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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 3:22:53 GMT
"This isn't a place to meet people," Rebecca replies, shaking her head. "This is a place where people work. They're in a hurry, because there's so much going in and out. If things slow down, things back up, and that can have effects all over the world."
"I brought you here not to meet anyone, but just... to see the scale of things. This is just one fraction of the people and industry in Rustboro. Counting all the other everything in the city, you could have a hundred times this, easily."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 13:00:25 GMT
That knowledge seemed to bewilder and overwhelm the boy, hundreds, maybe thousands of people working at this breakneck pace to sustain such a big city and the world beyond it. Things moving to and fro. He needed something more quiet and secluded. Something slow. Gently he squeezed one of Hero's deelies, using the current as something to focus on, how it numbed his fingers lightly and spread into his hand. The sensation of his nerves falling asleep.
"Can we go somewhere to meet people? Or... or just leave for the Falls? I don't like this place."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 19:03:18 GMT
"Ah, I'm sorry, Parish," Rebecca says. "I didn't think of it that way. How this might be... too much, jumping in the deep end. Yeah, we can just head to a park to quiet down, and then up to the Falls if you want."
She leads the group away, back into the maze of streets, until the concrete and metal jungle makes way to lush greenspace. There are still a lot of people around, but... it's a slower kind of busy. There are people running around with Pokémon, or tossing discs back and forth that fly through the air, or sitting by a pond with a bunch of duck 'mon, or playing around on playgrounds or through equipment that shoots water onto people.
"Figured you might like to at least see that this is here, if you ever want to visit again."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 19:46:52 GMT
"...This is better.". He breathes a little easier. People having what fun they could in nature in the middle of their home town. "But you all didn't come all this way to show me around town, I don't want to monopolize your time. I still wouldn't really know where to start, talking with strangers I have nothing in common with. Back home I could... Probably help with something."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 20:21:20 GMT
"Eh, it's no different then heading out right away," Rebecca says. "And this is on the way up north anyways. I figure it's a bit of my obligation to show some of the places you might find interesting, as someone who spent a lot of time in Rustboro growing up."
"Though," she adds with a smile, "evidently I don't know how to pick my locations."
"I find it interesting, at least," Shane says. "There many of these parks around? I always got the impression that Rustboro was basically just a wasteland. And that Mauville and Petalburg were the ones that incorporated nature a bit more."
"Yeah, a few," Rebecca nods. "This is the biggest, but there was a push awhile back to convert some of the old city buildings into parks. There was a lot of pushback as a huge waste of money, but... in the end I think it's made everyone happier."
"I imagine that nature is pretty much everywhere in your cities back home, Parish?" Faith asks.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 20:27:56 GMT
"Yeah, you can wander through the town and people have fruit trees growing where they can. Mostly apples. There are gardens, too. Large scale farming is too much for our little communities to do without machinery. The ground needs some work to get green to come through, but you can see the sky in all directions. Apples are really common as a choice as they like the elevation, and tubers grow well in the rocky soil.". Parish answered Faith with a distant look.
"I can't imagine having so many buildings that you have to take some down to have parks, but here we are. What are the discs they are throwing? Some kind of flavored hard treat?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 21:02:32 GMT
"Sounds nice," Faith says, nodding. "I came from Fortree, so it's basically all nature. So the discussion made me curious."
"It's a plastic discus," Shane explains. "It's pretty neat. There's a lip underneath it to catch the air and the spinning motion means that it glides around more than falls. The field of aerodynamics is really cool! Hydrodynamics is neat, too! I love seeing the different ways people have come up with to move stuff around in the air and the water. And you sometimes get cool stuff like this out of it." They seem fairly excited. "...sorry. That was probably too much."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 21:15:29 GMT
"If you were comfortable with it, it was just enough Shane.". Parish grinned. "I've never been to Fortree, but I have heard it praised as the most natural living space man had ever created. It sounds nice.". He watches the discus go back and forth a few more times.
"My work doesn't get much into motion dynamics. Metallurgy, and architectural engineering are the physical sciences in the highest demand back home.". He made a face and slouched a little. "Course, reading, writing, and arithmetic aren't universal skills yet, but we all have to start somewhere. I designed the bridge that will someday connect Mount Pyre to the mainland."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 21:39:46 GMT
"It's definitely weird to adapt," Faith nods. "Mostly in needing to go down to ground level to cross from building to building, instead of just... using walkways. That was what took the longest to unlearn."
"Oh, interesting. Structural engineering and architecture and stuff never really appealed to me. It's all just... there." They shrug. "Why'd you come over here if you did that kind of designing over there?"
"Hmm... don't know if I like the idea of bridging to Mount Pyre," Faith says, frowning. "It's separate for a reason. A place for the dead to rest, in solitude."
"It's a different world. Who knows exactly what the situation is there. Or the customs."
"Fair. It just... I don't know. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 21:57:03 GMT
"Back when the corruption was rampant it was given a wide berth because to go within visual range of it was asking to die. People still fear what lurks in the water, but the spirits are quiet now. The bridge is going to be the path that lets all the souls lost in thousands of years of survival go home and find their peace. I built crystal tech into the pillars to be pleasing to ghost types. A shrine will follow, someday."
