2023-12-12: A Feeling Of Oppression

• Log: 2023-12-12: A Feeling Of Oppression
• Cast: Ethius Hesiod, Hicalu Wilwisp, Jacqueline Barber, Claude C. Kenny, Juni Vandrer, Rixia, Azoth, Ida Everstead-Rey, Gwen Whitlock, Hannah Curie, Dias Flac
• Where: Kattelox City - Uptown
• Date: December 12, 2023
• Summary: In the wake of the attack by the Ten Wise Men on Kattelox, certain things can no longer afford to remain undiscussed to the people of the two worlds at large. Unfortunately, for lack of those trained and empowered by Pangalactic Federation law to broach these subjects with world leaders of Filgaia and Lunar, an agent instead has to entrust this information to the Drifter community. After renting out as secure a location as can be found in such short notice, certain matters are to at last be given greater clarity.

---

==========================<* Kattelox City - Uptown *>==========================

Facing Lake Jyun, the upmarket and decidedly affluent district of Uptown serves as a playground to Kattelox City's bourgeoisie. KNN -- Kattelox News Network -- locates its headquarters here, and its radio relay-equipped airship can be seen on its dedicated helipad. A Hospital keeps residents and Drifters healthy, and a Museum also offers a curious look into the history of the island. And finally, Wily's Boats -- manned by an old upstanding man who is in no way who you think he is -- offers boat services to those curious about the Lake itself.

BGM: Mega Man Legends - The Apple Market

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    After the matters with the Ten Wise Men - no, even sooner than that, with Demetrioi, and even as far back as Mother - there comes a time where people cannot be left in the dark. Even speaking about an iota of this is a major taboo in the neck of the woods where Ethius hails from... and others, too. Even having allowed a young woman to share her origin and possible means of returning to space is, typically, not something he can let go unaddressed. (He may have had ulterior motives then, but those too are long dashed.)
 
     The hand's been forced at least several times over.
 
     Kattelox remains in an uproar over what happened with the unveiling of the so-called 'Mother Lode.' The resultant destruction wrought by three of the so-called (yet, insistently) Ten Wise Men added another layer of disarray. Word has spread quickly - who are they, where did they come from?
 
     Ironically, Ethius has found a place in Kattelox that might be the most secure location for discussion in the basement of a ritzy hotel that is known for being the place to rent out a space for shady underworld deals. The local law enforcement has its hands too full with opportunistic pirate strikes and the need to safeguard delegates to and from other powers in Aquvy.
 
     He's already done the rounds to check for any surveillance equipment and some vague assurances for security purposes he could not possibly have done by himself. The word goes out along trusted channels from the Caravan Kinship for the common Drifter community in contact with them, down to the fourth-level basement where several humming ARM relics provide ample oxygen, comfortable room temperature, and clean water along with appropriate lighting.
 
     It's easier to talk about the ARMs than the actual features of the space because it's so bare beyond a long table, some chairs, and several sturdy lockboxes long since stolen from Kattelox explosive and hazardous material disposal specialists. (They often end up re-doubling as seats instead, because they couldn't get the locks open for some of them. One seems to still have something inside it. No one wants to know what.)
 
     Ethius waits at the far end, standing upright with his hands folded behind his back rather than take a seat. His face is uncovered, as it typically is these days. He's not trained, nor given clearance, to talk about these things in a typical scenario. This is not a typical scenario.
 
     But there's no other option that presents itself, as he waits for everyone to come in to a strict time limit before he trips a switch to seal the door. It's a security measure to ensure no one is ambushed or easily eavesdropped from the outside... though it's unlikely such a thing would stop a Wise Man from helping themselves inside if they were inclined.

<Pose Tracker> Hicalu Wilwisp has posed.

    Hicalu Wilwisp is not the sort of guy you think of when you think of 'unspeakable space secrets'. Hicalu has never even been to the moon. One time he got pretty high in the sky but THAT WAS TERRIFYING AND HE DIDN'T MEAN FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

    Honestly, one might wonder, with him piling in here, whether an NPC's pathing got confused. Particularly with the way he stammers: "H-hey, is this the way to... uh..."

    His big Fennec-ears pin against his head, as his poofy tail curls around his Baskar shorts. His arms, decorated from fingertip to shoulder with dark ink (they match his tattooed legs!), hug in over his bared waistline. "is this a cult," he whispers to Ida and Juni, two of the only scary women he recognises, a sense of doom settling over him.

    "did i just walk into a cult."

    On seeing Gwen, he naturally goes and sits next to her, because she's one of his big sister's friends and if this is a cult she MIGHT not sacrifice him to a dark god. Maybe. ... hopefully?

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

The appearance of the Ten Wise Men has raised a lot of questions - and it seems like Ethius has answers to some of them, even if the Ten Wise Men themselves remain a looming mystery. Still, if he's willing to talk, Jacqueline is glad to listen...and, do whatever she can to help facilitate it - whether that's getting the word out or helping to make arrangements. It sounds like what he has to say will end up being important for all of them.

...And so, as people filter in, Jacqueline is already here, having taken her seat early. She offers a small wave and a brief nod of her head in greeting to everyone who enters.

...All this secrecy makes her a little nervous, admittedly. It makes her feel pretty tense... but, if this is what it takes to make Ethius feel comfortable(or at least willing) to say what he wants or needs to say, then she's willing to put up with it. It's a small price to pay.

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

It's not actually ironic that Claude C. Kenny wasn't there when the object of his long search appeared in Kattleox. It just sucks. As it happens, it was taken away anyway, but he would've liked the chance to fight with everyone to keep it, and protect the city along with them.

Too bad.

Once Claude arrives here, he's a little surprised at how... extensive it is. Oh, sure, the room itself is pretty boring, but all the advanced equipment meant to make it comfortable is always surprising for Filgaia--and--

Well, he's had his suspicions of Ethius Hesiod, but has had no particular standing to challenge him on them. So he hasn't. But maybe today that will change...

Very maybe.

Claude steps inside at about the right time though. "Uh..."

He starts to say something to Ethius, but then he hears Hicalu.

"What?" he asks, of a cult. He pauses, and looks around. "Probably not," he assures him. "But if you did you're not the only one!"

He gives him a reassuring(?) thumbs-up and starts moving to an open seat.

<Pose Tracker> Juni Vandrer has posed.

Juni Vandrer was roped in despite the somewhat oppositional status her people hold with Ethius' people. Not that she's got much choice in the matter and... well, her views have mellowed for a myriad of reasons.
 
 She had not been present for the so called Mother Lode. A thing she's actually upset with herself over even if there's absolutely no chance she could have known what would happen and had written it off as some fissile material or similar. Nothing to be done for it though.
 
 She also did a sweep for any recording equipment (Aside from her own. Of course.) Not because she doesn't trust Ethius' work, but because that's the smart play. Especially with the suggestion of tech she'd heard about.
 
 She's just finishing this up when Hicalu asks a question that actually catches her off guard. One of those split ears twitches for a moment before she composes her thoughts into a language recognizable by anyone, herself included to respond with, "Not quite." with a hint of laughter. She's trying! "I hope not anyway." There's a wry look around. Then her ears slowly droop. They're totally going to accidentally make a cargo cult aren't they. She twists and moves to take a standing position near the front just.. because. And by standing, she may or may not be using her tail as a stool while maintaining that appearance of standing. Old parade trick.
 
 A look does go between Ethius and Claude though.

<Pose Tracker> Rixia has posed.

    Rixia caught wind of the battle against the Ten Wise Men, and also the plan for the Drifters to go up into space. Sensing that a certain Stella Starmann might be interested in this, she's broken her vow to not return to Filgaia until she's done whatever it is she feels she needs to do in Lunar and...

    She's also come a bit late, and literally, as she walks in, the door is sealed. She performs her mildly surprised, canned animation of looking three-quarters view back at the door as the camera letterboxes.

    "Oh..." She tries the door. "...I was thinking of getting ice cream, but I guess I'm late enough already..." Rixia sounds disappointed. She's being good today, with her Domain in near-full suppression.

    A pause.

    "I'm here... to learn about space. ... and... I want you to explain it as it is to me, Mister Ethius. No 'Goddess of the Stars'. I'm beyond... needing lies like that."

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

By now, Azoth's 'secret' is nearly an open one. A machine under Solarian control, at odds with the Drifter community as often as he helps. Not enough of them question if that makes his help insincere, and less are willing to propose that Azoth is a liability either way.

It is with a mix of both hope and fear that Azoth concludes Ethius Hesiod may, at least, be one of these people. Calculations are not zero for finding himself surrounded in close quarters with dust engulfing his every component. The solution is simple: don't be inside the room. Physically.

What has Azoth learned if not how to talk his way out of trouble? He may not be able to give security systems forlorn doe eyes and sob stories, but is it not a digital silver tongue that transmits sequences and numbers that spell out a reality that says 'I am another security machine, just like you'? Practiced mimickry, applied in a realm that the Azoth is more comfortable in. (Suspiciously comfortable, even for the average AI. But not many would know to squint if they caught him.)

He cuts off a partition of his focus, dedicating it to determining potential security exploits he can cover and surveying for threats nearby with his own robust sensory systems. What? A mask becomes useless if its role isn't performed.

Even with enhanced means of eavesdropping, Azoth is at a disadvantage gathering information. But data is the most valuable item on this rock or any other... whether used for the masters he serves, or the people who, despite everything, call him a friend.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Ida came to this meeting after putting in a few more hours on the rocket. She's still in her work clothes--grey Thames coveralls daubed with grease, a bright orange high-vis vest, and a tool belt that holds only a metal thermos. (Ethius Hesiod will provide an extremely secure meeting place, but he won't supply drinks or snacks.) Her hair is tied up in its usual bun to keep it from being a safety hazard. The heiress pauses as someone addresses her, turns to Hicalu, and offers her warmest, most comforting smile. "No," she says. "Just an... important, secret meeting, and Gwen, thank you." That was an awkward pivot, but Hicalu seems a bit less on edge as he gravitates towards Gwen. Maybe she can help him calm down.

    Ida takes a seat on one of the ominous-looking boxes, and uncaps her thermos. The scent of strong, sweet tea wafts gently from inside, and she takes a long drink. When she's done, she notices--

    She was expecting Jay and Juni, and even Rixia, whose Domain already prickles at her consciousness. Claude...?

