[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

This city...

The utter lack of planning for the future of its citizens is ever just-so-slightly disconcerting, troubling enough to bring me around and back to it again and again.

I do consider in stride that Romdeau, the city I've come from, was rigidly modeled and structured. That no single entity beyond the administrative body was permitted to extend its influence wildly over the population. But I also have to consider its ultimate crippled fate, for over-reliance on automated management. The dearth of options and openness, and what was sacrificed for order and a peaceable system. Still, I often hesitate to call it better or worse here.

And yet... there are small encounters which leave a man questioning these things, constantly. I don't speak about them over the network much, because it doesn't really suit the daily, casual discussions the newcomer community carries on here. Not everyone cares for speaking about societies. That and my, ah- unique perspective usually requires a good deal of preliminary explanation.

Still. It's good to hear some fresh opinions. There are some newer arrivals I haven't spoken with yet, or seen at the clinic.

I spoke to a new father today, as I was passing through delivery floor. He was waiting and anxious, and you could sense an air of joy and nerves. His son was perfectly healthy, seven pounds two ounces, no defects.

I asked- (because it's one of those questions I'm always curious to see new parents respond to, in a city like this) what he hoped his son would be, in twenty years.

(I should preface this by including that where I'm from, these matters were mostly preordained. Here, the way people find their way in the world is different, and so naturally it interests me a good deal.)

"Oh, it's far too early for me to say, isn't it?" He told me, and seemed sheepish at the question. And then we spoke a little more- eventually what came up was an avalanche of money problems. He just hoped his child would be able to find his way in the world, and not end up selling parts of himself to SERO, or AGI. Apparently, there had been some financial matters resolved with compensated donations, in his past...to pay for education, when funding for his scholarships fell through. Now, he was still out of a job. Corporate had laid him off.

"Well, I'm a newcomer, I've been in this city less than two years. If I can become a doctor here, then certainly anyone-"

He told me then that newcomers were part of the reason his funding was cut. It was a tense moment, but we resolved it like civil gentlemen- I wished him and his family well. We parted ways.

I wonder, sometimes, if it really is right of us to assert ourselves into this city. It would be respectful to let the natives have every opportunity first, of course, but then what would we be left with? I shudder to think. I also don't believe that they'd ever cease being so competitive among themselves- so a small immigrant population of 300 or so should really not make so significant a difference.

Moreover, I've worked for this position. I was made to be able to handle even greater things, even if that place was never assigned for me here. I shouldn't feel guilt, or strain, for doing well for myself- should I?

What a foolish thing, to struggle with these defensive feelings, even when every rational thought says I shouldn't bother.
 

Comments

[Video]

[thelittlestbub]

Ya know, if they really didn't want us here, Doc, they would actually get off their tails and work on getting the Core fixed so we could go home. Otherwise? They should sit down and be quiet.

If they aren't going to do something about it? They've got no right to complain.

[Video]

[gaveherwings]

Sit down and be quiet?

I don't think it's quite so simple.

Your average citizen doesn't have the option available, to do much of anything about the Core. If anyone's sitting on their tails, its the administration- and they're relatively powerless, because they've already handed over too much authority to corporate entities. Sitting on the Core is the only way to keep both AGI and SERO from strong-arming their will over how it's done.

Also, there isn't much home to return to, for some of us.

[Video]

[thelittlestbub]

It is that simple, doc.

They can't have it both ways. If we didn't work, we'd be a drain on government funds. If we do work, they complain we take their jobs.

And while there might not be much to return to for some, for others, we have friends, family, and duty to return to.

[beenwaitinglong]

Ah, the eternal issue of immigration which has plagued every society that ever moved from one place to another. If there were any easy answers, they would have been found by now. You could say it's different because we're not here through our own choosing, but, well... that's got some historical precedence too.

I've thought about it quite a bit. I don't think I want to go back.

[gaveherwings]

You and I- but there is so much hope for you, with the advancements of powered healing.

