Yatagarasu

Myriad Reality

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But you just said to be a star in the dark.

@Meta

I said you are like a star in the dark. Not to be that way if you don't want to. How do I put this...
*Sits down cross-legged and thinks for a while*
I'll tell you what. Why don't we go explore our universe for a while, once Dawn is better? I've forgotten so much, it'd be a nice learning experience for both of us. You can learn all sorts of things, and figure out who you really are, and who you want to be. Does that sound nice? It's not right for anyone other than you to figure out who you are or will be. I can try to offer advice, but that doesn't seem to be working to my point, heh. And the best way to discover yourself is to experience many things.

Myriad Reality

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So stand out from you and mom as much as I can?

@Meta

Not necessarily. But stand on your own feet. We can support you, but you have to be yourself, not just a copy or combination of us.

Myriad Reality

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*Looks up*
Mmmmmhph... now you sound like Dawn. I’m not actually a star.

@Meta

It's metaphorical, love. Born from darkness but incredibly bright; your name fits you well. I just want to get across that it's important to live your own life, not live in the shadow of anyone else, even your mother or I.

Myriad Reality

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*Looks at the ground intensely for a few seconds, thinking*
But what about the pock lips? Or the darkness? I wanna be just like you and mom!

@Meta

*Laughs slightly*
Why be like us, or like we were, when you can be like yourself? You're so much brighter we are. You're like a star in the darkness. That's a great thing to be, isn't it?

Myriad Reality

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*Rubs my eyes, trying to process it all*
You can’t be the same and different. That doesn’t make sense!

@Meta

Many things in life don't make sense. That's an important thing you'll need to know as a detective.

Myriad Reality

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*Motions my fingers across my lips, then twists*

@Meta

I'm not the same as the me who was around when your older siblings were born. The me who you're thinking is so great? He's dead. He's been dead for a long time. I'm just the remnants of his soul, given enough time to recover into a full one. Even my body is artificial, it's just the culmination of physical material bound to and shaped by that recovered soul. My very being is distinctly different than that past "me." That's why I can't figure out you and your siblings' biological makeup, because I don't really have any idea of my own. So I don't deserve your admiration for what I've done before; that wasn't the same me. The only thing I've done that's worth respecting is raising you four, and trying to keep you all and your mother happy. Everything else means nothing.

My point is, that even though your mom is amazing, that doesn't make the rest of us awesome by association. We have to do our own things, pull our own weight, make our own achievements. That's what makes someone great, what they can do on their own. Yes, there's a point to collectivism, but that's for another time, and even then it's just circular. Groups are great because the individuals are great. Is our family great? Is it because all of us are, or only because you and your mom are? Or your siblings are? What makes our family so wonderful that everyone needs to know about us?

Myriad Reality

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I wanna know every secret.

@Meta

Then I'll tell you something that only you and your mom will know, okay? So keep it quiet.

Myriad Reality

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And I will! But they should already know you and mom, and then know that I’m just like you!

@Meta

Do you want to know a secret?

Myriad Reality

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I don’t! They should hear my name and already know!

@Meta

Then you have to do things that are impressive enough for them to know.

Myriad Reality

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Because Clouds are the best, but you don’t want anyone else to know it!

@Meta

I don't necessarily not want people to know it, so much as I feel it's self evident. I've got a question for you. If you have to work to keep up appearances, in order for people to know you're the best, are you really the best?