24th Invasion

[moemoetentacles]

[Action; in and around 452 Stone Street]

[For anyone living on, hanging out near, or walking down Stone Street today - there is something happening on at 452 Stone Street that you may wish to investigate.  The windows to the house are open, and the sound of a small explosion rings through the air, followed by the surprised and panicked scream of a certain little squid-child.  There is now black smoke billowing out of the living room window, and the sound of coughing.  After a few seconds, Squid Girl's head pops out of the window as she tries to get some fresh air into her lungs.]

Aaaaaahhhhh... what's wrong with that stupid thing!

Comments

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Because the ocean is way better than living on land!

*can finally tag back now!*

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

...

[The expression on Gat's face changes into something both critical and incredulous.]

That's all?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

...I just don't like them, okay!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat sighs and rubs one of his temples with a hand. He doesn't sound too happy with Squid Girl.]

Alright, alright.

I reckon if this kinda thing can happen in Gurhal, it can happen anywhere.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Yeah, people are jerks no matter where you go.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[If he were any other person, Gat would have the urge to tell Squid Girl to look in the mirror. Instead, he just chuckles dryly at the irony.]

I'm talkin' about race relations. One race thinkin' they're superior an' treatin' th' others poorly.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Well they started it! We sea creatures were just swimming around minding our own business! It's humans that dumped their garbage in our home!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat raises an eyebrow at this.]

Have your people tried negotiatin' with whatever government's in charge of human society?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

They wouldn't listen.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat shakes his head. There's a sort of grim frown on his face; in his mind, he's thinking that Squid Girl is just a young example of an entire race of sea-dwelling humanoids, and that the human nations of her world refused to listen to them.]

[A situation like that, combined with Squid Girl's attitude, is way too much like the racial tensions that have plagued Gurhal for centuries.]

So it's goin' both ways, then.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but the humans definitely started it!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

You're sayin' they said th' same things about your people you've said about them?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

No, they started it when they started disrespecting their natural resources and taking the ocean for granted.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat chuckles and shakes his head. He's smiling slightly.]

Now you're soundin' like a Newman.

Odd you said "we sea creatures," though. Most folks don't talk about all plants an' animals livin' in their territory if their people've been wronged.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

But we have to eat the other stuff to survive.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah—but don't ya'll got ocean farms or somethin' like that? Agriculture's th' foundation of any civilization.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Ocean farms? What?

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

... Your folks don't do any kind of animal husbandry? Or growin' sea plants for food?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

I just eat a lot of shrimp. And sometimes lobster.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat blinks a few times.]

... Do ya'll have any cities, or anything?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Not really.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[That look on Gat's face is creeping mystification.]

So ... Your people're nomadic hunter-gatherers.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

I guess so?

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat rubs his forehead, trying to process all this. A girl from a race of sea-dwelling humanoids that seem to have no technology or developed civilization of their own ...]

If'n'ya don't mind my askin', how'd you wind up ownin' things like that there video game console if ya'll didn't even have cities of your own? Or th' 3D television you mentioned, for that matter.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's not mine, it's Eiko's. I just use it all the time, so maybe the town thought it belonged to me.