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: Questions (Paging Reshad)

[hoardingpearls]

"It sounded like they needed physical access to me." Reshad follows Xiulan's gaze to the mothlings, one of them ...melting? a piece of something offered to it.

Well, isn't that interesting. She brings her attention back, filing thoughts aside for later.

And it's well she's sung in various locations aboard Cantata and been answered, for it gives her confidence in answering that sudden sharpness.

"I'm not sure they see like we do - but yes. They can sense where people are, aboard; if you have an augment it can be identified, and for all I know, they might be able to identify a footstep or a stance." Things she can do, visually. There's no profit assuming they couldn't be done with a moth's senses.

"As for the data - there, I am less sure. Aboard a merchant moth, the answer would certainly be different, but Cantata is awake. I don't know if it shares its senses with the mothgrid."

Which, actually, raises a host of other questions. She tilts her head and half-smiles, the expression of one who has work to do. "It's an interesting conversation partner. I believe I'll ask."

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad)

[yhlee]

"Hello!" the Cantata says through the grid. "It is harder to hear you while I am docked. I think you are very interesting too! I can talk to the mothgrid a little, but not the way Sasha does."

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad)

[stormglass]

That is a very great deal to absorb. She doesn’t have sufficient time to do so right now, but it can at least percolate for a long moment and Xiulan lets it, brows still slightly gathered.

“Augments can be identified. And perhaps more as you say. I wonder if the Cantata can always tell if a stranger is aboard then.” She follows the thread to muse, “How much luck do people have infiltrating moths that haven’t been freed?”

It is asked as if she is sure Reshad is someone who would know such a thing. And after all, based on what they spoke of earlier, she seems that very thing.

”It's an interesting conversation partner. I believe I'll ask."

“I’d be interested in learning how to speak with it, if it’s something anyone aboard can do.”

She thinks then of—but no, best not to. That is far, far away.

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad)

[hoardingpearls]

That moment of space in the conversation is well placed. Xiulan doesn't look upset by the revelations, but rather like there's a lot of data, and it's being sorted out.

It also gives time to handle the surprise of a message arriving via augment, displaying a larger sensory range than she'd thought the moth could have.

"Thank you," Reshad sends to Cantata. "Can you sense the person I'm speaking with, too? I think she'd like to talk with you also."

Aloud, she says, "Cantata has overheard this conversation, even!" Fascinating - and confirmation that life aboard moth is surveillance, in ways even she doesn't always expect.

And to the matter of infiltration: "There've been plenty of infiltrations aboard moths. I don't actually know if a sleeping moth can sense as much detail, or communicate it if it did." Words bounce like a ball on a table: use the grid, but not like Sasha.

Communication is always approximation. She'll figure it out. And what an interesting question - Xiulan is less like a soldier than she appears, if one takes the average Kel as the prototype.

"If you have an augment-" that scar behind her ear, glimpsed when Reshad had passed behind her, perhaps? "-you can speak with Cantata over the mothgrid. Otherwise, there's translation software, and your tablet should be able to access it." She transmits the location of the software, a notification appearing in synchrony with her words.

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad)

[yhlee]

"Hello, other person!" the Cantata says over the grid. "You sound like you're also made of meat. Is it comfortable?"

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad, Cantata)

[stormglass]

Earpiece tucked into place, Xiulan hears the Cantata with a certain sense of wonder. She thinks suddenly of hearing Tommy speak of communicating with the starfish, but how much simpler this is!

And, importantly, sans migraines.

“Hello,” she replies. “I’m called Xiulan. And you prefer to go by Canata?”

It seems a good thing to be clear on, if the moth likes to called by the name of its...house? (formerly, apparently its prison). Although, whether she can pronounce an alternative....

“I’m a human, so yes, you could say I’m made of meat.” The question is fascinating and amusing at once, that sounding in her voice. “It’s comfortable when I’m not in pain, but, I also don’t have anything else to compare it to.

“What are you made of?”

[I know I got behind on this, so I’m fine with assuming they have a simple chat for now if you are. Good springboard for future conversations now that they’ve met! :)]

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad, Cantata)

[yhlee]

"I used to be called Bumblebee!" Cantata replies. "I think it is a different kind of meat. I like the name Cantata because moths like to songshare. I hope you are not in pain right now? I am made of shadows and eyes. It is very comfortable."

[Works for me!]

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad, Cantata)

[hoardingpearls]

It's good to watch this new agent. Reassuring, even. Xiulan dives into her work with no sign of hesitation.

Reshad gives it a few moments more, then excuses herself with a smile.

Re: Questions (Paging Reshad)

[stormglass]

Xiulan makes a quiet hum of thoughtfulness. “Sounds like we all need to get aligned on implications, methods, and outcomes of the overall moth freeing plan,” she says finally. “Or maybe that already exists.” She gives a quicksilver smile. “Five minutes doesn’t an expert make by any means.”

“I don’t,” she says in reply to the question about an augment. “But I’m setup to use my tablet for a lot of the relevant grid functions.” Said tablet makes an appearance at the notification chime. “Thanks.”

[Following this is the reply to Cantata on the other branch of this small tree.]