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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[ She snaps her fingers, like a lightbulb's just gone off in her head. ]

I thought you looked familiar! I know Riku, but I hadn't realized he had any nonhuman heritage.

[Welp. It seems he has to bring it up since Kanaya did and she knows Riku.]

It's really complicated and a long story, but I'm his replica or clone as some people seem to know it better as. Though technically we're related, so I call him my brother to make it easier for people.

Oh. Sorry.

I suppose that isn't really the first time I've run into such a situation, and your approach to it is a common and prudent solution. Either way, if this is what you wanted to discuss, I do have some time to spare. I can be by in about fifteen minutes, if that works for you.

You don't need to apologize, it's fine. I've gotten used to it. Anyway, we can talk about that and a few other things. I'm also fine with that yeah, but you don't need to rush. Just let me know when you're close to the house and I can come open the front door for you.

I'll be sure to do just that.

[ She clicks off the video to get ready, and it's just over ten minutes when he gets a message with a Weird Approach To Typing. She's always believed in being early over being punctual.

The thing that doesn't quite come across over the Network is size, which Kagami will notice when she comes to the door. Kanaya herself is very tall, nearly Riku's height, while Ashiah, following beside her on the leash, is pretty large herself. Over three feet long, with a plump, buggy body, bumbling along on spindly little legs that drag her butt behind. ]

I hope you don't mind I brought my daughter. I didn't quite take the time to arrange a sitter.

[Kagami got the message from her before hearing her come to the door. When he opens the front door, he stares at both Kanaya and her daughter in awe for a few minutes then shakes his head. He wasn't expecting this at all.]

Ah no, it's fine. Um, it's nice to meet you by the way and I don't think I introduced myself either. My name's Kagami.

[ Kanaya smiles and extends her hand, while Ashiah just clicks a couple times, staring up at him with her big, black eyes. She lets out a trill when Kanaya scoops her up. ]

Kagami. Well, I'm pleased to meet you, and glad you had me over.

[ She's a bit tempted to jump straight in and ask what he'd like to talk about, but that's no way to listen, it would just make her seem impatient. Better to let him ease into it at his own pace. ]

[He takes Kanaya's hand to shake it with a smile on his face, or that's what he thinks she wants anyway. He then pulls away to move aside in order to let her and her daughter inside.]

I'm glad too, honestly. And come on in. [He waits for them to enter before closing the front door and making his way to the kitchen.] Are you both hungry? I can order you something or try to cook it if you'd like.

[ 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?

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