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: lingering near doorways - paging Ione, Sulen, and Xiulan

[bariolage]

Ione is indeed lingering, because she's processing; she doesn't quite seem all there for a second, though it's clear she heard what Sasha said based on a brief cant of her head in that direction.

"Mm. Probably not anything Sulen didn't, but," she presses her eyes shut and forces the emotional response that is her out of the way, the things she's trying not to remember, "I really don't think he likes us so much, anymore. I think we've been demoted to means to an end, and also that he might be frightened of you. He definitely didn't lie, I can tell you only that much for sure without contact."

Re: lingering near doorways - paging Ione, Sulen, and Xiulan

[zuhrovet]

"We've got Shuos fucking Jedao, and he's afraid of me?"

Sasha rests her head and shoulders against the wall, just for a minute. She doesn't have time to be tired. She has a party to survive, and work to do, thereafter.