014 ♍ VIDEO

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya is sitting at her desk, with Ashiah laying down on it in front of her. The little grub keeps glancing around in various directions, while her mother's gaze and smile is fixed on the camera. ]

I've been thinking recently about the cross-section of the imPort community who aren't human, perhaps most particularly since the ambassador elections last month. There are a sizable amount of us, not a large group, but significant. I've spoken with many of you on individual terms, and while the resources Governor Kang and SELF have provided to those of us with more unique needs have been invaluable, I feel there is still something missing in our collective socialization. We live the imPort experience in a way that many others won't fully appreciate, and I think we could benefit from sharing those experiences with each other.

[ At this point, Ashiah tries to wander off camera, but Kanaya suppresses a giggle as she puts a hand on top of her and scoots her back into place. ]

I'm unsure exactly what form that would take, but putting us all in a room to share our stories would be at least a start. If anyone is interested, please let me know, and I'll see about renting some space. Of course, if you have any special dietary needs, in terms of snacks, I would like to hear those as well.

This is generally something I'd prefer to save until we're in person, but... [ She's interrupted as Ashiah turns around and nuzzles into her chest, then tries to climb up her shoulder. Kanaya stops and laughs to herself, then plucks her off and cradles her, despite all her fidgeting. ] Anyway, for those of you who I haven't had the pleasure with yet, my name is Kanaya Maryam, and this is my daughter, Ashiah. I'm an Alternian troll, specifically an awakened jadeblood, which basically means I'm a vampire. She's a Daughter Grub from the same planet. [ She raises a finger, shaking her head. ] And before you ask, no, she isn't a troll, and she won't grow up to be one, either. Once she finally pupates, she'll become a Mother Grub. They acted as gestational surrogates for trolls, while the jadeblooded caste were their caretakers and midwives. It's all a bit complicated, this is just a general summary.

So, hopefully we'll be able to put something together moving forward, and I'll be able to hear all of your stories, as well. I'll be looking forward to hearing from each of you.

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video;

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya's motivation is a bit similar, trying to find a way to contribute some real good, instead of just miserably fighting against the bad. ]

It will be a good opportunity, I think. Getting to know the others, letting ourselves be known. It fosters trust, and friendship.

[23wishes]

Mm. Only... Do you think I'll be accepted there?

[A platypus yelled at her a few weeks ago for not being non-human enough...]

[glowsferatu]

You may be more human than most who would be in attendance, but I don't think you'd belong any less. If anyone raises a problem, they'll have me to contend with. Acceptance is the entire point.

Besides, you may be surprised how many of us look entirely human, to the outside. That may help, in fact, to let you meet others who have less overt physical difference.

[ She could introduce Aerith to her boss, even though she might not be able to admit that's who Karen is. Secret identities are a headache. ]

[23wishes]

[That gets a pretty grateful smile out of her.]

Thank you. I'm glad I have you to depend on.

[Aerith's still a little unsure, but she'll be there for sure. It'll be nice, to meet and connect with other people like her finally - other than Kanaya and Komasan, that is.]

[glowsferatu]

If there's ever one single thing I've tried to be over the course of my life, it's dependable. If I can offer a way for those like us to feel comfortable in their own skin on this world, I think I'll have done a good turn.

[23wishes]

You already have.

--Do you think Kaworu will come?

[glowsferatu]

I certainly intend to convince him, but Shinji will be there, so perhaps it won't be too difficult. [ But then, well, because he's their weird roommate, it only seems prudent to ask: ] Will that be alright with you?

[23wishes]

Oh, of course! I want him there. He's... probably the worst of all of us at acting like a person.

[She laughs awkwardly.]

I think it could do him a lot of good.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya gives her a laugh in return. ]

You aren't wrong! I think we've just finally passed the point where he's asking me what I am. Not that I'd put that past a human, but...of all the ways to ask.

[23wishes]

He needs looking after...

[There's a great mixture of fondness, exasperation, and genuine concern in her voice.]

[glowsferatu]

There are plenty of imPorts who need looking after. Though the extremity of his case, coupled with his proximity, certainly heightens its priority.

Hopefully a strong example and firm direction will expose whatever hidden qualities he has better, once he's better acclimated.

[23wishes]

Yeah, but not the same way someone like Komasan needs looking after. But also... kind of.

[Does that even make sense?]

I don't think he's dangerous. He just... needs a role model. I hope we can be good for him. You've been good for me, after all.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya pulls a face, one that disagrees entirely with the "Dangerous" part, but is making an effort not to say anything about it. Not her story to tell. ]

That's partly why it would be a firm direction. I don't think I'd look after him the same way as Komasan so much as the way I might look after Julian Day. [ And the ink's barely dry on her probation officer's application for that one. ]

Not as someone who might encounter trouble, but as someone so out of step with reality that he might provoke trouble, if not himself instigate it.

[23wishes]

Ah...

[That much seems to ping something in Aerith. She remembers Kaworu scarfing down an entire buffet table at the gala, annoying all of the other nearby guests. At least that was rather harmless and something easily brushed off as just being a bratty teenage boy, but it serves as proof he has no idea how to behave, especially when it comes to getting into trouble.]

You're right... But with both of us as his roommates, we can keep an eye on him together!

[glowsferatu]

I'm confident in our abilities. I've certainly wrangled with worse. [ Though with trolls, she'd be less reluctant to use violence as a control method. That's just what trolls respond better to.

Who even knows with Angels. ]

Either way, I'm sure Shinji will appreciate the backup.

[23wishes]

Shinji... I forgot they were friends. It's hard to imagine how. They're nothing alike at all!

[But she just thinks of quiet, moody, stoic Cloud and laughs to herself.]

Or maybe that's why it works.

[glowsferatu]

Only in as much as it's hard to imagine Kaworu being another person's friend! [ Having a friend is something wholly other, and Shinji can be a bit of a doormat, at his worst. Maybe like she was with Vriska, though she was also a passive-aggressive lovesick fool back then.

(Okay, no, that isn't his worst. His worst is much scarier.) ]

But there's a lot of history there, I think. It's a bit odder to think of from the outside, only having seen them separately. If we were part of their world, I'm sure context would fill in the gaps.

[23wishes]

You're probably right. All of my friends were pretty weird, too. None of us fit together at all.

[Bratty Yuffie, stoic Cloud, mopey Vincent, loudmouths Barret and Cid... Actually, no, Barret and Cid would probably get along fine even if their world ending hadn't brought them together.]

[glowsferatu]

I think that's typical in many groups. If it were all homogeneous, life would be incredibly dull. The same was true of my own group, back when we had one.

Believe it or not, I was the boring one among us.

[ Because hey, when you're all thirteen, someone has to be the adult. ]

[23wishes]

I don't believe that at all! You're one of the most interesting people I know!

[glowsferatu]

Oh, now maybe, but you don't really have anyone else to compare me to! The most sensible troll can still look vicious and strange surrounded by humans.

Besides, that was when I was thirteen. I've done plenty of growing up since, I've lived more, defined myself better.

[23wishes]

Wait, are you saying you've been here since you were thirteen? That can't be right.

[She's been assuming they were about the same age...]

1/2

[glowsferatu]

Well, not here strictly, and I was nearer fourteen, but.

[glowsferatu]

[ Her brows furrow as something occurs to her. In all her focus of disclosing certain parts of her life, she might've missed another important one. ]

You do know I've been an imPort for over five years, right? I have mentioned that. ...Haven't I?

[23wishes]

[Had she been drinking something this exact moment might have become a spittake.]

What?! No! I know you've been here for a long time, but-- No!

[WHAT THE HECK.]