genessia | 2nd Growl [Video]

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2nd Growl [Video]

[Lethe Is sitting alone up in a tree, apparently trying to stay out of the major cities as much as possible. She clears her throat before finally posing her question to the community.]

How prevalent is Racism here in Genessia? In my home of Telius, wars were constantly fought over it and more, yet when one finds themselves in an entirely different world, one can't always expect things to be the very same.

As for any of the Beorc here, I seem to have said this once or twice already during my stay here, but usually when we Laguz refer to your species as human rather than Beorc, we mean it as an insult or racial slur. Many of the Beorc I have met here have actually been rather accepting of beings outside their own species, which is to be understandable when we've all been dragged from different realms of existence.

My point in talking about all this, is to try to gauge just how relevant all these 'offers' from those who wish to protect individuals that are... ~~'sub-human'~~ not humans like me.

[~~The way she says sub-human is like the very words want to make her gag in disgust, as if the term were an even worse racial slur than any other she could possibly utter.~~ With a few words of caution, Lethe thought better of including that bit of racial slur into her post, deciding that it would be better that such a word be left unspoken.]

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The screen flickered on to reveal a silver haired woman wearing a maid headdress. She gave a slight bow in greeting before speaking.

"Hello. My name is Sakuya Izayoi, head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I have yet to encounter any racism either against my person or witnessing it against another individual. I will not lie that upon looking at you many develop a preconceived notion based upon their fondness for cats, just as people develop a preconceived notion when looking at me in my maid uniform."

"A small word of advice however. I suggest either dropping or get used to explaining your unique word for humans. Many of us do have a measure of pride in our species and may not wish for you to use an unfamiliar word. At the very least, though, do not inform people that using 'human' is a racial slur. Else you risk souring the air in potential friendships. Likewise do not refer to yourself as a sub-human else you risk becoming that in the mind of other people."

She took a moment to adjust the video phone. "As for offers to protect non-human entities, I am unfamiliar with any of them. Unless you refer to the offer Lord Tepes made regarding his castle?"

A small pause. "Oh! Forgive my rudeness." Another bow to the camera, this one much deeper. "I didn't get your name."

Edited (small tweak) 2014-11-01 20:02 (UTC)

Ah the problem with being an impulsive Laguz... Lethe hadn't considered all the possible angles her words could be perceived. "Lethe... my name is Lethe." That was a good start right.

"You're likely correct, I hadn't thought about such things but If it's not any trouble to you, I think I'll try to scratch that part out Perhaps then I shall only adopt the term Beorc for those closest to me, as I do not wish to offend, but the term human is very entrenched in Laguz spite for the slavery we suffered." Lethe heaved a heavy sigh idly raking her claws across the bark of the tree as she pondered how best to try to communicate her point.

"When I arrived here I heard a few discussing their contempt for humans to me. It almost seems as if there are more non-humans that hate humans than there are humans that hate non-humans in this place. Lord Tepes and his castle was one to make such an offer, there was another who runs a school, and yet another who I barely even recall anymore. It seemed that with that many non-human groups, there must be some sort of racism here that I am not currently aware of."

Edited 2014-11-01 20:33 (UTC)

A nod. "It's nice to meet you Lethe."

The maid listened in silence, her gaze never faltering from the screen. "I think it would be for the best to use an outlook like that. It is better for both parties. Having a more positive outlook is far healthier than having a more negative one."

"As for those few... Well there is no perfect world. There are many non humans here and I've noticed a trend that many tend to dislike humans. Though, to be fair, there are many cases where humans earned this contempt. Though I suppose I cannot say that without some hypocrisy. I'm generally not too fond of humans myself, despite being one." A small smile.

I'm sorry... but what is a 'Beorc'?

[Luke tilts his head, uncertain.]

....I haven't seen much racism here, but I wonder if that's because people don't recognize the other races--if that makes sense. Where I'm from that sort of thinking comes with stereotypes. But if I don't know what a Beorc is then how can I have any stereotypes about one?

