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[kidsmenu]

Bon soir. I am Claudia de Lioncourt.

[Small, blonde, extremely curly. A little more articulate and staid in her manner than your average twelve-year-old girl. She's wearing a flowery T-shirt and a backward, pink baseball cap.]

I am seeking information on how family relationships mature as a child grows up, in this world and time. In my old world, it would hinge on marriage, and childbirth, and separation from the ancestral home. But it seems that times have changed. Or perhaps they never were.

I'm given to understand that ImPorts don't tend to have children or anything, but I'm open to hearing stories gathered from the natives. Or your other cultures. Apparently, there is a saying, 'when in Rome.' And it would seem there are infinite versions of Romes to choose from.

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[dejerate]

[He's pale as she is, his ears pointed though mostly hidden under his mop of hair. It's the fangs that might slightly peek when he talks that probably really gives him away as a fellow vampire.]

Yeah, disease. Not the computer sort of virus. I mean, that could mess with communication, but I never heard of one that could kill anybody. I'm....eighteen now, here. I was sixteen back home though. Which is technically still a minor but. Didn't stop me joining the military.

[kidsmenu]

How very unusual, [she says, slowly. But she's focusing mostly on his mouth, rather than his words. Her world was full of injustices, many of them served upon the impoverished. Underage conscription was hardly the worst of it.]

It's a number then, where you were from. Eighteen. And-- when did you ah, get those? [She taps on her mouth without opening her lips too wide, still hiding the fangs. For the moment.]

[dejerate]

Yeah. I mean I guess it can depend on the culture or country, but. When someone turns eighteen, that's when they're usually considered an adult. Not sure how that works in regards to non-humans though. I guess I didn't really think on that, until coming here.

[Because he was more interested back home in killing vampires or Horsemen to consider their aging or culture or anything of the sort. Basically. And then too focused on staying alive and keeping his promise to Mika.]

Hm? Oh. That's -- that happened while I was here, actually. Last year around May. Why?

[He is very much still new to it. Adjusting. Though at least there is less accidents with his speed or strength now.]

[kidsmenu]

Oh— well. [She manages not to look around furtively or anything that obvious.]

It's just that humans don't really have those where I come from.

[dejerate]

We -- er, I mean. Humans don't usually, back home, either. Not unless they're possessed by a demon. But then, I'm not sure I was ever really human to begin with.

[Considering what his parents said. But he probably shouldn't dump all that on some kid. She has no idea.]

→ private;

[kidsmenu]

[She hesitates for a long moment. And then, abruptly, switches over into private. She knows how to do that now! Her co-workers taught her how.]

Are you a vampire? I know it's not meant to be a great secret here, but I still haven't grown out of the habit.

→ private;

[dejerate]

Yeah. I am now. It's not really a secret or anything. The one who -- who turned me isn't here anymore, but I know I'm not the only one. And back home, humans were fighting the vampires to take back control of the cities and all. So the vampires weren't exactly hiding or being subtle.

[He gives a shrug. It's still odd, talking to include himself with the bloodsuckers he swore to kill. But that's irony for you. The strength of his conviction to keep his promise to Mika. The fear of losing the other. Or making Mika miss him, with that frail mortal body.]

[kidsmenu]

[It shouldn't surprise her, but still she hesitates. She hesitates, until she finally finds it in herself to nod at him in the little screen.]

I'm one as well. Lestat made me what I am. Have you met him? He has a bit of notoriety, I think.

[dejerate]

Might've talked to him once or twice. Krul isn't here anymore. But she's the one that turned me. And Mika too.

[Part of him might wonder. Just how old she might be. He knows from experience that vampires don't age. That it could be misleading to go by their appearance alone.]

[kidsmenu]

'Krul?'

[A beat.]

Is that a very apt name for your maker?

[dejerate]

That is her name though. I mean, not her title as Queen, but still.

[Yes, he and Mika were turned by a pretty powerful vampire of rank. A third progenitor, at that. Which has certain perks in regards to their safety of sorts by association with her, or it would back home, anyway.]

[kidsmenu]

Queen Krul. She sounds very formidable.

Was she kind to you?