Ex parte

[viditlibertas]

Who: Al Saiduq (NPC version), generic NPC civilians, and you!
Where: Libra Ward, anywhere within it.
Summary: There still seems to be some civil unrest in Hinoto-Ri. You may want to help that floating albino guy deal with it...
Warnings: Possible discussions of the Anoli attack, NPCs being NPCs.

Saiduq was not one who...walked. He could do the motion like most other humanoid-beings, but it felt awkward and unnatural to one who was not beholden to gravity. If he wanted to go from point A to point B, he teleported, or flew. That was it. Even Hinoto-Ri hadn't given him a need to alter that pattern.

Apparently that had drawn the ire of a few people, however, given he'd been all but dragged in to an anti-Guests conversation. And yet, despite the nature of the conversation, he didn't seem aware that his hovering and curious, neutral speaking tone were just irritating the citizens even more. If anything, he just seemed to grow even more confused as the civilians grew more aggravated. Dare you get involved?

((If you tag in, we'll set up the overheard conversations. So, please wait for both the NPC and this account to tag before responding!))

Comments

[greatseal]

This whole situation doesn't look good to Minako, but she doesn't immediately engage the crowd. Instead, she moves around the edge, trying to get a feel for the conversation while getting closer to the mysterious floating guy. He was pretty obviously a Visitor himself, although she'd never spoken to him before.

[hinoto_npcs]

“What is it that makes the visitors so special?!” the ringleader was demanding, backed with a very angry sounding crowd. “Is it just because you all have Persona? That doesn’t make you any better than the Anoli!”

[viditlibertas]

That, it seemed, made Saiduq give pause, tilting his head down in something akin to shame.

"Believing strongly in something can give one the power to do amazing things. But, willpower alone is neither good nor bad. The power of Persona is the same- it is how one utilizes their dream that will decide their future."

[greatseal]

Minako agrees with Saiduq's assessment of the power of Persona, but instead addresses it indirectly, turning to the man speaking to the crowd. "Excuse me... Have you tried talking to Visitors before today?"

[hinoto_npcs]

There was a brief moment of disquiet amongst the crowd, and they grumbled mutinously to themselves.

"I don't have to!" the man huffed, recovering swiftly. "We saw what they did at the stadium! They're a violent lot, and, and the Anoli man was right! All the jobs and money and resources, they all go to the visitors!"

[greatseal]

"So, you're judging an entire group of people based on the words of someone who felt it was fine to resort to terrorism?"

She wants the people to think for a moment. The Anoli's argument was weak to begin with, and killing people immediately afterward had done nothing to strengthen it.

"The Anoli are using you. If they really wanted to help the people of Hinoto-ri, they'd have given the proof of government cover-ups they claimed to have in front of everyone at the stadium. They had the loudspeakers under their control. Instead they murdered people to start a panic and turn you against everyone who jumped in to protect innocent lives. They're only looking out for themselves, and Visitors are new and a good scapegoat."

[viditlibertas]

The albino seemed rather stunned as Minako spoke, raising his hand to cover his mouth as she spoke to the ringleader. He hadn't expected aid in this discussion, but there was definitely a sense of relief coming from him anyway.

"As it stands, the blood is on the hands of the Anoli. Our actions were in defense of this city, not against it."

[hinoto_npcs]

"The only people I saw murderin' others were the visitors!" a teenager shouted suddenly. He was a bit obscured from view, but his voice easily carried through the crowd. "Like, the visitors killin' them! Like that tentacle girl! Blood is on your hands!"

[hinoto_npcs]

"That's right! Perhaps a few of you are peaceful, perhaps not!" the ringleader continued. "But you can't deny that a lot of you are dangerous, and unpredictable! At least we know what type of enemy the Anoli are!"

[greatseal]

"I won't defend that girl's actions. No one should have been aiming to kill, on either side." Minako says this firmly.

"But, there are dangerous people in any group. The Anoli are also citizens of your city. Should I assume all native citizens of Hinoto-ri are dangerous because of what they've done?"

[viditlibertas]

Saiduq gave Minako a warm, private smile, which faded as he looked back to the mob.

"Mankind is a varied lot of individuals. To place so many under one title is foolhardy, when people within the same group often do not share the same will, dreams, or beliefs."

[hinoto_npcs]

"I heard from a friend at the hospital that there were more casualties caused by the Visitors than there were caused by the Anoli! They saw their opportunity for blood-shed and ran with it, I say!"

[hinoto_npcs]

"The Anoli hadn't done anythin' for ages before the tournament happened! It was because of the Visitors that the mayor thought he could call 'em out and that they showed up at all!"

[greatseal]

"And that was the Mayor's decision, not the Visitors. As for your friend at the hospital," she turns to the woman, "Was she there at the stadium too, watching what happened? Because I only saw Visitors fighting the Anoli."