abraxasnet | to: everyone

Nothing like either one exists where I'm from as far as I'm aware. Well, other than the occasional fairy tale about people with the ability to change forms, but that was more of changing to anything form they wanted to take instead of just one. I suppose as long as they're not trying to actively harm me then there's nothing to be concerned about.

The closest thing we had to either is the remainder of a civilization that did some blood experiments in secret, but... as far as I know they were basically human. I'm not sure if it would've explained more or less if they weren't.

People with the ability to change forms? That's interesting, I think we have those two. I've heard of shapeshifters, but I think they're rare. A good opinion, though, I agree.

Blood experiments? That sounds interesting.

Shapeshifters are probably close to what I've read about. Most of them did it to deceive rather than harmlessly in the stories, so if they existed I suppose they'd fall out of my good opinion at that point.

Interesting is one word for those experiments, though.

[ Well. He was the one to bring them up, so it stands to reason Ches would ask since anyone would be curious. There's a decent pause before the next part appears, like Claude is choosing his words deliberately while considering the question posed to everyone as part of it. ]

I don't doubt they could've provided valuable information had they been conducted differently. But they weren't done on the willing or the aware, and the cost to them was high.

Yeah that's a good enough reason for them to fall out of favour. A lot of the rumours where I come from say shapeshifters are like that, but I'm not inclined to believe rumours, not until I meet the person and see what they're like. There's always bad in the good, and good in the bad.

[Seems like he might've asked a sensitive question there, considering the pause, so the answer isn't super surprising.]

Ouch. Sounds like what might happen to supernaturals in my world, if they're not careful.

[Sounds like what does happen to them, he knows that much, considering the Wraith and their experiments.]

What kind of cost?

Not believing rumors is pretty fair. Something we'd all be better off doing, really, in all senses and not just with the supernatural. Like you said, nothing's ever as clear cut as it seems.

[ That's - to use the same word - an interesting note about what happens to supernatural beings where Ches is from. Suddenly, this question that kicked off the conversation makes a lot more sense post-visit from their potential new friends. Maybe it's not his business (not that it'll stop Claude) but he can't help but think back to their conversation in the Horizon. But for now: ]

My friend was someone that group experimented on when she was a child with several other kids, and she was the only one who survived whatever they did. But she wasn't the last one it happened to.

[ There's more, but this isn't really his secret to share even if no one else here is from Fodlan. Not to mention it's all rather bleak to drop on someone unsuspecting. ]

I'm hoping that's not the same where you're from.

That's my take on it, yeah. The less believing rumours the better, in general. Between humans and supernaturals, between countries, between factions, all that.

[A lot of people have been making inferences about his nature after asking this particular question - it's not something he'd rather have as a secret, it's just safer that way, at least until he knows the lay of the land, as it were. Safer to be in obscurity, for no one to know what he really is.]

Most of the supernaturals back home that get taken for experimentation, you don't hear from them again. Whether it's because they've been brainwashed or because they're dead, I don't know. What I do know is that it's no good, and I'd like to put a stop to it.

Can't help but agree with you there.

[ It might come across flippant, but he does mean it - that rumors shouldn't be believed and all should be able to co-exist no matter their backgrounds is a firm belief of Claude's, so it's nice to hear it echoed from someone else. ]

And saying that's horrible to hear happens to anyone - disappearing, brainwashing, anything cruel - doesn't even begin to cover it. Anything like that should be stopped.

Are the disappearances something common where you're from, then? Or are supernaturals themselves common there compared to everywhere else?

Usually I just approach it by asking whether they're hurting anyone. If not, then why should anyone care what they do on their own time? Then again, I'm also the forgiving sort.

[It's nice to hear someone agreeing with him for Chester too. It's a long-held tradition in his pack that anyone who approaches them needing help, they take them in, unless there's a very good reason.]

If I could work out a way to do it, I would, but the forces doing the kidnapping and brainwashing are a lot bigger than I am. And I'd say they're not uncommon, but not exactly common either. Most supernaturals where I'm from do a pretty good job of keeping their secrets.

[Better than Chester does, that's for sure. Then again, he's always had considerable werewolf pride.]

That seems fair enough to me, honestly. The tricky part to that usually comes in when everyone can't agree on defining harmless, I've found. Assumptions can factor in a lot then.

Are the forces doing it just people who have organized, or are they some branch of authority where you live? Where I'm from I could see it being part of the main church here since once upon a time they tended to enforce... well, everything. Not that I agreed with that then or now.

[ Don't think he didn't notice 'bigger than me' in there: that seems to reveal more than Claude had thought at first glance the more he dwells on it. ]

I can definitely understand why they'd want to keep it a secret if that's what they're up against, either way.

Guess you've got a point there. But I figure some people just existing isn't hurting anyone, but taking away rights or driving people into hiding is doing harm.

Mostly just people who've organized. There's some church organizations for sure, especially out to get the witches and the supernaturals you'd think of as monsters. Mainly it's the Wraith, who formed up specifically to hunt supernaturals. Far as the government is concerned, supernaturals still have the same rights as any human, but in practice the cops and such aren't so great at actually defending and protecting supernaturals, unless they're supernatural themselves.

Yeah. Seems the wisest course of action. It's what I'd do.

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