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: Eddox attempts to do what they are hired for (paging Cantata)

[mawgs]

Presented with the list of ships, Eddox turns the word “moth” over in their mind. They don’t give much thought, if any, to the ships that carry them around, but they knew, vaguely, that the Nirai used biological components in their construction. Had the Nirai derived such tech from the trade with the moths? Eddox was often left out of Andan political gossip chains, but still. It seemed an oversight.

Eddox types in their reply: Yes, I’d like to speak to the moth in charge of the Cantata, if they are free and willing to speak with me.

[Eddox thinks the moth is literally the captain or chief engineer or some such thing on the ship. They would have no understanding of Nirai engineering or harnesses or anything like that.]

Re: Eddox attempts to do what they are hired for (paging Cantata)

[yhlee]

"Hello!" the Cantata says over the grid's translation protocol. "Do you sing? I like to songshare with new people. I don't think we've met!"