Parish thought about it for a moment, before giving his answer. "I'm selfish. I can spend my life making other people's lives better, but my potential and opportunities are both limited by home. Or, I can get better at my craft with techniques I couldn't learn at home. Tools I wouldn't have conceived of. The second I signed on with the Explorators, I limited how much of that I could invest in home, though it is more than any of you could still."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 22:19:04 GMT
"I see... that makes some amount of sense," Faith murmurs, nodding.
"There's nothing wrong with being a little selfish," Shane says, shrugging. "If you're not happy, then what's the point? You don't need to empty yourself just to make others happy. There's no obligation to them."
"You had an opportunity, that's all. You didn't do anything wrong by taking it."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 22:50:11 GMT
"It's... complicated. Tighter knit social circles and more interdependence means choices that strictly benefit the individual are less favored. I had to jump through so many hoops just to be here. I think they wanted to be sure I was committed. That and I wouldn't immediately turn around and contaminate the rebuilding effort with outside knowledge.". Parish scratched his nose and considered the skyline again.
"I'm trying to see this Rustboro though someone else's eyes, but I am not a very good Operator. Any other spots you would like to share before we head into the mountains?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 23:14:35 GMT
"It's understandable," Rebecca says. "There are so few people, they really don't want to lose the skills of anyone. And really, really want to preserve what makes them unique. And... I mean, you've been so disoriented here, they really want to make sure you want to go."
"I think I'm good, though. Everything else is on the other end of the city. Only other thing is a beach past the city up north. It's a nice place. A little secluded."
The group wanders northward, the city beginning to thin, and the incline beginning to rise. In the distance, the falls loom, and to the group's left are stunning ocean vistas. For Parish, the land is more vibrant than he's ever seen in this sort of area before. Truly green and lush, not a struggling regrowth. Pokémon flit and rumble around, mostly being cautious of the humans. There are birds, butterflies, rocks...
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 17, 2021 0:07:57 GMT
"So... A-3 through A-8?". Parish ask as they move along, deciding the beach view back home was nicer and turning his attention towards the Pokemon now that they were well into the wilds. "Are they all really similar to A-1?". The rolling stones interested him the most of what shifted about, but he was content to observe and leave the creatures unmolested. Not that he would have made effort to be a bother otherwise.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 17, 2021 0:28:17 GMT
"Almost, but not quite," Rebecca says, shaking her head. "A-7 is closer to your own in development but... for different reasons. It's much further back along in time, modern societies and technology and whatnot not really having had time to develop yet. There's a much higher propensity for humans who're able to manipulate elemental forces, though. Without the aid of technological enhancements."
"It's odd how the only humans that we've found are on reflections of each others' dimensions. Is this the only world that we can grow, do you think? It's something I've periodically thought about."
"It is what it is," Shane shrugs. "If we find something weirder, cool. If not, hey, we're special."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 17, 2021 0:52:23 GMT
"What if we are just another race's Pokemon?". Parish asked as he moved nearer the series of boulders tumbling along behind a massive horned head. It was so big! "Not quite reaching their standards of innovation and intelligence so we are just pets to them?". He poked at the smallest rock in the chain. It's tail would fit easily in his hand. "I wonder how good its sense of touch is..."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 17, 2021 1:06:54 GMT
"That would sure be something..." Faith says.
"I feel like it would be terrifying, honestly," Shane admits. "We as a species kinda define ourselves by being, in general, smart, and adaptable and all that. If there was someone who was more than that? I genuinely feel like we'd not know what to do with ourselves. Our sense of self would probably be partially drained."
"You certainly do come up with some thoughts, Parish," Rebecca says.
The rock doesn't really seem to respond to the touch at first, but eventually curls around to face the boy, its tail twitching away at surprisingly fast speeds.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 17, 2021 1:14:41 GMT
"Whoa... Haha! Hi!". Parish waved up at the big rock snake. "You are very well put together! Are the rocks attached or like... Magnetic?". He looks off to the side for a moment, breaking eye contact with the serpent to talk to his friends.
"Well, Shane is probably right, that would upset a lot of people. It's pretty vain to think we are the smartest thing there is though. Humans being the apex across eight Alphas, and not present at all across hundreds or thousands of others worlds? There is a fair likelihood of something beyond us somewhere."
Parish held his hand up, fingers spread. "Do you go blblblbl like other snakes?". Hero wetly emulated the noise on his back.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 17, 2021 1:33:02 GMT
The rocks seem fairly attached, based on how it moves. There's a bit of a grumble from the snake, not a blblblbl. It doesn't seem to be openly aggressive at the very least.
"Well, I figure we don't worry about it unless it comes to happen. Infinite possibilities, right? Either we find it, or we don't. Only time will tell." Rebecca shrugs.
"Haven't seen any evidence of non-human life in the same way as us," Shane says. "There's certainly scary stuff stronger than us and our partners out there. But in a more... bestial way. And usually based on size."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 17, 2021 1:38:27 GMT
"Have any of the worlds turned up like... Ruins of a society? Where there might have been people before but aren't anymore? Like A-2 could have been?". Parish moves a little closer to the rock snake, trying to gently settle on its nose. It didn't like its tail being touched. "I like your horn, it's very nice. You must be really proud of it."
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