text | doctorize

[doctorize]

Hello everyone, my name is Dr. Daniel Dickens. (You're welcome to call me "Danny" though, if you'd like!)

I wanted to announce that starting this month, I will be working with the Second Nature Clinic as it's resident psychiatrist. For those who don't know what that means, my specialty is in providing psychological counseling and therapy for anyone struggling here mentally or emotionally. Even if you do not need therapy and would simply like a confidential listening ear with someone here, I'm happy to help.

I also have some experience in other fields of medical expertise, so if you have any questions about that, I'll do my best to answer and see if there's something else I can help you with here. Aside from your basic first aid, surgery, and the like, I even have some skill in optometry--but, I'm sure you are all taking good care of your eyes here, so that will hopefully not be necessary.

Though, ah... despite advertising myself now, perhaps it might be best to wait until a few days from now to schedule a visit, on account of certain factors at the moment.

[Moon cycles suck as an Iris and he still hates it.]

Which reminds me... I apologize if this is a question that has already been asked before, but in regards to when some cycles here suddenly gives a person wings... can you actually fly with them, or are they merely for decoration, so to speak? I'm assuming the latter, given how difficult it may be depending on size to use them to support oneself in the air, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

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[instilled]

Once, yes, before it was hatched.
When Father dipped our egg in the Void we no longer were insects.
We became Vessels.

[doctorize]

[That makes about zero sense to Danny here, but he decides to go along with it regardless.]

I can't say that I completely understand what that means, but either way, does that mean you do know Grimm here? ... Actually, are there more than just the two of you from your world living in this place?

[instilled]

Yes, it knows Grimm.
He was a friend of its Father and upon His request trained this Vessel.
He is also the co-parent of his child with this Vessel’s sibling, who is also here.
Along with them, our sister is the final being from Hallownest on Prismatica.

[doctorize]

So there's five of you here...

[... Wait, hang on a second.]

Hold on, is Grimm married?

[Danny knew Grimm was a parent given hes met their child. But he can't recall if Grimm had mentioned that the other parent of the child was also here too??]

[instilled]

[ Itself, its sibling, Grimm, Grimm’s child, and Hornet. Yes, that made five. Quite a large number, to hail from a dying kingdom. ]

No, Grimm is not married.
It believes Grimm’s child was formed via parthenogenesis.
He merely raised his child with the Knight through his ritual.

[doctorize]

Parthenogenesis... okay, I think I understand now?

[... He thinks. He assumes it's a bug species thing.]

[instilled]

What precisely are you trying to understand?

[ Perhaps it could help! Though, of course, it wasn't a moth, and it didn't want to think of the moth it had known far more intimately than any Moonlacing would let him know Her brother. ]

[doctorize]

Well, as a human... I guess I'm just curious in trying to get to know what it's like for others like you and Grimm here by comparison. "Parthenogenesis" certainly isn't something humans are known for doing, after all, but hearing that's what Grimm did, now it makes some sense.

[instilled]

This Vessel is not certain if this is what Grimm did to create his child.
It is a sensible guess, however, as there are no other living moths in Hallownest, particularly of his strange brood.
If you are curious as to how this Vessel has managed Moonlacing, it will say that so far its attempts have all been quite platonic.
It is not against the other kind, but such has not come up.
There has been no issue.

[doctorize]

Oh, I see.

[There's a pause, before he adds.]

Well, I'm happy to know that you and Grimm have friends here that you can relate with, in that regard.

[Or at least, he assumes they are all friends here.]

[instilled]

Yes.
This Vessel is quite glad that Grimm has made other friends here, too.
And its sibling and sister, of course, but it seems to be Grimm whom you know.

[doctorize]

Yes, I know Grimm. I haven't had a chance to meet any others like him yet, aside from you now?

[instilled]

This Vessel could send an image, if you would like.

[doctorize]

Oh, sure! If you don't mind, that is!

[He's very curious to know what "this Vessel" looks like.]

[instilled]

[ It took some time, but eventually a photograph came through, showing a large, insectoid creature with blank holes for eyes in a cracked white mask. It was wearing a red cloak and not much else - rather like Grimm's wings. ]

Apologies for the wait.
It is not used to such technology.

[doctorize]

[whoa]

You're much larger than I thought you'd be.

[I mean, sure, Grimm is surprisingly tall, but still by comparison...]

sorry about the delay

[instilled]

It is like the physiology of this vessel's Mother.
She was the Root.
Or as its sibling claims says:
A tree.

no worries! I understand

[doctorize]

A tree? Huh...

[Danny may not understand it too well, but it's still no doubt fascinating to hear about.]

<3

[instilled]

In truth She is a Higher Being, much like Grimm himself is.
But She is The Root, and Her branches twine high into the air above Her, so that She may better propagate Her seed.
This Vessel has come to understand that this is not normal for humans.

[doctorize]

No, I can definitely say that it's not.

When you say Higher Being, do you mean like... a God?

[instilled]

Yes.

[doctorize]

... And you say that Grimm is considered one as well?

[instilled]

This Vessel does not know the intricacies of the Nightmare King.
But it believe that his vessels, by contact with him, become Higher Beings themselves.

[doctorize]

[... Huh.]

I'm a little surprised. Grimm hasn't mentioned anything like that before when we've spoken.

[instilled]

Perhaps he doesn't view it as important to his being.
He seems to enjoy being a father far more than he enjoys being the current Nightmare King.