And if you don't have those then maybe you won't automatically separate people that way.

[Somebody has been listening to Professor Layton's lectures.]

But I guess sometimes I do it anyway, even though it isn't good. Demons don't exist at home and then if I meet a demon here I imagine right away the stories I've heard before...

I-I'm sorry to admit, but I have no idea what racism even is.

Not as prevalent as you might expect.

In my homeworld, Angels and Demons fought constantly because both perceived the other as evil. But here... individual people's opinions aside, there does not seem to be much overall racial biases.

As you said, I imagine it is less of an issue in a place like this, where we have all been drawn from different worlds. Yet, some offer 'protection', in an attempt to put the minds of those who have been affected by the issue at ease.

Oh...um, I didn't realize 'human' was a bad word...I'm sorry you had to face such terrible prejudice back home, though. People shouldn't be so cruel.

...Racism?

[oh, how bitter he was about that entire ordeal.]

Here, it still happens- but people claim to be not be as bad as where I'm from. However, humans tend to say a lot of things.

"Tch.. I'm not really cut out for being the positive sunshine and rainbows type. I've seen too much cold dark reality from war and strife." Some of those memories were very hard not to be reminded of in a place with such a mix of cultures and ideas.

"Well that's a bizarre turn of events. It seems that I'm meeting a lot of humans lately who dislike humans as a whole." Not that Lethe could really defend humanity so much given that she wasn't particularly fond of them most of the time herself.

That would be you little man. Your species is known as Beorc and has been for eons untold, but at a certain point in history, the Beorc chose to take the name of humans to differentiate themselves further from we Laguz.

[Lethe gave a sigh, as his response was surprisingly logical from one who seemed so young.]

Stereotypes and assumptions are but the outer shell of racism, and it tends to run much deeper and stronger than that. For example, I have the characteristics of a feline, tail, ears, and as a result many people make assumptions that I must like fish, milk, and balls of string. There is usually some grain of truth in many stereotypes, but I can assure you that I don't like being pet.

[Lethe thinks on it some more, trying to pin what part of racism is really the most terrible.]

Racism is truly about thinking you're better than another race simply because of what you are.

Tch... why do I find that so infuriatingly hard to believe? I want to believe that is the case, but I have never seen a world where it does not exist.

Tell me, you're a pony are you not? Are there many other colors of ponies in your world? Or perhaps other types of horses? Pegasi for instance?

A small bitter smile. "I was born into a world torn between bloothirsty monsters and over-zealous humans. I understand. I merely meant to consider the positives as well as the negatives is enough, but to walk around without a healthy dose of skepticism is dangerous."

"Mm..." A frown. "I have met such humans myself. They seem to find their own kind merely annoying rather than genuinely disagreeable. I was raised in a house of devils and beasts who viewed humans as much food as sentient creatures. I do not think as humans do, therefore I do not get along with them." A pause. "Though I have met ones I've found more tolerable."

It's not that hard to believe. I mean everyone I know in Ponyville get along great. I mean we have people who aren't very nice, but that's usually for a reason.

Um...I am a pegasi. [She flaps open her wings slightly.] But I don't get bullied for that. Only because I don't fly so good. But to answer you question yes there is, but honestly we get along much better than say we did in the past.

There's actually a story about friendship that starts with the three ponies not liking one another, nut that has a happy ending.

I haven't noticed it being prevalent here, but in my world it's fairly rampant against a group of people known as faunus in my world.

Ah. I've never heard the word 'beorc' before. I've never heard 'laguz' before, either.

[He ponders this, tilting his head.]

Mm...well, I guess that's true. But the Professor used to talk about how you have to have those stereotypes before you can have racism. You have to have some sense of what's different first, right?

It's no good to think you're better than another race, least of all here where we all need to help each other, I think. [He sighs a little bit.]

Oh. I'm Luke, by the way.