    Ida looks across the table at her old teacher, and manages an awkward half-smile. She hasn't really talked to him since the arm bonded with her.

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    "Wow, _fancy_. A place like this could probably withstand a bomb goin' off, hehe." Gwen is back to her usual self, shamelessly examining the surroundings and being too distracted by them to reveal more secrets about unsuspecting-seeming Solaris spies. When she feels satisfied, she sits on an empty lockbox, her grin threatening an attempt to fill the room with obnoxious cheer.

    What does surprise Gwen is the appearance of Claude. Wow, it's been a while! When was the last time she's seen him? Is there any significant to him being here, right now, as Ethius is about to talk about... space...

    _did she secretly crush on an alien_, is this just his disguise, will Claude suddenly tear off his mask and be something that isn't good-natured and kind of block-headed, but what if that was because he was from outer space, and she was the block-head this entire time???

    "You're wel...come...?" Gwen's eyes pivot to Ida with a dumbfouned blink. "Wait... did I do something??" Her eyes then go to the (adorable) tall fennec ears of Hicalu, taking shelter next to her. "O-oh, hey there! Uh, yeah, yeah, no cult here! Absolutely no cult things are happenin', whatsoever."

    To be fair, Gwen is used to scared people she doesn't know pivoting to her. She just has that aura of safety, friendliness, and reliability that she's carefully grown and maintained over the course of... almost a decade.

    Wow, so she's older on top of it, _great_. What other mind-blowing things will she have to think about down here?

    "Y-yeah, Claude's not part of a cult!" Do they... have cults.... in space...?

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Hannah took off on her own five years ago, leaving Sielje (and running away from home in the process) upon realizing her magic was a potential danger to those around her. She'd become a drifter, like she'd always dreamed, but found little joy in it. She'd largely stayed away from others and kept her head down while franctically searching for her own answers. She'd missed many of the major events of the last five years, only to hear about them after the fact or to witness the aftermath: 2 appearances of the Sorcery Globe, Mother, Odessa, Demetrioi, the opening of the way to Lunar...

But not this time.

She'd been there, when three of the Ten Wise Men attacked. Had fought alongside her fellow Drifters to protect the civilians the Wise Men carelessly put in harm's way. Had witnessed technology and magic the likes of which Filgaia had never seen before, at least not in its recent past.

There was, however, one weird manifestation of magic that may have been new to many of the drifters present but that had been seen before, and quite recently: Hannah's magic had gone haywire again, thanks to Jophiel's technology attempting to interfere with the flow of her magic and her spellcasting.

And the most galling thing was that Jophiel had seemed to know something about it, but then declared that she was better off not knowing. Better off not knowing. Who was he to decide that for her!?

It made her blood boil.

But even though she still had no answers for herself... she was still here. She was involved now, and it certainly felt much better to be in a position where she could make a difference than to be by herself running into nothing but dead ends.

Still, she's in a bit of a mixed mood as she shuffles in with the others. She's got short, curly pink hair, green eyes (that are not, presently, glowing), and stands about five feet tall. She's dressed in her normal drifter garb of a denim jacket, shirt, and jeans, with a satchel slung behind her. A red-tailed hawk, Zephyr, is perched on her shoulder, curiously regarding everything around them.

Hannah takes a pass around the room to curiously inspect some of the ARMs providing creature comforts for the assembling Drifters. Zephyr chirps at her inquisitively, and Hannah shakes her head as she moves to take up an out-of-the way spot. "Probably not. We can go hunting after." She pulls out a notebook and gets set to take notes.

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Dias Flac is not a people person. Though the Drifter community may have heard about him and his deeds as he's wandered across Filgaia in search of strength, he doesn't tend to join in on these kinds of info-sharing meetings. Indeed, when he strides into the hotel basement after Claude, he takes up a spot on the wall, arms folded, lips fixed in his usual scowl, red eyes taking in both the room, everyone in it, everyone arriving, and most importantly, points of entrance and exit.
    
    But, well, Rena asked him to go, and this whole thing with the Sorcery Globe is important to her--and a never-ending source of powerful foes to fight. Dias can at least come by and get briefed on the matter.
    
    There is talk of a cult. "Hmph," is about what Dias thinks of that.
    
    There is talk of space. That gets a far more assessing look, though Rixia may not be a fan of how Dias bores it into her.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    They all filter in. Some might have filtered in just before the door is closed at Rixia's arrival that have yet to speak, but none of this outright alleviates Hicalu's concerns that he might have stepped into a cult meeting. The fourth-level basement chamber is only missing some disconcerting geometric patterns drawn in blood-colored liquids and lit wax candles.
 
     Ethius does not suspect Azoth's presence. His preparations and countermeasures can only go so far, when up against a machine of Azoth's capabilities and personal concern. While the sound quality might be a bit suspect, sound carries well enough that he'll be able to pick up and understand over 95 percent of what's being said without further analysis and reconstruction of inconclusive audio samples.
 
     Claude's arrival is the one that gets Ethius' head turning more than anyone, his gaze trailing him as he reassures the worried Beastfolk who might be in far more above his head than anyone here. With the Ten Wise Men, however, no one's head is above water. Ethius takes note of Juni's shifting gazes, and how Hannah has brought her strangely well-trained hawk friend, and another he doesn't recognize in full... but contacts of contacts are a thing.
 
     "I appreciate you all coming on the level of notice available - and for Miss Jay here for being able to secure the location for this discussion. Based on all available resources considering current events, this was the best time and place for what I am about to share." He starts, keeping upright with his hands folded behind his back as he watches how some filter in with bright cheer like Gwen. Claude would recognize this as the way officers would stand as they addressed subordinates in briefings. That's another red flag.
 
     Rixia more or less picks up that red flag and waves it with her desires about what she wants to hear. As Ida is present, Ethius is not too concerned about lack of access to decontamination procedures as necessary. He nods his head.
 
     "I would like to begin to inform you that what I am discussing is beyond privileged information. These are words and concepts I'm not to speak, in ordinary - or, by definition, any - circumstance." He's giving a look over to Claude again as he says this. When he hides the lower half of his face, it's very difficult to read him. Even now, his brow is as it has been for many years - an expert poker face.
 
     The tension around his jaw dispels some of that mysique.
 
     "...Mostly... because I'm not trained to lead this conversation." A hand to his forehead, to gather his thoughts, as there's no putting the genie back into the bottle. He managed to kind of wedge it a year back, but now...
 
     "As you might have become aware of, there is far more out beyond the confines of Filgaia and its satellites, Lunar and... Marduk, was it?" Filgaia's cultural imagination does involve some form of extraterrestrial life. The Metal Demons of the World Eater Mother, the strange appearance of the Seed Cities...
 
     "The name I gave - sparingly - is accurate. My name is Ethius Hesiod. I'm a specialist operative for the Pangalactic Federation, a vast society composed of numerous worlds across two different galaxies."
 
     Two galaxies is way, way, way, way, way more than two worlds.
 
     "Filgaia and its satellites reside within the system referred to as Kepler-186." It took so many years of borrowing various star charts and putting together some pieces to say this definitively. "To the Federation, it is restricted space. Anything that enters the system disappears, and does not return. A massive barricade has been erected around the system at all times... but it is not free of holes for those determined enough."
 
     "...Or unfortunate enough, as the case may be. I ended up shipwrecked as the result of four days-long chase after someone got away with dangerous cargo."
 
     Those who were there for the Demetrioi chaos knows exactly what Ethius is talking about.
 
     "That matter has been resolved," for Claude's edification, subtly. "As far as I know, the governing bodies of the Pangalactic Federation is completely unaware of the existence of Filgaia."
 
     "Before I proceed further," Ethius straightens out, "are there any questions?"

<Pose Tracker> Hicalu Wilwisp has posed.

    "uhhhhhhhhhhhh" Hicalu says, sounding terribly miserable, as Claude doesn't put him at ease in the slightest. At least Hicalu isn't the only foxman here! But... that snow fox girl... is kind of creepy...

    ... he can't put his finger on it, though, so he just tries not to stare at Rixia.

    "I kinda feel like I shouldn't --" be here, he starts to say to Ida, only to turn around and find the door shut. (Notably: he didn't see the door shut.) "Oh. Uhh... well..."

    Gwen! Gwen is way safer. "H--hey, you're Gwen, right?" He confirms, still quite nervous. "I guess, if you say it's not... hey, wait a sec!" He yelps, in alarm. "Is a bomb gonna go off?! No way--!!"

    Ethius starts talking, though, and Hicalu quiets down. Until he stops for questions, and Hicalu says: "Oh. Oh, that's, like, way worse than a bomb." He knows what a galaxy is, but it's specifically because his village was protected by Rigdobrite. He points at the ceiling, and asks the obvious question: "So, like... people LIVE up there?! And they don't come HERE?! What's so bad about here?! Are we in danger?! What gives?!"

<Pose Tracker> Rixia has posed.

    Rixia does gander over towards Hicalu, perhaps finding some commonality between their foxness... even though her tail isn't anywhere as fluffy or deluxe as Hicalu's. Is that tail envy that minorly creeps up over her expressionless expression?

    He moves over towards Gwen, though, so at least he's got a friend; Rixia instead moves close to Hannah and Ida with a nod, then stares back towards Ethius and...

    "Um... I don't... know what a galaxy is," Rixia admits. "Is that like... if Filgaia is a house, then a galaxy is a neighborhood? Since there's more than one galaxy?" She's going with that assumption, anyway.

    "But I think I understand. It's a very big authority. It wouldn't be unlike if a member of Althena's Guard pretended to be a Spiran in their midst, right?"

    Kepler-186... and how it is restricted space. She also doesn't really know the way he's using 'system', but she assumes that if a galaxy is a neighborhood, then the system is... a street of houses.

    "Why is the Federation so scared of us...? Everything about the Federation seems so fancy and high-powered that they could just whack us if they wanted to, like Rolace or Hyland to one of the many villages in their borders."

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

Claude gives Juni a surreptitious look, too. He's watching!!

...But Ida is a little more demanding on his attention. He brightens. "Ida!" he says. "It's nice to see you. How have you been?" Of course he remembers. Even if it's been a while--even if she's changed, in ways obvious and otherwise--he remembers.

