[ Audio ] -> Mirror!Network

[ghoulking]

I don’t really celebrate Christmas but New Year is much more important in my country. Still, thank you to all of those who remembered, and I do hope you had a good holiday. [ but he'll focus on the "New Year" subject ] Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. That means, all duties are supposed to be completed by the end of the year – I’m curious what tasks do you need to finish before then. And also curious about what New Year's resolutions you have in mind.

Being here always makes it difficult to plan ahead, but some people have been here for far too long, as well. So I don't think it's wrong to think about a future here. [ though his future is always so very questionable. 


ANYWAY.

The happy funtimes are over, though, and Kaneki will get on the mirror!Network next because he doesn’t trust the government and this is a touchy subject. ]

On a very different and more serious matter, I'd like to ask for your opinion regarding registration. Let’s assume an imPort arrives and they require something to survive and without it, they’d die. The government is willing to provide it as long this imPort is registered. However, if they don’t register and try to acquire whatever they need through other means, it’s considered illegal and they will be thrown in jail for it.

How truly optional would this registration be, then?

Comments

Mirror! Audio

[dirtyredneck]

It ain't optional.

Mirror! Audio

[ghoulking]

Indeed. Which means that some imPorts really don't have this choice the government claims to give all of us.

Mirror! Audio

[dirtyredneck]

Yeah. I'm aware.

[Didn't he witness a similar discussion with Kaneki... no Sasaki... a few months back where he was going on about how grateful he was for being registered and being allowed to live safely and under the government's thumb? Yeah. He was pretty sure he did. One where he'd stepped in and tried to help smooth things over with Tetsuo. So this was a definitely a heel-face turn on the kid's part.

Or maybe not. He'd been through some shit when he returned home. The whole limbs being weird and missing eye thing, that would do a number on anyone.]

You planning on doing something about it?

Mirror!Audio; Private

[dendarii]

Quite mandatory, in this case. As we'd discussed previously. It's hardly a choice at all.

Has Lord Baelish contacted you on the topic yet?

Mirror!Audio; Private

[ghoulking]

We have. I thought I should also ask the opinion of fellow imPorts, just in case the question of what the others thought came about. [ of course he worded it the best way he could without freaking anyone out. He has a feeling if he said the requirement was human flesh, many would not so easily agree ]

And he has not. I imagine he will be doing so soon.

Mirror!Audio; Private until noted otherwise

[dendarii]

Mm, an excellent idea. Let me know how that goes.

[ He rubs at his face a bit, looking down at his comm. There's a pause. ]

I will leave the details to him. But - I did have a question about how that aspect of yourself works. We were considering alternate solutions.

Audio

[dun_moch]

A happy New Year to you, my young friend. I am pleased to say that I have no lingering tasks to trouble me before this year ends. Things are proceeding quite well, in fact.

As to your other question, I believe you already know my feelings on the matter. Registration is supposed to be a choice. A choice made under threat of death or arrest is no choice at all. The policy you describe would be deeply wrong, and would require changing.

Audio

[ghoulking]

I'm glad to hear. What are your plans for the next year, if it's alright to ask?

I agree, and I'm hoping others will feel the same. While many don't care much about registration, I think it's mostly due to the fact that they still have a choice - I wonder how angry everyone would be if there was on choice in first place.

Audio

[dun_moch]

I am considering a change in careers. I do not intend to continue leading a... 'metal band' forever. Even if I am not Ambassador, there are other ways I could contribute more to imPort politics.

I hope that your expectation is proven true. It has sadly been my experience that people can muster great apathy in the face of almost any injustice. But the thought that Registration might be necessary to eat... perhaps that will rouse them.

audio; private

[baetiful]

Whether you celebrate or not, I do hope you had a wonderful holiday as well, Kaneki.

The ambassadors recently sat down together to discuss what you've brought before each of us. We came up with a few potential solutions to your specific problem, but more importantly, we were all in agreement that within the New Year, we will gather each of our government officials from our states and grant you an audience with them. I believe it best that you speak on behalf of your beliefs.

audio; private

[ghoulking]

Thank you. I hope you did too. [ a pause ] Do you celebrate Christmas in your world?

[ but well, the news about the audience are much more interesting, actually. Kaneki doesn't want his specific problem to be fixed, and rather show the government that many might have problems due to their rules. If he can do that, then it's enough. ]

Hm, that's good news. Will the ambassadors remain neutral on this, or are you willing to tell the government you agree with me?

audio; private

[baetiful]

We had no Christ and therefore no Christmas. There are not even any holidays similar to the grand event this Christmas happened to be. So it was...an experience to say the least.

[ He lets out a soft laugh before he sobers to address Kaneki's question. ]

I cannot speak for the others, but I shall offer support however you need. Arranging the meeting itself is a sign of our agreement, but I am willing to put that into words if my words will carry any weight.

Audio

[tacticianing]

It isn't.

Audio

[ghoulking]

Right? [ he already expected that answer ]

And as it isn't optional, is it fair that some imPorts get to choose, and others do not?

Audio

[tacticianing]

[Another obvious answer, but this time he doesn't even have to give it.]