That may be one of the least nonsensical answers I've heard so far. Having fought in two major wars who's basis was arguably racism, I've certainly received and witnessed my fair share of it. Perhaps it is simply that there are still some here who are discriminatory, but because they are outsiders themselves simply keep quiet.

For some of them... I think it might be a means of trying to take advantage of the fear of persecution to gather allies to their side.

[Totally not biased against a certain individual who might be making such offers, nope.]

Many of the individuals I've spoken to here do not, and indeed many of your species from my own world may not even know it. Yet it seems human is the more commonly used name for your species throughout the multi-verse, and I cannot help but wonder if it is because of the influence of the goddess Ashunera that our world was different. She named our two species you see, so perhaps human is simply the name that comes naturally to your kind.

... I wonder if perhaps the Laguz have a name that would have been different were it not for the goddess' influence.

Indeed... I suspect that you and I share more in common in that regard than you are letting on.

[At the very least, that's what her intuition was telling her.]

Might I ask your name?

"As strange as it may sound, I think I may be able to sympathize. Often times my kind is misunderstood and called bloodthirsty monsters because of the way we fight. Unfortunately when we Laguz engage in battle, we start to be blinded by rage and bloodlust if the violence gets too great. I myself have tasted human flesh in battle, and have been labeled a monster by humans as a result of it." Lethe shook her head, unable to even see why eating someone could be any worse than torturing them to death, simply for fun.

"Perhaps then you've been given a unique insight into both species as a result of your upbringing. Though I cannot claim to know if your upbringing was a happy one, given that those who raised you might have viewed as emergency food supplies. To have been able to grow as a mature woman with the intelligence and wisdom you possess speaks much for your strength of will and character." It was very rare for a Beorc to earn Lethe's respect so quickly, yet Sakuya seemed to have managed to do just that.

... Oh right... I forgot about your wings for a moment there.

[With a name like fluttershy, you'd think her wings would be hard for her to forget about, but most of the Pegasi she knew had huge wingspans.]

I see... then I envy your world for avoiding the tragedy of mine. Indeed... we almost had a similar story occur, when four heroes of our past had banded together to stop the goddess of chaos. Heron, Dragon, Lion, and Beorc... united in the one cause became close friends, and forged an alliance that would last a lifetime. Alas... it ended in tragedy, and perhaps started the feuding that began before once more, yet nearly stronger than it was before.

Yes... I've heard about that from a professor in your world I believe. He thought I was a faunus when he first saw me, and he was one of the ones I was referring to who was offering protection to those like me against such racism.

I take it then that you are not a faunus?

Many Beorc don't, and many don't even know of the name for our species, Laguz, referring to us simply with other hateful names like beasts, monsters, and worse words that I shan't repeat.

Hmm...

This professor of yours must be a very important person in your life if you refer to him so often and with such insights. However you can create streotypes much faster than you might think, and out of seemingly baseless facts or half-truths. Prejudice and racism go hand in hand, and it's all too easy for individuals to make assumptions simply because they do not wish to take the time to know better.

[Lethe herself was guilty of this from time to time... though she was trying to improve.]

I am Lethe.

That would've been Professor Ozpin if I'm not mistaken.

I'm most definitely a human. There's nothing wrong with being either human or faunus as long as you're a good person, though.

[ A lesson she learned the hard way. ]

That sounds correct... on both accounts for that matter.

I have no problem in taking pride in your heritage, we Laguz are very proud of who and what we are. When it becomes an issue is when you let that pride make you think less of others simply because of said heritage.

Ashunera...? Laguz? [Sorry, confused Jeb is confused]

[Lethe cleared her throat with a cough.]

My apologies, I fear I was losing myself in a bit of philosophizing... a rarity for me, but it does happen from time to time. Ashunera was the goddess of my ancestors, and the creator of my species the Laguz and the Beorc or humans as they came to call themselves.