Claude has the grace not to say anything about ice cream to Rixia--because he's instead busy blinking in surprise at the way she just outright opens up about her desire to learn about space.

He doesn't notice Azoth, either. He did notice Dias, but besides a nod of acknowledgement, he's not about to make the guy get all social over something like this.

Hawk surprises him, too. But not that much. Whistling to birds is normal! They can bring you things!

Though, "I'm not!" Claude answers Gwen. "Definitely not."

But the door closes, and... Ethius looks at him. Ethius has probably guessed where he's from--but Claude can't be sure, and he can't say something without giving himself away. 'Why were you at the devil's sacrament???' sort of situation.

But...

Claude sure does recognize the way Ethius stands. And he blinks heavily when Ethius just goes outright with it. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhh," Claude says eloquently.

Is anybody trained for this conversation? Claude isn't. He could rescue Ethius, but...

But he doesn't. For reasons he doesn't share at the moment. Claude looks right back to him--and nods.

But he doesn't reveal himself yet.

He watches, thoughtfully, as talk of this 'matter' goes on... and he doesn't ask questions. Yet. But he waits for other questions. ...Except... He can't quite not answer one honest question.

"So, Filgaia's a planet in a star system--rotating around its sun. Lunar and Marduk orbit around Filgaia. The sun, in turn, orbits slowly around the galactic core--so you're not far off on that analogy! It's a good way of understanding. But it's more like a galaxy is so big that it's a country, or a continent, rather than just a neighborhood."

...He doesn't answer Federation questions. Yet.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Claude greets Ida with a smile, and some of the weight leaves her shoulders. "It's been difficult," she says, with a little shrug. "But I'm surviving." She turns back to Ethius, noting the tension, the more formal tone he adopts. It feels less stilted, in some ways, than in the past--likely because he can actually open up, to a degree?

    Claude gives the rough introduction to orbital physics. Ida, who is already familiar, fixes more on the fact that the Federation knows. Her eyes widen a little at the mention of the blockade, and while not as outwardly exasperated as Rixia or Hicalu, she is nevertheless...

    "Do they know this planet is facing an extinction event? That the whole biosphere could be wiped out, and that's before factoring in the Wise Men, or Solaris, or what Mother was up to--" She meets Rixia's eyes from across the table, for a moment, before turning back to Ethius. "And if they did, would they lift a finger to help us?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

A cult... Jacqueline laughs a bit sheepishly.

"I can see how it'd be easy to think that... but no, this isn't like that. It's just a matter of secrecy." She explains. Most of the faces here are familiar, but there's someone who she hasn't seen in ages, and one she only knows by reputation... but they're welcome here just the same. Her attention turns back toward Ethius when he begins, and she nods in response to his thanks. She goes quiet as he continues.

She doesn't interrupt. She listens all the way through.

A lot of the questions on her minds are ones already asked, or are answered. But there is one matter...

"You said that anything that enters the system disappears. But you're here, alive, and so is Homer." Jacqueline points out. There are others too, of course... but it isn't her place to mention them. "Do you know why that is? Is it just a matter of people getting shipwrecked and stranded... or is there something more to it?"

She shrugs.

"...Still, I guess having such a scary reputation is probably a good thing for us, for now. Even if it hasn't stopped every problem..." She considers.

<Pose Tracker> Juni Vandrer has posed.

Juni Vandrer tilts her head, looking towards Ethius and starts to raise a hand, stopping herself last second from taking a jab at the Federation even if she's not.. hostile towards them. The hand drops for now. Letting him continue. His reaction to Claude DOES at least confirm her suspicion at least. You know, also the fact the younger of the two is still wearing parts of a uniform.
 
 Belatedly, Gwen's question on there being cults in space or not is.. not immediately answered. One finger up. Then down. Is it more or less demoralizing to know?
 
 Ida's given a wave as she enters, though she's sitting on the sidelines, somewhere between ready to answer questions herself, or supply some color commentary, or to see what she can learn from a different group than... herself.
 
 Rixia's given a nod as well when she enters. Though her request for information is noted, but as before, she'll wait on Ethius. Its his show. The question on the galaxy though, she's beaten by Claude to the punch, mostly. "Close." She'd started, but lets him go instead. "Been trying to figure that out myself." She mutters to herself at the question as to what the Federation was up to.
 
 Hicalu's questions get her focus instead, "They don't want anyone coming out this way. Like I said, dunno why." Theories might be forming, but they're so far out there she's not even goign to try and reconcile all of them right now. "We do live out there though."
 
 Also, when Ethius mentions holes in their net, she does grin and wave to him. That one couldn't be resisted.
 
 Ida's question is met with, "I don't think they are for what it's worth. Admitting you were out here to confirm it's probably not healthy."
 
 As for Jay's question, she also answers that from her own perspective, "We aren't exactly leaving. I'm pretty sure I'm listed as missing or dead back home and it's largely the same for them." She nods to both Claude and Ethius.
<Big Scene> Three-Eyed Girl: Pearl says, "but stealing is surprisingly hard in this game"

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    When the door shuts, Dias narrows his eyes, but keeps his mouth shut. Instead, after sharing a curt nod with Claude, his stony gaze goes to Ethius, seemingly the one gathering everyone here and imminently putting on a lecture. There's something formal about Ethius's stance--rigid, like a military officer. And his attention seems particularly keen on Claude, going back to him again and again.
    
    For now, though, Dias listens. The Pangalactic Federation... and Filgaia is in a 'system' that is restricted, even barricaded space, because anything that goes there disappears... and despite being part of such a heavily guarded 'system,' this Pangalactic Federation doesn't know Filgaia exists. And a galaxy is something that is like a country, or a continent, to Filgaia's star system...
    
    Claude might not explicitly out himself as someone from space, but given the way he acts about it, and the way Ethius and Juni both acknowledge him multiple times after admitting to it themselves, it would be difficult at best not to catch on. That's without that vibe Claude has sometimes that Dias noticed a long time ago.
    
    "So what star system are *you* from?" Dias thus asks Claude.
    
    Ida's questions get her a low 'hmph' of her own. "If no one who comes here ever returns, how would that Pangalactic Federation know about any of that--and if they somehow did, why would they risk it?"
    
    As sardonic as it sounds, though, he's functionally agreeing with her implication.
<Big Scene> Dean the Seraph Ragnell says, "Assuming you're playing SO2R--are you Pickpocketing with someone with the talent Nimble Fingers?"
<Big Scene> Three-Eyed Girl: Pearl says, "No, Baldur's Gate 3. Sadly I don't own SO2R yet."
<Big Scene> Dean the Seraph Ragnell says, "Alas! Good luck with BG3 though."
<Big Scene> Ellynetia: Margaret says, "(can I come observe your action)"
<Big Scene> (Self) Ethius Hesiod says, "c'mon down!"
<Big Scene> Azoth says, "disguise self, fog cloud, crime, run away, drop disguise"
<Big Scene> (Self) Ethius Hesiod says, "this pose will be a bit big since I got a good lay-up from multiple poses thus far."

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    Hicalu's panicked vibes only strengthen Gwen's resolve to quell them. "Heyhey, it's okay! There's nothin' here that can harm you, 'kay? This is an information-gatherin' deal." She holds up a finger. "Knowledge is power! Or somethin' like that. Hehe." Her grin widens as Hicalu says her name. "Yep! That's me, Gwen Whitlock, super courier. No bombs here either. Just us! Y'got nothin' to be scared of."

    Except everything Ethius just lays down. Which is a lot. "... Kepler-186, huh..."

    Diagrams from Auntie Frea's books filter into Gwen's memory. Nodding to Claude's explanation, Gwen adds, "... ... Gravity, right? Because of gravity. The sun has a lot of it, and Filgaia has some, n' Lunar and Marduk circle us while we cycle the sun. Like one of those mobiles. Just. that's all one branch, n' there's gotta be tons of 'em, right? Which means the thing in the center of the mobile has the most gravity."

    She's almost there.

    Jay's pondering catches Gwen's attention. "... Sounds like it's a little like this room; door's shut, no one can get in-- wait." Slowly, Gwen's head creaks towards Juni. "So... you're an alien too, Juni? Like... well, okay, I kinda suspected Claude was an alien, but that was from him comin' into this room, and--"

    Which means, Dias, the quiet swordman, is naturally also an alien. But Gwen's going to be nice and not point it out immediately---

     Ooooor not. "C'mon, let's not be pointin' fingers."

     Maybe Hicalu is one, but he's got on Baskar clothing, so... wait, aren't there some Veruni that integrated into the Baskar? Which means--

    Hicalu is an scared alien. "... So ya'll are stuck here with us, huh..." She rubs the back of her head. "Maybe we're, like, the place people put somethin' they want to go away? Except, we're big enough that people who shouldn't get caught here anyways, like a sandworm nest that you sometimes get a foot stuck in when you're tryin' to hide somethin' you don't want anybody else t'have."
<Big Scene> Three-Eyed Girl: Pearl says, "i'm a rogue, azoth. I don't have spells."
<Big Scene> Three-Eyed Girl: Pearl says, "(And I didn't choose arcande trickster, I don't really like playing casters."

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Hicalu's the first to start asking, and to that, Ethius nods. "That is correct. Many different people, with their own ways of life. That... would include cults, among some civilzations, yes." He notes the increase in panicked tempo as the questions carry on. When he looks upon Hicalu, he's seeing himself when he was twelve years old - taken away from everything he knew, to this strange sterile, artificial world where he was told what was going on and had to accept.
 
     He resolves to be gentler than the person who spoke to him was. Whether he can achieve that or not is a different matter.
 
     "Speaking from the outside, several attempts were made across history to try and figure out the matter, only for every ship sent to scout and study the system to disappear. That is why it is forbidden space." Ethius shakes his head. "It's not that it's 'bad.' You're not wrong, nor lesser, for living here. It is simply... something, the Federation has no understanding of, along with concerns of what might happen if the system were filled up with such ships." A hand to his forehead again. "Not everything within the universe is known and fully understood. I... I could scarce begin to imagine what a civilization that does would look like."
 
     Rixia gets her turn to speak, which Claude helpfully explains the terminology about. When Rixia speaks about how the Federation could simply steamroll everyone if they wanted to, his eyes close with a bowed head as he pushes out the thought of what happened to his own home so long ago.
 
