Noma Tu; Video

[annihiliner]

Fellow imPorts... It's been some time since I last spoke to all of you like this, so for those who have forgotten or who I haven't yet met, I am Lexa kom Trikru.

[She sits in an almost meditative pose alone in a room dimly lit by some flickering flame off-screen, sounding calm and contemplative but firm. A very deliberate effect meant to convey a certain image. Casualness, quiet confidence, and just a hint of fire for those who might wonder if this is more than idle curiosity.]

I'll try to keep this brief, but I have a question--or short series of them--for you. Particularly those who've been here for some time already. This world is not our own, and the consequences of what happens here are... ultimately limited for us. Much more so than for the natives of this land at least, who are each quite powerless in comparison to almost any one of us.

[She tilts her head slightly, and there is a clear and intentional "thinking it over" pause.]

But what does that mean? Do you believe that we have a duty to these people at all? To this world? ...to each other?

Are we meant to be protectors, or guides perhaps? Or maybe it all means nothing, and the problems of this world aren't our responsibility to fix... What do you believe is the best use of our time here? And is it wrong if we refuse to do it? I'm curious about your thoughts on the subject.

Please. Tell me.

Comments

[ Video ]

[dualismum]

I don't think it's a question that has a straight answer. I think that it's important to help others. We aren't born for ourselves alone, and it's important to lighten other people's burdens if we can. [ he helps because it's important for him to help others. ]

But I don't think it should be called a duty, specially because we were forcefully taken from our worlds and homes and didn't ask to be here. While it's important to help another, I don't think it's fair to force or guilt trip someone to use their powers if they don't want to. [ Sasaki has seen too much of that already. And Sasaki is a weapon himself, so he knows quite well what it's like to be forced to fight; towards himself, he clearly has the opinion that "it's his duty", but towards others? he thinks they should be able to choose. ]

What each person wants is important. So I don't think it' wrong to refuse and I don't think it's a duty - I think imPorts should, but only if they want to. [ and a lot of people do, thankfully. ]

video

[annihiliner]

Hmm, I see...

[She gives the camera a fairly blank look.]

So then in your opinion, for those who do feel that desire to help, what is it that they should be doing? Where do you think they're most needed?

video

[dualismum]

Well, there are always those times when there is an attack, either by enemies of USA or even imPorts. We can always help then.

During more peaceful times, there are less... "heroic" things to do, but still plenty. Some imPorts run charities, others take a political approach and hope to better integrate imPorts in this world. Myself, I'm a police officer.

[video]

[sentielemental]

It doesn't matter if it's here or anywhere else. Anybody in this line of work is gonna wonder about it at some time or another. [This is a question Toro's asked himself. After enough times of things going wrong, of course he'd wonder if it was even his place to act. And after a while he came to one simple answer.]

You don't have a duty, but if you're the kind of person who cares, it's too hard not to do something. Because if you stand by and don't do anything, when something happens, you're going to feel like it's your fault anyway. Not everyone is going to have the same role, either, you figure that out for yourself. And if you think you've done enough, it's okay to get out. You don't owe anyone your life.

video

[annihiliner]

And what have you decided for yourself?

video

[sentielemental]

That protecting the people I care about comes first, but I'm not heartless enough to stand by when someone really needs help. [The look on his face shows how he isn't sue how anyone can do that.]

We can't come at it thinking we're the big saviors or the ones here to fix things because this isn't our world and who knows how long we're gonna be here? You want something fixed, people have to want to do it it themselves. We just do what we can.

( text )

[classification]

[ Some of these questions are actually things he does think about more often than he cares to. ]

This world is not my responsibility and I do not consider I have any sort of duty to these people. However, that does not mean I will not do as requested of me should it come down to that. Doing nothing is a waste of time.

text

[annihiliner]

[Oh, sure. She can respond in kind.]

And during the time when nothing is requested of you? What do you plan to do with your time here?

[classification]

My time is my own, is it not? I have pledged it to no one.

[ video ]

[hostage]

I been here for like three years and I got nothing left for me back where I came from. I'd say that means this is my world now, and all its problems are my problems as long as I'm here.

But I can't say what's right for everybody else.

video

[annihiliner]

[Well, she certainly knows about having nothing to go back to. But dwelling on that is... not part of the plan.]

Forget about what's right then. What's useful? For people who consider this world theirs, or at least something worth taking care of, where do you think they're most needed?

[hostage]

We got powers. That's the main thing we got that nobody else in this world has. But each power's different, so what you can do for these people is gonna be different from what I can do.

Like... I heal people. I cure diseases that science in this world hasn't figured out yet, stuff nobody else can fix. That's what I'm good for.

Anybody else who wants to help, I think they oughta look for something like that. Something only they can do.

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[virusbusting]

It wasn't our world first, but from what I understand, we're all pretty much stuck here...so I think it's become our world and we should do what we need to to protect it.

[Fairly simple, but his stance is that if you're there and people need help, help the people however possible.]

I don't think we need to fix everything though.

video

[annihiliner]

So if not everything, then what? Where is it that you think this help is needed most?

[virusbusting]

[He shrugs.]

Well, I mean, you don't need to do everything for everyone, that's not possible...but um...protect the city you live in? Or the neighborhood.

text; anonymous user

[nastygram]

idk about you sister but my reaction to being held hostage is not to start getting all mother theresa

and if your is, i suggest some serious reprogramming

text

[annihiliner]

I don't know who that is.

[nastygram]

super self sacrificial but also kind of a vindictive bitch as it turns out
~catholics~ man what can you do


if i have to help anyone i'm going to help the people in this shit with me
aka imports
the best use of our time is breaking this crappy system and getting the hell out of here

[mightthinkthat]

It means whatever you need it to. I've been told all my life that I have a duty to make use of the skills that I've been given [ by God. Merely what he's been told, though. He'd have used the phrase, but this woman doesn't seem the God-fearing type and it'd seem… pointless. ], else what would be the point of having them?

I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else how to relate to the people here… beyond, of course, encouraging a healthy respect for the local law… but, for myself, I do so hate to be idle and merely being self-interested holds little joy for me.

Public service is something I'm good at.

[annihiliner]

That's certainly a politic answer.

[mightthinkthat]

You're only saying that because I am a politician. It's how I feel about the question, in all honesty.

video.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya's surroundings are much brighter, white walls and white desks, leaving most of the color to the work itself, and there's plenty of it. ]

I don't think we necessarily have a duty to change this world from what it is already. Some of us will still volunteer to try, nonetheless, but I wouldn't consider it any sort of requirement.

We do, I think, have a moral imperative not to make it any worse. And, perhaps, to police our own community, so that none of them will, either.

video

[annihiliner]

How well was that been managed so far?

video YEARS LATER

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty, altogether without ceremony, goes off on a tear - ]

Of bloody course we've got a duty to this world! Ugh, I wish people would just understand that. We're eventually going to go home, and when we do we won't remember any of this. But the locals will. So - our time won't mean anything to us, but it will mean plenty to them. So too bloody right we ought to be donating our time to them.

video

[annihiliner]

[Yyyyeah, Lexa just sort of patiently waits for her to run out of steam.]

But many people disagree? Why do you think they would?