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.

Comments

[glowsferatu]

With all due respect to Riku, it's been tried. Every person who crosses the Porter's threshold eventually comes to believe they have the answer to reining the Porter, to send us home or ensure our future here, or whatever we feel like doing with it. There have been multiple people naive enough to think that maybe we could just ask nicely.

[ She holds up a finger, something stern and bitter sneaking into her voice. ] Not one has ever succeeded. We are talking about an entity that can bind gods without breaking a sweat, a little hackjob won't get you anything but a dip in the Atlantic.

She may not talk anymore, but she's still fully capable of defending herself.

[23wishes]

[Wait, wait, hold the phone.]

She? It's alive?

[glowsferatu]

[ This is the problem, when fewer people are around who remember how things started. No one tells the new arrivals anything. ]

You didn't think the Porter was merely a machine, did you? The entire setup makes less sense when you don't know that much, how small a hand the government has in any of it. They're just working damage control, trying to handle a situation that's been thrust on them as much as it has been on us.

Lachesis is the one who controls it, the Porter is merely her abode. She shares her name with an ancient Greek deity, presiding over fate. Her sisters would weave the thread of life, or sever it at its end. She measured its length, as she does with our time as imPorts.

She's been much less sociable since we lost the last Earth to her older sister. But I've never had a moment's doubt that she's still in there.