Chapter 2.3

[yhlee]

[Housekeeping notes: we're fast-forwarding a bit to the security conference itself. Y'all can be assumed to have obtained anything reasonable during the shopping trip, from toys for the mothlings to jams for Sasha, and whatever else. We can also assume that Seyli more than adequately trained the Lanterner assassins in the use of the equipment sold to them.]

The Cantata docked smoothly in its assigned berth at the conference's hosting station. Remi promised that he would keep the mothlings out of sight, although it seemed suspiciously clear that he was looking forward to running intelligence tests on them in the guise of "games" manufactured with the aid of the matter printer and some toy schematics he picked up during the shopping trip.

Meanwhile, Fluffy the Vraselian pseudo-dragon keeps having to be shooed out of various public areas and appears to be building a nest out of scavenged materials.

It wasn't too difficult getting basic tools/implements/weapons past the conference's security. Paranoia is high, but so are distractions. The designated "dueling fan" is within sight at the far end of a hall with highly decorated vendor booths and poster displays. She is plump, wide-eyed, and deceptively excitable in affect, although Seyli knows from working with her during the trip that she's a quick study and she's really good with knives. She is, in fact, in duelist cosplay, complete with a hot pink Space Styrofoam boffer weapon.

Two booths away from the Lanterner "dueling fan," General Shuos Jedao can be seen with his aide, talking seriously to a highly muscular, tattooed, and decorative company representative. The banner behind the booth advertises "delicious hazelnut gianduja" ration packs laced with various popular stimulants.

---

[NOTE: So there are two big options for getting involved in this move!
(a) Part of the extraction team removing Jedao, or
(b) Staying behind and preparing the Cantata for extraction. In particular, Remi is looking for one or more volunteers to help him socialize and/or test the mothlings.

Obviously, you're welcome to take a third option if one occurs to you. If you need help brainstorming involvement, please feel free to message me or ask in the comments.]

Comments

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

Jedao attempts to correct course, but doesn't quite manage it in time, and barrels into Reshad.

[You tell me what happens next! Do they go down? Something else? XD ]

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[slybrarian]

Further down the concourse, Alaric hurriedly finishes a bowl of noodles he's been enjoying, throws down a tip, and palms the silverware. He's wearing something that apparently passes for popular fashion with the local Nirai; the trousers have an appropriate number of pockets but the shirt's colors, in his opinion, clash in a rather garish way. Well, it can't be helped, he needed to be dressed believably as an off-duty individual: a helpful medic, a technician, an astrophysicist, whatever happened to fit the exact circumstances.

It's not that hard to find Reshad, or rather, not hard to find Jedao.

"I see them," he responds. "Moving in to join them." And in the meantime keeping an eye on Reshad's back, in case there was an assassin coming up from this direction rather than the one Jedao had come from.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[hoardingpearls]

Success! Reshad is a small woman, but with her readiness for the hit, she keeps her feet. Barely, from the look of it - she clings to his sleeves, her face a portrait of shock and shame. "I am so sorry," she says. "Here - let me just fic your sleeve-"

A sharp look over his shoulder at Seyli. They need to go, yes - but as quietly as they can.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

"Oh no, no," Jedao says, "the fault's all mine. I'm not usually all left feet. So very thoughtful of you, though." He fiddles with the edge of one glove, a weird sort of nervous tic he must have picked up from the Kel. "I've always thought the fashions in sleeve length out among the Lanterners were so confusing. Different kinds of lace and all. Do you like lace? I left my nice lace gloves in my hotel room, even though there's supposed to be a dance at some point, wasn't there?"

fashion is so confusing

[zuhrovet]

[Are nice lace gloves actually a thing in this time period? How disturbing do the Kel find them?]

Re: fashion is so confusing

[yhlee]

[This is not something I ever mentioned in the books, sorry, but nice lace gloves are a Thing for the Kel for dress-up occasions/formal dances in this time period, and on and off in others. This is because I bought nice fingerless lace gloves and wanted an excuse to wear them, sorry not sorry.]

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[kese_seyli]

Seyli books it to the entrance, ahead of Reshad and Jedao, doing their best to stay close but out of the way for assistance.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[hoardingpearls]

[Is Jedao in Kel uniform? How much lace is currently visible on his person?]

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

[Jedao is indeed currently in Kel uniform, medium formal but with lace-edged gloves--eccentric but not actually against code.]

Jedao looks around hazily, then spots Seyli and waves, pointing them out to Reshad. "That's my friend," he says enthusiastically, then falters. "What did you say your name was?"

