CHARACTERS: Misato + Gildor, Sam, Lakshmi, Seconds and others! WHERE: The Graze, Hyrypia WHEN: DAY 16-18 SUMMARY: Various starters for various attempts at winning this intergalactic scavenger hunt! WARNINGS: Bad decisions all around.
[ Her approval is felt across the link even if she keeps such a thing mild. It might not be in their best interest to like any of these people - who knows what they might be capable of, what they might be harbouring - ? But she finds a easy comfort in knowing the joy of hard work might be felt even so far from home. ]
Chalk? How... unfortunate. But at least, a prudent sign for your parents, I would wager. Must take a little of the confusion out of the matter.
Genius is allowed its oddity, or something like that.
[ It takes her this long to begin to feel at ease, enough to grin along with Kelradia and let her shoulders relax, leaning back against her chair while setting her glass back onto the table. ]
It's not as bizarre as it sounds, I promise. Being a Second is to have a kind of elemental tie to the the planet - it's makeup is somehow vital to me, as I'm instrumental to it. Ingesting certain minerals and plants native to the planet is fairly typical for Seconds who reach adolescence without being recognized. Our bodies know something is missing and starts to crave a substitute.
[She does drink now that the liquid has cooled further, lifting the cup delicately with both hands, taking a small sip and then setting it aside.]
But yes, I was tested by a doctor and then sent to the nearest house where a Second was stationed for additional investigation. Then I just didn't go home.
How sad. When you thought it was just indigestion.
[ That is, how sad to have one's life changed and solidified in a single twist of fate. ]
I'm sorry, but I have to ask -- do you think only Hyrypians may become a Second or does it have something to do with having lived on this planet for long enough? If any Rabadocean might embrace the belief, then maybe, given time . . .
Ah. [It sounds like 'Ah, now here we are at last,' or a breath of relief - as if she was curious where this was leading and that this has been somewhere near the top of her list of suspicions. Easy enough. Maybe she's fielded this question a few times since the stasrt of this very irregular Pilgrimage.]
As far as I know, only true Hyrypians are capable of it. It has something to do with our connection to the planet itself. Perhaps children of a union between a Hyrypian and another Rabadocean would have some possibility of the skill, but I've never heard of such a thing and it seems logical that an instance of a half Hyrypian with the skill would be noteworthy.
[She makes a small, dismissive gesture. The metal plates in her sleeves clink pleasantly.]
Anyway, if it were more than just theory, I suspect we wouldn't be in our current position. If it was a simple matter of having a child, surely someone would've been seduced into a marriage bed before now. I hear the Meradan are sometimes fond of that method of conquest.
[ Misato laughs in that Rabadocean way, it seems appropriate. ]
I think the Meradan are fond of any and all methods of conquest.
[ A little dash of salt aside, she leans in closer, clearly piqued. ]
Do you think the Circle -- your Circle -- will pledge Seconds like you to whoever is chosen as the ally? The way you do for the other Houses of Hyrypia? It makes you wonder if that would even work, if removed from the planet, it simply wouldn't work.
[ An easy press with honey, because its how it should be. She'd rather burn than be allowed into that conquest. Padmini herself had done the same. ]
We would never force that arrangement on an unwilling person. [ A sharp little bark of a word before she presses on. ] I am sure no Meradan would try it either.
[ There's a hover there, throwing out as stern opinion as that is - a question at the end, about the Meradans or this Seconds opinions of them. ]
I suspect that's likely the case. I'm sure I don't have to explain that the ties of Seconds to Houses are a fairly politicized arrangement [surely that's obvious even to outsiders] and pledging Seconds to the service of our betrothed seems only appropriate - and mutually beneficial. I don't believe the Circle has chosen to do any of this simply as a means to give up all our autonomy.
[That's rather educated for a poor fishing girl, isn't it? But it's been some time with Kelradia was such a girl.]
That said, our presence isn't strictly necessary for the manipulation of Nectar once it's been refined. Drawing it from the planet and imbuing it into crafted items requires a Second, yes, but the operation of such things only requires someone with the skill of technomancy. There are plenty of individuals from other planets capable of the general ability, if not the manipulation of raw Nectar. [She pauses, giving them both quizzical looks.] Are there no technomancers on Carbausch?
[Kelradia makes a small dismissive gesture then takes another sip from her black cup.]
