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: Moar fox!

[hoardingpearls]

"I'm sure duty will be glad to have you back." Reshad puts a note of personal warmth into her voice; someone around here might be taking care of people, and that's a hopeful sign if true.

She has the good grace to look abashed at the bitter tone. Likeness and name collide, and suddenly she's wondering how common names ending in 'dez can be.

"Just the once." She makes a self-effacing wave of the hand, body remembering the lines of obeisance. "But that's hardly party material. What sort of thing do you like to do, when you're on station?"

She's been watching Sasha, and now as the small woman walks out of her field of vision, she makes a moue. "I'm sorry, I might have to go and work. Hopefully, we can chat more later on."

Re: Moar fox!

[yhlee]

Istradez can tell exactly when the realization hits. That's right, he thinks, Miki has family. But that's an old quarrel, and not one he should burden a stranger with.

"Most of my skills are infiltration-adjacent," he says, "but medical limitations make that more difficult. I can do some analysis and administration work when I have to; it's friendlier to my health issues. As for recreation," and this time he smiles, "I like eating food that is not sweet. The more savory the better. Given the efforts of the new quartermaster-cook, I have high hopes."

He waves at Reshad when she makes her excuses. "Don't let me keep you from work! It's been a pleasure."

Re: Moar fox!

[hoardingpearls]

Family as double? Shuos have certainly done worse in their time, and she's willing to chalk it up to eccentricity. Her mental file gets an underline for the statement "Istradez is not Mikodez," which he nicely confirms in his next breath.

Infiltration-adjacent has a nice ring to it, and Reshad nods. "It's the analysis and administration that makes the stars go 'round," she says.

"I've had just a bit of the food. It's phenomenal." This statement is entirely sincere, providing a benchmark. "Did you try the things with the curry in them yet?"

"It has been a pleasure." This smile, too, is entirely sincere. Reshad finds herself hoping that this won't all go to pot; that maybe she can talk with Istradez more, some time.

Re: Moar fox!

[yhlee]

"I must try the curried things next," IStradez declares, "since you recommend them."

That didn't go so badly, he thinks as he watches Reshad leave for her meeting. He's had his share of bad run-ins with foxes, but this might be doable after all.