new player welcome post

[yhlee]

[Hello, new players! This post is for new and old players to get acquainted with each other in-character (IC) and out-of-character (OOC). I will be updating the character roster shortly for easy reference. Characters from the first arc who are still wrapping things up in Move 24, feel free to continue; I'll get to y'all shortly.

In the meantime, feel free to introduce yourself in OOC threads, including any information you want other players to have about you (including pronouns if relevant, or what time zones you're usually on, that kind of thing.]

[IC]
Ashari has just recruited a number of newcomers to the team in the hopes of shoring up its weaknesses and is, in classic Andan fashion, throwing a party on the Cantata (the moth ship formerly known as the Wasp and/or Bumblebee) so that folks can meet-and-greet. There are canapés, and Ashari promised Sulen that there are no recreational substances other than the alcohol if anyone wants it; Ashari is currently in the galley mixing drinks for anyone who asks. The public spaces of the interior have been decorated with somewhat lopsided and overly colorful artificial flowers (the matter printer was feeling cranky) as well as plush moths. There are in addition six friendly levitating baby moths, all wriggly tentacles and eyes, who will gravitate toward anyone who sings to them, and who like to be petted.

For the purposes of this post, "public areas" include the galley, the common room, and the storage hold, which has been temporarily pressed into service as a place where people can hang out. People are also welcome to hold private conversations elsewhere. For the moment, however, the cockpit, engine room, commander's office, and communications room/gunnery are off-limits.

[See this wiki entry on the Cantata-Wasp for more details on its layout.]

Comments

talking about command - paging venndaai

[zuhrovet]

Sasha heads to the galley. Sulen is staring intensely at Ashari, so it's just an ordinary day on the voidmoth, really. "I would like some more tequila, please," Sasha says. "And I have a quick question. I've been talking to Seyli about supply--do you want an itemized list from them, or should we just chat with the folks in logistics ourselves? Also, is there anything I should tell them to plan for?"

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

[Note to venndaai--feel free to be the one to drop the news on Sasha that she's about to be promoted to team-leader-of-the-PCs, for maximum hilarity. Otherwise Ashari can do it.]

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[venndaai]

Sulen turns to Sasha, mouth twisted in what might be amusement. "I believe those are your decisions to make now," they say. "Sir."

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[zuhrovet]

Sasha sets the glass and bottle on the counter and takes a step backward. Seyli's behind her, and that's probably not a coincidence. Fuck, fuck, fuck, she should have known she wasn't clear yet. "Have I not been sufficiently humiliated yet?" she asks, trying to keep to a normal conversational tone. "Or is there some new line I've overstepped? Please, enlighten me. I'm not trying to make trouble."

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

Ashari's mouth twists. It might be amusement, it might be a grimace. "Believe it or not, Sasha," they say, "it's for the good of the team." They offer Sasha a shark-like grin. "As I was just saying to Sulen here, I'm going to be taking Yehan, Ankat, and Kaliyan to establish a new base of operations down-rift, one that the rebellion doesn't know about. Call it paranoia, but I don't want to take chances."

The grin widens. "You, on the other hand...well. You're senior after me. So that leaves you in charge of the group that's left. You don't like the way I do things sometimes, that's no secret. Well, here's your chance to make a difference." Offhandedly, they add, "It'll also keep any of Quill's people on their toes, if they're keeping track of us."

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[zuhrovet]

"You're serious." That, or they have a plan more sophisticated than taking Sasha apart in the middle of the party. "Ashari. What in all the hells are you thinking? You know perfectly well what my background looks like. It does not include leadership training."

Unless the expectation Sasha would grow up to manage her father's household qualifies as training. Since she was on a straight-line path to get them all killed (as her mother explained in very small words, when Sasha was sixteen) that experience is hardly an advantage.

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

Ashari's definitely entertained by Sasha's response. "Come now. Sulen"--infinitesimal pause--"doesn't want the job. Virmad has, ah, excellent social skills, but I'm not convinced he has the necessary hardheartedness. Iawa would probably hate to be put in charge even if they were senior enough, and could you imagine what Alaric would do? Unless," and their eyes sparkle maliciously, "you're proposing I appoint Mishka."