     "I'll speak on that one in just a moment, Miss Rixia," he says, as Ida ends up seguing right towards that moment. Everyone is searching for an answer, everyone is searching for help that can do something against threats and scopes they can't begin to unravel the problem of.
 
     "To my knowledge and level of clearance," he has one! ...Had one? It's been years since he fell out of contact. "They are unaware. That's... I should clarify another matter, so I appreciate Miss Ida's question, though... it is a complicated answer."
 
     He clears his throat. "One of the most strictly observed laws of the Pangalactic Federation is the Underdevloped Planet Preservation Pact - or the UP3. By definition, an underdeveloped planet is a civilization that has not yet independently developed the capacity for interstellar spaceflight."
 
     The big one, as Claude and Juni would understand. (Juni, especially.)
 
     "Contact and interaction with individuals a part of a society within this classification is forbidden. It is of importance that the people of these worlds are able to determine their own history and its course, on their terms alone. Every citizen of the Pangalactic Federation is to adhere to this."
 
     He holds a hand up for a moment.
 
     "There are exceptions. If a Federation citizen ends up on such a planet for any reason, or there is an imminent risk of harm, you are to minimize contact as best as possible and conceal any technological devices on your person until such time you can establish contact and be extracted." A beat passes. "...As you can surmise, there has been no extraction," a nod of acknowledgement to Juni.
 
     "As pertains to assistance... another moment." Soon, he can tie Rixia's and Ida's inquiries together, as Jay speaks of how he's still alive, as is 'Homer.'
 
     "Homer is of no further concern," Homer who? He says this in Claude's vague direction. Ethius never wants to think about, see, or hear of Homer Mecone ever again, and he laid his terms out to that man quite succinctly and his only remaining concern is making sure Venetia doesn't try to sip his Symbological ink out of him with a straw after he expires of old age in a good ten or so years. "As far as I am aware, Miss Jay, it is simply a matter of being shipwrecked and stranded in a system otherwise unobservable and unapproachable. For the time being... yes, Miss Gwen, we are."
 
     "...To further introduce myself in context, which," Ethius pauses, "is not something I should ever do." But he must. After Demetrioi, after a whole lot of things... he takes in a breath, straightens out anew after resting a hand to his forehead for a second.
 
     "Formally, my job is to investigate detected high probability violations of the UP3. I am trained to infiltrate civilizations at a pre-industrial level of development," this is interesting because Filgaia as a whole is well past that, "usually for a length that does not exceed the local Filgaian equivalent of six months. I'm given far more lenience in my interactions than most would." And how, given the chaos he left in his wake. "The majority of cases I've dealt with involved matters such as... illegal experimentation, trafficking, smaller-scale invasions and subjugations. My specific area of expertise is identification and removal of illegally introduced technologies, though my work has many cross-sections with xenoarchaeology, xenoanthropology, and xenobiology."
 
     "...In the instance I'm not able to resolve a confirmed situation, I am to immediately signal and defer to the Federation Navy for more hands-on involvement." His voice starts to trail, with that faintest hint of trauma and melancholy. "I avoid that at all costs, given the risks involved... and, knowing, first-hand what that looks like to a native."
 
     He looks to Rixia and Ida specifically. "If I were to escape Kepler-186... yes, I would indeed immediately inform of numerous situations that would be worthy of further action."
 
     "...I recognize I've spoken at length without much room for further question." He clears his throat again. "I apologize. Are there any further questions?"

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

"Surviving is an important first step," Claude tells Ida encouragingly. "You can go anywhere if you just stay alive first."

But Gwen has a good thought--Claude's seen that this planet knows some about the stars, but it's always nice to see more knowledge. "Exactly," Claude says. "All that gravity interacts together, and everything moves."

He notices Juni's mutter--and what she says--but he wasn't going to comment. Just like... Ida's. Do they know? Claude admittedly has feelings on what Ida says--but he doesn't answer them at first, because he's keeping his status a secret. ...But not a great secret, apparently. Not that that entirely surprises him...

"Dias!?" he starts, and then--"Heh... I should've known you'd guess, if no one else did."

"Hey now," he says to Gwen, "I mean... I am an alien, I guess..."

"It's not like that," Claude says to Gwen. "It's not that we hate Filgaia, or put things here we want to put away--it's that because things here disappear, we consider it dangerous." He nods to Ethius. "Just like he says; we don't want your whole system clogged with our garbage, basically. And there's one other factor."

"...The Underdeveloped Planet Preservation Pact, just what Mr. Hesiod has said." It's a very big one. But Ethius explains his role... And Claude looks at him, thoughtfully. "So that's your deal," he says. "...Yeah. An 'intervention' is... no good." Claude seems to treat this idea with the utmost seriousness. "It's totally unnecessary, too! I know that there's been a lot of influence--we haven't been very good or subtle at all."

"...But we also aren't the only ones. Mother was an interstellar operator; the Ten Wise Men are... Well, I don't know what they are, but they're clearly not from this neighborhood of things."

"To say nothing of finding rockets in history. I don't think an 'intervention' would help. I think we need a different solution. And I'll argue for it. If we get out..."

Maybe it's better if they don't.

"Anyway, I should introduce myself properly."

Claude stands, rolling his shoulders to undo some of the tension. "...I'm Claude C. Kenny. I'm an officer in the Federation Navy. And I ended up here by accident."

"...The truth is," he says to Ida, "The Federation might not intervene at all, even knowing what Filgaia is facing. ...But we're here. And the way I see it, we can't stand back and do nothing. I won't stand back and do nothing. I've made friends here. ...I've come to know this world, if only a little."

"I'm not giving up on Filgaia. No matter what."

<Pose Tracker> Hicalu Wilwisp has posed.

    "Yeah, my big sister told me about you," Hicalu nods, to Gwen. He forgets to say who his big sister is, though, because --

    Ethius!!

    Who gives a really rather gentle explanation, by Ethius's standards, though Hicalu doesn't know Ethius's usual standard and is kind of left clutching his ears. "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" he just keeps humming, throughout it all.

    But then Ethius asks if they have questions, and he lets up on his ears so they can flick forward, and he can ask...

    "You... uh, you doin' okay, buddy? Sounds like this is a whole thing you kinda fell into... I get that you're sayin' it's your job, but, like, you got someone you can talk to, right? ... Right???" A pause, and he points, to Claude. "Like that guy!" Mr. Navy over htere!

<Pose Tracker> Rixia has posed.

    It's a lot for Rixia to take in, but... it seems like she's getting it -- if only because she has metaphors that Claude helpfully supplies her with.

    "I think I... kind of understand. My entire life changed because someone from the stars crashed and gave me a weapon that was way, way stronger than anything anyone in my backyard ever could imagine. When the Blue Star was first opened to the Silver Star, a lot of people brought guns -- ARMs -- with them. Rolance and Hyland picked them up, and that led to so many more people dying..."

    She doesn't voice that it sounds kind of patronising too, though, to have people who're better be looking after them like they're toddlers in a cot. But Claude's reasoning does help her come to terms with that.

    "You don't even come from here, but you're fighting for the sake of this world..." Rixia murmurs to him. "That's... I can get behind that, I guess..."

    She does look to Ethius, though. "I guess my case is just one of the many things your job is supposed to do, huh...?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline listens intently, nodding along as her question is addressed.

"That makes sense..." She considers. That raises the question of why it keeps happening... but ultimately, that's not important right now - and if any of them knew, the situation would probably be very different. So for now she sits back, listening in on the rest of what Ethius has to say - and Juni and Claude, as well. It seems they, too, are from beyond the stars...

"...I see." Jacqueline considers. She looks between the three of them. "I am grateful to have gotten the chance to meet all of you, though I wish it had been less... disruptive, for you."

Ethius, in particular - for better or worse, they've been following the same path for quite some time. She'd be in a very different place if he hadn't been there.

"I'd much rather they didn't stuck their noses into our business... but from you, I'm glad to have your help." Jacqueline says.

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    As Ethius and Claude explain, Gwen's mood softly neutralizes, but it would be a mistake to call it grim. ".... Wouldn't be too different from me whippin' out my right ARM in the middle of a town in the Badlands. I can't say I don't see the logic in it." She then smiles again, though this, an assuring one. "So you're both a part of a kinda law enforcement. Only, it's so someone don't come to planets like ours n' try to take them over 'cause they think they're an easy target. Then, there's a whole big mess, n'... yeah."

    Looking at Hicalu, Gwen blinks. ".... Big sister?" She can't recall anyone she knows who looks like Hicalu. She almost manages to ask him who his 'big sister' is, but the conversation still moves.

    Claude's comment draws a warm wide grin from Gwen. "... So, I *knew* there was a reason I liked ya. If that's the kinda calibur of people out there in space, it can't be all that bad. So, that's why I'm inclined t'trust you. You too, Ethius, n' Juni, annnd the rest of all you out-of-towner types." She smirks. "'Alien' just sounds wrong after all the muck y'all've gone through 'long with the rest of us. You're just one of us, now, and don't forget it." she clearly means 'likes you' in a friendly way, really

     really

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    There's a lot of what Ethius says that sounds strange, even in the context of being some kind of space cop. However, he already established that he came here by accident after chasing someone else. Dias lets it lie for now.
    
    Claude doesn't exactly answer his question--but then, that wasn't really the point. It's not like the name of Claude's home 'system' would mean anything to him. He gives him a slight tilt of the head in acknowledgement.
    
    Gwen chides him, then gushes on to Claude and Ethius and Juniy, to both of which he gives her the hairy eyeball. Dias doesn't otherwise respond. For one, there's a lot of important information being shared right now. The UP3, why the Federation avoids this system, and...
    
    "...heh." Dias's lips quirk up in a faint smirk at Claude's declaration about Filgaia. "What a 'you' thing to say."
    
    Too bad Rena isn't here to hear it. Even the fox boy over there is impressed--though Hicalu's attention is more on Ethius and his whole deal. Rixia voices how 'superior technology' changed her life, too.
    
    He agrees with what Jacqueline says about preferring the Federation not stick their noses in--but he doesn't remark on that. It's clear normally they wouldn't, at least in this specific case, and the only reason they are is by sheer accident due to rogue agents. ...and where Jay might be glad for Ethius's help, Dias... doesn't mind that Claude ended up here.