Stereotypes are a way of our brains trying to make sense of information.

They aren't good. But we group things together without even thinking about it. People see patterns in things all the time, even when there isn't a pattern at all. It makes sense, sort of. I don't suppose it's even bad as long as you can understand that you're sometimes wrong.

[Hey. He's a bright kid.]

I'm Professor Layton's number one apprentice, but...he isn't here.

[That took the proverbial wind out of his sails, and he glances away.] It's nice to meet you, Miss Lethe.

Oh...it was nice that they became friends but um... What do you mean that it ended in tragedy. I mean they were friends right, how could that have ended badly?

[She wouldn't believe that would ever happen between friends. Sure arguments occur but what could have been so bad that couldn't be resolved?]

[Midboss switched the feed to private, as he always did when discussing his and Lamington's plans.]

Hmhm, thank you. It is an issue I have been trying to confront back home, after all... A dear friend and moi have been attempting to clear the air between the two races and achieve peace, but there is still a long road ahead of us.

Indeed. I imagine there are a fair few here who still harbour racism, although the majority seem reasonable enough to overwhelm the minority in this case. As you said, we are all outsiders here.

Oui, if there were some attempting to take advantage of those fears, that would not surprise me at all... I think I may know who you are referring to.

[He'd seen Dracula's network post, so that was his first guess.]

Edited 2014-11-08 12:31 (UTC)

Lehran of the Heron tribe, and Altina of the Beorc married one another... a union that should have been the spark of an era of peace and love between Beorc and Laguz. However... Altina died in child birth, and with the birth of their child Lehrand was stripped of nearly everything that he was. He could no long transform, or sing, he lost his abilites that truly made a Laguz a Laguz... and he fell into a coma of despair, losing his wife and his powers in one fell swoop.

In fear for Lehran, the dragon king, one of Lehran's few remaining friends covered up Lerhran's disappearance by saying he died, giving him sanctuary in his country. That was the beginning of the end.

Ah... [A goddess, huh?] Your world is so different than mine. Ashunera, though, that's a pretty name.

Sakuya gave a small nod. "I see. Though I mean blood thirsty in a more literal sense. A world of vampires and demons at war with humans." A pause. "Meat is meat. To prevent waste is at least admirable in its own right. I must confess though, human does not compare to creatures created and raised to be slaughtered for food."

She actually shifted subtly when Lethe mentioned "emergency food supply" though it was hard to see. "I have fed My Lady every day since I was strong enough to raise a blade in her defense. Be it from slain beasts, hunters, or from my own body. It is my purpose to do so and it is a role I enjoy. Perhaps my life has resulted in an expanded insight but it's not one that serves me much purpose at this time. Without My Lady's guidance it has been hard."

I know. Sometimes there are factors that make it a little more complicated when it comes to feeling that way, but it doesn't make it right to assume just because of hardship on any side. You're right.

[She paused for a moment. She doesn't quite understand how that could cause things to go horribly wrong. They did that to protect the other, which was a nice thing to do... It was all rather confusing in her mind.]

That is quite sad but um... How is that the beginning of the end? I don't think I quite understand.

The power vacuum created by Altina's death and Lerhan's disappearance allowed the corrupt Begnion Senate control. They... were the ones who were hesitant about having a Laguz king, and with their deaths, they felt it was all the justification they needed to brand we Laguz as savage beasts. The Laguz like mewling kittens underestimated the despair the people felt at the loss of their leaders, and they easily fell prey to superior Beorc weapons and magic, dispersed, divided, and having lived peacefully among the Beorc up until now. With one fell swoop the Laguz of Begnion had become enslaved, and the Dragon king of Goldoa refused to budge, remembering the promise he made to the goddess to not start any wars for a thousand years until her return. Lehran when he finally learned what was occuring in his home of Begnion became enraged. He implored the dragon king to save the Laguz who were enslaved, arguing that even the goddess would not wish to see her children suffer so. Yet when Lehran's pleas were denied again, the very last bit of their friendship came to an end, and Lehran departed Goldoa to find a way to save the Laguz himself.

