531 Monstrosity & Morality: Dividing Lines of the Self and Other, Section 2

[idolpro]

Comments

[quickpersuader]

Government-granted...? Is that already part of the system in your world?

[What's Kindred society.]

[libraryofbabel]

"Of course, Kindred are territorial, as well as needing a stable source of food. Therefore, the Prince of any domain grants territory to their people according to their own principles—theirs to oversee and hunt in."

You know. Hunting people. Casual-like.

[quickpersuader]

[A nod. Everyone needs to eat.]

Then your ideal, harmonious world would still include hunts? Or no?

[libraryofbabel]

"Oh, well—'hunting' needn't always be something violent or messy, so I see no need to regulate that."

[quickpersuader]

So the relationship with Kindred and humans would still be more or less the same as it is now?

[libraryofbabel]

"Well, it'd be ideal if we could act openly, too. Then, we could work within mortal governments, too, and draft legislation to support our existence... and be able to lead industries properly, rather than just puppeteering them from the shadows."

She smiles. "But as things are, the way things are done is fine already, if we just have to reeducate a troublemaker or two occasionally."

[quickpersuader]

So an "ideal," but not that complete of one yet?

[libraryofbabel]

"Someday it will be. There's just always a price to progress."

[quickpersuader]

Which ones are you currently facing?

[libraryofbabel]

"Well, not everyone understood that it's good for vampires to integrate with the rest of the world. After all, we're really holding ourselves back that way."

[quickpersuader]

From one side in particular, or both?

[libraryofbabel]

"Oh, the mortals don't know yet, after all. But I'm sure it'll be fine. We've spent a long time preparing so that it will go our way."

[quickpersuader]

How so?

[libraryofbabel]

"Well, that's yet to come. Don't worry too much about it—it's all in the spirit of compromise, after all."

She smiles.

"Is this related to what you're writing your paper on? I'm a little curious how that all fits in."

[quickpersuader]

Oh, no. I just enjoy learning about other cultures, so I figured the professor wouldn't mind if I did a little extracurricular study.

[libraryofbabel]

"I'm sure under most circumstances, she wouldn't mind at all. Do you have a plan for your thesis as of yet, then?"

[quickpersuader]

I usually wing it when it comes to life in general, so... I'll come up with something.

[libraryofbabel]

"Are you sure? What do you think of things, so far?"

[quickpersuader]

I think that vampire society is interesting, but ultimately has nothing to do with me, so trying to write a paper as if I could learn everything I needed to know in a short span of time would be presumptuous of me.

[libraryofbabel]

"You don't need to know everything about vampire society. You don't even need to know everything about the topic, you know—it's probably too late to drop the course."

[quickpersuader]

It's okay. I can write my thesis confidently without knowing a single thing about vampire society.

[libraryofbabel]

"Haha! Good luck, then—I hope the Professor likes that confidence. But I've probably waylaid you enough."

[quickpersuader]

Side trips like this can be good to have once in a while. Thank you for taking the time to explain things to me.

[libraryofbabel]

"Of course! I hope your paper goes smoothly."

[quickpersuader]

Thank you.

[Time to finish this up!]