video;

[dawnward]

[Here's a face the network hasn't seen in a while. Riku's back to looking more and more like the kid he was when he arrived, though he's grown and definitely looks older. He's sitting near the Newcomer Memorial, glancing around at the stones. For those with keen eyes, they might notice a name beside where he's sitting: Kei Yuki.]

Two years ago, I showed up at that diamond just like everyone else.

[He gives the camera a knowing smile.]

Hearing a lot of these stories lately, haven't we, Siren's Port? But I'll skip over it, since it's not important, and since Joe has already recounted what happened our first few nights here. A lot's happened since then but I'll never forget that first night I was here, or that first week.

[He shifts, glancing back at the memorial he sits by.]

Every month, I go down to the diamond to clean off all those things people call us...and every month, there's more right back up. People have told me that it's a lost cause and that I might as well leave it alone. But I don't want to. I don't want people to think they have us beaten, that they can walk all over us and do what they want. It's been over two years and we still haven't all gone and there were people before us, people still in the city. We're not the first ones here.

[Riku turns back and locks eyes with the camera.]

Someone tried to ruin this memorial today. They were going to spray paint over some of the names, like they were trying to erase what's here and who used to be around.

[It hits something in him. The names in the memorial are the ones he's collected but, more importantly, what really angers him is that defacing the stone is like trying to erase the memories of the people who once inhabited Siren's Port. And that's something he refuses to stand for, above all else.]

If we're really not the first Newcomers here, then why is nothing else around? Why was there no political party, no memorial, no safe house...nothing? Did they try to erase all of that too, so no one would remember that they were once Newcomers? Or did they try harder to become integrated people so no one would hurt them anymore?

[He frowns.]

It just...doesn't make much sense to me. Why would you purposely try to erase important memories like that and try to forget all that's happened?

Comments

[hisoldgirl]

It's a funny thing about most species, you know. No one wants outsiders. It varies from place to place, but most seem averse to any changes in identity. Or other just want to be accepted. I don't understand it myself, really.

[dawnward]

I can understand that. But it's just how life works. You're always going to have new people coming and going.

[Unless you live on Destiny Islands. Then, no one goes anywhere.]

[gaveherwings]

Integration seems a likely goal- particularly when identifying as a newcomer leaves one rather... put-upon.

The resources we've set up, as mucb as the party and the fund do help people find theiir way, sometimes I do wonder if distinguishing ourselves in this way is the best thing to do.

[dawnward]

Do you think we should focus more on integration?

[voice]

[madeinoblivion]

Maybe they wanted to start a whole new life, the ones who stayed.

They say the guy who owns Nibbleheim was a newcomer.

[voice]

[dawnward]

Yeah, I heard about that.

And I get wanting to start a new life. But discarding everything in your past just to get a new title?

Video

[runebladeknight]

... It's possible that some of them didn't believe they had a place to go back to. [Some days, she's not sure of that herself; she knows the what the situation was when she was Pulled, and she has no one else from home here to tell her whether the world itself even survives.]

Video

[dawnward]

That's always possible. But I'm sure some of them went home eventually. I don't believe we're so special.

video;

[rewritethesky]

[He had to use the word 'memories' didn't he?]

...Maybe they were scared. Fear can make people do a lot of things they normally wouldn't think of or do.

video;

[dawnward]

Maybe they were.

[He can understand that.]

But...years and years being thrown away? I mean, that angel girl in the news isn't exactly ashamed to call herself a Newcomer, even though she's done nothing for us.

video;

[pullsheavendown]

[Roxas' expression softens when he spots Kei's name. That's someone he still misses.]

Some people don't want to remember things that hurt. But I'd rather know everything—the good and the bad.

It's worth keeping the diamond clean.

video;

[dawnward]

[He pauses upon hearing Roxas but then, slowly, nods in agreement.]

I would too. I think it's probably best that way.

[And having two years to think about all the harm he's done to Roxas in that way, he knows it would have been better to at least let him know.]

