With the return of Shojo and Lacci, all of the items on Fred's wish-list of replacement parts have been acquired. The Tadpole is being loaded up, with Gabriel going through the flight-check with Darksight. "Feeling better about sending Tiny Tasha back to Abaddon?" Kai asks Tasha, while Hakeber and Katie bring their mail to be packed away as well.
"I am," Tasha confirms, head bobbing slowly. "No running away. If I can't be there in person, this will have to do." She watches the proceedings, arms folded, considering. "How are you holding up, Kai?"
Kai smiles to Tasha, and says, "I have not been stomped on by a fallen Ophanim, but I have expended a lot of energy on your special play area. I'll need to recharge soon."
"How do you recharge, anyway?" Tasha glances over. "And have you been enjoying the 'special play area's' construction? It felt like you were getting excited, like it's your kind of activity."
Kai grins even wider. "Do you really want to know how I recharge? And yes, it allowed me to be creative and cruel."
"Two of your favorite things," Tasha says with a smile, an actual smile despite the macabre nature of the topic. She's not exactly sure what her smile is, or means, but it's there and it means something. She doens't think it's sadism, or masochism for that matter, but a kind of raw acceptance of an element of her life, inside and out. "And why not, you can tell me. Sucking people's bad emotions? Squeezing some elf dry sexually, physically, both? Basking in the dark power of the universe... Abject slaughter... Juggling..."
"I suck soul energy out of Samael," Kai says. "He helped with some of the construction."
"So indirect consumption, he's like a squishy fuel tank or battery. I assume you're filtering things to avoid unwanted influence by his patron?" Tasha returns to watching the packing, shifting her hands to behind her back. She doesn't realize it yet, but between standing there and her pose and expression, she looks about as mature as she ever has. Maybe it's having a daughter; she feels different, she knows that now.
"I have no soul, so I cannot be corrupted by demonic forces," Kai points out. "Although I'm also about as corrupted as you can get already. But then, none of your friends have eaten a piece of me.. yet."
"That still makes me nervous, the eating part," Tasha admits, although her long training also makes her not sound nervous. More wary.. "How's the construction coming along?"
"It is mostly complete, now that the psionics and varimorphic creatures are ready," Kai says.
"How about -- I don't want to say safety -- but resiliency of the participants. We can kill ourselves fighting monsters without psycotraumatiform civil engineering works, after all. We're even quite good at it." Tasha grins a little.
"Hmmm... but.. there'll still be pain and trauma," Kai promises. "That's what Hell's all about! And the long lines at the bathroom."
"I'll just use a bush fire," Tasha says with a laugh. Then she glances over, still amused. "Why, were you hoping we'd all kill each other?"
"Only in a cathartic way," Kai says. "I hadn't actually expected more than one user at a time. You didn't specify that."
"Well cathartic murder is fine," Tasha agrees, nodding slowly. "And I thought maybe you intended to have multiple... participants, what with your desire to fight Galatea and our conversation about that. Galatea needs to be able to expend her power in a way that won't traumatize her further or, at least, have less consequence. We also have a growing population of highly powerful beings who can't utilize their full might in training and practice without killing weaker members. Hm."
tasha taps her cheek.
"Can we have multiple layers? Though I'm hesitant to broaden the scope too far, I feel like downgrading the ambiance to murder-okay training gym might undermine what we're going for, here," she admits.
"You want it for training too then?" Kai asks. "I suppose an arena can be added. I think I can provide a challenge for Galatea, with some help and... planning. Yesssssss."
"The dragons will be easier," the woman then adds.
"Hm, excited are we? You like the idea of an arena? Maybe we can keep the lower levels a secret between a few of us, for now. No need to worry the others, and, really, some of us like myself do it so the rest don't ever need to see it," Tasha remarks, nodding in a growing approval.
"I leave it to you to convince Galatea to try it," Kai says. "And the others. She'll probably be the hardest though. Make sure Sharon is practicing her healing abilities."
