#001; video

[bentspooner]

[ Sabrina is sat down on a couch, standard furnishings that come with all the Heropa townhouses. Her government-issues device is floating far enough away from her that it has to be held up by some sort of powers, it would definitely explain the green glow around the edges of the frame. She sits, cross-armed and cross-legged, her file on the couch cushion next to her, and...a yellow humanoid creature making vaguely threatening gestures at a man in deep sleep on the carpet. You might recognize the man as Itsuki, friendly neighborhood flesh-eating abomination.

She turns to face the naughty Hypno, saying nothing, but somehow convincing him to quit being a brat anyway. He stomps off, and she faces the camera again. She's gone over the literature several times, and found the beginner's guide from pouring over the network on her own, but still, it seems like it's customary to introduce yourself. It would be best to be polite while she gains her bearings, she thinks. ]

Hello. My name is Sabrina, I'm from the Kanto region. I was a Pokemon gym leader there, though it appears that holds no relevance or prestige in this world. [ Which bothers her, a lot, given how hard she worked to get that far. Back to square one, in an unfamiliar world, it seems. ]

Who are the leaders in this 'imPort' community? [ She says the word like a woman trying to be more sure of herself than she really is, she hasn't been here long enough to take that on as an identity, no matter how quick the crowds of photographers and fans are to label her as such. ] Officially and otherwise. I would like to meet them, get a better idea of how this works in practice, beyond the time-and-space meddling that's going on.

Comments

[bentspooner]

That depends on what your office is trying to accomplish. I'm not interested in working under a figurehead just for the pleasure of looking at him.

[selfconducts]

Not just. You'd also be getting paid. [ Cheek for cheek. ] I'm not out to accomplish anything too complicated. A stronger foundation for ImPort self-reliance and betterment of the world than how we found it are two of my main goals. With some work, I think they're realistic.

[bentspooner]

Housing is free. Money is nice, but it's not what I'm after.

Harder than it sounds, from what I hear. Members of our community have caused floods and earthquakes, turned cities into jungles. Sounds like we've done more harm than good.

[selfconducts]

Not free for all of us-- not necessarily. That's part of my point. So many of us relying on government alone winds up hurting both sides in the long run. If we can begin supporting ourselves instead, that's a stronger foundation for us to actually begin helping our communities thrive. Minimize damage by cleaning up our own messes, then going from there. That's the idea, anyway.

[bentspooner]

I am choosing to stay where the other imPorts are instead of going out on my own. I want to know my neighbors. Many of whom are minors, or come from worlds very different from this one, where their skills are not applicable. How soon after they get here would you ask them to be self-sufficient?

[selfconducts]

Not individually self-sufficient. I mean that as a community we support one another. Allocate funds and set up programmes so that basic needs are accessible for any of us that may need them. But I know as well as anyone that it certainly won't happen overnight. It's a work-in-progress.

[bentspooner]

[ Sabrina seems satisfied with that answer, a content almost-smile on her face. It seems like maintaining any sense of order on a population like this is an ambitious goal, but she likes a good challenge, and people who shoot high. ]

Those are admirable priorities. I come from a world that is... [ better ] more community-minded than this one. Those kinds of structures are already in place. I would be glad to lend a hand, if you're looking for one.

[selfconducts]

This one does have a ways to go. But nearly any place will have progress still to be made in some form or another. If not, I've yet to see it.

[ He says it with good humour, though; a confident tone, like he's ready to face the challenge. ]

I won't argue that you have got spirit. I like that. Why don't you come by my office sometime and we can discuss where better to put you than behind a register?

[bentspooner]

I'll come and see you soon, then.