<Pose Tracker> Juni Vandrer has posed.

Juni Vandrer looks genuinely surprised that Jay hadn't figured it out, guessing by the surprised look. Though she doesn't have a sarcastic comment there. Jay had done good by her. This was just a surprise she wasn't as obvious as she thought prior to.. giving up. "Indeed." with a simple nod. "Sorry." She adds after, at least sounding sincere there. "We have similar rules to them for.. probably similar reasons." She hooks a thumb (The upper of two) towards Ethius, agreeing with his assessment mostly. "We usually tried to avoid stepping on toes more than we had to."
 
 Ethius' mission is given a supporting, "I have a similar mission. Here at least. Scuttle, destroy and remove anything that shouldn't be getting out into the wild." Which probably goes some way in explaining her own reaction to Demitrioi's situation for those she actually made suggestions to!
 
 "Same, for what it's worth." With regards to 'if I can leave, I'll bring help.' part of the conversation. She almost lapses into training and starts to make a well traveled pitch before just stuffing it back down.
 
 Claude's also filling in some useful information though. Adding in as an aside, about the idea of intervention, or the lack thereof. "We have our own.. limitations. I'd push for aid, or even mutual aid, but whether that goes anywhere is-" she shrugs, hands out. A borrowed gesture really, "Up in the air." She does agree overall that they're here and helping as is though. "There's that."
 
 Hicalu's endearing and Juni's jaded sense of humor almost creeps in. "There's a few of us if he ever needs it." Even if she might try to yank his chain from time to time, she HAS more than once, offered help and just... conversation after all.
 
 Dias catching the obvious looks is given a faint grin again. All three eyes focused on him. Though beyond that, she does actually answer, "It would depend on what red tape they've got in their way and what rules they're tripping over." She adds in a somewhat wry tone, "Again, we have similar rules for.. similar reasons."
 
 She leaves Rixia's questions to Ethius. She'd definitely end up with similar answers more or less anyway.
 
 The offhand comment from Jay is given a wry smile, "Yeah I get that." With a laugh. That's definitely an attitude shared back home.
 
 Gwen's acceptance of them hanging out on thep lanet is at least met with a smile. And a, "That's kind of where I am too, to be fair." Regarding that this is her home now. Even if there was a brief, very brief chance she could have just left. There might be some guilt there. "Thanks though." She won't admit she usually feels like a screw up more often than not, being so far out of her usual operations.
 
 Funny enough, she's all for keeping the Federation out too! There's just a blindspot for her own people's potential meddling. Even if she knows better on some level or two.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    "Thanks," Ida says, to Claude.

    The explanation continues. Ida's face twists into a frown, hovering somewhere between 'angry' and 'thoughtful'. If Filgaia is the epicenter of some interstellar calm, a place where spaceships vanish without a trace, that... explains Homer, and Ethius, and Grace, and Bulman, and God knows how many others. Were the Solarians interstellar refugees who managed to hang on to a technological advantage? She turns the thoughts over in her head, but keeps her eyes on Ethius. She'd all but confirmed he was a spook, but hearing it from the man's lips is... refreshing.

    Ida lets out a huff of breath, and runs a hand across her hair. Of course they won't intervene. But...

    "That means a lot to me. Both of you..." And here, her gaze lingers on Ethius, and there's a softness in it that wasn't there before... or ever, when dealing with Ethius. "Especially you. I can't imagine it was easy, making the decision you ultimately did. But if your people would damn you for helping us, that says a great deal more about them."

    "It's good to have both--all of you with us."

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Zephyr, it should be noted, is not well trained. Or really trained at all. (Several small timeline hops over there is a reality where Zephyr bit her on the ear a few days ago. It was well-deserved, but she did avoid it.)

(This time.)

Hannah is studiously taking notes as Ethius starts to speak. The fact that he's not allowed to speak of certain matters certainly has her interest, and she's scribbling notes furiously to capture all of this new information. So engrossed in this task is she that she's been oddly quiet for a bit, ever since she arrived. (Aside from some greetings to those she knows, a polite nod to those she recognizes, and a very curious glance to those she does not recognize, yet.)

There is a look of interest as Claude is outed as an alien, though not necessarily a look of surprise.

But the Pangalactic Federation has a prohibition on interacting with 'undeveloped' planets. Helpfully defined as the capacity for interstellar flight.

Hannah raises her hand. "'Cept we already got people comin' and goin'. And not just now, but as part of Filgaia's past history, too. Ain't there the possibility that we don't really qualify as bein' under developed?"

She wasn't surprised by 'aliens' earlier but does look a bit surprised when Ethius startslaying out his specific job, especially in the context of the UP3. Quietly, she muses to herself, "Must be pretty bad if he's willin' to tell us all this..."

Or maybe she was musing to Zephyr, because the hawk offers soft chirp to Hannah. Is he replying? Nah, couldn't be.

But 'illegal experimentation' does get her attention, though, and she makes a note in her notebook to find Ethius later.

But they're talking space, now. And Hannah might have a rather different question than the expected. "What're the odds, for a system that's restricted where nobody ever returns from... that y'all keep endin' up here by accident? Space is mighty big, ain't it?"

A beat, as she looks to Ethius, Claud, and possibly Dias. "... And... are you humans, or just somethin' that appears human-like? Or are you wearin' disguises to blend in?"

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius nods along to Claude at the acknowledgement of his role, and the mention of rockets in history. "It is true that a number of items from history that famously disappeared into nothing - or rather, Kepler-186 - appeared to have ended up here."
 
     A hand to his forehead. "The Seed Cities... it has been a while since I've brushed up on Ignasian happenings, but colony vessels did disappear into the system around the time Filgaia had its... Night of Fallen Stars, I believe it was called?" It's a lot of numbers to juggle and he had way more on his mind than 160 year old historical details. "Miss Jay may remember how intrigued I was* by their holiday decorations."
 

• They're still finding some stolen yard items today in the CaraKin's storage compartments. Past tense may not be correct. How red-and-green streamers with bright blue snowflakes, anatomically incorrect hearts, and green clovers became a matter of Pangalactic Federation security, maybe it's best we never know.
  

 
     "If anything critical comes up regarding specific places, or items, I will endeavor to speak about them as necessary." He finishes on that tangent as Claude echoes his feelings about how an intervention might do more harm than good, nodding along. Knowing Claude is that Kenny family - he might have a better idea on that ground level as to whether the Federation would extend assistance.
 
     Hicalu, showing concern for Ethius' own well-being, asks a question with far greater depth and weight to it than anyone can imagine - did he have someone he could talk to?
 
     "I did not. Not for many years," Ethius responds, matter-of-factly, exhaling as he purses his lips. "Officer Kenny... is it Ensign? That uniform is an Ensign uniform, but given our unique circumstances... I'm digressing. The work I do is..." He struggles for the words. "Immensely delicate. The lowest rank of enlisted officer that is privy to the activities of my line of work is Commodore. Which... well, the point I'm attempting to illustrate is that it's well above his pay grade."
 
     Which has meant he needed to keep his counsel, far more often than not, and only very rarely tipped his hand. Which didn't help matters when he was in a serial arsonist mood!
 
     "Nonetheless, your concern is appreciated." He says, as Rixia starts to speak about her own understanding of this and her victimhood to the whimsy and cruelty of an awful woman who may be involved in something above his own pay grade.
 
     "That is correct, Miss Rixia. Regardless of how I've come across it, or when... it is well within the rights of my station, and my own personal interest, to see that your 'Goddess of the Stars' does not bring you further harm." A beat. "...I apologize. Normally, I attempt to keep vocabulary and labels consistent with what was described as a means of respect." Still... Rixia's situation is complicated, and after weighing multiple options where none were ideal, what she had going on right now is the one that presents the least harm. "I will endeavor to continue investigating her whereabouts."
 
     Miss Jay gives her gratitude, after all of the garbage he put in front of her, starting with that one bugbear corpse and... you know, it's hard to escalate much harder than that, but there was a quantity. "I appreciate your patience and cooperation throughout, knowing it wasn't... easy." A look on his face knowing how much social credit he drew. So, so much social credit.
 
     "A form of that, yes," Ethius confirms to Gwen. "I will confess I am... very much, considered in practice, the equivalent of a 'bad cop.' While I won't go into full detail on the hows and whys, I do have to work with very limited information after a period of intense study from long-distance cultural observation. This... often necessitates I make a number of difficult, dangerous calls that are not always the kindest to everyone involved."
 
     He catches Dias' 'heh' in regards to what Claude has said. He wonders if maybe that's a very close friend of Claude's after all the years that have passed, like how much of the CaraKin considers him a friend EVEN IF HE NEEDS TO BE BANNED FROM THE KITCHEN FOREVER!!!. "I'll clear the air on some of my previous actions in a short while."
 
     "...As a further clarification, Miss Juni's people are not part of the Federation and did not sign the charter. This has been an occasional source of friction," he knows the stories about the infamous Aldakhili privateer Brenner and their use of mass driver weapons and dark matter tech, "but nonetheless, I can ascertain she's not working to hostile ends and has understood the importance of preventing the... continued proliferation of dangerous weapons." A side-look. "She will not be reimbursed her shotgun, if she asks."
 
     "...As Miss Hannah has said, it is very likely the classification of 'underdeveloped' would not be applied, but the two worlds have numerous curious cases I feel we'd need greater clarity on as a whole - even with the likes of the World Eater Mother having had made landfall. It appears there have been numerous developmental hard resets and restarts. I'm... exercising caution, nonetheless."
 
     "It is true that so many things ending up here," like Demetrioi and Homer, "is something that goes far beyond coincidence, but there's too much yet unknown. Like the officer with us, I am committed to putting forth what I am able to see the truth and a better future through for all involved."
 
     Ida's gratitude - being one of the first people he truly inconvenienced, and may have played a significant role in her turn of career in ways not particularly kind - has him exhaling as she finds it in her to welcome him after so many years.
 
     "...I'll speak of both what I can surmise of the Ten Wise Men and some other details about my actions I should clarify on next, but first... any further questions?"

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius adds suddenly as an addendum. "Yes. I am, and identify as, a human being," to Hannah. Which means he identifies as being the same thing as virtually every other human being born on Filgaia and Lunar. (And Marduk? Does Marduk have humans? Magilou said in her own way that one could breathe there, so who or what else lives there?)