"I'll have to convince Sharon, too. "I'm going to go torture myself physically and mentally for my well being," will upset, worry, and anger her on many levels, and now that she's fucked me repeatedly, I have a weaker Prime position in bargaining and authority." Tasha absently reaches up and scratches at -- then rubs -- one of her ears. "Galatea will need time. She'll figure out what I'm doing fairly quickly, so maybe after some time to see it, she'll understand the purpose. I think she'll be a great admirer of it after she comprehends it and what it can do." A moment to consider, then, "I should continue to reflect on myself. Gwyndrael thinks I might be close to realizing the alchemy poem. She said Kainudy was involved in it, too, though unwillingly. And there's my darker urges and energies to consider, as well, how those might be utilized."
"Poem?" Kai asks. "I don't remember her being much into poetry. I've added a psionic shield so your stuff won't bleed through you to the others."
"They'll appreciate that greatly, thank you. As for poem... " Tasha pulls out her tablet and after manipulating it for a while shows Kai. "This. Something to do with her immortality. Thoth was interested in it, too. I think he thought it would lead to Vril creation. I stumbled in to it by accident, and have been walking the poem ever since. By Gwyndrael's assessment, I'm at the final step, the self-reflection and knowledge portion."
"Ah, Daniarood's alchemy," Kai guesses after reading the poem. "Ascension through cycles of torture, brainwashing and death. The Philosopher's Stone as a state of being."
"So that's your take. How serious are you about that?" Tasha looks over to watch Kai's face, not that she feels she could read the woman, lack of soul and all. "I seem to be on the far end of things. I'm not sure what the result will be."
"You need to.. well.. face yourself, I guess," Kai suggests. "Or tear yourself down and rebuild yourself. Sometimes you have to start from scratch. Kainudy had me so she didn't really have to face herself."
"Am I not already facing myself? Selves?" Tasha looks out to Sasha, Sharon and Vasha. "There's also Nora, my creator. She'll be alive once more, soon. And I faced the part of myself I feared and hated most just recently."
"What'd you do when you faced yourself though?" Kai asks, eyebrows raised.
"Oh I bemoaned the weakness of mortality and, really, any changeable imperfect entity, beat Galatea up a bit, I think I started to slowly change in to some kind of dragon-monster, I remember exclaiming I hate lying and liars -- I do, I'm just mature enough to recognize the necessity -- and what else... I think I gained a kind of enlightenment. The understand of who much suffering we all bear, and that need to self-flagellate. that something could be done with all that self-destructive, self-hating, self-despairing energy. That us, after all, where I got our project idea from," Tasha admits.
"So... didn't accept your flaws, needs and fears?" Kai asks, eyes narrowed.
"Why are you narrowing your eyes at me?" Tasha narrows her eyes right back, leaning in. "Of course I accepted them, that's why I was yelling and bemoaning them. That's why I suggested what we're making. If I had rejected them, there wouldn't be a project, Vasha, Sasha and Sharon, and I'd have asked you to pull that awful epiphany of mortal frailty right out of my head. Just because I accept something doesn't mean I like it or want it around. There's accepting and settling and accepting and rejecting and accepting and trying to overcome."
"Hmmm," Kai goes, and then shrugs. "I'm a psycho, not a psychologist," she admits. "I'll go meet with Samael and work out the new details."
"Ominous," goes Tasha, who resumes looking at the loading going on. "Well, thank you for your hard work, either way. If you don't need more from me, I'm going to introduce my daughter to Lacci and Shojo, I am excited for the surprise reaction."
Kai waves and wanders off. Pheeny is standing next to Galatea and Whisper, who came to watch. The girl is still wearing the same dirty nightshirt. She really needs to expand her wardrobe.
"Whisper, you need to expand your wardrobe," Tasha says as she walks over, trying to reach over and muss the fae girl's hair. "You dress worse than I did when I was young, and the 'one tunic for all occasions' look doesn't impress anyone, I know. It didn't impress anyone here." She then looks over and beams at the Phoenix. "Hi, Pheeny." Her tone is completely different.
"I only have one tunic for all occasions," Pheeny notes. "Does that make me like you when you were young?"