[Curse you autocorrect--I'm on mobile at present.]

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[kese_seyli]

[Is Seyli close enough to hear or catch this pointing out?]

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

Yes; and in fact, it seems that Jedao is specifically pitching his voice just loud enough for them to catch it.]

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[hoardingpearls]

"Let's get you to them, then." Reshad smiles as if everything is completely ordinary, lets go the uniform sleeves, and sets a brisk pace toward Seyli.

"I do like lace, but all the patterns they use! Can you imagine getting snagged on something?" She shakes her head, glancing over her shoulder - ostensibly, being friendly, keeping up her half of the wandering conversation.

The question about her name she ignores entirely, hoping the drug has scattered his wits enough for the omission to go unchecked.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

"I know, that's exactly what my girlfriend Yeren always used to say," Jedao says, nodding perhaps a little too emphatically. "Personally, I always go online and check the fashions, and even then it's hard to pick. You know, your face reminds me a little of Yeren. Are you one of her cousins?"

Jedao keeps pace, for all his talkativeness, and doesn't seem to have noticed that Reshad didn't answer the question about her name.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[hoardingpearls]

"That's a good way of handling it," Reshad agrees. She steps a little quicker.

"I don't think I have a cousin named Yeren." That much is true. "But where's she from, if you can say? Families are funny things. Ah- here's your friend!"

She gestures to Seyli as if to introduce a game show host. "The conversation has been delightful." And she drifts back, as if letting the 'friends' go unaccompanied; meanwhile she scans the area again.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[bariolage]

In her previous posting, Ione would never have been the one driving, but just because her response time is only human and where agents were required to attend driving school, that would be considered sluggish. In this case, she's been competently waiting.

Followed by having competently circled or redirected as needed, grateful that so far no one thinks she's anything except either an impatient hired driver, someone who is worriedly waiting for someone involved with that 'gas leak,' or completely insane. Either way, she hasn't yet been bothered by security!

"Should be right outside your nearest exit," she reports, coming to a stop and hoping the lack of attention to her presence stays that way just long enough. "Sometimes people under the influence have trouble with doors," is added in a tone that sounds just a little guilty.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

"You know, she was always coy about that," Jedao muses. "Like, her folks were living on Esker Station when we were both in Academy, but she kind of hinted that wasn't where they were from."

Jedao nods in a friendly fashion at Seyli. "It's good to see you again! Did you bring anything nice for the dance tonight?"

Reshad notices nothing too alarming, although she is interrupted by a mauve-clad stall worker who really, really wants to know where the restroom is.

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[kese_seyli]

Seyli shoots Reshad a Look and gives Jedao a very forced smile. "Dance tonight, sure did." They watch the stall worker interrupt Reshad. "We really need to keep going, though so why don't we jeep walking toward the exit," they say with a exaggerated gesture toward said exit. "No need to waste time chatting about fashion."

Re: Extraction continues - paging Alaric and Ione

[yhlee]

Jedao obligingly moseys over to the exit, although he fumbles with the door's latch; as Ione warned, he will need assistance.

can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[zuhrovet]

"We're expecting company from the station in fifteen [hexarchate] minutes, twenty at most," Sasha reports. "Alaric, can you collect Reshad and Sulen?"

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[hoardingpearls]

"The bathroom is right over there," Reshad informs the moaning woman. The existence, or lack thereof, isn't important.

She wants, oh how she wants, to find out the voice-hearer's connection to the orders they're failing to carry out. But... So little time.

[If it looks like her augment is providing the 'voices,' she'll go with Alaric.]

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[yhlee]

The moaning woman meanders off, clutching her belly.

[It looks like the "voices" are coming from the augment.]

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[venndaai]

Sulen attempts to casually wander towards Reshad while not turning their back on the crowd. They're not very good at 'casual', so it's a good thing no one's likely to be judging the attempt.

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[slybrarian]

Alaric's careful to make sure he doesn't sneak up on Reshad, approaching from the side in hopes of not startling her. Much like Sulen, casual isn't easy, but harried he can do pretty well. "There you are. We're running behind schedule, we need to hurry if we're going to make our, ah, appointment on time."

Not that there seems to be anyone paying attention to what they're saying, but just in case.

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[hoardingpearls]

Reshad turns to Alaric, the faintly dazed expression of the drugged plastered across her face. "Oh! There you are. Let's go, we wouldn't want to be late."

She matches Alaric's pace, maintaining the facade of pleasant blankness until they're out the door.

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[yhlee]

[Unless any of them try to attract attention, Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen should encounter no problems getting out the door after Seyli and Jedao.]