<Pose Tracker> Hicalu Wilwisp has posed.

    "Yeah! You know, Lan?" Hicalu asks Gwen, tilting his head. A beat: "Oh -- oh! I get it! You're confused 'cuz of the ears! No prob, mine's always been the way better set." He takes a moment to beam, twitching his big ol' ears. He's quite proud of them!

    Still, he's largely busy listening to Ethius's story, reaching up to scratch at those very impressive ears. "You don't sound like a bad guy to me," he points out, at length. He's largely reeling from how much information he's getting, so maybe focusing on the messenger is his way of coping.

    "Just, uh, one question..."

    He was not in Kattelox for the recent events.

    "What's this... Ten Wise Men about, anyhow?"

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

Hicalu offers Claude up to talk to Ethius, and while that's a little awkward, Claude can't just leave him hanging. "I--" Pause. "...Yeah. I'm around, Mr. Hesiod."

His mother had a better take on the patronizing aspects. He even knows about it. But since that isn't brought up, he doesn't address it. Instead... He nods to Rixia, as she talks about what happened. But when she says she can get behind it, he says, "I'm just following your example. If you all weren't fighting for your world already, then there'd be no reason for me to try."

Disruptive... Claude nods to Jay. "It would be... bad, if they nosed in."

But Gwen--

She sees the logic. And she likes him! He smiles, even if it's a little muted. "I'm glad you feel that way."

Then to Dias--well, he'll talk more with Dias--and Rena--later. "Eh?" he says, about a 'him' thing to say. "You think so?"

Well, that's Dias for you.

Juni's explanations make him a little wary, but only a little. She's just an X factor he can't account for; she herself seems genuine though, and he nods to her. "Maybe we should talk sometime."

Then to Ida...

"...Thanks."

Hannah's got a point! "Yep," Claude answers her. "You sure do. I'm... not sure what the right answer is, there. But I know for sure it's not to quarantine everyone who's seen a space man."

It is pretty bad. And Ethius mentions his rank, which gets Claude a moment to look wryly at him. "...Ensign is right. I'm still here, if you want to talk--but I understand if you can't, too. Or just don't want to. Either's fine, Mr. Hesiod."

Space is big, and--

"I'm human," Claude confirms for Hannah. "I'm..."

"I don't want to say everything about myself yet," he says, "Because there's someone important I need to have this conversation with before I say everything. I was going to keep it to myself, according to the law, but... If even Mr. Hesiod is revealing these secrets, then it's time to come clean. Definitely human, though. Which is... kind of surprising, actually."

A bad cop. Claude can see that, all right. He says, "You make hard decisions. I understand."

Caution, nonetheless. Yes...

"I'd like to hear what you can tell us about the Ten Wise Men," Claude says then. "And any other clarifications you have in mind."

He smiles at Hicalu. "He doesn't seem like a bad guy to me, either, even with a name like Hesiod."

<Pose Tracker> Rixia has posed.

    "I don't really get the point of harping about who's an alien or not, or who's human-like... the Veruni also look human, right? Even the Elw and us Beastfolk don't look that different... humans are a bit too obsessed with checking who's 'human'... the way we're still called 'Beastfolk', even, is part of that..."

    Rixia pauses, because she realises she's getting worked up over ideology again in that way she sometimes does.

    "Well, in short, I guess I agree with Gwen's words..."

    Ethius explains her situation in line with his line of work. "No... I'm okay with it. Back then, I wouldn't have figured it out, and you had to keep quiet too. And I mean... you didn't just try to paste me and pick up the device off off my remains."

    There's a longer pause from the Fox girl, as she considers. "To be honest... it's kind of reassuring. To know no matter how far off people come from, they largely just... still behave like people, no matter how fancy and stupidly strong the guns get... even in one galaxy or another... we all share the same kind of wants, dreams, and stupidities."

    That sounds kinda backhanded, but...

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Dias catches those three eyes of Juni's as they focus on him and stares right back. "The way you talk, you're obviously not with that Pangalactic Federation," he notes. Ethius confirms this too. "Who's the 'we' *you* mean?"
    
    Hannah brings up a lot of good points and good questions too once she finishes up with note-taking. Dias considers her for a moment, which means when she looks his way as well as Ethius's and Claude's, he catches her look along with that last question of hers. Dias furrows his eyebrows at her.
    
    "Why are you asking *me* that?" and then, because the answer to that is obvious once he says it out loud, a flat, "I'm not an alien."
    
    Except--the Seed Cities... Is Ethius implying that they're /all/ from outer space, or at least descended from people from outer space? Dias has managed to take most things in stride so far, but that one widens his eyes. He's not from one of them, but he's passed through them several times and never thought twice about it. Maybe he--maybe quite a few people of Filgaia--are part alien after all. He glances at Rixia as she weighs in the matter.
    
    "Hm," is all he says out loud.
    
    Claude asks him if he thinks saying he won't give up on Filgaia is a 'him' thing to say. "Don't you?" Dias replies.
    
    Still, there's an important question about the Ten Wise Men. Dias gives a curt nod to Ethius to prompt him on.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline gives Ethius a good, long look as he brings up the holiday decorations.

"...So that's what that was about. I was beginning to think you just had something against festivities. ...Or maybe you were too into them." She says. "I'm glad to finally have that mystery cleared up."

...Doesn't make the continued clean-up any easier, though.

And Ethius... appreciates her patience and cooperation. Jacqueline smirks.

"...That's putting it lightly." Jacqueline replies... but her expression softens shortly after. "But... it's nice to hear that, especially from you. Thank you."

It wasn't that long ago that she wouldn't have even dreamed of hearing Ethius acknowledge how difficult everything he'd put them all through was.

She doesn't have any questions for now, so she's content to sit back and continue listening. She's interested to hear what he has to say on the Ten Wise Men... and, of course, on his own previous actions.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Ida takes a long drink of tea. Her father brewed it half an hour ago, and insisted she take some with her. It tastes like home. It's stabilizing. Her gaze darts towards Juni as Ethius reveals a little bit of politics. So that's what was going on?

    "If this place is the spatial equivalent of the doldrums, then there must be something causing it," Ida says. "It could be coincidence, certainly, but the fact that even this Federation can't figure it out means it might need boots on the ground, as it were." She glances at Juni, then at Claude, then at Ethius.

    "Perhaps it's petty. Perhaps Venetia's rubbing off on me. But the fact that there's a greater world out there, spinning on without us, makes me feel... jealous? Excited? I don't know. But I do know I want to see Minora with my own eyes. And... what's left of Hyades, too."

<Pose Tracker> Juni Vandrer has posed.

Juni Vandrer snrks at the mention of a privateer. "Hey, he didn't hit your people." That often. That was old history though. "Not my lineage for what it's worth. He was-" she waves a hand dismissively, "Something like a freelancer. For what it's worth." Just one they had no problem allowing to run around doing his thing. It was convenient. Yes she's aware it caused problems. See some of her reactions to her own actual mission more or less slapping her in the face from a new perspective recently.
 
 Claude's unease and question is met with something of a nod, "Been here long enough to go native if you're really that worried." She tugs at the Al Bhed style clothing for emphasis. "Happy to answer questions, mostly." There's a few she'll still avoid answering, but those are tech questions and to be fair, she knows maintenance, not schematics.
 
 To Rixia she says simply, "Here and now, it just means we can compile our information and kind of keep it from sneaking out too far. Don't want to make you guys targets for the uh, myriad of problems out this way."
 
 She knows she's not getting reimbursed. She did bounce the ruined shotgun off of the Federation officer out of frustration after all. In a way she got her payback. "The more planets I visit, the more nothing changes." She suggests to Rixia's comment though. "It's true, funny as it is. Even a lot of idiosyncratic things get shared between similar critters from all around." Which is why things like weddings didn't actually surprise her! Not the same ceremonies, but..
 
 "Much, much smaller sphere of influence." She replies to Dias at first, "Aldakhi's a.." she glances sidelong towards Ethius, "bunch of belligerents who would prefer we don't have to answer to some bureaucratic nightmare. That sound about right?" She's teasing a little, but she does return the answer, "We learned similar lessons though. Regarding handing tech to people that aren't ready for that shakeup." She nods to Rixia briefly, "First time the law came up, we just handed over radios and basic transportation. That uh. Spiraled. We didn't even consider wepaons. Which is why I'm here. We thought one of our ships had crashed beyond the net and we didn't want anyone getting ahold of something like one of our reactors or the -." She starts with one word, then swaps on the fly, "ARMs."
 
 Ida's glance is given a curious look of her own. She doesn't know how much Ethius has talked, though after a moment she tries to guess a read out of it, "That isn't why I threw my shotgun at him." That one was personal. She'd actually offered to help! Also, "I'd love to get backup out here. Might actually find my way home in the hereafter. Doubt I could be found otherwise." Closest she's gotten to any of her beliefs. Being able to just talk might have loosened her up a bit more than usual.
 
 And then there's the question of who the Wise Men are, or were. And for once she actually takes on a serious tone. "I tried fishing for the information with what I've got on hand, or stole. It's limited. Very.. very limited. As in, my people have no clue whatsoever." That part almost sounded embarrassed. "We're usually so good at acquiring that kind of info too." Muttermutter.

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    "Hehe," Gwen responds to Claude. "But seriously. There's been other people on here from space. N' technology from the past that might've rocketed Filgaia up to the right status at a time. If you, Ethius, Grace, n' anybody else ever get back home, that's gotta be an excuse just right there. It even might be a good thing t'file away in the first place."

    "_Oh!_" Gwen chuckles, patting Hicalu on the shoulder. "Okay, *now* I know who you are! Hicalu! Lan's told me all about you!" She winks. "Just stay right by me n' don't worry. I'll keep ya safe."

    "But the Ten Wise Men," Gwen adds, nodding and looking to the rest of the group, "the Ten Wise Men are a threat, n' we're gonna need all the help we can get to stop them. We ain't got nothin' else comin' in t'help us, n' if they take control, even if they'll be limited to alla Filgaia, we don't need another situation like what caused Lunar in the first place." This serves slightly as an explanation to Hicalu on top of things. "Whatever we do, we gotta keep the element of surprise, too, like I said not too long ago. They know we ain't just a bunch of yokels, but we can't let on how much until we _can make it count_. They were watchin' us as we fought them; whatever tricks we use, they'll expect again."

