[NR] I Didn't Expect It From You - Chapter 591 (Patreon)

Jason sighed, “It’s not like I’m against finding someone.”

Jenny shakes her head, “But you’re certainly not looking. Not that I blame you. Most people wait until they’re subjectively at least a hundred years old to get serious. NeoRealm has just warped the dating scene way too much away from what it once was. Not that I’m against it. In the past, too many people married off of fragile ‘love’ instead of a bond built up after the early hormones faded.”

Jason raised an eyebrow, “I didn’t know you weren’t a fan of love at first sight?”

Jenny snorts, “I don’t have anything against. However, I also believe that people should take the time to get to know one another before getting the government involved with their relationship. You can have whoever you want as a partner, but being officially married isn’t as important ever since we managed to remove a lot of religious stuff from the legal code.

“I mean, marriage is all fine and dandy, but the original concept was built on women being chattel. Then there was all the nonsense about who could marry who. Complete nonsense that even if you did follow a faith that didn’t allow certain pairings. I mean, it isn’t like we’re forcing you to marry someone or anything.

“Marriage isn’t some super special religion only thing. People have gotten together in recognized pairings since the dawn of time. So what does it matter if someone does something against your beliefs as long as they aren’t forcing you to do it as well?

“While the concept of separation of church and state has been done a few times. I’m happy to say that the current government structure is closer to the ideal than any previous attempts. Way too many people in the past seemed to believe that if you didn’t follow a religion and sometimes specifically their religion, you’re a psycho without any sort of moral compass.

“Like, I don’t need the spiritual equivalent of a 24/7 surveillance state to keep me from murdering people. It is sad that some of those people in the past seemed to not even be able to handle that despite believing Santa Claus’s naughty or nice list deciding if you got into heaven.”

Jason raises his eyebrow even further. “A bit of a hot topic for such a cool day.”

Jenny rolls her eyes, “As if you know whether the day actually is cool out or not. We’re in an arcology and so benefit from perfect AC.”

Jason shakes his head, “We both know they actually use the outside temp to vary the inside temp. The arcology even lets the temp fall to a place that needs warmer clothes in the winter, all so we don’t get too far separated from reality.”

Jenny shrugs, “Eh, as if either of us would need to dress warmer for the allowed temperature range. Anyway, I could read the writing on the walls a while ago. If I want grandkids within the next few hundred years, I’d have to have another child.”

Jason squints at her, “This isn’t going to end up with you being all ‘surprise, expect a sibling in a few months’, is it?”

Jenny looks horrified, “Oh goodness me no! I wouldn’t be against having another kid later in the future. However, I’m focusing on my career right now. Plus, I’d have to find some guy, lady, or what have you to hook up with. Sure, it got a lot easier when biotech basically removed the need for a classic pairing to have a kid. Sure, I guess I could go for one of the clone options. Whether that is literal or a carefully selected self pairing.

“However, I still feel there is something to having two or more people getting together to make a child. It might be a bit old-fashioned, but the government definitely still encourages it for a reason, even if that reason is just diversity and a chance for surprising outcomes.”

Jenny then changed the topic, “Anyway, the main reason for this truly is to touch base with you again. Time flies like a rocket ship now that you’re able to live in NeoRealm. How are you doing? Need some muscle to remove any obstacles?”

Jason laughed, “No worries there. As you’ve just learned, I’m in a party and we’re currently homesteading in one of the Deep Wilds expansion areas. Right now, I’m mostly holding down the fort and building up the infrastructure while my two teammates explore.”

Jenny, “Well, I know who one of the teammates is, who’s the other?”

Jason, “The girl’s personal maid. Though they’re definitely more friends than that. I won’t say much, but she definitely doesn’t like being under her father’s thumb.”

Jenny sticks her tongue out, “Bluegh, thankfully most upper crust sorts have gotten past being helicopter parents, but even after all the uprising, there are still some old nobility types kicking around. I feel bad for the girl, though thankfully it seems like she knows how to take advantage of her rights.

“The government tries to make sure everyone is aware of their rights, even as a child. It is just that some of those old families practically brainwash their kids by the time the education system can get to them. Power to her, I guess.”

Jason nods, “Even when they know their rights, it is hard to break away from a parent with so much influence and money. Thank goodness modern politics are structured so people like them can’t just buy what they want.”

Jenny nods, “It has gotten to the point that most old wealth doesn’t even try to get elected. Kind of hard to keep their old wealth status when part of the higher offices involves losing stuff like stocks. After all, it’s kind of hard for people to be unbiased if they’re allowed to participate in the very system they have power over.

“One of the stupidest things in the past was allowing officials to have stock in companies the laws they vote on directly impact. Even if they want to be unbiased, that kind of influence will pervert their judgment.”