"No, you're better than me when I was young." Tasha leans over and also tries to muss up Pheeny's head feathers. Her whole countenance changes when she's directing her attention to Pheeny, it's like she just lights up with happiness and approval; it may be eerie. It's definitely uncanny -- then again very few beings give birth to a daughter that grows to young adult in a day, so a standard may be hard to determine here. "But we can get you more if you want. You and Whisper can go shopping, and we can bring the clothes to you. Or we can travel in to other realms and buy it in person. Whatever you want."
"Did your mom do all this for you?" Pheeny asks with wide eyes, and tries to comb her crest back into order. "Is she still alive?"
"You know, we want to spoil her too," Sasha notes from behind Tasha.
Tasha has the sudden and alarming urge to growl at Sasha, but she swallows it, caught off guard. Becoming a mother in a single day as caused a train wreck of emotions she decides she's clearly not used to yet. "Of. Course." She looks back, watches Sasha, but seeing him helps her relax, because he really is cute, and he's her, and she loves him. "Come on, then. You don't need my permission." She fights the urge reverse that with "actually, YOU DO", and waves him over. Then back to Pheeny, and all the stress drains out of her like she's a broken sieve. "My mother and I are different. And my mother wasn't in a, um, position to supply me with more. And she's... She's herself, Pheeny. And yes, she is. She owns a tavern on my home world, and lives there with my adopted sister and her husband Captain Eyeshine. She's going to have a child soon, so that's another relative for you."
Sasha tells Pheeny, "I'm your uncle Sasha, and I have a motorcycle." He swishes his tail as he says it. "Hah, I auntie Vasha and I have a giant sword!" Vasha chimes in.
"Um, I'm auntie Sharon and I'm.. the pretty one," Sharon offers.
Galatea does not claim to be an aunt.
"Wow," Pheeny says at all the aunts and uncle. "And auntie Kai is a monster, right? She said so!"
Gabriel clears his throat behind Tasha as well.
"They're pretty new to their existence, Pheeny, so in that sense they share a lot in common with your own experience. It's also why they have exactly one defining characteristic of note." Tasha slides her arms around Sasha and Sharon's neck. "I hope you get along with them. We are, um, I suppose you could say we're all different and we're all the same; being that is." She then blinks and laughs. "Yes Kai is a monster."
Tasha hears the throat clearing, and for a moment worries she may be in trouble, what with the Kai-talk, then she looks up and up to Gabriel. "Annnd this is Gabriel, my mate! You can call him dad, or daddy, or father, or papa."
"Papa would be fine," Gabriel says, smiling.
"It goes well with mamma," Tasha agrees, then she steps back -- with Sasha and Sharon in tow -- in to Gabriel, also smiling.
"He's so big!" Pheeny claims. "I could ride on his shoulders! When I can ride on the motorcycle?"
"Hey, don't forget the big sword," Vasha chirps.
"I want to ride a motorcycle too!" Whisper says.
"Hmmm, we can talk to Katherine and Sasha about the motorcycle, and you can ride on his shoulder whenever you want," Tasha promises. "You and Whisper both can. You can learn together."
"You are clearly trying to be the 'cool mom'," Katie claims, as she and Hakeber arrive.
"I want to play with the bunnies too," Pheeny says. "And the Kobolds. And the angel."
"I am a cool mom," Tasha retorts, pointing at herself with her left hand, which happens to be around Sharon, and therefore she points right in front of her face. "There's no way I can't be the cool mom." She grins at Katie, and then looks back to Pheeny, who, as usual, grabs Tasha's full attention. "Of course you can, just ask them, I'm sure they'll be happy to have you. Except. Um." She tilts her head slowly. "The angel, dear?"
"That's me," Galatea says, somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh, you're 'the angel' now?" Tasha tries to look back, but she can't quite turn what with being surrounded by people. "Well, it suits you well enough. You were an angel to Pheeny, and that's enough for me."
"So, when she brings home a Vartan boy.. gonna let them drink and stuff?" Katie asks, grinning. Hakeber looks like that was directed at her somehow though.
"Yeah, boys!" Whisper says, and turns to Pheeny. "We should make some!"