We have enjoyed mutually beneficial relationships with the rest of the universe for generations, but it appears the major participants in the war at present believe that no progress is likely as long as all sides share in the same fuel source. I suspect [--said with the air of a young lady who has never attended a Circle meeting, but certainly is educated enough to make a few good guesses--] that the Circle's motivation is to select an ally who can preserve our way of life here instead of waiting for the fighting to come here as it must if they continued to deal with all sides.
In theory, certainly. In practice, we've heard what becomes of worlds folded under the shadow of a wing like the ones that belong to our most prominent guests. I believe the Circle would prefer to keep our culture as it is for as long as possible. I hear that's quite a bargain in our favor, though I've admittedly never been off world to see it for myself.
[Things change when leadership does. If war came to this place - if real fighting was done here -, what would that look like? What kind of charity would the winner be in the mood to give them? Better to forge an alliance while they have the leverage to.]
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Chalk? How... unfortunate. But at least, a prudent sign for your parents, I would wager. Must take a little of the confusion out of the matter.
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[ It takes her this long to begin to feel at ease, enough to grin along with Kelradia and let her shoulders relax, leaning back against her chair while setting her glass back onto the table. ]
So you were tested for nectar sensitivity?
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[She does drink now that the liquid has cooled further, lifting the cup delicately with both hands, taking a small sip and then setting it aside.]
But yes, I was tested by a doctor and then sent to the nearest house where a Second was stationed for additional investigation. Then I just didn't go home.
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[ That is, how sad to have one's life changed and solidified in a single twist of fate. ]
I'm sorry, but I have to ask -- do you think only Hyrypians may become a Second or does it have something to do with having lived on this planet for long enough? If any Rabadocean might embrace the belief, then maybe, given time . . .
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[ a pause, as if she is contemplating it. ] Or would we be required to... marry into a line to produce children?
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As far as I know, only true Hyrypians are capable of it. It has something to do with our connection to the planet itself. Perhaps children of a union between a Hyrypian and another Rabadocean would have some possibility of the skill, but I've never heard of such a thing and it seems logical that an instance of a half Hyrypian with the skill would be noteworthy.
[She makes a small, dismissive gesture. The metal plates in her sleeves clink pleasantly.]
Anyway, if it were more than just theory, I suspect we wouldn't be in our current position. If it was a simple matter of having a child, surely someone would've been seduced into a marriage bed before now. I hear the Meradan are sometimes fond of that method of conquest.
no subject
I think the Meradan are fond of any and all methods of conquest.
[ A little dash of salt aside, she leans in closer, clearly piqued. ]
Do you think the Circle -- your Circle -- will pledge Seconds like you to whoever is chosen as the ally? The way you do for the other Houses of Hyrypia? It makes you wonder if that would even work, if removed from the planet, it simply wouldn't work.
no subject
We would never force that arrangement on an unwilling person. [ A sharp little bark of a word before she presses on. ] I am sure no Meradan would try it either.
[ There's a hover there, throwing out as stern opinion as that is - a question at the end, about the Meradans or this Seconds opinions of them. ]
no subject
[That's rather educated for a poor fishing girl, isn't it? But it's been some time with Kelradia was such a girl.]
That said, our presence isn't strictly necessary for the manipulation of Nectar once it's been refined. Drawing it from the planet and imbuing it into crafted items requires a Second, yes, but the operation of such things only requires someone with the skill of technomancy. There are plenty of individuals from other planets capable of the general ability, if not the manipulation of raw Nectar. [She pauses, giving them both quizzical looks.] Are there no technomancers on Carbausch?
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[ A self-confirming statement. Carbauschians are known to be reclusive, and it's easier to believe anything that further supports that agenda. ]
Why do you think the Circle agreed to do any of this? This whole courtship?
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[ Another sort of - not answer, all false interest but - it is empty of anything else to be discerned. ]
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We have enjoyed mutually beneficial relationships with the rest of the universe for generations, but it appears the major participants in the war at present believe that no progress is likely as long as all sides share in the same fuel source. I suspect [--said with the air of a young lady who has never attended a Circle meeting, but certainly is educated enough to make a few good guesses--] that the Circle's motivation is to select an ally who can preserve our way of life here instead of waiting for the fighting to come here as it must if they continued to deal with all sides.
[Simple enough.]
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[ It's hard for her to conceal her interest, perhaps for lack of trying. She leans forward when she rests her cup on the table, and doesn't retreat. ]
I'm sure you know, for all our airs, all of us here come as beggars at your doorstep. Your people can have more than just the status quo.
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[Things change when leadership does. If war came to this place - if real fighting was done here -, what would that look like? What kind of charity would the winner be in the mood to give them? Better to forge an alliance while they have the leverage to.]