004 ☓ anon text

[envy_the_sinners]

[Scar's been lying low in Olivine ever since the hurricane, and he's starting to go a little stir-crazy. Being left bored with his thoughts can only end in one thing. Anon questions.]

In my time here, I have come to find that there are a great many "worlds" that are home to people who wouldn't be considered human, but experience the same depth of thought and range of emotion.

[Even he can make that conclusion, now.]

In that case, what is humanity? A measure of physical traits? A state of mind? Something into which one must be born?

Comments

[envy_the_sinners]

But then is sapience a result of humanity, or is it the other way around? Or are the two even connected at all?

[enjoymyatelier]

I wouldn't necessarily say they're connected, given that there are worlds where entirely different species have achieved sapience and have intelligence and reasoning capabilities even though it would seem completely ridiculous for them to do so.

For example, the world where the dominant sapient species are colorful horses. Admittedly, that's the... extreme end of things, but there's no way their sapience could have resulted from anything resembling "humanity."

[envy_the_sinners]

[Colorful... horses? That's a thing? Science has gone too far.]

I would find that fact difficult to accept at all, if I had not spent such a span of time in this would already.

I can agree with you, that intelligence has no true, unbreakable connection with humanity. But then what is humanity, to you?

[enjoymyatelier]

I would agree with you, but... yes. It's downright bizarre in quite a few ways.

Well, it's simply being born a human, I suppose. There are ways to reject humanity and become something... different, and there are artificial humans who I'd consider different in a few ways themselves... but those distinctions are more or less important depending on the non-human individual, I suppose.

[envy_the_sinners]

But what of a person who becomes human as they do here? There is no reason for an unknowing party to assume otherwise, but that person did not come into being as a human.

[enjoymyatelier]

...that actually is a good point, actually. I've assumed it's something that doesn't actually matter that much in the long run, given that it's a temporary form that only really exists in this world for... whatever reason.

[envy_the_sinners]

You mean it isn't permanent?

[enjoymyatelier]

I wouldn't even say it's permanent here. There are... odd occurrences every six months that tend to revert non-humans to their original forms for a few days at a time. Of course, they're back to appearing human afterward, but if you have a very clear image of someone it can be a bit jarring to begin with.

[envy_the_sinners]

Then upon their theoretical return to their home world, a non-human would simply revert to their original state?

[enjoymyatelier]

Nothing that happens to us here, for better or worse, has any impact on our lives back home.

Changes to one's physical form are no exception.

[envy_the_sinners]

Then what is this entire place, if not a mere dream?

[No impact? He's not going to just buy that.]

[enjoymyatelier]

Unfortunately, I've been looking for an answer to that for quite some time now, but it's eluded me thus far. I believe there must be some way to ensure it matters, but it's likely beyond us at the present time.

[envy_the_sinners]

I cannot just accept that everything that happens here is meaningless.

That will be the ultimate goal, then. To ensure that whatever becomes of us, this place still has some impact.

[It's a very idealistic wish, for someone like Scar, but he can't just let go of it. If there is one naive ideal he has kept with all of this time, it is that nothing is naturally meaningless.]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, I'm glad someone agrees it's nonsense otherwise. Unfortunately, as I said, it's been a bit difficult as of yet, but there may simply be something we haven't found yet.

[envy_the_sinners]

The truth always finds its way to the surface, even if it takes longer than it ought to.

[enjoymyatelier]

I'm already familiar with a few potential leads, but maddeningly enough, they're inaccessible. Unless, of course, they're magnanimous enough to decide to allow us to visit other regions at some point.

[envy_the_sinners]

Our options for travel are greatly limited. But that is just another question without an answer as of yet.

By "they" do you mean in general? Or do you know who is responsible for keeping us confined?

[enjoymyatelier]

I mean in general, yes. This place's... particular quirks have lead me to anthropomorphize it to some degree, even if there truly isn't someone behind all this.

And really, you'd think there would be more options for travel... but apparently not.