In time... certrain strong willed Laguz escaped their captors, fleeing to places the humans were loathe to tread. The wild jungles and forests became home to the cat laguz, and the remote islands became home to the bird tribes. It took centuries for the Laguz to form their own nations where they could live free, but they never forgot their betrayal at the hands of humans. It is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies in tne history of my world.

"O-Oh... I see..." Lethe was trying to be... open minded when it came to vampires... but her current dealings with one were not exactly improving her viewpoints about them. "I almost wish I could see your world... it would be interesting to see how much of it reflects my own, and how much of it is entirely different. We do not have many in the way of vampires or demons in my own world, most having faded into myth and legend."

Lethe almost chuckled when Sakuya spoke so plainly of her own species as food. "I do agree that there is certainly something that I enjoy much more when consuming herbivores, or cattle." In part because such animals often wouldn't beg for their lives as you tore out their throats, but also simply because of flavor and marbling. Still, Lethe almost had to wonder if perhaps she'd been forced into cannibalism as part of serving her master.

"I am... torn between calling that level of devotion distressing or perhaps even... noble. You have lived a harsh life for man or beast, and... I wish you were able to forge your own destiny. You have many admirable qualities that I find lacking in many of the humans, or other beings I have met. Loyalty, devotion, courage, beauty, intelligence, and a strength of will and purpose that rivals even those. I too am without the masters I have sworn to serve my entire life, but I feel it is in these moments that we can truly define who we are as individuals. You may feel lost without the guidance of your lady to whom you serve, but I think that you are proving just how well you have learned from her in coping so well on your own."

Sakuya's eyes hardened a little bit, the maid having to take a deep breath to keep herself calm. "Il est un lieu vil. Pray you never set foot in CielLune. There is a difference between war and starving dogs tearing at each other for the last scraps of meat. In war there is at least something worth fighting over, outcome notwithstanding. Gensokyo was where we traveled to and it has its own share of fighting but there is also a set and respected method for settling disputes which keeps bloodshed to minimum."

She relaxed quite a bit when the conversation turned to something else, though it was still unpleasant regardless. "Call it what you will. I have heard it all before. I would serve my lady even if unbound. As things are now I actually find it beneficial. Being enthralled to her keeps my focus refined and sharp allowing me to be more efficient in my service." A small smile. "And please, don't flatter me. If I was unable to act independently then I would be a poor servant. Shackles are not needed for those with sufficient loyalty. But acting independently and being an individual are separate. I will keep seeking my Lady."

Her smile vanished and she bowed her head a little "And I am sorry that you too have lost your Masters. The most that can be done is act in accordance that would be approved and praised. It's always possible to serve without orders."

Oh my. That does sound horrible and it sounded like talking didn't help. It's a shame really because sometimes a little chat and a perfect understanding always helps. But sometimes I've found getting through to someone is always something that could happen. I know I've done it by showing kindness to someone.

But I guess because none of that could help it ended up that way and I'm very sorry to hear that. but at least here it's nice, right?

Specism... Hardly a new thing to me. However... In my world I took the road of completely erasing my species from anything other than old granny tales and myths. I've come to view humans, or Beorc as you call them, as children when more than two or three are involved. There are select individuals who have shown promise. There do seem to be a a few each generation, at least on average. And it only takes a few stones to disturb a large pond.

[An amused pause as she considers those exceptions.]

If you are meaning the one calling himself Dracula... From what I've observed he means what he states on the surface. He will accept anything other than 'Beorc' without any question, and even those can seek shelter within his territory with an oath of complete loyalty. However... he doesn't seem to see humanity as anything other than scavengers under his table. Not to mention the smell of blood that has soaked into many areas of his territory. My advice would be to listen to your instincts and guard your own back.

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2nd Growl [Video]

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