genessia | video; forward-dated to after sundown

[Charles is sitting at a table in what is clearly one of the rooms at the Amagi Inn, sipping from a cup, but the angle doesn't afford one a view of what liquid he may be drinking, only that the cup is steaming.]

I don't recall subscribing to the Newspaper, though knowing one exists is fortunate. I find it interesting the political structure of this place openly employs the use of bounty hunters to shore up at least some of its ne'er do wells. While the practice of hunting bounties isn't illegal in my own world, it isn't precisely advertised in the local paper, as it were.

[He waves a hand as though dismissing his own derailed train of thought.]

Be that as it may, it's come to my attention, while rather comfortable, the Amagi Inn will not, after all, suffice as a long-term arrangement. Do any of you know of an apartment complex or similar in any of the cities which would allow the installation of storm shutters?

[He pauses here, as though allowing a moment to pass before changing subjects again.]

Also, I've taken a position at the Genessia Scientific Research Foundation. My areas of expertise lie in Xenobiology and Archaeology, and I hope to assist with these fields in understanding what it is that attracts this place to us precisely. While I have had at least one assume this means I specialize in the biology of foreigners, I would clarify that I specialize in the unique biologies of non-humans. Werewolves, Fae, vampires, imps, ad infinatum. I've also more than dabbled in the medical sciences, and would like to offer my services to anyone who may feel their own biology is too...unique to trust to a mundane physician. My only stipulation is that our appointments be restricted to night hours.

For those of you I have yet to meet, my name is Charles Rieben, and it is already a pleasure.

[And with that, he signs off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My world doesn't really have anything called Fae, so I'll take your word for it. I've gotta say though, doc, not a lot of humans have the cahones to study stuff like that, and those that do - in my experience anyway - have done so for the express purpose of taking that knowledge to turn themselves into something inhuman.

You don't give off that same vibe. I gotta ask, why do you study this stuff?

What an amusing assumption on the part of a half-demon.

[He smiles.]

Why do you believe me to be human?

Call it a hunch. Besides, I've seen humans that aspire to become demons, and demons that want to just live normal lives among humans. Even if you aren't biologically, you're more human than some humans I know.

I find it infinitely interesting that you use human here as an adjective, and so many often do. "Human" is some sort of ideal to achieve, rather than a species with certain characteristics.

Comes with the territory of my job. See, demons don't have a good avenue into the human world, my old man saw to that. However there are small loopholes that can exploited, but most of those loopholes require someone on the human world's side to open the gate.

Demons will promise anything they think the humans want to hear, and humans will sell out their own kind for promises of power, wealth, and influence. I'd like to think that they do that because they've lost what makes them human. That intangible thing that sets humans above demons, and gives me a reason to keep doing what I do.

Ah, I see. So, in your reality, demons are creatures that need to exploit humans as conduits into the mortal realm. Am I understanding that correctly? Are there, then, no other species? Vampires, Weres, Fae and the like?

Yeah, there's definitely the odd possession, but they prefer tricking people like inter-dimensional lawyers.

[He shrugs.] There have been a few calls I've gotten with werewolves, but those turn out to be just shape-shifting demons, but no vampires or fae as far as I'm aware of.

A world populated only by humans and demons...fascinating.

Well, it's 99% humans. Heck, even my big flashy world-saving jobs usually don't get noticed by the public. You ask any random person on the street if there were demons walking among them they'd laugh at you.

And humans have an uncanny ability to ignore most of the world around them.

[His tone suggests he finds this tendency fascinating.]

Oh, sure, but they also have the uncanny ability to adapt to an ever changing and hostile world while keeping themselves sane. That's far more interesting to me.

video; forward-dated to after sundown

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