maskormenace | 006 ✿ Video

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One year ago today, I arrived in this world. One year ago today, I shared a fateful drink in De Chima with the man who would become the love of my life. One year ago, there were different faces in this world -- different people to greet me upon my arrival, but many are and have remained the same.

[ Raina smiles a sappy smile. She is genuinely happy for the experiences she's had here and people she's met. ]

There have been a lot of ups and downs, especially as of the past few months. But I would be lying if I said that being in this world hasn't been a largely positive experience for me. And while it's sad to think all of it can be gone and forgotten faster than we can blink, that just means we should try to appreciate what we do have here all the more, doesn't it?

[ She leans forward, warm and inviting. ]

So I'd like to hear about your positive experiences. What are some of the best things that have happened to you here? What opportunities have arisen for you here that you would not have gotten back home? What friends did you make that you never would have met otherwise? And for people who have ported in recently, what opportunities do you hope this world will bring you?

We're so focused on the bad things or getting back home to our responsibilities or the people who aren't here that we often neglect to stop and appreciate the little things. Even if it's something as simple as getting to taste strawberry ice cream for the first time. So let's take a moment to share our experiences with each other.

[ A pause. ]

Also while I have you here -- a few months ago I was speaking to a friend of mine and we were talking about how it's possible to port out and return without memories of ever having been in this world. I brought up the idea of writing a letter to ourselves detailing our time here and he proposed that we try to see if the government would include those in the files we're given upon our arrival. If people overall think it's a good idea, I can talk to a few representatives to see if it can be done. I just know that there are people and things here that I would not want to forget, and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same.

And I think that's about all I have to say. I look forward to hearing your stories. Even if we can't have our letters included in our files, maybe this post could serve as a little something for our future selves to look back on and see how happy we once were if ever there's a time when that is forgotten.

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Yes. I was referencing them with my comment about how supportive the imPort population has been. A great deal of my funding has come from generous donations from them. Though, we do have government backing -- which helps a great deal. But largely, it is the imPorts who wish to find out more about themselves and their cells and provide my organization with monetary offerings.

[ She pauses a moment. ]

I take it you weren't here for that? Yes. A few months ago, some anti-imPort group attacked and used technology of their own development that caused powers to be exchanged with other imPorts. It lasted a couple of weeks before things went back to normal. But as you can imagine, it was a chaotic time for most everyone.

Oh! I see. For some reason I thought you were the one to take on the role of the mother grub and she was what emerged from your egg. My mistake. I think I had it in my mind that you mentioned something about your kind being surrogates before, and that is where the confusion arose.

But I am certain she will grow to be truly beautiful. Do they emerge like butterflies or moths? Or do they take on a completely different form entirely?

I thank you. You have a wonderful weekend as well, and I greatly look forward to our meeting.

[ And you can bet she will be thinking about this until then -- wondering just what theory he has and how it could be of interest to her research. ]

I believe they mostly take care of themselves for to compliments.

So this all boils down to you taking out your frustrations with my boyfriend on me. Because apart from him, we spend time with largely the same people. You are only making yourself appear petty and foolish the further you continue to engage me like this, April.

Oho, duly noted.

[He's so pleased that Raina is his own -- lovely, brilliant Raina.]

Until then.

I don't even know where to start. This world has been so full of memorable and wonderful moments. Frederick and I went on a vacation to Maui together last summer. We greatly enjoyed the setting, the relaxation and each other. I think it was there that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I loved him and he returned those feelings. And I also think it was the turning point of our relationship. We fought quite a bit up until then. And after we got back, things went much smoother from there.

Sorry, no. I've only been here since - well, actually, my first Swear-In was that business with the brainwashing camp. So. Er. Two months? - Three? [Gods, has it been that long already?]

Sounds dreadful. [sincerely. Figuring out his own measly power was bad enough, he'd hate to imagine having someone else's thrust upon him.] Did it happen to you as well?

Moths would be the nearest equivalent, I think. Moths for mothers, perhaps a bit on the nose.

I was raised by a mother grub, but there was no biological relation between us. It was standard practice for trolls to be raised by members of a separate species, but the connection was more pronounced between mother grubs and jadebloods. Instead of being sent offworld to join the Empress' fleet, we would report to the brooding caverns, as handmaidens to the mother grubs. Midwives to the future of our kind.

The matriorb Ashiah hatched from, it actually came from my mother. She died to produce it. We were prepared, knowing it would need to happen, because there must always be a mother grub, and a jadeblood to tend to her.

yes!
i am also looking forward to it!

we'll talk again soon

((Aaand I started a log over here!))

[ She would be turning 28, and that would be tragic. If she makes it to 30 here, then she'll eat her shoe. ]

Maybe not as happy as you are, considering your whirlwind romance--but in some ways, yes. Kind of.