Tasha's expression goes very still, very neutral, almost immediately. "We'll just have to talk about it," she replies, equally even. Then she gives Katherine a momentarily panicked what-are-you-doing-to-me look -- for a split second -- and then it's back to Pheeny. "Pheeny, Whisper, you need to be careful about making people. Creating sentient life is a responsibility with consequences. A number of people here have, or been associated with, creator-types. If you're uncertain, think of us, and me, and how it'd feel if I was your mother and then got bored, or didn't have a use, or didn't think things through well enough. You don't want problems for your creations, at least, not some kinds. It's complicated."
"They'd just be us, but boys," Whisper declares. "Just like you and Shooshi and Waggy and Shouty!"
"Huh," goes Tasha. She then looks to Waggy, then Shooshi, then up at Gabriel. "That seeeeeeems kind of okay?"
"Uhhhhh," Grabriel goes. "Would you be okay with me making out with Gabrielle?" he asks.
"People are all different," Galatea explains. "It means there are things to discover about them, and they can surprise you."
"Pretty sure I surprised Tasha," Sharon mutters.
"I am facing a moral and ethical dilemma," Tasha says, or perhaps declares, to the multiverse as a whole. She lays her head on Sharon's shoulder, ears back, as she stares in to space and clearly struggles with this self-reflective conundrum. "Is that for or against, Galatea?"
"Looking in a mirror isn't always best," Galatea clarifies. "With other people, if things don't work out or you find something annoying, you can find another. It's harder to do when it's just another version of yourself."
"Well.. bring some then," Whisper requests.
"It'll be easier when you're older," Galatea says. "And start wearing underwear."
Tasha nods on Sharon's shoulder. With the hand around Sasha she reaches, takes his hand, and puts it on her head. "Galatea makes a excellent point. Look at Sasha, Sharon, Vasha and myself. We're all versions of me. Luckily we like each other, but we don't always get along. Kai is also a version of another person, and they have problems." She flicks an ear. "We can see about going out or bringing some. Maybe opening up a bit, we can't just kidnap people after all, and we're kind of supposed to be a paramilitary base, which makes things harder."
"Well, I'm a fairy princess," Whisper points out. "I'm sure fairy boys will show up because of that. I already have dragons after all!"
"A fairy princess in a dirty shirt!" Tasha unhooks her hands from her fellows and steps forward to try and muss Whisper's hair up some more.
It was already pretty messy. But the girl still laughs and resists by trying to slap Tasha's arm. "So, are you also Whisper's mamma?" Pheeny asks.
"No way, my mom's a monster and my dad is a demon!" Whisper claims... proudly.
"Just like ussssss," Vasha says spookily.
Tasha and Whisper play fight for a moment, but the question catches her off guard, so she just gets slapped -- it says a lot about her that a slap to the face doesn't even distract her as she turns to Pheeny, "Well, there's your answer. Whisper has chosen. And... Yeaaah, what Vasha said, unhelpfully."
"Our monster and demon are very prolific," Sharon says while rolling her eyes.
"As monsters and demons tend to be," Tasha agrees, with less sarcasm. She then realizes something, and asks, "You two haven't met Shojo and Lacci, have you? The Hippogryph people that just arrived."
"I've met them," Whisper claims.
"They don't know me in this form," Galatea says.
"Bird people!" Pheeny says enthusiastically, and even raises her arms and jumps up and down a bit.
"That's right, and they don't know Galatea in that form. Well, come along then Pheeny, lets go meet some of your fellow bird-faced peoples." And so Tasha walks over to join Pheeny, nods towards the two in the distance, and waits to walk with her.
"Why she not excited about me then?" Vasha complains as Tasha and Pheeny head towards the 'real' Vartans.
"Give her a chance Vasha, let her get to know you." But Tasha does reach out to hold Vasha's head in a there-there kind of way; she'd feel bad if Pheeny ignored her, too.
It may be less that Pheeny is ignoring Vasha, then that she is very interested in Shojo. Lacci smiles at the strange beings approaching them. She's gotten used to this by now.
