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: A Second Interview (Paging Remi, Ione, Sulen, Xiulan, and Sasha)

[zuhrovet]

"Jedao has an enemy who can take other people's bodies, and thereby escape death. His name is Kujen. Jedao says that Remi looks like a younger form of Kujen. The biographical details match. I believe Remi is our ally, in this timeline--but if problems arise, it may be safer not to kill him."

Re: A Second Interview (Paging Remi, Ione, Sulen, Xiulan, and Sasha)

[stormglass]

Trial by fire indeed. But, at least Sasha has not been one to equivocate. Better to know, than not. Even though the threat is of such a nature that it’s impossible to get one’s mind around in a snap second. Focus for now on the immediate. Mental cupboards open and others slam shut.

“It’s harder to subdue someone without long term damage than fiction tends to make it seem. But I’ll do what I can, if it comes to it.”

She doesn’t add: it’s more dangerous too, to the one attempting it, than more decisive action. It’s a job hazard, one amongst many.

Swiftly considering the layout of the room, Xiulan moves towards a spot that will best position her behind other occupants once they seat themselves. As she does so, she plays back an earlier scene, Jedao’s colorless expression of horror and the possible targets. What Sasha has said has added another baffling element, one that implies...

“Would Remi have had to make an effort for Jedao not to see him until today, or not?”

And with that, she looks toward the door and waits.

[She’s not saying this with the expectation of a conversation around it right now so much as getting it out there for thought before anyone else shows up.]

Re: A Second Interview (Paging Remi, Ione, Sulen, Xiulan, and Sasha)

[zuhrovet]

Depends on how big you are and how good your medtech is; but it's not the time or place for that abstract discussion, so Sasha makes herself nod in recognition.

"We were keeping Jedao away from the mothlings, till we had a better sense of his reactions. And Remi--he's smart, but he's not much interested in other things."