimes pretty interesting.

[jericoded]

I'd rather not share. Was kind of the point of burning the file.

[h2no]

[he blinks dumbly for a moment, then flushes a little. right, of course.]

Ah-- yes, yeah. Sorry for pressin'.

[jericoded]

Don't worry about it.

I don't mind listening to other people's powers, if you were looking to talk about it.

[h2no]

Nah, I was just bein' nosey. [a pause.] Ah-- I do have a healing power, if anythin' happens. There's a few imPorts with 'em. You can call any of us.

I mean, I hope you wouldn't have to, but y'know.

[jericoded]

That's good to know. [For Hank. That mother hen of a grouchy old man.] Is it difficult for imPorts to see a doctor here, or...?

[h2no]

Not at all, but...

[how to put this...]

There's a million different reasons why someone might want to call an imPort with a healing power than go to a hospital, especially if it's an injury that might otherwise be fatal. I won't presume to know those reasons, just that if someone calls me, I'll go.

[jericoded]

[A million different reasons but an injury being fatal is only one of them. That warrants some digging.]

That's very kind of you.

[h2no]

[markus about to find out a lot about human stupidity........]

Eh. I guess. Well, I guess that's that for the welcome wagon... er... good luck?

[jericoded]

And you as well.