No part of any of this has been fair.

[mirror network]

[devoutish]

Isn't it funny how some choices aren't really choices at all?

[mirror network]

[ghoulking]

Indeed. Specially when some insist on still calling them so.

Discrepancies like that can be quite troublesome.

[mirror network]

[devoutish]

How are our lovely ambassadors handling it?

Mirror | Audio (Private)

[unbreaker]

[Kaneki knows where Josuke stands with regards to registration. The idea isn't one he likes. He never has. When he first arrived, he'd been unsettled for a while, and the only reason he'd changed his mind was the fact that it was easier for him to help other people if he was a registered imPort. There's also the fact that he's not entirely sure being unsettled makes a difference except in name alone. After all, they're already tattooed without their consent...and of course, Kaneki's situation only serves to make Josuke hate the whole thing more.

Which doesn't mean he doesn't understand the need for keeping track of imPorts, but he does think there's a right way to do it. And a wrong one. The government's definitely utilizing the latter, forcing people to do what they want because they have the means, the leverage. It's disgusting.]

I haven't really thought about resolutions, you know? But I got accepted to Heropa's police academy like I wanted this month, so that's pretty exciting.

What about you, Ken? Got stuff to wrap up or big plans for the new year?

[It goes without saying that once he's hired as an actual officer next summer, he'll do whatever he can to help Kaneki.

Actually, you know what? He's just gonna come out and say it anyway.]

For the record...registration's bogus. If you ever need any help because of the shit they pull, I've got your back. Always.

Mirror | Audio (Private)

[ghoulking]

You did? Nice. [ he hums softly ] Officer Josuke has a nice ring to it, I think.

But my plans won't be wrapped up this year, I think. Still, I don't they will drag for too long into January or February. [ it depends on how much bureaucracy the government puts on him and the ambassadors to prevent them from getting anywhere ]

Don't worry, though. Things are alright, and I'm not registered anymore, anyway.

[unbreaker]

Probably a lot easier to say than Officer Higashikata for some people, huh?

[Hazel. He means for Hazel.]

And I'm not worried. Unsettled or not, I know you can look after yourself, but what kinda friend would I be if I didn't at least offer? You'd do the same for me, I know you would.

voice.

[glowsferatu]

This...probably isn't going to be a very popular answer, but you've rather loaded the question to get the answers you want. But, respectfully? I don't think it's nearly as unreasonable as you're trying to characterize it.

First of all, the specific "something" you need to survive is heavily regulated, not only due to cultural taboos, but for the sake of public health, and to prevent the spread of disease. Have you read about Earth's history with medicine? It's really a wonder any of them survived this long at all! Simply put, your diet is comprised of typically biohazardous material. That's assuming, of course, that they're already dead, and you aren't inclined towards the most obvious, and most obviously illegal, method of acquisition. This comes with risk for them, so of course they're going to want some cooperation from its potential recipients. That's just good sense.

Secondly, I think you'll find that very few people are simply given the necessities of life for free, and no one lives an ideologically pure existence. Making compromises to continue to live without disrupting the lives of those around you is...well, that's what makes a society. Most people in this world pay much higher costs for it than we would have to.

Which brings me to my third point, and it's a question I've never heard a satisfactory answer to. Not in three years of asking. What is it, really, that makes registration such a terrible cost to pay? How would your life in any way be different whether you're registered or not, aside from your basic survival needs being fulfilled?

voice.

[ghoulking]

If you wish to be specific towards my case, I will be, Kanaya.

Regarding your first worry, you say it's a biohazard, but I was still doing it when I had registration status. It doesn't change the fact that it has to happen, public health or not. I never stated I was against regulation or paying a price - neither I stated I wanted to grab my food, take it to the middle of the park and eat it there. If a requirement is to acquire what I need in a laboratory and to feed inside that laboratory or a specific designated area in order to save public health, then it shall be. This was never about where I feed.

And brings it to the fact that I never once said I wanted anything for free. I can very well pay for what I need, if that is a requirement. This is not about price, either.

And your last point, registration is an easy point when there is a choice, Kanaya. If from the beginning everyone was forced to register ether they wanted it or not, that would be one of the biggest issues imPorts would be fighting - after all, we all want the allusion of choice. But the registration status, even if it's an illusion or not, it's also branding, which not everyone is willing to have. Still, in less moral terms, if they can force someone into registering by using basic necessities, they can end up forcing them to do anything else if they feel like it. And i'm tired of being used and being someone's weapon, I'm tired of having a hand on top of my back, I'm tired to be on a leash and in constant need to appease my "saviors" who hold the key to my survival.

But above all, I don't want to be in any way supportive of a government who allows the Russians to go unpunished after they have tortured and brainwashed us for a week, and that their only answer was to completely level down a non-Russian city, killing everyone in it.

video;

[helpline]

Depends on the something, of course. After all, humans require food to survive and yet the government doesn't give them gift baskets on arrival.

video;

[ghoulking]

I never said the government had to give anyone anything for free. Even if the government doesn't give them food, they can still acquire that food, usually using money.