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[zuhrovet]

The obvious thing to do would have been to leave Ankat or Kaliyan--if Ashari's taking them, their headaches can't be as bad as Ashari had implied--but the Kel are presumably useful in the construction of secret bases, too.

The more interesting question is why Ashari doesn't want their pet wolf in charge. Perhaps they expect Sasha to draw Quill's attention. Perhaps, also, they want someone they can hold accountable when things go wrong. Ashari knows how Sasha works, all the little levers and tripwires--she might as well have handed them a manual. They won't have the same hold on any of the others, save Sulen, and perhaps they feel some compunction about threatening one of their own.

"Thank you," Sasha says aloud, smiling her own smile with too many teeth, "I understand that I am fucked. Shall I braid my hair with your colors, or are we doing this informally? And when were you actually going to brief me?"

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

Ashari's eyes light at Sasha's display of ferocity: a mutual language. "Ah, that's darling of you," they say, with a little too much emphasis on darling, "but I wouldn't want to claim exclusivity over you." They're not looking at Sulen as they say this. "I thought you might as well enjoy the party. I was going to brief you after everything's wound down."

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[zuhrovet]

"Some people get very excited about employment contracts," Sasha says, meeting Ashari's gaze with her very best, wide-eyed I-will-accept-your-tutoring-for-the-next-fifty-hours stare. "I would like a refill on my glass now, please, then. And a shot of vodka."

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

"I'll drink you a toast," Ashari purrs, and not only refills Sasha's glass, plus the requested shot of vodka, they pour the same for themself. "To a new leader." They hold their glass out.

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[venndaai]

Sulen puts their glass down, carefully. They really wish they could scry Sasha right now, wish they could know if she's playing this game deliberately, because she enjoys it like Ashari enjoys it. But they really can't concentrate enough for it right now, and looking either of them directly in the face will ruin what emotional control they currently have. The urge to flee battles with guilt. "Displaying your usual good timing," they manage to say. They wonder how they're ever going to win Sasha's trust.

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

Ashari has noticed Sulen's discomfort. They don't force a confrontation, though; a quick slanted glance is all they give Sulen before looking away to give them space.

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[zuhrovet]

"Are you toasting?" Sasha asks Sulen.

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[venndaai]

Well, that answers that question. "No," Sulen says. "Excuse me." They push away from the bar, unsure whether they're heading to the other side of the room or the other side of the ship.

toasting Ashari

[zuhrovet]

So the wolf would like to curse this enterprise. Sasha taps her foot four times. She doesn't dare try to include Seyli, now.

Sasha almost wishes Ashari had taken her up on the ribbons; the only thing worse than being hopelessly obligated to someone is being hopelessly obligated to someone who won't acknowledge the connection. Though, practically speaking, braiding her hair in its current state would have been a project. "To a new leader." Same as the old leader, but with a longer leash. And a longer way to fall.

Sasha picks up her shot and clinks it against Ashari's glass, with considerable force. Ashari poured generously, but the vodka shudders under surface tension, rather than spilling. Sasha knocks back the shot.

Re: toasting Ashari

[yhlee]

Ashari's glass meets Sasha with equivalent force. They don't spill their drink either. "To a new leader," they echo, half-snarl, and drink.

Re: toasting Ashari

[zuhrovet]

Sasha has the very strong impression she has just captured a token she should have left on the board, but wavering won't help matters, so she smiles her sunniest and most mendacious smile. "I'll wait up for my briefing, unless you tell me it's postponed."

She collects her tequila and retreats.

[briefing notes]

[yhlee]

[In the interests of efficiency, I'm going to hand you briefing notes by Friday and let you figure out what Sasha wants to do with her new position in terms of rounding up the team and logistics, etc.]

Re: talking about command - paging venndaai

[yhlee]

Ashari stares after Sulen, their ferocious expression fading, but they don't call after them. Not here, in public.