vulpesvivus | ☮ 068; [text/action]

They say 'the apple never falls far from the tree.' That one's got something to do with family and where you come from influencing you.

But what if the tree's on a hill? Maybe it will fall nearby, but it doesn't have to stay there. If it's something like that, the apple could roll as far as it wanted to. You can't really help what family you're born into and how, but it's up to you whether or not it makes a difference. An apple can only fall off a tree once, but it can travel anywhere after that.

What do you think? Does the kind of family someone's born into really determine anything about them?

[Otacon sighed as he sent the message--there was no way Liquid could ignore something like that. Fine with him, that was the whole point. Just like it had been the first time around, someone had to stop him from doing stupid things around here. Otacon couldn't control him--really, who could control Liquid Snake--but he could keep an eye on the soldier and make sure he didn't start more trouble than was necessary.]

[He stood outside the Goldenrod hotel, Pokegear in hand, and simply waited, the Chatot perched on his shoulder whistling softly and ruffling her feathers.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think it's down to experience more than bloodline, too. It's hard to imagine anything's really predestined just because of who your family is.

Perhaps some personality traits are handed down but ive never held parentage against someone.
That doesnt seem very fair to me.
I suppose i dont really understand why people assume so much based on who your folks are?

I'm not really sure why they do either. I mean...I inherited a lot from my father--maybe more than just genetics--but we're not the same person.

Perhaps its because of the similarities that people judge by your parentage?

Oh im being rude!
Terribly sorry my names jake english!

It's fine. My name's Hal Emmerich; most people call me either Hal or Otacon.

Is otacon a nickname?

Yeah, it is. I picked it up about nine years ago and never really stopped using it.

Do you mind if i called you that then?
Eheh to be honest i hate my full name of jacob so i tend to introduce myself by nickname only.

Sure, I don't mind.

To tell you the truth, my father named me after a computer. So I think I kind of prefer the nickname.

As in hal 9000?

Yeah, exactly. I can't say I've ever liked it that much, but there's not much point in complaining.

I cant blame you really.
But what brought up the subject of parentage otacon?

I have this friend who's kind of dead set on thinking his immediate family defines everything about him. It's like a competition to him, trying to outdo his father and brother. He thinks he's a substandard copy. And I think it just drives him insane.

I guess it kind of just got me thinking. Whether that kind of stuff really mattered or not, I mean. I know I got into the same line of work as my father because I wanted to. But it's really not the same for him; he's convinced being a carbon copy is something terrible.

...There's a little cloning involved, but that's really just a matter of semantics. What he doesn't get is that he's always been his own individual, and it's not really necessary to prove anything. At least, I don't think it is.

Sorry. I think I'm talking too much again.

No no its absolutely fine!
But thats kind of a sad thing for your friend.
I dont feel like theres anything to prove unless his father put unnecessary pressure on him.

It's something kind of like that, yeah.

I suppose thats another thing i dont understand.
Ive never had parents so i dont see why anyone would put such pressure on their son or daughter or whatever.

I guess I don't really know. My father never really pressured me to accomplish anything, and I've been mostly on my own since I was a teenager anyway.

In a way we may have been lucky.
Nobody really expected too high of a standard and let time handle the rest.
Do you have any sort of plan to try relieving the pressure from him?

I'm trying, at least. The only way I can think of for now is to get him to realize someone appreciates him unconditionally. Even if it's only just me.

I hope it goes well for you truly.
Maybe with time and perseverance youll get through to him!

I don't plan on giving up, but I don't know anyone more stubborn than him.

If it gets too frustrating i could lend an ear.
Or eye or whatever depending on the medium were talking through.

Thanks. Really, I appreciate it--he's kind of a pain in the neck to deal with sometimes.

Im afraid i can empathize all too well.
My best friend prides himself on being an elusive pain in the tuckus no matter how urgent the matter might be.

Does yours make a point of being as dramatic as possible, too?

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