maskormenace | 014 ♍ VIDEO

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014 ♍ VIDEO

[ 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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[ Kanaya follows after her, leaning a hand on the counter. ]

Oh, you don't need to worry about that. We both have very specific diets that aren't easily accommodated. If you have an empty bowl, that should be fine.

[He blinks for a moment at what she says, then goes into one of the cabinets to grab an empty clean bowl for her to use.]

So what do you mean by specific diets? I know there's like vegan and gluten free diets, but not much else.

[ She takes a thermos out of her purse, pouring a clear syrup into the bowl. ]

Well, she's a moth and I'm a vampire. You can guess from there.

[ She sets the bowl down on the floor, and Ashiah bumbles up to it, unfurling a proboscis from between her big, very unmothlike lips to drink it. ]

[He watches Ashiah eating in some awe because to him it was cool, but then he turns to look at Kanaya again.]

Really? Wow, I've never met a real vampire before. [He then gets right into the questions.] So since you're one, does that mean the stuff about them is true?

[ She shrugs, watching her daughter eat. ]

Not quite. It will depend on the source world of whichever vampire you're asking, and what you've heard. Myself being neither human nor Terran, much of it may not be true.

But that doesn't mean there on't be others for whom it is. The multiverse is a very special place, in that way.

[He ponders some of the things he's come across and decides to ask.]

Well I'm guessing since you came over during the day, you don't mind sunlight. What about hating garlic? Or not liking wood? Do you drink blood from people and animals?

Well, let's see. [ She starts counting of her fingers as she answers his questions. ]

I flourish in sunlight. My species is largely nocturnal, as my caste were the only ones of us who could survive in the sun. I actually absorb sunlight, repurposing it into my own bioluminescence.

I do drink blood, I don't think you can qualify as a vampire if you don't. But I can't really taste anything that isn't anymore, so I can't say that garlic has ever bothered me. We probably didn't even have garlic on my planet.

And I don't feel any particular way about wood, I guess it's a perfectly serviceable building material? Is this about stakes? [ Her expression takes on a sort of mock seriousness, because she doesn't really expect it to be any kind of issue with Kagami. But that doesn't mean it hasn't been an issue before, even recently. ] The only thing I can tell you on that subject is that if you stab me through the heart with a stake, then we can't be friends. Not because I'll be any more dead than I already am, but because I'll be very cross about it. Friends don't stab friends through the heart with a stake unless given express consent.

[He's really fascinated at this point and mentally notes everything she said before thinking up more questions in his head as he talks.]

I see. Well I don't have any plans to do that, trust me on that. [He then moves on to the actual questions again.] What about making people into vampires though? Do you think you could make me into one by drinking my blood?

[ She scoffs, waving away the possibility. ]

Oh no, not at all! Rainbow drinkers aren't turned, we awaken. It's a latent quality jadebloods are hatched with. Mine was simply triggered a bit early.

[Well that answered his question, but now he had more.]

Rainbow drinkers? Jadebloods?

Oh, our society was arranged by blood color, along a spectrum from warm to cool. I was in the middle, jade green. And, because there were so many blood colors, vampires were said to drink rainbows.

[ She waves it off, all irrelevant to her life now. ] But, you know, we've been doing all of this talking about me, when I came to give you the chance to talk.

[He was about to go on about how cool that sounds, but then she brought up him talking. So he quietly brings up the first thing on his mind.]

Oh. Um. I guess my first thought is a question. How familiar are you with the idea of replicas? Or erm, clones. You sounded like you understood, but I'm just asking to be sure.

Well, I spent about a month cloning frogs, a few years back. Though the there were certain conditions to the mechanics that probably wouldn't apply in this case.

[ It was all about encouraging mutation from the original template, because otherwise the machine would just act as a teleporter. Better than the ones that could source through time, where instead you'd make a paradox clone that would have to travel through time to become the original template, those are just complete bullshit.

But then, she was made with just such a machine. Her entire history is stupid. ]

Most of the clones I've known where time duplicates, so that's a little different. But I understand the basic concept, especially how awkward it must have been when you and Riku first met.

Not really. When we met, it was more confrontational than anything else. All I wanted back then was to prove I was better than Riku, but now... it feels so pointless. Especially when I'm beginning to see that we both have things we can and can't do. We're also two different people despite having the same face.

[He's trying very hard to appear happy or at the very least okay, but in reality he's far from it. Being nervous and not very eager to talk about it. He's practically forcing himself, however he knows he can't hold it in forever. Plus, that's why he invited her over. To find someone who would be willing to listen.]

You know... I always thought of him as my rival, yet now I'm calling him my brother. That's really weird, isn't it? Me, a replica, calling my original by the name of brother.

Well yes, it's definitely weird. I mean, the whole concept of "brothers" is pretty alien to me still. But it isn't unprecedented, either.

I guess, if family is genetic connection, then a clone is bound to be family to their template. But for humans, family is more than that. It's emotional connection, as well. I might not really be an expert on clones or families, but as an imPort, I've always found those connections to be vital.

I'm still wrapping my own head around the concept since it was alien to me too before I got Riku's memories implanted in my head. Now I feel like I understand a lot more, especially with what you're saying about family having emotional connections.

Edited 2016-08-31 20:21 (UTC)

Did Riku have brothers before you? Or was it mostly the concept that his memories supplemented for you?

It was the latter more than the former. Riku's always been an only child from what I know until I was created.

So, it must be something of a new arrangement for the both of you.

Yeah it is, but we've grown attached to the idea of it. I mean, yeah we still argue sometimes, but that's what families do I think.

Oh, I know that all too well. I had a little brother once. He was a total brat, but I loved him all the same.

[ But Kanaya didn't you say is still alien to you? Yes, but living in an alien culture gets complicated. ]

Really? Aside from being a brat, what was he like?

[Even if Kanaya did say siblings were alien, he's interested in knowing more about her little brother.]

He was pint-sized. [ He holds her hand around the middle of her chest. ] A world of anger and frustration contained on a very small package, and not afraid to let it loose regularly. He was ambitious, and boisterous, and hated to be coddled.

But he had a big heart, too. Once you got past his tantrums, you'd see what a deeply caring person he was. He just didn't often know how to express it.

[Kagami likes the sound of Kanaya's brother, he kind of wishes he could meet him deep down.]

I think he and I would get along, he sounds like the type of guy I'd hang out with too. Maybe if he ever shows up here in the city, the two of us can talk.

He's been around a couple of times already, it isn't impossible that he'll return. If he does, perhaps I'll send him your way.

[ Though how old he'd be, what shape he expects their relationship to have taken, there are questions she's always a little worried about. Welcoming him in when he's now six years her younger would be...well, he'd certainly be her little brother then. But it might work out fine for Kagami. ]

I know he generally preferred company that could give as well as they take, attitude wise.

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