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]

Well... there's only one of me, and there's lots of them! I have to start somewhere!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

What I'm sayin' is, if you're willin' to talk an' make friends with th' folks you think're beneath you, then maybe you oughta think about your feelin's about 'em a bit more.

[He's looking purposefully at Squid Girl, there.]

After all, it ain't like th' whole race has gotta be held responsible. When folks start doin' that, you start seein' vicious cycles of revenge.

[Which he has seen plenty of, both on Coral and in reading about Gurhal's history.]

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

So maybe they're not all bad, and I should just focus on the ones that are responsible?

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Now she's getting it! Gat gives a nod of approval.]

That's right.

[Then to illustrate that point:]

How many humans have you seen pollutin' th' ocean durin' your time on land? Did you ever see your friend doin' it?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Well, no...

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

There you go, then. It ain't everybody's fault.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

But how do I find out which humans I need to punish? I can't just go around asking them all. What if some of them lie?

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

If your world's anything like mine, then it ain't so much individuals as groups that're responsible. An' you never know, there's prolly humans that're just as concerned about th' environment as you.

They're bound to have information on who's abusin' th' environment.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Really? There are humans that are concerned about the ocean too?

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

I reckon there oughta be. There's a lotta folks who're concerned about th' environment where I'm from.

Heck, it's in my company's mission statement; protectin' th' people, planets, an' star systems where they make their home.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Huh. I never thought about that. Maybe I should try to find some human organizations like that and team up with them!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat gives Squid Girl a thumbs up and a grin.]

There you go! That's how you oughta look at it.

[Does this count as successful tactical negotiation? Can Gat put this on his resume?]

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Oh! Okay! That sounds a lot easier!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Nodding approvingly over here.]

By th' way, I don't think I've introduced myself. My name's Falk Gatt, though most folks jus' call me Gat. I'm a Ranger for th' GUARDIANS Security Corporation.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll just call you Gat, then. I'm Squid Girl.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat blinks, then quirks an eyebrow.]

Your parents named ya after your species?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

What? No. I came up with that name myself.

Finally catching up on my tags pre-slowatus!

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[That eyebrow remains quirked.]

Y'mean to say your parents never bothered namin' ya?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

...Parents?

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat can't figure out if Squid Girl's being absentminded or not.]

You did have a father an' mother, right? Ya'll're like most organic folks in that way?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

I don't really remember anyone like that.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

... Were you an orphan, then?

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

I guess so.

[nanocerancowboy.livejournal.com]

[Gat rubs the back of his neck.]

Sorry t'hear that. I reckon it's gotta be hard growin' up without parents bein' there for ya.

[He sounds a little awkward saying that.]

Kinda hard for folks like me to relate to that, since we ain't born—we're built.

[moemoetentacles.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's like that for all squids.

...Are you a robot or something?