Chapter 2.6: Hatchlings!

[yhlee]

[First, some housekeeping: I'm going to be at Worldcon in Dublin and therefore out of the country, with limited time for email, from August 14 to 19. Please bear with me if responses are slow during that time.]

The Cantata is continuing on its way to Autumn Pyre.

Anyone monitoring Jedao will find that he has been tensing and untensing his muscles, and making slow stretching motions, without making overt attempts to escape, so he doesn't stiffen up while he's bound. He says to the room, "A glass of water would be appreciated if anyone's listening."

In the middle of the night (ship's time), there are EXTREMELY loud distress calls from Fluffy's enclosure, and shortly thereafter, multiple very loud chirrups from within the nest. Gerae appears to be sound asleep and unresponsive.

[Anyone who wants a baby pseudo-dragon of their own should report in!]

Comments

A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[hoardingpearls]

Before entering Jedao's room, Reshad finds Seyli. She doesn't want to keep Jedao waiting longer than necessary, but an attempt to mitigate harm counts, in her mind, as necessary.

"Can we discuss tactics a moment?" The soundproofing of the door is paramount, here; she checks it.

"I think he's likely to try to feel out your responses. I want to avoid that conflict if at all possible." She looks helpful and earnest, disguising a very real worry.

[Sorry! I've been in a flurry of prep for convention season and one of two talks is now done.]

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[kese_seyli]

"Of course," Seyli says, inclining their head toward Reshad. They hold themselves tense, alert, especially this close to Jedao. It doesn't take a trained fox to see how uncomfortable they still are about this entire situation. They're also, curiously perhaps, still in Kel uniform when they have not been dressed as such before.

"You mean bait me," they say, voice flat. "And you don't want me to rise to the bait."

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[hoardingpearls]

"I do mean bait you, and I want to reduce the attack surface as much as possible." Reshad suppresses the urge to bait, herself; she needs Seyli calm and thinking. Finding out here and now whether she can provoke them isn't productive.

"Why the Kel uniform?" It's asked in tones of curiosity.

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[kese_seyli]

"Why not the Kel uniform?" They shrug. "It's what he's always seen me in and I have no desire to confirm or deny my status as Kel/unKel to him." They're not...totally lying. Someone well versed in detecting lies would be able to pick up on the fact there is a good deal of truth to the comment.

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[hoardingpearls]

"Always is once," she points out. Once, that he remembers, that is. "Do you have an answer ready for him prodding you about it?" No judgement in her tone: Reshad is working, and that means preparing her unlikely teammates for what she thinks is most likely. And she hadn't missed their flinch, before.

"If not now, I suspect he will soon. I know it frightens you, what he's capable of; right now that's a vulnerability. He'll see it." She's more blunt, now, looking up into Seyli's face with concern.

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[kese_seyli]

"No, I don't have anything planned to say to him. I don't intend on saying anything to him. And I seem to be the only person on this moth who fears him in anyway," they say, on the defense. They don't understand why more people aren't, to be honest.

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[venndaai]

Both of their tablets beep. It's Sulen, checking in.

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[hoardingpearls]

Seyli's defensiveness gets nothing more than a half of a smile. "Not the only one," she says, thinking of Sasha. /We control the atmosphere./ "But perhaps the only one to let it speak for you."

"Almost ready, so long as Seyli is," Reshad says to the tablet, when it beeps.

[Sorry, low availability will continue for at least a week. OTL]

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[kese_seyli]

Seyli breathes out and nods. "I'm ready." They step toward where the door will open, waiting to go in first.

Re: A conversation outside, Paging Seyli

[yhlee]

[I have a response planned to this but will defer it to a new move post later today. Stay tuned!]