[showbizpanache]

I don't fault people who try to blend in. I guess it's easier.

Honestly, I'd rather have graffiti all over everything I own than forsake who I am. You can't really expect that from everyone, though.

[dawnward]

I don't fault them. It's just something I don't understand. But then, I've had the threat of my memories being erased over my head.

audio;

[facepalms]

["Memories". Kyon knows that word well. In fact, he knows two certain somebodies from back home who can mess around with that sort of junk.]

Maybe it's because they wanted to start all over. Or the fact that they want to be 'different' than from what they used to be.

... Or to leave behind a hint to the ones who do remember.

audio;

[dawnward]

I can believe wanting to change and be different...but I'm not going to lose who I am by trying to be something I'm not.

auio;

[mighty_pirate]

How long do you think this has been going on?

[dawnward]

At least ten years.

[madvaporskillz]

[For once, Chessur actually sounds almost serious, when he answers.]

To hide matters. Or to make a point, I suppose.

[dawnward]

A point?

video;

[bestowsgifts]

People are always forgetful of their manners.

video;

[dawnward]

[He eyes her critically.]

You'd know, wouldn't you?

video;

[truename]

[Ritsuka is frowning. Like many others, he works hard to make sure he won't forget. The defacing makes him angry, but it only slightly shows in the the press of his lips together.]</small Maybe the others were silenced. Maybe they never gathered like we did. ...I always forget you actually got here right before me. Happy anniversary.

video;

[dawnward]

[He gives him a faint smile.]

Thanks. Yours is coming up soon, too. We should celebrate for it, do something nice. Just the two of us.

[video]

[surgicalshot]

...It's been awhile since she left. I didn't know if anyone else remembered her. [Smiles sadly.]

[video]

[dawnward]

Yeah. There's not a lot of people who remember the first of us.

[video]

[rapturescreed]

Because they are weak. We will do whatever we have to, to make sure no Newcomer is forgotten anymore.

[video]

[dawnward]

Forgive my skepticism, but...how?

[video]

[notadisneygirl]

...They were trying to erase the names?

[video]

[dawnward]

Put graffiti on them, actually.

[video]

[presspasskey]

The 'why' is that people don't like change.

Our generation of Newcomers want to integrate without not losing our identity and our roots. That'll change culture any way you cut it.

[video]

[dawnward]

Yeah, I suppose so. That's the problem. I just don't see people ever wanting to change the whole of themselves. Losing even a piece of who you are is painful.

Video;

[saintofstoic]

The pain of remembrance is harsh.

Video;

[dawnward]

But necessary, in some cases.

video/private;

[momchester]

[As a Greeter, and someone who truly has no home to go back to if the Core ever decides to take her away, this hits something deep inside her. Mary could only hope to be here for two years- that's two more years of life she never would have gotten otherwise, however painful and covered with graffiti. She'll take the trials and tribulations over the inevitability of death.]

They don't understand us. They're treating us like normal immigrants, as if we have any choice or control over what happens to us.

[She licks her lips and sighs.]

What day of the month do you go to clean the Memorial? I'll go mid-way between your visits, once a month.

video/private;

[dawnward]

[He's surprised that she makes this private, but he nods in agreement.]

I wish they would understand. I wish it was easier to understand them too. We're not trying to hurt anyone any more than they're trying to hurt us.

[He runs a hand through his hair.]

I go to the diamond usually on the second or third week, whenever my schedule allows.

[Video]

[lockandkeyblade]

Who cares what those guys say, Riku. I think you should keep it up anyway. And next time you go down there to clean stuff up, lemme know and I'll help.

Anyway, look on the bright side, Riku... the Newcomers might not have had that stuff before, but things are changing! The NPP, that memorial and all that stuff-- Pretty soon they'll figure out that erasing these memories this time around aren't gonna be easy. Not by a long shot.

[Video]

[dawnward]

I will. It's not a big deal, though. It's something to keep me busy.

[He shrugs.]

I just don't know how effective those things are when we can't do anything direct without it being an attack.