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

    "Hehe," Gwen responds to Claude. "But seriously. There's been other people on here from space. N' technology from the past that might've rocketed Filgaia up to the right status at a time. If you, Ethius, Juni, n' anybody else ever get back home, that's gotta be an excuse just right there. It even might be a good thing t'file away in the first place."

    "_Oh!_" Gwen chuckles, patting Hicalu on the shoulder. "Okay, *now* I know who you are! Hicalu! Lan's told me all about you!" She winks. "Just stay right by me n' don't worry. I'll keep ya safe."

    "But the Ten Wise Men," Gwen adds, nodding and looking to the rest of the group, "the Ten Wise Men are a threat, n' we're gonna need all the help we can get to stop them. We ain't got nothin' else comin' in t'help us, n' if they take control, even if they'll be limited to alla Filgaia, we don't need another situation like what caused Lunar in the first place." This serves slightly as an explanation to Hicalu on top of things. "Whatever we do, we gotta keep the element of surprise, too, like I said not too long ago. They know we ain't just a bunch of yokels, but we can't let on how much until we _can make it count_. They were watchin' us as we fought them; whatever tricks we use, they'll expect again."

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Ethius and Claude both confirm that they're human, which gets a surprised blink from Hannah. "No foolin'." The hawk on her shoulder turns his head to look at her, and he chirps. Hannah gives a little shake of her head. "Nah, probably not at this rate, considerin' what else they've said."

"That seems... kinda unlikely, if we're supposed to be unrelated to the rest of your Federation."

Hannah blinks and looks to Rixia as she complains about who's keeping track of humans and aliens and beastfolk. "Oh shoot, I didn't mean it all like that, Rixia. I was just surprised there were humans comin' from as far away as space. Seems unlikely they'd have humans if they weren't related to us." A beat. "Or maybe it's unlikely we'd have humans if we ain't in this Federation? One of those..."

But Dias isn't an alien-- Hannah blushes a little at that. "Oh, sorry. Tryin' to keep up with all this new information and I think I misheard somethin'."

Hannah looks to Ida, next as she speaks of boots on the ground. "Well, they got 'em. Trouble is gettin' the boots back, if I understand it right."

Gwen mentions the element of surprise, once again. "But clearly they still knew some stuff... An' don't forget, there's seven more of 'em we ain't even seen yet. Element of surprise is good, but we shouldn't be overconfident, neither."

She still looks unsettled at the thought of 'things they know' but isn't really offering up what it is they supposedly know either.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    It is a little awkward Ethius has talked so much over another Federation member here - one who might be slightly better equipped for talking about some aspects, but, nonetheless.
 
     "We will have to catch up about what we've done and what we know, at minimum," the whole 'I'm on the job' energy hasn't completely been lost on Ethius after all, a hand to his forehead, "if the opportunity arises in the near future, I'll speak as best I'm able."
 
     'He doesn't seem like a bad guy to me, either, even with a name like Hesiod.' Ethius might work up a small smirk there, if not a happy one. It is his name. He's never run from that.
 
     Rixia does touch on a difficult cultural thing, and there's a nod there. "In truth, I've always had difficulty telling myself to use the blanket term 'Beastfolk' to keep cultural consistency. That level of other-ing is... difficult, to go along with." And how.
 
     "...The 'we' in question," he says to Dias, "my testimony in matters like this holds significant weight, but I'd have to win over the opinions of multiple people in my department. If it comes to that, that's..." He's not looking forward to the dress-down over seven years MIA, assumed KIA, or what might have happened to the underdeveloped planet when they couldn't confirm or deny the presence of the rumored planetery-scale apocalyptic threat (the last Demetrioi). "That'll be my fight there."
 
     With Jay's gratitude, Ethius can now be assured he will have at least four further years of patience-trying available! (* no)
 
     "Not... everyone, looks to the prospect of the ocean of stars with excitement." Ethius speaks somewhat from the heart here. The only thing he wanted to do when he was taken away was to go back. He never can. That world will never be the same.
 
     "To briefly clear the air on some matters..."
 
     "Miss Ida. There was the time I took preserved Hyadean blood. At the time, I had been dealing with... cognitive issues," memory loss, "and with my memory more in place, I recognized the hue of blood was nearly identical to those breaching the UP3 at my then current assignment. The theft of that caused you problems in your academic career, and... I apologize for the recklessness. My information was incomplete then."
 
     "I also recall your offense at when I tried to destroy evidence of the late Timotheus Lovelace's activities. At the time, I had concerns relatives of the victims would have turned around and lashed out at Miss Riesenlied and her own if they were given greater clarity and proof. I did not want further instability nor dispersion of her people to occur."
 
     "I did speak cruelly about the intent to slay her in her Ley Dragon form when revealed to us outside of the Photosphere. I surmised Alhazred was looking to weaponize sentiment, so I attempted to leverage the threat of what I was capable of doing to Diablo to try and coax him to withdraw her out of fear of losing an asset - and thus try to help prevent her from having to bring her friends to harm."
 
     "...As for Diablo themselves, that was a misconception at the time of who or what multiple parties were between Solaris, the Metal Demons, and... the Black Wolves. Solaris were the first forces I saw when I crashed in Lacour. I acted to ensure they didn't profit off of what befell Adlehyde, albeit... with incomplete information as to who the Golem was and what the intention was."
 
     "...I'm sure there are others I should clarify and apologize for, but... most importantly, to answer you, Mister Hicalu.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    Ethius clears his throat anew, stands straight, and gets with further exposition.
 
     "The Ten Wise Men appeared out of nowhere on Kattelox Island some days ago, during the unveiling of the so-called 'Mother Lode.' It turned out to be the Sorcery Globe, which most recently was utilized by Odessa under Vinsfeld Rhadamanthus." How he pulled it off, Ethius has no idea. Who does? "We were engaged by three of their number. Metatron, armed with a nearly impenetrable shield, who I engaged directly."
 
     "The others... I can speak through hearsay. Jophiel, who has been described to me as both 'loud' and an impossibly precise marksman with laser weaponry of a grade beyond anything I could identify. Zaphkiel, a masterful swordsman of incredible strength whose strikes were a seismic event. A fourth was overheard guiding them, I believe... Jophiel, the loud one, most clearly spoke of a Camael."
 
     "They were insistent about their number being 'ten.' Yet, in the short time they appear to have been... active, or reactivated, they surmised great swatches of the current names of some of the active powers in the galaxy, and identified me as an agent of the Federation." He looks a bit disturbed, because he is, and who wouldn't be?
 
     "They do not resemble anyone, nor anything, I have ever encountered. Their mastery of Symbology is... hm. I should explain."
 
     So he does.
 
     "Symbology was what I thought was the sole form of sorcery in Pangalactic Space. Every civilization that develops sorcery, magic, techniques, photon arts, or whatever you would call them... is some form of that. If there are any exceptions outside of Crest Sorcery, or the Blessing of Althena, or... Malevolence, I'm not aware of them."
 
     Filgaia and Lunar, further unique!
 
     "The depth of Symbols on display is..." Ethius' voice trails off. "We have a famous Symbology scholar, Dr. Arleph Ardan, who has penned numerous papers on the subject of multi-layered Symbology tattoos and I believe has applied them to his own person, and is one of the leading experts of the field."
 
     "Just the Symbols that appeared on Metatron's teeth made that work look like a child's scribbles. Layer upon layer of complexity. They were far beyond anyone or anything... I consider it a miracle we all held out against them like we did, let alone land anything resembling a wound."
 
     "...They made off with the Sorcery Globe - or the 'Quadratic Sphere,' as they referred to it. Something beyond the make of anyone on Filgaia, or whoever predated it. Metatron proclaimed that their civilization of origin predates even the Federation's by 37,000 years... and it's 10,37... 2, on the Space Date calendar." The last digit almost eludes Ethius, but it's been a while since he's had to remember it.
 
     "...I do agree some element of surprise may be... possible. Occasionally they appeared surprised, or blindsided, by things they didn't expect to see - but they were prepared. With the insistence they have only ten among them," and Philia themselves - a psychic oracle by their introduction - seemed to corroborate it, "it... would stand to reason they must be specialized, as a team. We've only seen three and heard of a fourth."
 
     "They escaped to the New Moon - or the Black Star, I hear is its name from Lunar - and the shuttle that will take those volunteering to make the journey is still being readied in pursuit. This is about, where we're at." Ethius finishes. "At this point, we are awaiting the go-ahead to board. I wasn't given an exact timeframe for when that might be, but nonetheless..."
 
     "Any questions?"

<Pose Tracker> Claude C. Kenny has posed.

"That's just right," Claude says to Rixia when she considers the matter. "...I mean, I might put it a little more nicely," he says with a laugh, "But we are just people. Just like you."

To Dias Claude gives a thoughtful look, and then, "Well, I want to be the kind of person who acts that way. So sure. I do."

Juni explains, and that is at least slightly reassuring. "Okay. Well, I'm not going to give you trouble." But Ida's words... "True. But I haven't been able to figure anything about why that is, myself. Maybe Marduk will have the answers?"

A shrug. "...But that excitement... I can't blame you. I wanted to see the galaxy for myself, too. Maybe you'll get that chance."

Then Gwen, "Yeah, we'll... see."

Hannah's question gets another shrug. "It seems strange to me too. But I don't have an explanation."

Maybe Claude would've been better to explain some of this, but he wasn't ready to. He's still not really ready, but it's happening regardless.

Ethius's testimony holds weight... It would, wouldn't it? At least he's on their side...

Ethius makes a lot of explanations. He's done a lot, it seems. But Claude frowns as he goes on about the Ten Wise Men, and harder at the matter of the Sorcery Globe.

"...All I can say about the Ten Wise Men is that we can't give up. They're strong, no doubt. But if we could hold out against them for a little while, then there's hope that we can figure out how to do more."

"...I'm going. And I hope everyone who feels they can, does."

<Pose Tracker> Hicalu Wilwisp has posed.

    Hicalu looks down at his heavily-tattooed arms, and blinks. "Huh. I've been usin' this stuff since before I can remember, but I never thought it was that big. All out through space, huh..?"

