unfinishednetwork

I think I get why people get so annoyed when they try to fight me.

[ He's somewhat amused by what had happened. Mainly because what happened felt a lot like what he usually does to other people - well, Phobiaclones didn't count but still - except that he was one of those other people this time. He had felt that something was going to happen, the same gentle way that he felt matters shift back home but without the pressing headache or the way reality suddenly was sounds-light-energy blending into thoughts pressing on his head. ]

Anyways, I had a feeling that this was going to be a low effort kind of event a few minutes before it hit, and I guess it was an ability? From the Library? Like the way I can almost create items from books, or talk instead of write in the journals. We really need to work on complying exactly what everyone can do in order to make better choices going forward. That story was gentle. I doubt we will have such luck next time.

In other news, I can procure a almost decent pot of coffee so long as I don't walk away, so if anyone wants some, just ask.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Might be both? Becoming attuned to this place, and all of that? In the aetheric sense, or whatever your equivalent is.

Usually it's a bit faster for me. But that just goes with the whole Trust thing which is different in this place.

What do you mean by 'Trust' in this sense?

Short version? Trust is the amount of people who believe in your abilities and trust that you are able to save the day.

Long version? Trust values are created between people thanks to their bonds together, from family to coworkers to media presence to global acknowledgement by strangers thanks to social media and other sources. The larger the Value grows, the stronger the person that Value is focused on gets, including creating what could be considered supernatural and super human abilities.

Quite literally creating Heroes through recognition and support.

I've seen... some things like that. Gods are created and empowered through belief - as well as crystals to fuel their energies. There's also something to be said about the power of emotion and will, which can create some powerful effects as well, though that's less studied, at least in my part of the world.

It happened once where someone gained so much Trust that they really did become a god. Afterwards, they created a system to keep people from gaining too much power.

Of course, because why would they want someone else to get that kind of power to challenge them?

No. With Trust, he also learned Fear and he started to kill everyone. A group of other Heroes banded together to stop him, and in the aftermath it was decided to never let anyone gain enough Trust to become that strong again.

Ah, I see. Forgive my pessimism, I've seen many take advantage of their positions...

It's okay. A lot of people think that way, and do blindly believe that the Commission is doing their best to prevent another Fall from happening. It's just... the ones who hold true power are never the Heroes that hold the Trust Values.

... Tell me more about this 'Commission'?

On paper, they are formed of members of hero agencies, social media companies, and semi-retired heroes. They have a set of laws on how Heroes are expected to behave, there are guidelines on how to help new comers into the system, and so on. Which, is fine, there's a lot of decent stuff they do, but they have an extremely narrow focus on what's important.

And to be frank, the Heroes aren't considered that important compared to the agencies or the civilians.

And off-paper?

Off-paper?

They think they control who is a Hero and who is not, and all the money that comes from that.

Mm. Money is just another form of control in any case. ... But I grew up with little of it, so I suppose that's only natural for me to to think.

It is. The more money and control they have over people wishing to become Heroes, the more they want.

Sounds like the Monetarists of Ul'dah... all they care about is power and money. They don't really care about what the people want.

Well. They do have every right to be scared of what Heroes can do if they get too much Trust - we've had it happen. The problem is that there are people who think that there should be a Hero like that again, but one that is under their complete control.

[ He sighed softly, sounding extremely tired and old. ]

Meanwhile they make people like Nice and Dragon Boy and the new E-Soul - broken, hollow and deranged all for the title X.

[He's not sure he completely understands - something like a primal, but a hero?]

[... Hm.]

Fighting for a title that this group wants to control the owner of, turning them into whatever they want.

[Yep, don't like that.]

Lucky me that I'm the current holder of the title for the last three years, right?

[ Well, the one year was a wash due to that one incident, but still. He is the reason why the Commission is having a heart attack over everything. ]

I don't have an agency, I don't live in the government funded building for Heroes, and hell, until the last week they didn't even know who I was outside of my Hero persona.

All the more reason for them to go after you, I suppose.

[He doesn't like being cynical, but in this situation? Yeah.]

And I assume now that they know who you are they'll be trying to go after you even harder. Trust me, when people know to attach your face with a heroic title, things get... messy. I have some personal experience with that.

Let them try.

[ He has every reason to be smug. Like sure he's been surprised a couple times, but he has yet to meet anyone that can truly match him. ]

I actually was nearing the end of one of their attempts when I ended up here. I think the only reason why I got snagged by the Library's aura was that left turn at Albuquerque.

[ If you get the joke, you get it. ]

[... Yeah, nope.]

Unfortunately I think whatever joke you're making is going over my head. But I'd be... wary. If I had a gil for every time I had to deal with poison I would have... well, at least two gil.

I just don't want you to get hurt.

There's a popular cartoon about a rabbit who always ends up in strange places because he always makes a wrong turn. Some days I totally agree that he's my spirit animal.

I'm cautious about a lot of things, and here I'm very limited in how far I can reach, but back home? I don't have a limit except in imagination.

... That sounds incredibly overpowered.

[And like a few things he could name, but... eh.]

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