06-08-2026, 08:48 PM
Alex chuckled at Beno's mention of her thoughts and said, "I know it might surprise you, but I did not exactly live a monastic lifestyle. My parents are well aware of what goes through the minds of others and I think you'll find them able to forgive quite a bit. It takes quite an exceptional mind to be able to completely wall off your thoughts and emotions from those with an ability to pick up on them. The stronger the person who is doing the reading, the more the responsibility is on them to respect the minds of others. There is a very strong taboo in such cultures about going where one is not invited. The sense of violation goes very deep very quickly in such cases. However, if a person doesn't guard their thoughts, then you can't fault them for knowing what they are, it just falls to the reader to be tactful and understand the situation. It's really not too hard to navigate, once you get the hang of it, but initially it can be unsettling."
eyna spoke up, "About that, dad...um...new ground rules." Alex's eyebrows went up, but he waited. "I'm going to need to scale up my privacy."She glanced at Beno, blushed a little and then continued, "Let's just say that before you come into my room, you're going to want to feel your way before entering. I'm not doing anything illegal or anything, but if you walk in on me in a private moment, that's going to be on you, just like it would be on me if the situation was reversed. I think we can all agree we'll do our best to respect privacy and maybe leave it at that for now. Are you cool with that?"
Alex blushed a little and seemed in deep thought as he looked at his daughter for a couple of seconds. He was trying to imagine exactly what she was up to, but he had picked up on the glance between her and Beno and thought he might have a fair idea what she was talking about. He went so far as to ask, "Really? I mean..."
Reyna gave him an almost comical look of seriousness, "Dad, do you really want me to have to explain it to you?"
Alex was a little surprised by that for about half a second before he held up a hand, "Nope! I'm cool with that. Um...do we need to have a talk?"
Reyna surprised him by saying, "Actually, yes. I think we do need to have a talk, but not right now. There's no rush, but I think having a talk sooner is better than later. Take your time and let me know when you're ready to ride that dragon, deal?"
Alex gave a puzzled look to his daughter and after another glance back and forth between his two ladies, he surrendered, "I have to say that this conversation is going much differently than I imagined it would, but that does seem to be a thing with our family, doesn't it?"
Reyna gave a knowing smile and nodded, "Definitely! Oh, and I want a small drone of my own. Nothing fancy, but I'll need full access."
"What? Why do you need a drone?"
Reyna went into what Beno would likely describe as her business mode, "Dad, I don't need a big one. In fact, I think the ten centimeter one should meet my needs."
Alex was skeptical now, "You already have your own assistant drone."
"Yes, but that's for interfacing and being able to live life outside the home like I do at home, but you also have control of that one and I want my own that I have full autonomy over." She rolled her eyes, "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask Cindy to create a submind in it for me. I plan to work on my own program for it and it isn't intended to leave our quarters. If it ever reaches that stage, I'll let you know. I'm asking your permission, because I know you'll get angry if I make my own. At least with one of your drones, you know exactly what I'm playing with and they have already been designed to approved specifications."
There was a moment of silence before Alex finally said, "Fine. You're right, it'll be safer. I reserve the right to have Cindy act as an objective monitoring party as a checks and balances clause."
Reyna instantly held out her hand and declared, "Done!"
Alex was a little surprised by how quickly she agreed to that as he slowly took her hand to shake it, "You little devil. You knew I would go for Cindy as oversight. Well played."
Reyna quickly shifted topic, "Dad, she's worried about confidentiality within the residence. I take it that you've not discussed our security measures or some of our secrets?" Alex shook his head indicating that he had not. Reyna nodded, "Maybe we should cover that with her to put her mind at ease on that point. What about...me. She's talking about babies, so I'm thinking now might be a good moment to bring that up too."
Alex considered, gave a small nod to Reyna and then said to Beno, "Honey, maybe we should sit down for this part."
== Tag Beno ==
eyna spoke up, "About that, dad...um...new ground rules." Alex's eyebrows went up, but he waited. "I'm going to need to scale up my privacy."She glanced at Beno, blushed a little and then continued, "Let's just say that before you come into my room, you're going to want to feel your way before entering. I'm not doing anything illegal or anything, but if you walk in on me in a private moment, that's going to be on you, just like it would be on me if the situation was reversed. I think we can all agree we'll do our best to respect privacy and maybe leave it at that for now. Are you cool with that?"
Alex blushed a little and seemed in deep thought as he looked at his daughter for a couple of seconds. He was trying to imagine exactly what she was up to, but he had picked up on the glance between her and Beno and thought he might have a fair idea what she was talking about. He went so far as to ask, "Really? I mean..."
Reyna gave him an almost comical look of seriousness, "Dad, do you really want me to have to explain it to you?"
Alex was a little surprised by that for about half a second before he held up a hand, "Nope! I'm cool with that. Um...do we need to have a talk?"
Reyna surprised him by saying, "Actually, yes. I think we do need to have a talk, but not right now. There's no rush, but I think having a talk sooner is better than later. Take your time and let me know when you're ready to ride that dragon, deal?"
Alex gave a puzzled look to his daughter and after another glance back and forth between his two ladies, he surrendered, "I have to say that this conversation is going much differently than I imagined it would, but that does seem to be a thing with our family, doesn't it?"
Reyna gave a knowing smile and nodded, "Definitely! Oh, and I want a small drone of my own. Nothing fancy, but I'll need full access."
"What? Why do you need a drone?"
Reyna went into what Beno would likely describe as her business mode, "Dad, I don't need a big one. In fact, I think the ten centimeter one should meet my needs."
Alex was skeptical now, "You already have your own assistant drone."
"Yes, but that's for interfacing and being able to live life outside the home like I do at home, but you also have control of that one and I want my own that I have full autonomy over." She rolled her eyes, "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask Cindy to create a submind in it for me. I plan to work on my own program for it and it isn't intended to leave our quarters. If it ever reaches that stage, I'll let you know. I'm asking your permission, because I know you'll get angry if I make my own. At least with one of your drones, you know exactly what I'm playing with and they have already been designed to approved specifications."
There was a moment of silence before Alex finally said, "Fine. You're right, it'll be safer. I reserve the right to have Cindy act as an objective monitoring party as a checks and balances clause."
Reyna instantly held out her hand and declared, "Done!"
Alex was a little surprised by how quickly she agreed to that as he slowly took her hand to shake it, "You little devil. You knew I would go for Cindy as oversight. Well played."
Reyna quickly shifted topic, "Dad, she's worried about confidentiality within the residence. I take it that you've not discussed our security measures or some of our secrets?" Alex shook his head indicating that he had not. Reyna nodded, "Maybe we should cover that with her to put her mind at ease on that point. What about...me. She's talking about babies, so I'm thinking now might be a good moment to bring that up too."
Alex considered, gave a small nod to Reyna and then said to Beno, "Honey, maybe we should sit down for this part."
== Tag Beno ==