VIDEO: 001

[fource]

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Quatre Raberba Winner. It's nice to meet you all.

It's only been a few days since I arrived in this universe, and I acknowledge that I'm still adjusting. There are a number of differences between the Earth Sphere that I'm familiar with and this world, some of which could put my home to shame. The level of medical care available here alone should be a cause for celebration. At the same time, I see report after report of conflict between the people who were born on this planet and those of us from other universes, which... [he probably can't just say "means this place still needs some work," so after a moment of frowning off to the side of the camera, he just moves on to the crux of his navelgazing.]

...My understanding is that my fellow new arrivals and I will be invited to a "swear in" within a few days, where we are asked to declare our loyalty to the laws of this country in exchange for certain benefits. I'd like to announce my intention to decline to swear this oath-- not out of disrespect for this country and its laws, but in protest on behalf of the native citizens. If we want to address the root of the difficulties between natives and imPorts, in order to even the differences between us, it must fall to the side with more power to make the first move. With that in mind, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of accepting free housing, guaranteed employment, and a living stipend for my presence here if those same rights aren't extended to the native citizens in this country. We didn't choose to come to this universe, but neither did they, and I can't accept the idea that we are awarded privileges that they are not. It’s no surprise that our relationship is rocky if the foundation that starts it is so unequal.

I would like to make my intentions clear now so they are not misunderstood. I can only speak for myself, but this seems to be the least I can do.

With all of that said... [for a moment, he looks uncertain, like a normal teenager instead of someone who just rattled off a bunch of nonsense about political responsibility] they mentioned that no one back home notices that we're missing, and that when we return, it's as if we never left. How is that... has anyone been able to confirm that's the case? For everyone?

Thank you all for your time.

Comments

video

[wronganswer]

[ Anderson actually listens to this whole monologue with no evidence of impatience or boredom. She's a thoughtful person despite what sort of life her circumstances threw her into. ]

I hadn't thought of it that way. The government clearly prefers us to register, so I was intending to comply with local regulations.

I agree that we owe an obligation to the residents of the country housing us.

[fource]

[Bless Anderson and her comic book patience.]

They seem to prefer it, but they do give us the option. [And look, that means something! The government should buzz off anyway, but it's a start.] I think there's a way to do what we can to help the native citizens here without being treated as superior to them. [Then he smiles, a little more relaxed, before this turns into a second lecture on political responsibilities etc.] Hello again.

[wronganswer]

[ She doesn't mind listening when people have things to say that they put time, thought, and emotion into. Hell, she spends half her life listening to people, overtly or covertly.

She smiles briefly, there and gone, but sincere. ] Hey. You seem like you're settling in.

[ After a moment: ] My main concern was abiding by the law if I need to arrest anyone. Apparently if you're registered, it's legal. [ She's single-minded, that's for sure. ]

[NOT HERE]

[hellrisen02]

[Sometimes you're just sitting, enjoying a cup of coffee and reading the news when you get a little... tickle in the back of your head. An intuition that you should check the network.]

[And then you almost spew and choke on your coffee.]

[...After he regains a modicum of dignity, and considers that it's Quatre, he decides first contact is best done in private.]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob has his arms crossed and eyebrow raised in the video, not sure whether to be amused or impressed.]

You got up to speed on the politics here pretty quickly for a newcomer, didn't you?

[fource]

[Quatre laughs, a little sheepishly.] I've read a lot of the newspapers.

[And network posts, and the information they were given. Like, is everyone's first instinct not obsessively scouring all the information available to start strategizing and forming long-winded opinions?]

But I know that I've just arrived, so I'm sure there's a lot that I'm missing.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob shrugs.]

Honestly? I've been here four years, and you're making a lot more sense than most when it comes to these issues. At least you're not talking about trying to blow up the Porter.

video;

[kanyounot]

It's everyone's choice, what to do.

[ Hello, have a blind guy with a beard on your feed. ]

Personally, I chose to register, because it seemed like the best way to help others while I'm here. But you make good points, and we all have our own paths to walk. I promise, you're far from the only ImPort here who is concerned about the well-being of the natives.

[fource]

Oh, I hope it didn't come off that way!

[Sup man, you can't see how suddenly concerned Quatre looks at that suggestion, but at least he sounds like it.]

I know people here have done a lot. I just didn't want anyone to think I was choosing not to register for any other reason.

[Like, they'd be correct if they were to think that, because he wasn't going to swear loyalty to some random government, but. You don't just say that without spending half an hour thinking out loud about the nature of conflict.]

[kanyounot]

Of course! Everyone has their own reasons for registering or not registering. I was hesitant, too, because - well, the government in my own galaxy isn't trustworthy at all, so I really had no reason to trust this one.

