Talk about her family

"D'you have a family?" you ask.

"Do I ever?" she replies: "I have ma and pa, three older siblings, three younger siblings, aunts and uncles everywhere, and they all have tons of children too. Family reunions are... chaotic to say the least."

"Wow!" Claire widens her eyes: "I've only ever had mom and dad."

"Yeah, well, a busy family life isn't all that great honestly. Like, I love the guys, but they can be... overwhelming, you know how it is."

You and Claire look at each other. "We don't, actually." you reply.

"Oh, right." she replies, embarrassed.

"Do you miss 'em?" you ask, trying to be sympathetic. Or at least act like you are.

"Sometimes. I haven't seen them in a few months." she answers.

"You don't sound overly attached." you grunt.

"They're nice people... good people, but I have a lot of siblings. Lot of family. It's easy to get lost in the shuffle. It's easy to get forgotten. My eldest brother is a big lawyer back in Dijana and has started a family of his own. My younger sister is currently serving as a military chaplain. And here I am, just an apothecary."

"But you're healing people!" Claire erupts: "You're helping people around the world. How is that forgettable?"

"You can't exactly put that on a plaque and hang it up on the wall." Emily mutters.

"Seems like they're more interested in their family reputation than their kids." you shrug.

"Yeah, in a way. I know they care too, but if I can't contribute to the family then they'd make feel like I'm unwelcome. Constantly comparing me to my siblings and cousins, telling me how to do things, so I can finally make them proud for once and live up to the Fearn name."

"Doesn't sound that different from an orc tribe." you muse. Emily looks up at you with a shocked expression. After a couple of seconds, it turns ponderous.

"Yeah, I guess it doesn't." she sighs.

"So is that why you left?" Claire asks: "Did you want to find something to make them proud of you?"

"No, not exactly." Emily replies: "I left because I wanted to live on my own terms. I don't really care if my parents are proud of me anymore. I want to do something that makes ME proud of me."

"How did they react to that?" Claire asks.

"I don't know. I never told them. I just left." Emily admits.

"And how is it going so far? Do you feel proud of yourself?" you ask, trying carefully to not make it sound accusatory.

"I think I'm doing alright." she smirks: "I've got you two now after all."