Chapter 3.2: Old and new friends, old and new enemies

[zuhrovet]

Sasha has distributed flutes of sparkling water and small glasses filled with a clear liquor. She finds a clear place to stand near the edge of the party--Jedao and Alaric are to her left, the cluster of people around the mothlings falls at about 3π/8--and signals the grid to adjust the light so that she is highlighted and the other partygoers are very slightly in shadow. She asks the grid for a ringing sound and waits for people to quiet. Her voice slightly amplified by the grid, she says, "Welcome, everyone. We have a unique combination of expertise, on the Cantata. I'm glad that you are here." (It's a formal situation, so she uses the plural 'you'.) "While we are gathered, let us toast to the success of the rebellion."

Sasha waits for an answering murmur, then raises her own glass and knocks it back. The liquor tastes like snow and homesickness; but these are her people now. A slight gesture of her left hand makes illumination linger on Jedao for a moment, before the room lights return to normal.

Sasha sees Remi trying to explain that shot glasses are not for mothlings, and grins in genuine amusement.

[We have some really fascinating conversations running in the previous move. I don't want to cut them off, but please put new threads here!

Also, an out-of-character public service announcement: Remi is a youthful, apparently non-sociopathic version of Kujen, plucked from an earlier timeline. He has not yet interacted with Jedao.]

Comments

Re: watching from the edges [paging anyone else who's anxious about this]

[venndaai]

Sulen approaches. "The food is very good," they say, though they barely ate any of it. "Thank you for your role in providing it. Are you enjoying the event?"

Re: watching from the edges [paging anyone else who's anxious about this]

[flowersforgraves]

Deyna sees Sulen approach with some trepidation. She's still on edge from her manners slip in the kitchen; hopefully Sulen won't hold it against her too long.

"Of course," she says. "But Dar's the one who did everything, I was just another set of hands." She pauses, long enough to dart a quick glance at Sulen before returning her eyes to the rest of the group. "It's a nice party. A bit fancier than I'm usually going to, but it's very nice."

Re: watching from the edges [paging anyone else who's anxious about this]

[venndaai]

"It is," Sulen agrees. "The person who organized it is very good at their job. But we are still a group of loosely organized, underfunded rebels. I would not worry too much about correct etiquette."

Re: watching from the edges [paging anyone else who's anxious about this]

[flowersforgraves]

Deyna grins, more teeth than humor, as Sulen's oblique comment slides home. "You're right. Not like there's a lot to go on though. How long have you been..." She makes a sweeping gesture, taking in the whole situation. "...with the group?" How much do I have to impress you? How fast do I have to prove my worth? She's not nearly foolish enough to ask the real questions aloud, but she feels it's safe to assume Sulen will be able to read the subtext, even if Deyna doesn't want them to.