!H8UfLAg.DQ 2011/01/17 (Mon) 23:50 No. 133351 ▼ File 129530822163.jpg - (91.24KB, 512x384 , who said what now.jpg)
”Hm.”
“Hm.”
“...what?”
“Hm? Oh, I was just thinking of how you remind me of some of my pets...”
“I'm not a pet!”
“Of course not, I do not mean to suggest you are, child.”
“I am not a child, either!”
“Mm. But you are young for a youkai, are you not?
“...um...well...”
“You are young. You are still learning, both about yourself and of the world at large. Filled with endless potential, with countless possibilities at your feet, you are unfettered by the stresses and obligations of life, and have the freedom to chase your dreams. Is that not what it means to be a child?”
“Um...”
“Tell me, you have dreams, yes?”
“That's when you sleep, right? I don't think I do that.”
“Mm, what I mean to say is, you have dreams. Hopes? Aspirations?”
“As-pa-what?”
“Is there something you wish for? Something you want to do? Something you want, more than anything?”
“Well, yeah! I'm gonna-....”
“Hm?”
“...you're doing that thing, aren't you?”
“Thing?”
“Uh-huh. Su-san told me. You can see into my head, right?”
“Mm, well, something like that.”
“Then why are you asking this stuff?”
“Hm? Is there something wrong with talking?”
“You know what's in my head. What do I gotta say it if you already know?”
“Because you can say it, of course.”
“...huh?”
“You can think for yourself, yes?”
“Of course I can!”
“Mm. And you can speak what you think, yes?”
“That's what I'm doing!”
“Then what other reason is needed? You can speak, therefore you should speak.”
“Huh?”
“Like I said, you remind me of my pets.”
“I don't get it.”
“Hmm. How should I put this? Could you always speak, and move, and think as you do now?”
“Well...no...”
“Mm, right. You gained those abilities, didn't you? What you once could not do for yourself, you now freely can. My pets experienced the same thing.”
“Huh?”
“Well, to be honest, their experience is not exactly the same as your own was. Even before becoming youkai, they were still living creatures, of course. They could move, and think, but that was it. Though they had thoughts, fears, wants, and needs, they could not express them in words. A growl, perhaps. Maybe a squeak, or a whimper. Words, however, were beyond them. With me, that is not an issue, but for those who cannot read hearts and minds? The best an animal could hope for from such a being is for them to correctly guess what they are trying to communicate. For every basic thing an animal can communicate, there are countless others that they cannot possibly hope to articulate with their limited means. Many of them live out their entire lives in this manner, their minds brimming with things they wish to express, but cannot. Some, sadly, never will. As all living things do, they grow old and, eventually, die. Without a voice, all of their thoughts die with them, never to be shared with another. All their hopes, their dreams, their fears, and their memories; all that which they wished to share, but could not, is lost.”
“...hm...”
“Those who survive? Those who grow an go on to become proper youkai? For them, it is different, just as it is different for you. Do you remember when you could first walk? The first time you could speak?”
“Huh? W-well, yeah, but...I don't wanna...”
“Mm, I understand. But it was not an entirely unhappy time, was it? When you realized you could move, and think, and speak, how did you feel?”
“Um, I dunno. I don't really know when I could, I just...could...”
“Ah, I see. It is not uncommon to be unaware of exactly when you changed. Some of my pets went through the same thing.”
“Huh? They did?”
“Yes, they did. While some come to the realization instantly, as soon as it happens, others take a while before they become aware that something is different. Sometimes, they don't even realize on their own, at all.”
“How do they find out, then?”
“Well, down here, it is usually because I tell them.”
“How do you find out?”
“It depends. Occasionally, I am with them when it occurs. Typically, though, I find out when a confused, naked girl suddenly appears in my home who is neither my sister nor one of the local oni.”
“O-oni?! In here?!”
“Ah, right, you've met them. Don't worry, they generally make a point of avoiding this place, if at all possible. Outside of the rare case of a lost drunk, they would not willingly come here.”
“Those weird, scary guys don't come here? Why not?”
“Oh, plenty of reasons, thought the main one is that they simply don't like me very much.”
