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

[on food storage in the h*archate]

[yhlee]

[There's suspended animation for food--it's implied in "Extracurricular Activities," what with Jedao's mom shipping him GOOSE FAT across interstellar distances. And anyway, most of the descriptions even of shipboard meals imply fresh fruits and vegetables, like Cheris's beloved tangerines.]

Re: [on food storage in the h*archate]

[chomiji]

[THANK YOOOU! I mean, the goose fat could have been purified and stabilized in a can, like Crisco ... . Also, Jaffa oranges used to be loaded into steamships by the crate and carried to Europe that way, so the tangerine situation didn't necessarily scream Exotic Storage! to me.]

Re: [on food storage in the h*archate]

[yhlee]

[Heh, I was specifically thinking of Korean tangerines, which I have NEVER seen outside of Korea--they don't seem to be able to be transported any distance in such a way that they can survive. I've seen Asian pears and other Korean foods imported into the USA, but never, EVER Korean tangerines. Which kills me, because they are my absolute favorite food in the whole world. Other than Dad's steak or Mom's home cooking!]