[Muffet nods solemnly, sad for her friend but appreciating how much it means for Shepard to tell her about this.]
[She can't imagine not growing up surrounded by family, the people who love and care for you. She's not unfamiliar with the idea of family that isn't blood-related, her relatives being prone to cheerfully adopting loved ones into the fold of their already-large family tree, but the idea of not having those relatives around is still depressing.]
My condolences on your loss, then- or perhaps hers, for never truly coming to know you. [She smiles gently.] Certainly, she missed out on someone wonderful.
[But the warm smile on her face and the slight blush on her cheeks speaks volumes.]
She never went looking for me in the end, even when I became a well-known name in human households so... who knows what happened there. Same with my dad. Never heard from him. I always wondered if I went back to the mega-city that I was raised in if maybe I would find them after the war but...
[She shakes her head.]
It doesn't matter, in the end. If they were alive when I grew up, they're probably dead now after the invasion.
[She looks at Muffet, curious.]
How were your parents? Kind? Strict? There for you or no?
[Muffet sees that blush, but has the tact and mercy not to point it out.]
Well, family isn't always blood. I'm certain you found those who mattered to you, regardless of relation.
[She looks wistful, the gentle nostalgia of recalling happy memories, as she replies.]
Oh, always kind- we had our arguments from time to time, as anyone does, but we never quarreled for too long. They were always there when I needed them, and on those occasions when they couldn't be, one of my aunts or uncles was there in their place, just as they did the same for my cousins. We... all looked out for each other, really. We knew we were stronger together than apart.
[Shepard's eyes soften at that comment and she nods.]
Yup, I did. Found a whole crew of family. They're an eclectic bunch, but I wouldn't trade them for the world.
[Shepard listens, a bit enraptured by this beautiful picture that Muffet weaves.]
That sounds so wonderful.
[Maybe when she was younger this sort of story would make her feel bitter, sparking anger and resentment in her heart at her own circumstances. But she's older now, more experienced, and all she can feel right now is genuine happiness that her friend had a good life.]
So you grew up in that... Underground, was it? On Earth? What was that like?
[She smiles warmly, seeing Shepard's obvious fondness for her crew.]
They sound like lovely people. I'd rather not wish this island on anyone, but I'm certain I'd have enjoyed meeting them.
[A brief nod.]
The Underground, yes. I'm not entirely certain how to describe it, since I have rather little to compare it to... It was a small place, compared to most nations. Overcrowding was an issue, and we had to be careful about growing food with the lack of sunlight in most areas. But we managed well enough, we took care of ourselves and each other.
What about you? What was it like where you lived, when you were young?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-04-26 07:26 pm (UTC)[She can't imagine not growing up surrounded by family, the people who love and care for you. She's not unfamiliar with the idea of family that isn't blood-related, her relatives being prone to cheerfully adopting loved ones into the fold of their already-large family tree, but the idea of not having those relatives around is still depressing.]
My condolences on your loss, then- or perhaps hers, for never truly coming to know you. [She smiles gently.] Certainly, she missed out on someone wonderful.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-04 02:05 pm (UTC)I don't know about that.
[But the warm smile on her face and the slight blush on her cheeks speaks volumes.]
She never went looking for me in the end, even when I became a well-known name in human households so... who knows what happened there. Same with my dad. Never heard from him. I always wondered if I went back to the mega-city that I was raised in if maybe I would find them after the war but...
[She shakes her head.]
It doesn't matter, in the end. If they were alive when I grew up, they're probably dead now after the invasion.
[She looks at Muffet, curious.]
How were your parents? Kind? Strict? There for you or no?
no subject
Date: 2019-05-05 03:51 pm (UTC)Well, family isn't always blood. I'm certain you found those who mattered to you, regardless of relation.
[She looks wistful, the gentle nostalgia of recalling happy memories, as she replies.]
Oh, always kind- we had our arguments from time to time, as anyone does, but we never quarreled for too long. They were always there when I needed them, and on those occasions when they couldn't be, one of my aunts or uncles was there in their place, just as they did the same for my cousins. We... all looked out for each other, really. We knew we were stronger together than apart.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-06 12:02 pm (UTC)Yup, I did. Found a whole crew of family. They're an eclectic bunch, but I wouldn't trade them for the world.
[Shepard listens, a bit enraptured by this beautiful picture that Muffet weaves.]
That sounds so wonderful.
[Maybe when she was younger this sort of story would make her feel bitter, sparking anger and resentment in her heart at her own circumstances. But she's older now, more experienced, and all she can feel right now is genuine happiness that her friend had a good life.]
So you grew up in that... Underground, was it? On Earth? What was that like?
no subject
Date: 2019-05-10 09:35 pm (UTC)They sound like lovely people. I'd rather not wish this island on anyone, but I'm certain I'd have enjoyed meeting them.
[A brief nod.]
The Underground, yes. I'm not entirely certain how to describe it, since I have rather little to compare it to... It was a small place, compared to most nations. Overcrowding was an issue, and we had to be careful about growing food with the lack of sunlight in most areas. But we managed well enough, we took care of ourselves and each other.
What about you? What was it like where you lived, when you were young?