opnet [OpNet] Baseline Families

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

Branching off from "What Seperates Us". I think I'll ask the board "How many of you have baseline families, and how do they feel about you?"

I have two brothers (one married, one not, the married one has two small kids) and both parents. They were thrilled with my eruption, less so with my quantum expression and much less so with my new line of work. I'll probably be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with them, assuming that work doesn't intrude.

[Vile Bill]

Yeah, I gotta sister, younger by about two years. She's been married and she's gotta passel a youngins, five at last count.

She and I ain't talked since the second time I got sent up. Her hubby's a business type and it ain't good for him to have a badass in the family. It's all good. She's knows I went nova and she actually sent me a nice letter saying she was happy for me. Nice lady. I already done paid for her kids schoolin and sent a few hundred grand to help with the house.

[Doutor da Reducao]

Let me explain.

There is avô grande Massilmo Ronalado on my father's side, his parents avó e avô Rosalina and Ciril then the aunts...

Hmm. This is too long. Let me sum up. If it is truly a matter of interest to you, I should welcome the opportunity to introduce you to my family. Indeed there are two sisters whose beauty reflects favorably on minha mãe - my mother - a woman widely considered the most beautiful in the province when younger. Even today she is judged the essence of grace and that quiet perfection that comes with age.

Ah, but you desired to know how they hold me within their hearts did you not?

On the day of my eruption a celebration of unparalleled exhuberance began and would last for three days. Three days of joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. By the morning of the second day the messengers of Project Utopia had arrived and by that evening those of Senhora DeVries as well. If the Terats courted my meager talents I am unaware of their presence. Although there is an odd story of a reptile that walked like a man accosting a grocer in a nearby village to ask directions. Perhaps it was merely the spirit of the wines.

Each year a similar event is planned and if the anniversaries never quite equal the first that is good as well.

My family is proud of my accomplishments and the stature I have obtained in the world, while I feel the same of they and theirs. If there is a cross word spoken on occassion it is only a small matter. There are disagreements of course. My great-grandfather would prefer a more illustrious name. The aunt miss the former name of Oberon, used until the media chose to slander it by attaching the title Fae King. Father hints at a desire to see me settle down while mother thinks I eat too little, work too hard and often asks if there is someone special in my life. Brothers are incredulous that I would leave life as an Elite while sisters wish to meet my companion novas. Preferably single and I am not entirely certain gender is an issue with the youngest.

We are family. What else would like to know?

[Apep]

I have no baseline family. I think they're all dead. Mothers father may still be alive, I have no idea. I don't know about my father's side, never got the chance to find out. My uncle was a nova and he's the only family besides mom that I've know. He may of had some illegitimates before he erupted, but who's to say?

[Doutor da Reducao]

Perhaps this is an old matter yet... Please accept my condolences for your loss, Senhora Apép.

I have found that the ties of blood are strong. It would surprise me greatly that there would be none to whom you might claim relation. Assuming you should desire to.

[Apep]

I do miss my uncle, even if he was a dumb wrestler. I still supported him even though I didn't agree with it. As for the rest of the fam, I never knew them so it's unimportant. Except for my father, I really wish I could have known him.

Thank you for your concern. I don't have plans to look up any possible relatives though. Even if I wanted to claim them, I don't think they would want to claim me.

[Doutor da Reducao]

He was a wrestler? Then I am certain he was one of those whom valor was the light in his eyes and honor a cloak 'round his shoulders. We all share in your loss at the passing of such as he.

Perhaps you have chosen the better path in not seeking family, certainly there will be little cause for disappointment. Still, family is that which can be hindrance one day but a source of strength on another. Perhaps your grandmother might surprise you as she certainly would have a perspective quite different from than that of some distant cousin. And you are her son's daughter.

In my experience there are very few certainties, absolute other otherwise, which are not subject to change by circumstance.

[Ashnod]

Quote:

Originally posted by Doutor Reducao:
He was a wrestler? Then I am certain he was one of those whom valor was the light in his eyes and honor a cloak 'round his shoulders. We all share in your loss at the passing of such as he.

