hey johnny buddy you're pretty smart right? i mean that's NOT a question like "ohhh prove it" i KNOW you're smart but just in case it sounded super patronizing and annoying??? oh my goDS you probably get that a lot ugh o k a y lemme start over real quick shit why didn't i think of backspace duh
ignore this omg @ self
[good morning]
sup jaq i have a question for you of the science variety. i think it's science variety i'm not super sure what branch it falls under okay anyway here goes: what do you know about cloning?
Honestly? Couldn't say. Like I said, illegal and largely theoretical. The one case I've seen in the flesh had some strange empathy bonds going on between all parties involved, but I don't think it qualifies as traditional cloning.
[ Just... giving birth to a duplicate of yourself with the help of some alien plasma. Normal stuff. It's a sideways and not very positive thought of Dutch, but there's still a pang of homesickness with it. ]
[he doesn't even know where to start when it comes down to traditional or non-traditional cloning. best to not poke at that too much...]
okay well see someone i know recently found out that they're basically part of a group of clones by this really evil dude right? and so i was just wondering if there was anything this person i know would have to worry about regarding their lifespan
i mean it just struck me like woahhh cloning means having the same sort of dna or cells or.. whatever.... think of all those health problems... ?
[ "asking for a friend", classic. This feels like it's getting into awkward territory. ]
Guess it depends on how advanced the tech is. I mean, yeah, there's a higher rate of risk. Plus they're building new life from a cell that's already middle-aged, half the time. It can cut back on the life expectancy.
But if a society's advanced enough to make cloning a viable option, they've probably improved those odds. Otherwise you're looking at, like, 1 in every 300 clones paying off, and then you've gotta wait for them to grow up anyway. Those are some shitty returns. You'd be better off doing it the old-fashioned way.
[ This is... weirdly familiar. Not the same thing, exactly, but close enough that there's no hesitation in his answer. ]
I get that.
For whatever it's worth, tell your friend that you don't have to be a clone to hate the circumstances you came from, and where you came from doesn't determine who you are. You're the only one who gets to do that.
i have a serial number all my life i thought... it meant something obscure and it just
it turns out it's a production code
[he gets what you're saying, johnny. but. just listen to him.]
and now i have to worry about other shit like middle-aged cells and low life expectancy?? can i just go into hospital and ask for a clone test? what the fuuuck
[help jaqobis, he's not even hiding the fact anymore]
Hey, that's talking theoretical cloning. Your world's clearly way past theoretical. Different rules. And I'm not saying it isn't shitty, because of course it's shitty, but it doesn't make you less you.
[ This isn't exactly information he's got any right to throw out there, but maybe if he keeps it vague— ]
And for the record, one of the most important people in my life wasn't made the old-fashioned way, either, and she's the realest person I know. I'm not just talking out my ass, here.
[johnny takes a moment to reply to his question, and prompto takes a moment to read that through. one of a kind. isn't that kind of ironic, for someone who turns out is a clone?]
[circumstances are most likely different.]
the others? you mean... the others that are like me? i saw them in the lab inside tubes i've fought against them too
[a scary experience all the way through]
they're not exactly living, they were just being used as fuel to power the mechanical soldiers after me and my friends
Well, there's point one in your favor. You seem pretty damn living to me.
[ The rest of that is A Lot. Not exactly the kind of thing you can fix with a few texts, and parallel enough to some of his own baggage that he doesn't have a quick or clean answer for it. ]
I get that. It's yours to tell when you're ready, so don't stress.
But for the record, any friend worth half their shit isn't going to love you any less for it. They'll be there for you while you figure it out. And if they aren't, I'll be right here.
[ therapy dog john jaqobis going from 0-60 with the emotional support, because why not!! Prompto seems like a genuinely good kid. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
august 12
ignore this omg @ self
[good morning]
sup jaq i have a question for you of the science variety. i think it's science variety i'm not super sure what branch it falls under
okay anyway here goes:
what do you know
about
cloning?
crashes back in here
Solid opening moves.
[ Not ignoring it, but only because it's cute. ]
Kind of burying the lede, though. It's illegal where I'm from, but I know how it works in theory.
What do you want to know about it?
no subject
[kill him]
just curious about it ig?
like......how do you even start to do the cloning
what kinda process goes into it?
i looked it up but i got kinda confused [and shook about it]
no subject
Theoretically? You'd have to take a non-reproductive cell from the host and develop it in an egg that's been stripped of its natural DNA.
