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: the continuation of Jedao-herding (paging Seyli)

[hoardingpearls]

As Jedao starts to move (weirdly docile, in a way that puts the clinical information about the drug into context) Reshad waves a cheerful farewell to Pink Hair and tails them, looking as blank as anyone else around them.

She keeps an eye out for anyone moving with too much purpose, and intentionally weaves her path through the booths so that she won't be an obvious tail.

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding (paging Seyli)

[kese_seyli]

Seyli already found Jedao creepy, the passive floating around makes him doubly so as they herd him toward the exit. Seyli keeps one hand close to him, but still refuses to touch him.

"They'll be a whole group of us there," they say vaguely.

[[Does Seyli know Virmad was flirting?]

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding [paging Virmad and Sasha]

[yhlee]

[*points at parent comment*

lleullawgyffes, zuhrovet, was Seyli patched in when Virmad flirted with Jedao?]

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding [paging Virmad and Sasha]

[zuhrovet]

[Sure, let's assume there's a common operational channel.]

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding (paging Seyli)

[yhlee]

"Sounds like a fine party," Jedao says. "Will there be whiskey? I like whiskey."

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding (paging Seyli)

[kese_seyli]

"Plenty of whiskey," Seyli says, trying to keep their distaste for drinking out of their voice. "And that man who was flirting with you on the phone, he'll be there." Whiskey and flirting seems like good bait to dangle in front of someone they're trying to get out of the convention hall. "If we could just move a little faster, wouldn't want to be late after all."

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding (paging Seyli)

[yhlee]

Jedao's blinking is a little too slow. "There was a man on the phone? I'm sure you're right. I wonder who he was?" He lengthens his stride to keep pace with Seyli.

Re: the continuation of Jedao-herding (paging Seyli)

[venndaai]

[this thread's getting a bit narrow, how about a new one?