Perhaps you have chosen the better path in not seeking family, certainly there will be little cause for disappointment. Still, family is that which can be hindrance one day but a source of strength on another. Perhaps your grandmother might surprise you as she certainly would have a perspective quite different from than that of some distant cousin. And you are her son's daughter.

Actually, she is her daughter's daughter. Apep's uncle cannot have been her father, unless you're insuinating we have an Arkansas type relationship.

You haven't been paying attention, have you?

Sincerely,
Apep's Mother.

[Teknokat]

Myself? I have parents somewhere, I think. I haven't talked to them for a looong time though. Personally, I don't want to. I'd much prefer I have nothing to do with them.

Sorry, touched a nerve there. My family screwed me over big time, they have no idea who I am now, and I intend to keep it that way.

[Fortune's Son]

No contact, no desire, no need. They might be dead or just simmering in the human stew. Either way not my concern.

Whose uncle did what to who?

[Doutor da Reducao]

Quote:

Senhora Ashnod spoke;
Actually, she is her daughter's daughter.

Ah.

Thank you for that clarification. I of course misunderstood that it was your father she referred to, her grandfather, rather than her paternal grandmother.

Any failure to pay proper courtesy and respect to your family is by ignorance rather than insult. To put it simply your language reverses the possessives from that which I am accustomed to. I insinuate nothing, nor am I familiar with the manner in which relationships are pursued in your Arkansas.

I do find your daughter remarkable however.

With sincerity,
An admirer of senhora Apép

[Fortune's Son]

Just kidding on the uncle comment by the way.

[Walker]

I get along with my baseline family just fine, we still stay in touch pretty regularly. A recent event where they were threatened because of me and my Nova talents caused some friction, but a little quality time sorted that out. My family have always been pretty excepting individuals.

[Prof. Sydney 'Photon' Holland]

My parents are still living in the Outer Suburbs. I visit them occaisionally, but these days my... current condition tends to cause a little friction. There just isn't a lot of activities we can participate in together, and my parents were always very down-to-earth people. I think they were hoping I'd take up a trade, instead of staying in academia, and there isn't a lot of hope of that happening now...

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

The reason I'm asking is that this Thanksgiving will be the first time since my eruption that I'm actually with my family. We've talked, and I know they were a bit upset over some of the items in the news, but this will be our first face time.

Any suggestions?

[Jager]

1) Don't advertise were your going. You have gone on missions and you have a ranking now. That means you have enemies. Don't put it past some psychos to use your baseline connections against you when your on a mission or just for simple payback. Sure, DeVries will help you get revenge, but will it really matter...to you?

2) Don't go Green. Enjoy these times for they will not last forever. As you gain more experience and become more powerful, you will change. Eventually, the old ties will mean less and you will move on. Basically, it is growing up all over again.

[Preston]

My family is the best. Barring my divorced wife, that is. Easily a third of my extended family (uncles, aunts, cousins, and in-laws) are in the legal and law enforcement profession.

I worked with them before I erupted and I continue to do so. I was going places in the police department before I changed and becoming a nova just accelarated the process. Beyond that, I keep in touch regularly with 90% of the officers I worked with back in narcotics, so they are like extended family as well.

Yes, some of the dynamic has changed. I am more of an authority figure now, especially to the younger members of our clan.

Now that my eyes have become milky blue and nothing but, they tell me I look and feel more like what a nova is supposed to, whatever that means. Still, they are my people and I am one of them. Not everything has to change just because you get the node.

[Lemmy Chillmeister]

Hey y'all. Just kinda skimming through the past and came across this. Got me to thinking. See, I don't have any baseline family. Found out last week that my dad died about a month or so back. Talked shit in the wrong bar or something and got beat up pretty bad. Do crystal for too long and it makes it kinda hard to come back from that sort of thing. Mom's been dead for a few years now and the brother's and 2 sisters of mine that mom had got taken away at some point or another and ended up with other families.

So, I ain't had family for real since I popped. I wonder if that made it easier for me to figure out that there wasn't any need to pretend I was something I ain't and start walking the path to full on righteousness.

Just thinking.

[Tarot]

I remember papa telling me something once about prophets getting no respect in their home town. Speaking just as someone whose mother calls to give them shit about hanging out with gentiles and shiksas... yeah, not having a family probably does change how you look at things.

