mingly

[wooliefrand]

WHO: SHEEP
WHERE: ALL OVER
WHEN: AFTERNOON-EVENING 103

[JUST A MINGLE BEFORE TRAUMA GAMES START COMING AND KEEP ON COMING

CARRY ON]

Comments

[dadinside]

[shakes his head- she asked what it meant to be alive.

but for this question... he's not sure.]

Still figuring that out. I think it's the same stuff we've been doing. Only this time we don't have to keep it a secret.

[wants_the_phd]

What stuff are you doing?

And what's the appeal?

[dadinside]

Taking care of Miri is a lot of work. Even with daycare, there are still activities and homework.

Miri deserves to have a good life. I want to be a part of it because I like having her around.

[wants_the_phd]

[wow...]

Raising humans is a lot of effort, huh? Do they all get that kind of personalized attention?

It's hard for me to imagine.

[dadinside]

No. Not all of them...

[which is what he wants to avoid. Miri deserves better than him and Acheron ever had.]

How is your species raised?

[wants_the_phd]

Mmm...

Unlike humans, only a small percentage of us are able to reproduce, and they lay big clutches, often. Think of, um.... like a queen bee.

The clutches are gathered together from the population at large and raised in huge creches. The creches are overseen by adults, but because there are sometimes thousands or tens of thousands of children in a single facility, a lot of the care is autonomous. It's expected that everyone will find their niche and be motivated enough to learn the material on their own, using the resources that are provided to them.

Only the best of the crop are allowed to leave the creche and enter adulthood. So, I barely saw adults until I was one, and I haven't seen a child since. Humans pairing up to raise the offspring that they themselves produced is alien to me, but if you can only produce one or two a year, that makes sense that that could be a viable way of doing it.

[dadinside]

[tbf sometimes a single adult or a pair of them can still make a mess raising a kid.]

Is that why you're so competitive?

[wants_the_phd]

We all are. You won't make it if you aren't. So in that way, society kind of self-selects a population that's clever, ruthless, driven,and will do absolutely anything to succeed.

[dadinside]

Has being around different species here changed you at all? Do you want to go back home?

[legitimately curious if their experiences have been similar.]

[wants_the_phd]

[She has to really reflect on that for a moment.]



I think my interactions with humans have been the strangest, just because there are so many of you, and it's given me a chance to see the similarities in your behavior. Seeing how much you guys are ready at the drop of a hat, for any reason at all, to put aside your own needs and safety in service to other people is... well. It's taken me a long time to get used to, and learn to believe in.

But the reality is that many people, including you, have gone out of your way to help me, for no reason at all except that's just how you are. And admittedly that kindness is very meaningful to receive, especially when I've been in a bad place, and someone extended safety to me instead of yet more danger.

...And it's made me want to try extending that kind of kindness to others, too.

I'm not used to caring about people, so I admit I'm not very good at it. It's difficult for me to understand what's going on in other people's heads. I don't know what people want or need, or what they're expecting from me.


But I am... trying.

[dadinside]

It's taken me years to accomplish what you've managed in your time here. People will always be tricky no matter how much effort you put in.

[because people are complex, and weird. really weird. and emotions and experiences can be difficult to comprehend.]

You've helped me a lot. So, thanks.

[wants_the_phd]

[She smiles at him, genuine and warm.]

Well, just remember that wasn't entirely selfless. That was something I wanted to do, too.

[dadinside]

[he knows. and he doesn't mind that. would be more weird if she didn't want it.]

Nothing wrong with that. It's normal to be a little selfish.

[wants_the_phd]

[She laughs]

It's funny to hear a human say that. You're the most selfless people I've ever met!


But when this is all over... once I have a body that works...

Let me know if you ever want to do something like that again. I had a lot of fun.

Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

[dadinside]

[perhaps, surprisingly-]

Mm. I'd like that.

[wants_the_phd]

[She smiles.]

...What about you? How do you think the pasture's changed you since you got here?

[dadinside]

[takes him a moment, but...]

I want to do more for the people around me.

[wants_the_phd]

What brought you to feel that way?

[dadinside]

They accepted me even though I've been on different teams. And a Weed.

I want to keep them safe.

[wants_the_phd]

Are you not used to being accepted?

[dadinside]

Just not used to being around people.

[wants_the_phd]

No?

What was your life like at home?

[dadinside]

I've been living with Acheron for three years. Before that, it was my father.

[wants_the_phd]

I thought you guys lived in the middle of a city?

How come you didn't interact with people? Were you hiding?

[dadinside]

Yeah.

[... busy being a shut-in and playing video games.]