    He laughs, a hand rubbing the back of his head. "Hey! Maybe I'm a spaceman!" He says, cheerfully. GWEN WAS RIGHT?! (Gwen was probably not right.)

    "But, uh -- good luck, guys. I'll cook ya somethin' before you go. It sounds real dangerous... but I bet you can do it. You're all amazing!" He's talking as if he's not going, because he isn't. He's not even a Drifter, if you ask him.

    "And hey, if it's so important they got ten of themselves... maybe you can mess 'em up by throwing in an eleventh guy!"

    Maybe it's a good thing Hicalu's not coming.

<Pose Tracker> Rixia has posed.

    "Ah. Um..." Rixia fidgets to Hannah's apology. "I didn't think you meant it that way either, I just got worked up. Sorry. But you're right... I wonder if that's one of the many mysteries of Filgaia, in the end. No one holds all the answers, and the worlds might be more connected than anyone ever imagined."

    There's a quiet noise to Juni, and a nod of acknowledgement. "... it seems like a really tough job, given how big... space is."

    Somewhere, Riesenlied probably would have sentiments similar to Jay if she were here...! Sadly, she's probably busy feeding cuccos somewhere. But, alas, that'll have to wait for another scene, so for now...

    The talk of how they predated the Space Date calendar is intriguing to Rixia. "... I guess that goes to show that there might always be something older out there, whether it's here in Filgaia, or out in space. But..."

    Rixia folds her arms. "It sounds like you were fighting against the odds, so I'll chip in with the device. Maybe it'll be like Gwen said, something they didn't expect." Sadly, she'll be off fighting some power generators somewhere...

    Hicalu's mention of cooking immediately steers her priority. "... I think I've heard enough. I'm hungry. It's time for ice cream." She dramatically brushes a few of her locks as she turns in a flourish, and...

    ... click click...

    ...

    "... I can't open the door."

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

    Ida's smile dims a little as Ethius again hints at his own experience. As for Ethius' impact on her, well... She wasn't expecting an apology now, but she gets one anyway. More than one. "I assume it was you who kept stealing tools out of Castle Rabenstein's manufactory, then," Ida says, though 'assume' is undoubtedly code for 'am absolutely sure, now'. She takes a breath, holds it, lets it out. "The blood worked out. I was desperately currying favor with a man who thought I wasn't good enough. As... horrid as it was to experience, the outcome helped me see that." Another drink of tea. The tea is cooling, the thermos is almost empty.

    "I hope it does," Ida says, turning to Claude. The matter of Lovelace's experiments isn't one she wants to dwell on now. "Maybe whatever Magilou was talking about is behind all this." She nods. "I'm with you, Claude."

<Pose Tracker> Juni Vandrer has posed.

Juni Vandrer gives Ethius a sideeye. The look any trooper or NCO gives an officer. Whether it's a useful speech or not. That's a ton of information. Nothing negative for it for what it's worth. She just didn't think he had it in him. She's also very obviously wanting to rib him about it, but doesn't.
 
 "I know you're not." Is her response to Claude. Over confidence has been a problem for a bit. Or a lack of foresight anyway. Though at least she catches the other meaning and adds, "If I can get along with him-" she jerks her thumb over. "Sort of. I can probably get along with.. or work with people at least." She knows she's odd.
 
 Hicalu's suggestion that he might be an alien also almost gets her to tease, though in a more friendly manner at least. He's earnest, it's hard to be mean teasing! "Got the ears for it at least." While one of her.. well vaguely similar ears twitch. Wrong number of fingers though.
 
 Rixia's given a bit of a nod, "It can be. They-" she gestures to Ethius and Claude, "Do have the resources in theory and the red tape to prevent internal problems at least." Which is at least.. erring towards nice from the alien. Her head tilts and she glances to Ethius on that thought, "That old huh? That's.. huh." She scowls. Then slowly peeks at the computer at her wrist. Then angrily shuts it. Anyone close might have seen a stylized AI laughing at her though. She'll just settle on the closest napkin math. Hmph.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Ethius... lays a lot on the table. Explanations for his actions. Jacqueline frowns consideringly, nodding along. Yet more mysteries solved...

"...So that's what that incident was about..." She considers, tapping her fingers against her arm.

And then, the Ten Wise Men... Jacqueline frowns consideringly.

"I see... I could tell they were complex... but I didn't realise it goes that deep." She mutters. That's the difference between someone who is learned but not an actual practitioner and an expert - the ability to determine when something like that goes beyond the normal.

"We have our work cut out for us... but, Claude's right. We can't give up, no matter how capable they are." Jacqueline replies with a nod. And, speaking of Claude... "We're glad to have you. I look forward to fighting alongside you once more."

<Pose Tracker> Dias Flac has posed.

    Dias listens to Juni about the Aldakhi and how they're the smaller, more defiant answer to the Federation... that nonetheless has some similar experiences and methods. "I see."
    
    He doesn't have anything more than that to say, but all considered, it's good to know. Especially as Ethius weighs in a little more on his own 'we.' Dias simply nods.
    
    Hannah's apology gets a response in between those two: "Hmph." That's about as close to an 'apology accepted' as one can expect from him...
    
    Claude gets another slight smirk. "That's what I thought."
    
    That smirk fades as he listens t Ethius recap about the Ten Wise Men and why they're a problem. Zaphkiel in particular sounds intriguing... but Dias isn't *quite* so battle-hungry as to be unable to appreciate the issue beyond whether he can get a good fight out of it or not.
    
    (He's still interested in a good fight, though. That's part of how he got talked into coming here in the first place. It's also why, while he doesn't explicitly tell Claude he's in, he also doesn't explicitly tell him he's out, either.)
    
    The meeting seems to be at its end, though. However, as Rixia tries the door and finds it inoperable, Dias frowns. He turns towards it, right hand settling on the hilt of the sword hanging at his left hip.
    
    There is a slight and swift movement; a flash of light; a distinct *clink*.
    
    Dias sheathes the few inches of blade he'd bared and pushes the door open. The cleaved remains of a lock clatter on either side of it as he strides out without another word.
    
    ...
    
    Who's going to pay to replace that? Not Dias, apparently.

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

• clink*
  

Very abruptly, the security system's spoofed new addition vanishes.

And equally abruptly, there is no longer an android anywhere near the hotel.

<Pose Tracker> Rixia has posed.

    Rixia gazes at the lock, and then nods quietly as she files out after Dias. Even though all Ethius had to do was press a button, likely.

    Two Servbots outside doing maintenance work gawk, and then stare at the cleanly sliced remains of the lock. "Iaijutsuuuu," one whispers conspiratorially to the other, super-excited.

    "You're a neeerd," the other chimes in turn.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

    "That is correct." Ethius adds to the Rabenstein theft. "At the time, my hands were full trying to prevent the widespread distribution of gunsmoke ARM weapons in Glenwood and Meribus," itself born of a misconception but well-intentioned from the perspective of what he spoke of his job, "I made sure to take only took the tools that were not analogous to what was already in present use around the region."
 
     Ethius went into a deadly Malevolent Domain at least three times - voluntarily, over and over - just to keep doing that. (Then there's what he did to the Mannikins while everyone was asleep and dealing with that horrid mirror artifact. Even with only half a full idea of what he was intended to be doing at best... he sure acted on these fractional ideas.)
 
     He takes his work seriously!
 
     Claude shows pluck for something that seems, at times, a bit beyond reach - they can't give up, they're strong... but, seeing Claude reminds him there was an event some decades ago involving an enemy who ended up having to be taken down by distinctly low-tech means. There is a way, even if they can't climb that high on the technological ladder.
 
     "...An eleventh guy, hm." Ethius almost seems ready to entertain that idea, to some strange logic. Almost as silly as an idea of taking out a rogue master system through a video game terminal...
 
     "...It will be very dangerous, I am... compelled to remind," he says to Jay, despite the fact that she has ultimately survived, and thrived, against every trial and tribulation the two worlds and beyond have thrown at her thus far, "but--"
 
     Ice cream emergency. It's ice cream time. Ethius turns about-face.
 
     He looks to Rixia's issue with the door, sees the Malevolence she's mostly keeping inside, and considers.
 
     "I will personally guarantee you ice cream of your choice if you are able to wait a few more minutes," because after this many years he knows that Hellions are exceptionally id-driven and trying to promise something better than what they currently want is the best way to get them to cooperate.
 
     Dias opens the door. Ethius actually flinches seeing that. That's faster than his eye could catch, and his eyes are quick. The door creaks open in defeat and the sudden awkwardness of... well, the people who run this won't be happy.
 
     (No one is going to give Dias flak about it, though, because you don't give flak to Dias Flac.)
 
     "...Yes, this is... adjourned," Ethius struggles again to stay on script, awkwardly, as matters of ice cream will be addressed prior to one of the most dangerous - potentially one-way - trips the Drifter community has ever embarked.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Hannah has a relieved smile for Rixia, as she confirms she didn't think Hannah meant it that way either. But then a thoughtful frown, as Ethius brings up the matter of othering.

When the topic of Symbology comes up, specifically of it being the sole type of magic practiced in the wider Pangalactic Federation, Hannah looks about ready to interject--until Crest Sorcery is mentioned by Ehtius directly. She looks satisfied at that.

"Lily says one of 'em had Symbological Healin'. I ain't studied Symbology in great detail but even I know that's supposed to be impossible. Or at least, that's what all the literature says..."

Who the hell would put tattooes on their teeth?!

Dias seems to accept her apology, or... at the very least doesn't vociferously reject it. That's probably fine, then.

Everyone else makes resolutions to go to Marduk, and Hannah nods as she puts away her notebook and stands up. "I'm goin' two. That jerk owes me some answers." Beat. "And we gotta get the Sorcery Globe back."

Priorities, Hannah.

She moves to catch up to Rixia. Zephyr very specifically takes off of Hannah's shoulder to keep his distance, watching with suspicion. "Hey, mind if I come with? Wanted to ask, if there's a better term I should be usin'..." Ethius' observation has gotten her thinking. She's never viewed beastfolk as anything less than people, but... the language matters, too.

Though she draws up short when the lock is just... cut off. She looks to Dias. "Hey, somebody's gotta pay for that, you know. They'll probably take it out of the deposit."