Not sure if its good or bad but its got an effect.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

Yes, Lenny, it probably does.

On the other hand, years ago (before eruption) I went to a family reunion... from about 6 generations ago.

There were hundreds of us at the reunion.

You have relatives, you just don't know who they are. If you are interested in looking, there are ways of finding out.

[Long]

The only family I still have is my son. I was disowned as a monster by the rest a decade ago. I haven't really thought about it since.

[kestrel404]

Family is an odd thing. The good kind of family is the kind that's supportive, that cares, that doesn't judge. They're there for you because you share blood, and nothing gets in the way of that. Friends can act that way too, and become family.

If you've got that kind of family, it changes who you are. Nova or baseline, doesn't matter, there are some ties that cross that boundary with ease.

Lemmy, do you have that kind of bond with other Terats? Probably. I'd think that's why you've mellowed so much. Some of us have that with baselines, and that's why we think it can still work, novas and baselines living together. That's one of my reasons, at least.

[Slattern]

I did make some attempt at keeping my relationship with my baseline family after I erupted. It was...a mistake.

[Walker]

As I mention in the post above I did manage to maintain some sort of relationship with my family. Eventually though they all agreed that I had changed too much and when one day my older brother screamed in my face that he didn't recognise me anymore...

[Preston]

Outside of my relationship with my wife, my familial ties are stronger than ever. They know me for who I am and do not feel the need to question my existance.

[Ghostwriter]

I have no family that I know of, nor could I care less.

Friends are the family a person can choose, and I have plenty of those here.

[Jager]

True enough. For those without families, there is always the possibility of making our own.

[CTP]

I have a family, and we talk every so often. Since my eruption, I can't remember anything about them firsthand. I've seen pcitures, and I know some facts.

For instance, they took me to an amusement park when I was very young. They seem very enthusiastic over these memories, and sometimes I pretend to remember, but I don't. It doesn't bother me, its not even as though they were talking about me.

At the same time, it feels like I have no family. I don't refer to myself by my baseline name. I am not that person anymore.

[Xeno]

Some of The Others have family. However, it is uncertain if post-inclusion relationships should be pursued.

Loss of an associate/family-member is often cause for emotional distress, which might be mitigated. However, the response to fundamental change-of-state in an associate/family-member is... more difficult to predict, and potentially worse. ... According to available data.

[Magus]

While the professional in me would greatly desire to pursue some of these posts I think that given the subject I will put that away and simply answer the question asked.

I am married to a woman who is not a nova or as far as I know related to one other than myself. As I've remarked elsewhere I find her forebearance with me and what I bring to our lives to be truly angelic. There was a time she was somewhat insecure for a variety reason however she has grown into the public role as the wife of a nova remarkably well. We have children from our marriage and I from a previous marriage.

To her I am Husband and to my children I am Dad. There are times and ways it is a burden on them but we've always tried to find the positive rather than dwell on the negative.

[Earther]

I am in a similar situation to Psimon and find that Project Utopia has taken care of my family. Making sure that they are safe and that my twins(boy and girl) get the best education possible. My extended family for the most part treats me as they always have thought there are a few who refuse to go to an event they know i will be at.

[Dr. Zero]

Its interesting this conversation topic comes up now (to me, anyhow) as I have just spent time with my family in a long time. Because of my philosophies and the fact that I am wanted for questioning in the US, I try to not spend much time around them. Fact of the matter is that the gov does know who I am and who they are but if I dont spend much time around them, they dont have much reason to be bothered. I do like to drop in and get them cool stuff and they always appreciate my visits. They are my family, after all.

As far as to how I feel... honestly, I dont discuss my philosophies with them. I dont feel I am a human anymore but I also love them very much. I suppose these views conflict. Ive been called a poseur by certain Terats, though I dont feel so... I guess I would like to both have my cake and eat it too. What the hell good is a cake you cant eat, anyhow?

As far as seeing them, when I do want to its not difficult... getting from here to there is pretty easy and natural for me so I can see them just about any time I care to.

I dont know... is seeing yourself as superior to humans and loving your family mutually exclusive? I do not feel so, but I do wonder if I am simply balancing on a fence.