Chapter 3.1: The party begins

[yhlee]

EDIT: The base is sited in the year 951, in a very odd timeline that has NO h*archate. Supplies have to be brought in via rift from other timelines. Thread here.

Ashari's new base features variable layout, which has been put to use in creating an extravagant ballroom. Tables to one side boast a variety of foods, drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and the occasional euphoric drugs. Candlevines glow blue and violet, and flower arrangements interspersed with fantastic sculptures of lace-woven wire adorn the tables. The arrangements mean various sarcastic things, if you're familiar with the Andan petal language.

Music plays softly enough not to overwhelm conversation, loudly enough to set a mood complementing the low-key lighting.

Remi is one of the first arrivals from the Cantata, shepherding the mothlings. Because he's a Nirai, he has a slate and is taking notes, although he is happy enough to talk to anyone who approaches him.

The kitchen is currently adjacent to the ballroom. Ashari's voice can be heard, raised in some kind of argument with...a caterer?

Comments

Re: Sulen, scrying

[venndaai]

"Whales?" For a moment, Sulen is distracted. "Those are... large ocean mammals, yes?"

"It does sound like you'll be very useful to us. I myself have had great difficulty with understanding aliens."

Re: Sulen, scrying

[mawgs]

Eddox smiles and their eyes roll to the top left, as if they are considering how much to explain. “Yeah, lets go with large ocean mammals.”

They put a hand on Sulen’s arm and lean in, because they still can’t help using it as an excuse to flirt. “How do you communicate with the moths? Do you have an appointed translator? A human representative? Who should I be speaking to?”

[ I’m not exactly sure where I should be going here because I haven’t had Eddox talk to Sasha yet and I’ve missed a couple days of RP, but I’m about to talk to Sasha and ask about more mission info. Feel free to direct me or Eddox or just keep flirting with them. ]

Re: Sulen, scrying

[venndaai]

“We have a grid program translating. Our scientific team understands it the best- I’d recommend speaking to Nirai Remi, who had the most expertise in this area-“ they gesture at Remi and his mothling hat- “or Alaric, the man in the white coat. You could also speak to our commander, who has a better understanding of the moths than I do.”

They turn to angle their body closer. “However, I must admit I will be disappointed if this conversation ends before I learn more about whales.”

Re: Sulen, scrying

[mawgs]

Eddox scans the room for a Nirai and a man in a white coat, preparing to charm them next, but then Sulen has to go push on the whales. It’s not exactly relevant or even common knowledge that the whales are in Hexarchate space (whenever that is, now) But it’s not like it’s classified, and Sulen looks exceptionally fun to tease.

“Oh, I’m terrible at disappointing people, so I suppose I must tell you now.” Eddox sighs prettily and uses their height to crowd Sulen just a hair more than is polite. “They aren’t actually whales. They are an aquatic race of gene splicers who worship DNA. Weirdly enough, they don’t often modify themselves to manipulate physical appearance, but to obtain an auspicious pattern of nucleobases.” They don’t pause but to take in breath. “They exhibit indeterminate growth, some of their oldest members reaching lengths of 30 meters or more. They communicate mainly through sign language, as they have arms similar to humans, or at least, all the ones who are sent as ambassadors do, and also communicate through a system of chromatophores on their skin, concentrated mainly on their torso and arms. Any of this getting you hot, or should I stop?” Weren’t Rahal supposed to find Andan xenophilia distasteful at the least?

Re: Sulen, scrying

[venndaai]

Sulen looks up at Eddox, their tense posture relaxing a little. For a lovely moment, they're not a desperate, confused rebel, unsure at every moment whether the universe is better off with them alive or dead. They're at a party, with a glass of good wine, and there's nothing in their head but images of strange beings swimming through a vast ocean, limbs dancing with light. "Do they communicate through colors?" Sulen asks, almost wistfully.

Re: Sulen, scrying

[mawgs]

"They do and they don't," Eddox says coyly. Slowly, they undo the buttons of their jacket, then their shirt underneath, revealing the smooth fabric of their binder.

"Color can augment tone, or communicate emotions. Sometimes simple ideas on their own." Eddox says as they repeat their words in sign. The black fabric of their binder melts away, first like liquid mercury, then bursting into brilliant swirls and shapes of deep aqua, lime, and cerulean.

"If I were to say, for example, 'I find you attractive, Sulen' but use these colors as I say it--" Their hands sign the words, and the colors of their chest ripple in light yellows and undulating black dots. "--Then it would be sarcastic, an insult. If I said it yet again--" The colors shift back to blues and greens, mirroring the effect of sunlight on the surface of seawater. "--Then this is more respectful, as if in admiration, yet with trepidation. And then of course, one can be more blunt." Eddox reaches a hand out and lightly runs their fingers down the curve of Sulen's neck. Their chest blazes red and purple, the color snaking up their neck. "Touch is important too. It implies trust. Sincerity."

Eddox allows their fingers to linger before removing them and saying somewhat flippantly, "But these are just examples, of course." Their eyes flick up to Sulen again. "Just used the first thing that came to mind."

Re: Sulen, scrying

[venndaai]

Sulen's hand rises to their own neck, and they find themself momentarily at a loss for words, skin tingling from the contact. It occurs to them, very belatedly, that this is inappropriate. This is a new situation for them. It's not that there's no fraternization among Rahal- quite the reverse. Much as Sulen finds them irritating, the dirtier jokes about wolf packs are not without basis in reality. But they personally have never been interested in a coworker or subordinate. Before now.

But the fizzing under their skin is such a good distraction from... well, everything else. The red and purple colors are brilliant and also a good reason to stare at Eddox's collarbones.

"And were your hosts impressed by your boldness, Umul Eddox?" they say eventually, a certain slowness in their speech the main sign of their distraction.

Re: Sulen, scrying

[mawgs]

Eddox smiles as if suppressing a laugh. “Oh, they found me most impressive.” They cross one arm across their chest, their hand holding the other elbow as they lift a hand to their mouth to hide their growing grin. The colors on their chest jump like soundwaves in bands of crimson and coral.

“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I caused a minor diplomatic incident to solve a major one.” They shake their head and then step closer, one hand on Sulen’s arm as they lean in (needlessly and for effect) to whisper into their ear: “Well I didn’t know it at the time, but I became involved with what equates to more or less their equivalent of a prince. He was trying to dissolve their government and stage a coup and well, I accidentally distracted him and he failed.”

They lean back, speaking at normal volume now. “I had no idea! I was there to embezzle money—I mean officially I was there as an ambassador and xenolinguist but—“ They pause and wave the words away with their hand. “Anyway I was going to embezzle from his family but in the end he just gave it to me.” They laugh as if they just told a good joke.