o1 👼🏼 video;

[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.

Comments

[kidsmenu]

I think your advice is quite good. One of my fathers, I think, walks through life under the same shade of grey that you do.
Perhaps a darker one even, as you will. At least it sounds like you enjoy beautiful things sometimes.

Do you blame your parents for most of it? For how you are, with your sadness.

[dragony]

I try. I cheat, when I have to. But it doesn't always work.

As for my parents, it's hard to say. I try not to imagine how things might have gone differently. But at the same time, I can't deny cause and effect. It's like, if a forest burns because of a lightning strike, what do you fault? The tallest tree, that caught the lightning? The thunder strike? The storm? The drought, that preceded it? Is "blame" the right word, even?

I don't know if I could tell you.

[kidsmenu]

It sounds like you try not to blame them. I suppose that's admirable. I don't think most of us can resist the temptation.

[dragony]

Most grow up under different circumstances. I wouldn't expect anyone else to have the kind of relationship, that I do with my family. And to me, it's hard to hold onto intense emotions for long, anyway. It's too much effort to resent people I'll never see again.

[kidsmenu]

Clearly you've never been in an actually murderous rage at your family.

[IT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKe

it's not a joke.

:);; Rice vamps]

[dragony]

I haven't. That is, not with my family, at least. I have with my friends.

It isn't an emotion I recommend.

[ WHY TREAT SOMETHING LIKE A JOKE WHEN YOU CAN
TREAT IT SERIOUS....
everything is the worst ]

[kidsmenu]

[So many terrible canons in the multiverse.]

They aren't here, are they? Are you rid of those friends?

[dragony]

They're not here, no. No family or friends for me.

I can't say if that's a good thing, or a bad thing, considering this place, but even the ones I hated at times — I still miss them.

[kidsmenu]

I can imagine that rather easily.

[What would this world be without Lestat? She hadn't missed him at home, not after she conspired to kill him, but he seems like a fixture in this world. A gaudy, ridiculous one with plenty of bad memories, but still.]

I spent a long time wishing to be alone. Do you like it?

[dragony]

It's hard to say. It's easier in some ways, and more difficult in others. There are some things I can't accomplish easily on my own, so being alone in that case is a hardship. But there are some burdens I wouldn't want others to suffer, for my sake, and being alone means it's no longer a concern.

I think it's good to have the option. To be able to choose it, if you desire it. But being able to change your mind — that's important, too.

sorry i got donkey punched by RL, feel free to disregard if this is too old now

[kidsmenu]

I don't think I would ever change my mind! But I suppose anything is possible.

You have powers here now though, don't you? That must make it easier. You can do more alone than you could before.

me so often tbh, you're good

[dragony]

They're not really useful in the day to day, from what I've found. In rare situations, I think they could help other people, but I suppose that's how it goes, sometimes.

What about you? The world itself sounds like it's given you more opportunities. Do your powers help at all?

<3

[kidsmenu]

Yes. I actually... I've really liked the powers this world has given me. It's been helpful, but not the way that you'd expect.

It's like-- suppose you've spent your whole life wishing you could fly. Then you go somewhere that flying isn't important, because... hrm. I suppose everyone... can teleport, perhaps? And now you can fly, as well as teleport a bit. Suddenly there's a shift.

[dragony]

You get what you want, but in a way that doesn't make you stand out? Or, an experience you can share with others?

[kidsmenu]

Yes, I suppose.

I suppose I thought it would change my whole life for the better, mainly. And it hasn't been nearly that dramatic.

[dragony]

I see.

I don't think that's uncommon, really. Positive changes never feel as... overwhelming, I suppose, when you finally experience them. You only notice how much things have changed, or how much good it's done, once you can look backwards. Negative changes, those are the ones that are overwhelming in the moment, and get smaller the further away they are.

At least, most of the time.

[kidsmenu]

Do you think that means we're spoiled?
Or weak.

[dragony]

No.

I think it means we want to survive, more than anything else.

[kidsmenu]

And to be happy.

[dragony]

I hope that can come easier for you, while you're here.