video.

[shigeharu]

[The feed cuts in on Hanbei, sitting in the library. There are a few books stacked on the table near him and one open in front of him - if you look closely, it's all along the lines of The Way Things Work. Just catching up on a few centuries' worth of scientific and technological development and all that.

But he's just had a thought that's a bit distracting, which clearly means it's time to bother everyone else about it. (That, and making an appearance is an easy way to try and feel out whether anyone else from home has wound up here along with him...)]

You know, I don't know if I'd even say the fact that we're all here in the first place is the most interesting part about all this. Or that people have apparently lost powers.

Have you been paying attention to the language we're using? Talking, writing with, even thinking in. It's a little eerie, isn't it? I shouldn't have to stop and consciously think about it - [he pauses for half a second and switches to Japanese to finish his sentence] - to do this.

[And he switches back to the common language, since he knows not everyone here will have understood the Japanese.]

It's convenient, I'll give them that, but...well.

Comments

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

[ he does tend to do that. maybe a year ago--maybe three years ago--it wouldn't seem quite so dire. and here, there's less...urgency, less anger. it's quieter somehow, but without the momentum of his purpose... ]

...It's a weighted term, isn't it?

[shigeharu]

I've seen the same thing called justice by some and completely wrong by others. It's easily colored by one's own perspective.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Easily colored--by vengeance, you mean.

...Or something of the sort. So they say.

[shigeharu]

I wasn't thinking of vengeance specifically, but it certainly applies.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Well, it's...been known to factor in occasionally.

[shigeharu]

It's not something I've had much personal experience with, admittedly.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Do you consider yourself lucky?

[ you probably should. ]

[shigeharu]

I suppose I do.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

...But you--what was it? Keep some sort of perspective? In order to advise people?

[shigeharu]

[He nods.]

I'm one of the primary strategists to my lord.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Well. That must be fun. All the pressure and none of the credit--though I suppose there's a certain charm to that.

[shigeharu]

If it needs to be done, it needs to be done.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

And somebody has to do it. ...Yes. I'm aware of the principle. I just so happen to be living it.

[shigeharu]

I'm not surprised by that.

[He did sound awfully passionate about things and all.]

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Well--I was, at least. Until this.

This has put a bit of a stop to things, for the time being.

[shigeharu]

They're not showing much consideration for what everyone was in the middle of, that's for sure...

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

What a surprise. Those with power exert it for no reason other than that they can, and leave everyone else to clean up their messes--or worse.

[shigeharu]

That letter makes their mess sound rather dire, doesn't it?

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Nothing I'm not used to, I'm afraid. Do you suppose it will all work out, or will we end up making an absolute mess of things before all that?

[shigeharu]

I think that entirely depends on the calibre of people they've assembled.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Any assessments so far? Since you've had so much experience with advice and observation and everything.

[shigeharu]

Well, it seems to be a rather colorful crowd so far. If they want to "bring life back to the city," they do seem to be on the right track...

[whether it's the kind of life they're hoping for is a different question entirely.]

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

It takes all kinds--is that it?

...But with all that color comes the inevitable clash of wills. It isn't going to be pretty when that happens, all of us in such close quarter...

[ what can he say? he's a pessimist. ]

[shigeharu]

If they're looking to liven this place up, that's certainly one way of doing it.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

More fun than a barrel full of nugs.