[voice]

[12second_orz]

If the presence of a few hundred immigrants is enough to throw someone off of their rung, they had no place being on the ladder in the first place. What sort of men are they, blaming those with more tenacity and will for their misfortunes? [with pure, amused disdain:] They aren't interested in equality. They're interested in finding a scapegoat for their own bitter arrogance and inability to work for themselves, and would no sooner stop to extend the same courtesy to you were your roles reversed than they would flush their yearly paycheck down a drain.

[a short sigh] It's a dark, hungry little world we live in, doctor. If I stopped to worry about every so-called 'unfortunate' in my wake I'd be swallowed up in an instant.

[voice]

[gaveherwings]

I can't-

I really shouldn't... not care, in my profession. It's a dangerous thing, to start holding anyone's misfortunes in disregard.

I've been trying not to let it bother me, but hearing things like that- it's still frustrating, to hear that you're not only an inconvenience, but ruining someone's life-chances. A doctor should be improving them.

[voice]

[mighty_pirate]

Why don't you guys work on trying to find a way home?

[voice]

[gaveherwings]

That's not my area of expertise.

Moreover, I have no intentions of going back. There is nothing for us.

voice;

[awakenings]

[Her voice is a little quieter than usual, contained.]

I don't think you should have to be sorry for being yourself or for trying your best to be a good doctor. Limiting or selling yourself short won't make your life - or others' - any easier.

voice;

[gaveherwings]

I suppose not.

All the same. What if I am taking up someone else's place?

[Voice]

[soldierfirst]

I don't think it worth dwelling on too much, Doctor. I would presume hat you hold your position not because you are a Newcomer, but because your unique skills are an asset to your employing organization. It may be humbling, but if there was another candidate with a skill set better suited to the job, I would think that he would have it.

[It's said with a bit of caution; Sephiroth doesn't mean to be insulting, but he's well aware that his words may come across as such.]

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

I would think so too- I expected more difficulty with presenting my credentials, in fact, but....I was also 'lucky'.

My first week on the job here at the hospital, while I was still undergoing orientation, we had an earthquake in the city- and so they threw me right out on the triage lines. I suppose a trial by fire earns one respect, and fairly quickly.

All the same, it's humbling to know you've been placed all your life at training to be something you were told to be, groomed to be, when most in my profession here would learn an array of things, then choose, and struggle, and scrape by to make it this far.

text

[hejhej]

[she's horrified by what apparently becomes of some of the people here in Siren's Port.]

I keep hearing about these companies. What else do they do?

text

[gaveherwings]

What have you heard?

Their operations encompass most commercial activity in the city.

[athermercy]

This isn't a stable realm -- To plan ahead.

[gaveherwings]

And yet most people do spend their whole lives here.

audio;

[cognidis]

[ He listens, and...really, he can't fathom a lot of what Daedalus is saying. Life on Gunsmoke was quite a bit less than rigid and structured, at least in terms of an overarching government. The cities were mostly independent and did what was best for themselves. Obviously, there wasn't much planning involved for the people since, if that had been the case, he doubts he would have been born.

Still, there are a few things that he feels he can talk about. ]

I really don't think our being here changes that much about this city. Or that it's that much of a burden on the rest of the system.

[ Still: ]

I can see why people wouldn't like us, though.

audio;

[gaveherwings]

I suspect we don't burden the system so much as its suggested, either.

People don't enjoy the fact that the Core is here, though- so I do understand why anything or anyone which comes from it isn't met with welcome trust.

[video]

[surgicalshot]

I... don't tell people I'm a Newcomer, anymore. They'll deny themselves the proper care just because they don't want to be touched by someone not born here.

Re: [video]

[gaveherwings]

I've never had a local refuse me, but there is resent.

[video]

[rapturescreed]

Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be right? Perhaps they should not have so many children if they can't take care of them.

Re: [video]

[gaveherwings]

This was their first child.

[Video]

[subject_seven]

_{[To be fair, it's a lot of words and a lot of big words at that, but the main message, at least in Nana's understanding of it, shines through.]}

Everyone should be allowed to belong, Doctor Yumeno.

Re: [Video]

[gaveherwings]

As far as I've known, the rights of citizenship were something earned with time and a clean record.

Which many of us have done- though we're still thought of as newcomers.