002 - [Video]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus looks...very tired and worn, but trying to hide it. He doesn’t look all that successful at it. Apparently a lot is still bothering him. Maybe that explains a new arrival: a Meow Wow is now following behind him, while back towards the shop, a moogle flies off.]

I don’t know if a greater number of Spirits available enables them to share information better, or to reveal things to us that a single one may bypass. I would hope so. But at the very least, it should make fighting quicker.

[He looks back down at the Meow Wow.] I believe I’ll call you Chuza.

[Chuza barks (or meows?) in happiness, and bounces around a bit. Kura chitters at the new arrival and circles around, seeming to indicate that he still thinks he’s top dog just because he was here first. Eraqus sighs.]

I suppose part of that also depends on them getting along.

Comments

[unrecovered]

Here's what I don't get: what exactly are you expecting to learn from that?

[It's a happy sausage-catdog. It...doesn't exactly seem like the teaching type.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Perhaps anything that something native to this realm would be attuned to.

[If Yen Sid can learn things by watching the stars, it's not unheard of that he might learn something from a bouncy cat-dog.]

[unrecovered]

Okay, one, you know the Moogles have a lot of information, right? And two, out of all the natives to the realm, you picked that?

[It's like trying to learn strategy from Caboose. Seriously. He's really trying to understand just what you were thinking.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I have already pressed them for information, but they are either reluctant to give it or have none to give on the most important matters.

I am less interested in what an individual one can do than in what they can do in groups. To that end, this kind seems one of the most sociable.

[wavesinherheart]

I'm sure they'll get along if you give them time.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Yes. Time and work together tends to bring about friendships.

[And maybe a bit too friendly...Chuza waddles over to Kura, and bounces on top of him as a means of saying hello. Kura proceeds to squabble in annoyance at the Meow Wow that he's currently stuck under.]

...Sometimes more time for some than others.

[wavesinherheart]

[Aqua can't entirely hide her amusement at the Dream Eater's antics. She's not really sure she wants to either, given recent events.]

They'll get there.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[After everything, Eraqus is glad to see Aqua smile, too. It's been way too long since he's seen any of his students smile.]

I do hope so. [He glances back down at them.] Chuza, you could start by giving Kura some room to breathe.

[Chuza rolls over, allowing Kura to get up, only for him to continue squabbling in annoyance. Chuza doesn't seem to care.]

[wavesinherheart]

[It's been too long since she's had reason to smile.]

He does seem a little overenthusiastic, doesn't he?

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Yes. Such enthusiasm isn't bad, as long as it's channeled in the right direction.

[Chuza barks once, and rolls back towards Kura in a sort of "wanna be friends?" manner? Kura still doesn't look entirely sold, but stops screeching at her at least.]

[wavesinherheart]

Right. It's just a matter of channeling it properly.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Then we shall have to work on that.

[Chuza rolls over again. Kura darts back and forth, and then hops up onto Chuza's back. Well, he's fine with battling from this position! Chuza seems to be happy either way.]

[wavesinherheart]

It looks like they've got the hang of it already.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[There's almost a smile out of him there.]

I do hope so.

[dork_of_keys]

They might quarrel a little bit at first. It should get better as they get used to each other.

[Of course, as he says this, Sora has a bat sitting on his shoulder and nuzzling the side of his head. He's named it Bruce, because it seemed fitting. Jelly Bean can be heard barking from somewhere off screen. Sounds like he wants attention, either from Sora or Bruce.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I suppose that then would require more time and work together.

And I see you've acquired some more as well.

[dork_of_keys]

Yeah, it would. It's worth it, though.

The more the merrier.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

I guess I should also ask, since you have been in this realm before...are these Spirits more capable of allow us to leave this world when in groups?

[dork_of_keys]

You know, I'm not quite sure about that. I wasn't able to travel to another world here until I found a really powerful Nightmare and beat it. But, I couldn't have done that without a little help, both for finding it and for beating it.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Hmmm. [He's thoughtful for a little bit.]

It does seem like the help is necessary, then.

[dork_of_keys]

[Considering the giant Nightmare in question, the help will definitely be needed if it turns up. Sora rather hopes it doesn't, but he won't be too surprised if it does.]

Yeah.

[defrostedpride]

[But is it really worth it, for more...pets? Rather you than him, Eraqus.]

Good luck with that endeavor. Really. I wish I thought it was going to be that easy.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Pets, maybe, but if the moogles are correct, then they're probably important.]

I don't expect it to be easy. These things never are. But I expect this to be a first step.

[defrostedpride]

It...might produce useful information, I suppose. [If you can put up with the noise and the worry and the everything else.]

I'm still unsure, personally, to what degree the Dream Eaters are capable of rational thought: they may be on the level of lesser Heartless, or they may just have poor impulse control.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Time will tell.

[He doesn't really like that comparison to Heartless, however.] Considering they seem capable of understanding speech and apparently are aware of each others' feelings, I don't think they're on the same level as Heartless.

[defrostedpride]

The key words being 'seem' and 'appear'. People have a well-documented tendency to ascribe higher intelligence to favored housepets and other creatures demonstrably incapable of such a high level of reasoning. The fact is, we do not know very much about these Dream Eaters. They could be following a set of instincts that coincidentally provide the illusion of intelligence.

Or they could just enjoy annoying me. I haven't eliminated that as a possibility.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

To me at least, it would seem a lot simpler to have some degree of intelligence rather than to have a set of instincts that just happen to give the illusion of it.

[Well, he can't help but smirk a little at that.] It seems likely for many here.

[defrostedpride]

Yes, it does indeed seem that way, which is where many people err. However, the fact is that natural forces encourage creatures to develop traits and behaviors that are beneficial to the survival of their species, so that over time the species as a whole may be extremely well-developed for a given environment, diet, et cetera. Nevertheless, the creatures in question have not selected their behaviors deliberately and do not possess the intellect to do so. Most domestic animals, for example, have experienced many generations of pressure in favor of docility and friendliness.

However, most such creatures, lacking the capacity for analysis, are unable to react to situations in which their behaviors are no longer helpful - for example, if weather changes render a food source unavailable, they may be unable to adapt in time to avoid extinction.

...I no longer have any idea what conclusion I was planning to make.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus just listens through all this, although he looks...incredulous. Is all that analysis really necessary?]

We're currently in a realm of dreams. I rather doubt the natural order of most worlds will apply that well here.

[nightmaresfear]

They might not always look like it, but you're right, Dream Eaters can be perceptive. And two is definitely better than one.

[Peering at the communicator.] You okay, though? You look a little tired.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

That is good to hear, then.

[Except he really doesn't want to talk about that...] It's nothing.

[nightmaresfear]

[You think he doesn't recognise that tough guy act, Eraqus? He's been guilty of it plenty of times himself. Still, Riku also recognises when not to pry.]

All right. Just be careful; the Nightmares will take any advantage they can get.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[After everything that happened, he'll probably want to keep more of it private for awhile.]

I will keep my eyes open.