029. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

Memory seems to be something of an elusive thing for some people, from what I've heard; I've never really considered it to be much of a problem myself, for various reasons both personal and not. But since we're all in this more or less together, and we have no obvious indication of if - or when, depending on your level of optimism - we'll be returned to our worlds of origin, I have to admit curiosity regarding the experiences of others.

Memories being the finicky things that they are, I'm sure we all have things we remember vividly about home - people, places, various other whatnot that I'm sure mattered to you at the time. I'm mostly curious about the people; you don't have to give me specifics if you choose not to, but I want to know -

What sort of things do you remember most vividly about the people that were important to you, and what sort of things do you not remember but wish you could? I'm sure we've all had that jarring moment when we realize that we don't remember what someone's voice sounded like, for example; I want to hear about things like that, if you don't mind. As always, do it anonymously, if you wish; I have less interest in your name than I do your answer.

Perhaps someday I'll learn to ask questions that are more seasonally-appropriate for any oncoming holidays; unfortunately, I've never really been one to adhere to the spirit of a season that I have no real understanding of in the first place.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Is that so? It's not terribly common where I'm from, either - at least not among the circles I spent time with.

Is there a particular reason for that?

[itsjustdust]

Yeah. Shinobi... We're a combat oriented people. You can poison with a touch. You can disable with a touch, you can crawl inside someone's head with a touch... You can do a lot of that without touching too, but inviting contact tends to be a risk that no one really feels it's worth it to take.

[explosivecombat]

Understandably so.

Alchemists are the same way.

[itsjustdust]

But where you're from there are people who try to get close to the alchemists, right? Hidden villages don't really have those.

[explosivecombat]

It depends on what you mean by that; if it's just proximity, it depends on what the alchemist in question does with their power.

If it's emotional closeness or friendship, it depends on whom they're employed by.

[itsjustdust]

[There was a pause at that one.]

I take it there's a gap between certain factions then?

[explosivecombat]

The military is looked down upon by the general population. Slurs, avoidance, the entire package.

[itsjustdust]

OH. Oh, in that case I think I get exactly what angle is taken on that. I'm guessing that you got that? You always stuck me as someone properly military.

[explosivecombat]

Yes, of course. I was in the military for several years, and participated in a civil war that was a bit...unpopular with civilians, as civil wars tend to be.

[itsjustdust]

I can't say about civil war, but war is never pretty in the first place, or popular with whoever has people fighting on their lands. Was it in your country or another you went to?

[explosivecombat]

It was within mine, against a nation of people we had annexed several years back.

[itsjustdust]

The war I was involved in wasn't in my home country at all, being fought outside our borders. Is it much worse, having it on your home soil?

[explosivecombat]

I wouldn't know. I don't remember a time when my country has been at peace; it certainly hasn't been in my lifetime, or in my parents' lifetime.

War is just part of our daily lives at this point; I wouldn't say one is really any better or worse than another. After all, lives are still being lost, people are being killed - what difference does it make where they're being lost?

[itsjustdust]

I guess what I was asking... is if you still have a retreat from the fighting.

[explosivecombat]

No. But then, we never have.

[itsjustdust]

I can't imagine that. Even if it's not true, in Konoha we could still pretend.