illusional | 7th l o s t s o u l ~ [Voice]

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7th l o s t s o u l ~ [Voice]

[The last event left Cheyenne in a weird place and since then, she's been rather scarce around the village. Aside from getting food at one of the village restaurants, she's spent most of her time either in her apartment or in the forests just outside the village. Today, she's actually back to her usual spot: sitting on the edge of one of Luceti's many bridges, looking down at the water.]

[A few hours of this goes by until she finally opens her journal and poses a question to the residents. The very thing that's been on her mind all this time.]

It is not uncommon for others to ask questions using these journals, yes? [A pause. She wasn't really expecting an answer to that.]

...what do you think it means to be a "person"?

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Hm...

Would you continue to stand by that point even with the knowledge that I have not always been as "ethical" as I appear now?

...

[And another thing that hits close to home.]

I have... met people who have challenged my definitions of "ethical" here. They... they are good people. But they have done things that... that I would find distasteful or worse.

... I am not so certain I can judge people as easily as I used to.

[That is a rare admission you're getting, Cheyenne.]

...does their being "good people" have a strong effect on how you would judge them? In terms of whether they are a person or, perhaps, a monster?

[The answer to that might seem like an obvious one to most, but to someone like Cheyenne...]

[Hey, it's something that Robert has trouble with himself. He doesn't begrudge her this question.]

In this situation, it does. I find myself unable to take these actions and judge them without placing them in the context of the greater individual.

... For example, I... I had been... t-taught to consider the ability to commit violent acts as... inherently barbaric. Simply put, people capable of violence were... n-not supposed to be able to be good people...

... But here in Luceti, I have met... many people who are capable of it... and somehow are still capable of being good, kind, caring people as well. These parts coexist in a way that... that I still do not understand. But... b-but is undeniable that they do.

Hm...

I suppose it would make things difficult, to have believed in such a thing prior to arriving. After all, any creature is capable of acts of violence. Even the smallest of creatures can still cause harm with the proper circumstances.

It is different when it is... deliberate. Pre-ordained. When somebody thinks to commit harm, and does it for a reason...

... [Softly:] But... The people I know... they can still do this, and yet be good.

Being a person means... being able to do truly horrible things, as well as truly wonderful. It matters what you choose to do.

What you choose to do... perhaps it is simply having the capability to make such a choice that deigns a creature as a person...

[That sounds almost more to herself than directed at him. She is trying to figure this out as well, after all.]

Is there some reason that you are questioning this, if I may ask?

[Because it is a very profound question to just... ask for no reason.]

Are you hoping to gain a specific insight?

Perhaps. I am not entirely sure what has possessed me to think on this subject for as long as I have been.

Well, it is certainly a fascinating question. And it is one that matters very much to me...

[Robert would hate for people to see his partner as anything less than a person in his own right.]

Does it? The only time I had the opportunity to see you was during the experiment in which my vision was altered. However, I was under the impression that you were originally a human.

I am a human, yes. [Robert nods, though Cheyenne can't see.] But not only is my field of work familiar with those who qualify as people but are not human-like - that is, astrobiology - but my partner is a non-human sapient himself.

Additionally, there are other people here in Luceti I know who are non-human sapients as well, and they deserve the title of person from any perspective I can see.

I suppose that would make the question of interest. I wonder how, in a setting as diverse as Luceti, such a question has not yet been proposed?

[A pause.]

Unless it has been and was simply in writing.

It may have been, but if it was I do not remember answering it myself. Or even hearing about it.

...

I think it is definitely an important question. Not simply here, but in general. One should not take one's personhood for granted.

I suppose. Though I do wonder, is it so important for a creature to be considered a person?

Considering that personhood is the cornerstone of much of sapient rights, I would say so.

If a person is considered to be less than a person, for whatever reason, horrid abuses of that person can follow from that kind of mindset.

[Softly, but with real vehemence:] My partner would know. His family has been treated downright hideously due to the fact that many humans refuse to see them as people.

[There's a rather long pause here.]

...I suppose that is something I can understand.

Although my own situation was certainly different. I have always considered my treatment in my previous world to be a sort of fair trade, considering the crimes committed by my kind in the past and the present.

You should not be blamed for the crimes of your species...

... Though I suppose it is natural to want to take blame for it. After all, I find myself... apologetic for my own foolish species many times over, especially here.

It is not so much taking blame as it is acknowledging the pain brought on by the existence of my kind. Being able to understand that pain separates me from my guiltless sisters.

Well... [Robert can understand that, to an extent. It's what he does with himself, right?]

Just... be careful that, in doing so, you do not devalue your own self, or make yourself out to be the one who caused these problems to begin with.

... Though you can certainly aim to right things, if you can...

As I alluded to before, there was a time when I had been a source of pain for those living in my previous world. I do not hope to feign innocence in regards to my past.

You do not need to feign innocence, but at the same time, there is nothing to prevent you from working to assure it does not happen again.

As you said before, your ability to feel places you at a level above others of your species. In that case, then, it is important for you to work to maintain that.

... In any case, I hope that my answer has helped you in some way. Even if you do not consider yourself a person, I think you are one.

You are not the only one to believe such a thing. There are more in the village who would consider me a person than those who would consider me a monster.

To be honest, I am not sure what to think of it.

Is it not positive to you at all, to be seen in this light?

Or... do you want to be seen as a monster...?

[Robert's tone is... tentative. Almost disbelieving, really.]

[A pause.]

Suppose you spent your whole life believing yourself to be a person.

Now, suppose you found yourself in a situation where others consider you to be a monster instead. Furthermore, to be a person is now a "bad" thing, whereas you previously believed there to be little distinction between being a person and being a monster other than convenient identification.

Would you find it difficult to abandon all association with yourself as a person?