[ Sort of right. Also intensely simplified, because not a bio guy, and Prompto clearly doesn't need all the messy details. ]
Just like propagating plants, except you need cells instead of stems and you put the cells in eggs instead of dirt.
[ hm. ]
So maybe just not like propagating plants.
no subject
[this is biology.......] but this kinda makes sense
so these hypothetical clones
they all good and groovy in the living sphere or?? what kinda issues a..re there
no subject
[ Just... giving birth to a duplicate of yourself with the help of some alien plasma. Normal stuff. It's a sideways and not very positive thought of Dutch, but there's still a pang of homesickness with it. ]
Just curious? Really?
no subject
okay well see someone i know recently found out that they're basically part of a group of clones by this really evil dude right? and so i was just wondering if there was anything this person i know would have to worry about regarding their lifespan
i mean it just struck me like woahhh cloning means having the same sort of dna or cells or.. whatever.... think of all those health problems... ?
no subject
Guess it depends on how advanced the tech is. I mean, yeah, there's a higher rate of risk. Plus they're building new life from a cell that's already middle-aged, half the time. It can cut back on the life expectancy.
But if a society's advanced enough to make cloning a viable option, they've probably improved those odds. Otherwise you're looking at, like, 1 in every 300 clones paying off, and then you've gotta wait for them to grow up anyway. Those are some shitty returns. You'd be better off doing it the old-fashioned way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IIrf_JSuQk
cool
well
it was
nice having this talk
no subject
Like I said, not ALL clones.
Is your friend here?
no subject
yeah my friend is here
no subject
How are they feeling?
Like, the question's totally theoretical, right? They aren't sick?
no subject
but i guess... just total existential crisis feeling like their life has been a sham rug pulled from under the feet etc
no subject
I get that.
For whatever it's worth, tell your friend that you don't have to be a clone to hate the circumstances you came from, and where you came from doesn't determine who you are. You're the only one who gets to do that.
no subject
[no-]
i have a serial number
all my life i thought... it meant something obscure and it just
it turns out it's a production code
[he gets what you're saying, johnny. but. just listen to him.]
and now i have to worry about other shit like middle-aged cells and low life expectancy??
can i just go into hospital and ask for a clone test? what the fuuuck
[help jaqobis, he's not even hiding the fact anymore]
no subject
Hey, that's talking theoretical cloning. Your world's clearly way past theoretical. Different rules. And I'm not saying it isn't shitty, because of course it's shitty, but it doesn't make you less you.
[ This isn't exactly information he's got any right to throw out there, but maybe if he keeps it vague— ]
And for the record, one of the most important people in my life wasn't made the old-fashioned way, either, and she's the realest person I know. I'm not just talking out my ass, here.
no subject
[prompto doesn't think they were supposed to be functional, or grow this old. the empire wouldn't wait 10 or 15 years to start their army.]
[but his words find pause at johnny's own.]
she's a clone?
no subject
[ The question shouldn't be hard to answer, but there's still a short pause. ]
Only in the dictionary sense. Otherwise, she's one of a kind.
Have you met any of the others?
no subject
[johnny takes a moment to reply to his question, and prompto takes a moment to read that through. one of a kind. isn't that kind of ironic, for someone who turns out is a clone?]
[circumstances are most likely different.]
the others? you mean... the others that are like me? i saw them in the lab inside tubes
i've fought against them too
[a scary experience all the way through]
they're not exactly living, they were just being used as fuel to power the mechanical soldiers after me and my friends
no subject
[ The rest of that is A Lot. Not exactly the kind of thing you can fix with a few texts, and parallel enough to some of his own baggage that he doesn't have a quick or clean answer for it. ]
no subject
yeah, thanks...
[how do you reply to something like that!! he's never had this conversation before.]
guess i'm trying to muster the courage to tell my friends, too
lol
no subject
But for the record, any friend worth half their shit isn't going to love you any less for it. They'll be there for you while you figure it out. And if they aren't, I'll be right here.
[ therapy dog john jaqobis going from 0-60 with the emotional support, because why not!! Prompto seems like a genuinely good kid. ]
no subject
[he appreciates it!! it got too real there. johnny is too good.]
...i know a lot of this is on me to try and sort out and be okay with and nothing will change until i do those things
but this has helped a lot
thanks, buddy
no subject
No problem, buddy :)
[ emojis make it more casual and chill ok!! don't cry ]