[ Seem familiar? ]

But in the end I figured the pros outweighed the cons. For me, at least.

video!

[vdova]

[ She watches, on her spot on a park bench outside. When he's done, she flicks her own hologram on, gives him a small smile. ]

But what about accountability?

[fource]

Accountability?

[He looks legitimately puzzled, though politely so.]

I'm sorry, I don't follow.

[vdova]

Say, for example. [ A totally fictitious and nothing Natasha's experienced at all example. ] Something happens. As a byprodcut of you trying to do the right thing, without approval, a building implodes. People die. Innocent people. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of something like that?

Text

[d33tached]

I think you will find that our apparent lack of absence in our home worlds has been observed quite a few times by quite a few of our population.

[He can speak to that himself-- Well, sort of, anyway. It's not as if he would have been around either way from where K31 was standing.]

[fource]

[Well, Quatre doesn't mind switching to text, per se, but what a weird mode of communication instead of using the video feed like a normal person in everyday life.]

Can we say for certain that it's like that for everyone? I truly don't understand how that could be possible.

[d33tached]

Do you somehow find it easier to accept that you’ve been transported into an alternate universe and given superpowers?

text; network ID is just a moon emoji 🌙︎

[dragony]

It's 100%
As far as your world's present is concerned, you haven't left. As far as its future is concerned, you'll never return.

It's a pretty dreary forecast, isn't it? But there's no evidence to the contrary.

extra af

[fource]

Thank you. [he... thinks? It's like an answer that he wanted to hear, wrapped up in something super... not?] I don't really understand, but as long as it means that my absence isn't causing problems, I'll take it. I'm just worried about the people back home.

look she's got Reasons. i mean, they're shitty reasons, but they're there

[dragony]

Correct. History will continue on the path it would have, with you there, as if your trip here never happened. Most people who manage to leave here never come back, from what I can tell, and the ones who do claim that they don't remember this place. Not until after they've returned here, anyway.

For now, you'll only have to worry about your presence here, instead of your absence there.

[ Video ]

[ghoulking]

There is anti-imPort sentiment, but it's hardly "rocky". Even if there is a percentage of the population that does not agree with our presence in this country, most of the country still holds us in very positive light to the point of worshiping us.

That said, you certainly can do as you wish,and most do not care to justify it.

[ anyway - ] And yes, that has been confirmed by many imPorts who have left and returned over the years. There has been no reports of that not happening.

[fource]

[He looks... more uncomfortable than reassured with that first part.]

Thank you. I'm sorry, I just had to make sure. [He supposes that if an imPort discovered otherwise even once, the others would talk about it; it's not foolproof, but he'll take what he can get.] I'm sure most people are concerned about what they're missing.

[But he's still frowning to himself, before he adds] I don't think that makes it better. That they treat people that highly, even if all we've done is show up here.

video.

[burger_king]

That's probably the most rational explanation of why not to register I've heard so far. [ He approves and agrees and may have been thinking in similar if not identical patterns himself. ]

[fource]

[He smiles a little self-consciously.] I've just been thinking about it for a few days. It just wouldn't feel right to do differently, at least based on what I've heard and seen so far. Some people have raised some good points to think about. [Not enough to convince him otherwise, or things he even agrees with, but hey.]

voice.

[functusofficio]

It's always good to see someone speak their opinion so clearly and so calmly.

While the arrangement that has been come up with is perhaps not the most even handed one possible, though, I would ask you to consider what would happen to many imPorts who arrived without it.

Without a place to stay and some money to begin our lives here, we otherwise arrive with very little. Many imPorts are unable to make the transition into living in a completely new place where their former credentials may mean nothing without some amount of support. Particularly children, for instance, who arrive without guardians.

I can see an argument being made for the aid only being extended for so long, certainly, but for it to be removed entirely would be to place many new arrivals in very dangerous situations and prone to choosing criminal activities -- one of the reasons these safeguards have been put in place.

As well, those of the native population who fall on difficult times are able to apply for benefits along very similar lines.

[fource]

[He laughs, slightly sheepish.] In turn, I'm glad that we're able to discuss it.

It's good to hear that something similar is available to the native population. That wasn't always the case in my home universe, so I'm glad that it's available here. What you're saying about supporting new arrivals makes sense, but it still feels... difficult for me to accept the idea that we're given all of this in exchange for an oath to the government. Both for new imports asked to work along with a system they know little about, and for the government to accept accountability for the unknown imports.

[he does frown behind the voice recording, legitimately concerned.]

But I didn't think about children. How young are some of the arrivals? I didn't even realize that children could come here too.