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[comparative_insanity]

[Fai is looking unusually somber, and even in monochrome, it's easy to tell that he's a lot paler than usual. On his shoulder stands Babycakes, now evolved into a Floette, like an equally serious guard of honor with her flower like a rifle against her shoulder.]

[The young man says nothing at first, just holds up a rather skillfull sketch of a poké ball. Those with a bit of knowledge in history should probably recognise at least the general shape and design of it.]

Nevermind that they put those machines there to force Tyrantrum to evolve without their consent, but... they use these. Team Evolution, I mean. They keep pokémon imprisoned in these things, just like in the old days.

[He draws a deep, shaky breath.]

Despite how abhorrent this practice is - and believe me, I understand if you're angry - we should remember that they are from a different place with different laws. Wild accusations and demands aren't going to do us any good, is it? It's better if we try to reason with them, try to make them see why such treatment is wrong.

After all, the people in the old days were not all evil. If they were, why would the Savior have thought us worth sacrificing herself over? They were just ignorant.

But I thought you should be... warned.

Comments

[comparative_insanity]

[That is truly terrifying. Fai flinches a little bit, biting his lower lip. It's already clearly swollen and sore from too much anxious chewing.]

Imogen, they- they've never even heard of the Savior. Their town was saved because one great pokémon fought for them. So they never really had any reason to... to change, I suppose. They did things the way they always had.

[He sighs.] I'm not saying it's right, and I certainly don't think they should have their machines back, but... we should probably tread carefully still.

[for_realsies]

Fai, they won't learn, not the one I spoke to. If they walk the same road as those from the time before? There's no way to resolve this. They don't know how dark the road they're on is.

And I don't want to waste the time to save them, just the Pokemon they have trapped.

[comparative_insanity]

[He sighs.] I understand how you feel, but... Immy, you don't know that. You didn't talk to all of them, did you? Just because one person seems unlikely to change, doesn't mean that all are. The woman who showed me that thing seemed really concerned when she saw how horrified I was, and she asked to learn more about our way of doing things.

I agree that getting their pokémon free should be a priority, but there are many different ways of getting there.

[for_realsies]

The one I spoke with barely knew what freedom was. They seem to determine their positions in society from birth, their paths. Even if you can talk one into realizing it, I doubt the others will see the problem.

If I could get to one of their Pokemon and talk to it...

[comparative_insanity]

[Fai just... blinks.]

And are you going to tell me there aren't people in this city who are warped in similar ways? Brainwashed by their families until they think that they have no will beyond what is expected of them? [To be honest, Fai knows full well that Yuui borders on that very territory.]

And would you base how redeemable our entire culture is on that? I know what they have done is monstrous, but claiming that the one person you met is the norm for what they're capable of, and that the one I met is just a fluke... that seems a bit unfair.

[He sighs quietly.] And I'm not sure talking to them would help, Immy. A lot of them probably see that sort of slavery as normal, perhaps even an honor - because they've never known anything else.

[for_realsies]

The sort of devotion? The blind obedience to ideas that caused the world to burn? They had to notice what happened to the world around them! How do you just miss that the rest of the world went dark and the old ways died?

How do you build machines that cause local Pokemon to go berserk, and demand them back after they cause huge catastrophes? They put them far from themselves so they wouldn't deal with the backlash of what it did, and are only now faced with it because we're here and saw what happened!?

No matter how bad our parents are, no matter how stuck to the rules they are? Would we ever let that happen? I don't even think we could do such things, no matter how bad we get...