[ Men are weird. ]

But we don't do the same. I think.

[ She doesn't know if Raina does, but who knows? Maybe Raina likes the compliments. She is a beautiful lady, too... ]

Though if... if that makes him want to talk a little more...

Oh, Maui! That sounds rather lovely.

[And as for the turning point of their relationship? Toby can totally understand. Not to say he and Dorian fought often in the eighties, but Toby knows his death and the events leading up to it had affected Dorian. He'd only been back some days before arriving here as an imPort...]

And I'm quite glad for you two, having reached that point in your relationship. [He knows that isn't to say they don't have any problems.] It's good, reaching that level of understanding and trust. Liberating, isn't it? And refreshing at that!

I'm starting to think this lovely lady on the other side of the screen might be a bit closer to home.

You never know! Your "Prince Charming" could be just a port-in away. But I'm positive you've had plenty of would-be suitors during your time here. How could you not? You're gorgeous.

[ Raina might not have ever spoken to her, but she knows OF Kasumi. Mysterious and beautiful. What incredible curves she boasts all while tantalizing men (and probably women too) to see what she hides under that hood of hers. ]

[ With full and uninhibited flirtation: ]

I do have a thing for doctors, you know.

Oh, no. I was fortunate enough to avoid the areas where the attack happened.

[ Being clairvoyant has its perks! But people might start getting suspicious since Raina keeps somehow missing these horrible events. She got her fair share with the Russian Seminar and Chilton porting out, though. ]

I apologize that your first impression of this world was the invasion. But hopefully these past couple of months have given you a better impression of this world? If nothing else, I'm sure you've made a lot of good friends.

[ Do you really want to disappoint Raina by telling her you're a hermit who avoids people where he can, Rincewind? Of course, she'd probably say that she and Chilton are all the friends anyone needs. ]

[ She nods and it's clear from the expression on her face that she finds this relationship between Kanaya's kind, the jadebloods, and these mother grubs to be both fascinating and beautiful. Nature and things that deviated from humanity so often are. It's why Raina has devoted her whole life to studying aliens and their technology because there is beauty to be found in the blood that runs through her veins (or so she had hoped.) But still, she relates to this mother grub in that in order to become her true self, Raina had to go through the process of pupating. ]

And you've had this matriorb with you from the beginning? What happened that caused her to come to existence at the time she chose? Did a certain set form of conditions have to be met?

I can't think of a better way to celebrate, darling. Just let me know what date in May and I will be there.

[Bela smiles again.]

In the meantime, I think we should go on another shopping trip. Not in New York, but in one of the porter cities.

[ Oh, Sasha. You haven't ever opened yourself up to being called beautiful and praised, have you? This calls for a makeover! ]

Well, I think everyone appreciates a compliment every once in a while. It's human nature to like hearing that we look nice every once in a while.

[ But she nods adamantly. ]

I can guarantee that it will be the best way to get him to open up a bit more. He will know you appreciate him, especially if you compliment personality traits of his. I'm sure there are things about him you really like otherwise you two wouldn't have been together so long. So all you have to do is show him that.

It really is. I was at war with myself. Before Frederick, I had always done things alone. I got used to that way of life. So suddenly inviting someone else in to share a part of it was very strange and somewhat unsettling. I think I tried to push him away because I expected him to leave at any given moment and I wanted to spare myself the pain.

[ Her voice warms with appreciation. ]

He didn't leave. And when I realized he wasn't going to, I could trust myself to love him. Sometimes we really do have our happy ending, don't we?

De Chima, perhaps? Or Nonah? Both of them have some really good shops I'm loving for the spring season.

[ But then again, Raina is in her glory. For there is no better time to find floral print than this time of year. ]

[ Although it goes unseen, Kasumi whistles when she sees Raina's response. This woman is smooth as butter. ]

I'm not exactly in the market for a "Prince Charming," but as for suitors... well, that's something for me to know and keep the rest of the world guessing on.

[ Certainly, Kasumi hasn't exactly kept much of her flirtations with other imPorts a huge secret. What she does try to conceal is how far some of those may have gone. Kasumi isn't too selective with flirting--but anything beyond that is messy, complicated, and not something Kasumi deals with much. She'd rather not, at this point. ]

[ She knows she is cute!! But please let Raina be the one to do it and not Reggie. ]

... there are. [ And while others find him much too rough to handle, Sasha isn't unused to that sort of attitude or his sharp words. ] Um... alright! I will give it a try and see...

I've, er...

[yeah, about that.]

...I do like Dr. Chilton. [and there are a few people Rincewind talks with - in a week's time he'll be more at ease in naming Will a friend - but the wizard is no social butterfly.]

Certainly things have improved since my arrival. Perhaps I'll count myself as content as yourself someday.

[he just doubts it.]

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