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[socialactivillain]

[ Video switches on to show a man with a ginger ponytail in a hideous green v-neck frowning deeply and looking incredibly disappointed and/or frustrated, sitting on a park bench as dusk settles in.]

Okay, I've been here for less than a day, so would someone mind explaining to me how it is that the United States government can allocate all these funds to keep us imPorts in nicely furnished, comfortable homes in several cities, and expect native businesses and companies to provide us with paid employment, yet its own citizens are still facing what seem like absurd rates of homelessness? Like I said, I only just arrived, but it didn't take me long to find people who have lost their jobs and homes to make way for the growing imPort population.

[ Someone spent his whole first day in Heropa in a park, befriending homeless people. Continuing on, he sighs heavily, as though this is personally wronging and inconveniencing him, not people he doesn't even know. ]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we're to blame for this. After all, it's not as though it's our fault some unstable technology yanked us from our worlds and lives. Of course this world's government would have to provide for us until we can return home. But every single one of us has the responsibility to give back.

So, what are you doing to help? I'll be taking donations to start up a charity for natives displaced by our presence, if you can't come up with anything on your own.

Comments

[socialactivillain]

You know, I hadn't thought about that.

[ He sighs irritably. ] Oh, I'm used to people not taking this sort of thing seriously. If everyone did, the problem would be solved by now.

[burnseternal]

We are all from such different backgrounds, such different situations, that it can only be expected. Patience. Even the most unlikely of souls may come around one day.

[socialactivillain]

If only I could believe that so easily.

[burnseternal]

You have never met another who has turned their selfish inclinations to charitable ones?

[socialactivillain]

[ That startles him, for a moment. He does get awfully cynical sometimes, but this strange alien just described his reformation to a T. ]

—Well, yes. Unfortunately, I've also seen people revert.

[burnseternal]

[He is, of course, thinking of the Red Lanterns, people who were destroyers, conquerors, learning little by little to cooperate with those around them.

The Rogues are a smaller version of that, but a version of them nonetheless.]

Unfortunately, the path of life is very rarely linear. But even after reverting back to old, poor behaviours, that does not mean that there is no hope for redemption once more.

[socialactivillain]

[ That makes him smile, albeit a little sadly. The Rogues, at least the ones who've never even attempted the path of good, aren't good people, and he knows that all too well. But they're still family, in some twisted manner, and he holds onto the probably foolish hope that they'd come around to a better life someday. ]

I imagine you've heard this before, but you're awfully optimistic.

[burnseternal]

Optimistic? Perhaps. I prefer the word hopeful. It is not the belief that people will change, rather, the belief that they can.

But I'm sure that there are those that have told you the very same thing, brother. It is not just any person who comes into a new world speaking of charity rather than outrage.

[socialactivillain]

Huh. I guess that is more of an important difference than I would've thought.

Though, a fair few people are implying I am speaking out of outrage. Not that they're necessarily wrong, of course. It's outrageous to arrive in a whole new world and find it riddled with the same problems I was trying to fix in my own.

[burnseternal]

Would you expect an entirely new world to be free of such problems?

[socialactivillain]

Not expect, no. But hope, maybe.

[burnseternal]

My own words, used against me!

[He seems pretty cheerful about the prospect, however.]

Yes, that is indeed a thing to hope for. But since it is not, we must work towards the world that we know can exist -- though I see that is precisely what you have in mind.

[socialactivillain]

[ He can't help but smile at Walker's cheerfulness. ]

It is. I hope that means I can count on you to help out when I organize some fundraisers?

[burnseternal]

You needn't ask. If you require an extra set of hands, or an extra voice to lend to empowering those without power, I will be here.

[socialactivillain]

Thanks, that's good to know.

I didn't catch your name, by the way.

[burnseternal]

I am Saint Walker. [He inclines his head towards him, a civilized looking greeting.] It is good to meet you.

[socialactivillain]

Hartley Rathaway. A lot of people just call me Piper, though.

[burnseternal]

And which name do you prefer?

[socialactivillain]

Either is fine. What about you, is Saint a first name, or a title?

[burnseternal]

It is a title. Though not one that I insist others call me by; many simply call me Walker.

[None, however, call him Bro'dee. He does not think anyone actually knows his first name.]