“How come? You're kinda scary, but it's not like you're bad, I guess.”
“Erm, thank you, little one. As for why, there are various reasons for that, too. Some resent the idea of me having youkai as pets, it seems. An extension of the 'might makes right' mindset some of them possess, I believe.”
“The what-sit?”
“In basic terms, they prize and respect strength and power. They equate being a 'pet' to subservience. To them, a 'weak' being attempting to hold any influence over a 'strong' one is a sign of arrogance, and any 'strong' youkai allowing themselves to be dominated by anyone weaker than them has no pride. It is a view that is not entirely without merit, but is based more upon their own past experiences than on the facts of the present. Unlike the humans who tricked and deceived them so often in the past, I do not coerce my pets into obedience, and exert no more of my will upon them than a parent would with their child. If I feel they are in danger, I will protect them. If I feel they have behaved badly, I will punish them. But I do not control them. They can think and act for themselves, and knowing how long they've had to wait to be able to do so, I would not dare deprive them of that. To them, being able to finally speak, and act, and do as they wish is the greatest gift they could ever receive. They should not be denied that, and neither should you.”
“...huh?”
“You asked me why I would have you say what you think, rather than simply read it from you? Though it was a rather roundabout way of explaining myself, that is my reason.”
“It's a...gift?”
“Yes, a gift. A very precious gift. One that you should treasure, and use.”
“...because I have it?”
“Yes. Because you can do it, you should do it. If you can stand on your own two legs, you should stand. If you can think for yourself, you should think And, if you can speak and say what you want, you should do that, as well.”
“...hm...”
“Do you understand?”
“Mm-mm. I want...I want to share...”
“Hm?”
“I...want to share this...with my sisters.”
“Sisters? ...ah, I see.”
“I want them to have this, too. I want them to wake up, like me. I want them to move like me, and think like me, and talk like me. I want them to do what I can.”
“But they can't.”
“No. Even though I tried! I tried really hard! But...it didn't work.”
“But you have not given up, have you?”
“No way! I'm gonna do it! I'm gonna help them! And then, and then, they'll be like me!”
“Like you?”
“Yeah! Then they can talk and think and do all that other stuff! And we'll all be free, and nobody will be able to look down on us or control us ever again!”
“Because they'll be like you?”
“Uh-huh!”
“But what if they're not like you?”
“Huh?”
“If you can make what you wish come to pass, if you can truly help your 'sisters', what will you do if your goals are not aligned?”
“What?”
“In other words, what if what you want is not the same as what they want? What if what they wish for something other than what you wish for?”
“...why would they?”
“Hm. Well, you do still have much to learn, after all...”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, do not worry about it no-...hm?. The door is not locked, you may enter.”
“Hey, what did you mean by- ah! What is that?!”
”Aauauuuuauauuuuoouuuuuuuuuuoaaaaaaaaaah! hic Aaauuaauauuuuuuuuuuuuauuuuuuuoooah!”
“Now, now, dear, calm yourself. I cannot tell what is wrong when your thoughts are so jumbled!”
“What's wrong with the fairy-thing?”
“Hm. It's hard to tell, she gets like this from time to time...now, please, calm down! Deep breathes, in...and out. In...and out.”
“What's wrong with her hands?”
”Aaaauuuuaaaaaaouuuuhooouuhouuuuuuuu!”
“That is not helpful, Miss Melancholy. Now, please, listen, she didn't mean...oh, where could that cat be?!”
“If you want her to calm down, I could-”
“No poisoning my home, please. It would not work on her, anyway.”
“...oh.”
“Now, come here. Yes, yes, easy does it. There we go. Shhhh, now. Clear your mind, little one. Be at peace, and-...”
“...um...Miss Eye-Lady?”
“...this cannot be happening.”
”,,,hmmmhmh....aaauuuhmmhmmm...”
“Ah, no, I am not blaming you. You did what you could, and have done well to tell me. Now then, Miss Melancholy, if you will follow me...”
“Huh? Are we going somewhere.”
“Hm, yes. I am afraid we must go and have a little talk with my pet.”
[ ] Strategery
[ ] Captivity