Tasha inwardly admits she's proud of Lacci, there was a time she was more awkward and ill-fitting the their newest Khattan acquaintance. "Hi Shojo, Lacci." She nods to each of them in turn, to indicate which is which. "I thought you'd like to meet Pheeny. My daughter, Pheeny." She then glances to the girl, notes her focus, and struggles to hide her grin.
"Hello Pheeny.." Lacci starts, then looks to Tasha in confusion. "We.. weren't gone that long," she notes, hoping Tasha will explain things.
This time, this time, Tasha decides not to tease nor aggravate Lacci; not for this,anyway. And as she admitted to herself, Lacci has come a long way. She's less weird outlier and much more a part of things now, she deserves something like respect. "The circumstances are unusual. The simple explanation is that Galatea and I were able to bring The Phoenix -- that is The Phoenix, singular -- here. As the rebirth method The Phoenix is quite, um, fiery, and for other reasons, we decided to use my ability to give birth to any being; as a entity of dreams and concept, The Phoenix was able to be reborn through me, to here. And that's why she's my daughter, my baby birdy."
"Oh, I see," Lacci says, nodding. "Just one more thing.. what is The Phoenix?"
"Oh... You don't have the legends?" The Phoenix is a manifestation of Hope and Life, a pan-univeral conceptual being, not unlike dragons, and several others like Thoth. Except, there's only one. This one," Tasha then gestures over to Pheeny, smiling. "Her exact form varies with each incarnation. Kai also taught her to change her forms and use her powers for herself. Initially she was a adorable and brightly colored little bird. Well, an egg before that."
"Well, she's very bright and cute," Lacci says, smiling to the girl. "You almost look like you're made of flames!"
Pheeny smiles and bows to Lacci. "It is a pleasure to meet you, miss Lacci," she says, then waits for Tasha to introduce Shojo.
"She is, in fact, somewhat made of flames," Tasha explains, nodding to the firey plumes. Then she turns to Shojo. "Shojo old buddy, it finally happened, I'm a mamma. They grow up so fast. This is Pheeny."
The stone-like Vartan extends a giant hand. "Hello, Pheeny. I am Shojo." Pheeny touches Shojo's hand, then her cheeks flare up like literal flares and she hides behind Tasha, suddenly shy.
"Aww, Shojo's nice, don't let his statuesque visage and giant ebony spookiness scare you, he's a softie at heart. I got him to hold a baby bunny, just imagine him with a baby bunny." But Tasha doesn't try and nudge Pheeny out from where she is, instead laying a hand on her shoulder, patting her reassuringly. "I've known Shojo almost as long as I've known Gabriel."
"Is he also papa then?" Pheeny whispers to Tasha.
"Nooo, he and I aren't in a relationship. He's in a relationship with Lacci." Tasha nods to Lacci. "They're romantically together."
"All the time?" the young bird asks.
"I think so." Tasha looks to the two likely bemused Vartans, then mouthes, "I think she has a crush."
"You're too young," Lacci says. "We still haven't even considered Vasha's begging for a three-.." Now Lacci looks embarrassed.
Galatea also suddenly looks embarrassed.
Tasha looks between all of these embarrassed people and then starts steering Pheeny back the way they came. "Do you remember what Galatea said about people not working out? Well, sometimes there's disappointment, and that's part of life and living, Pheeny."
"Huh?" Pheeny asks as she's ushered along. "Is this about when you all got switched around by Galatea?"
"I'm sure they are very tired from their trip, Pheeny! Lets not overwhelm them," Tasha insists, and then it's back with the others.
"You left Galatea with them," Sasha points out. "She's probably going to explain what happened to them. And.. uh.. did she actually experience it all too? Because that could be weird. Weirder. Weirdest."
"She's, uh, you know, ancient... -y." Tasha thinks for a moment, then she reaches over and pulls Sasha to them both. "Why don't you spoil Pheeny while I go check on things. Just in case."
And then Tasha hurries back towards the second group.
"So.. this is what you really look like?" Lacci is asking Galatea when Tasha arrives.
"I believe it's her 'default' form, she's very similar to someone I met back on Abaddon, an 'Envoy'. Name and I think also title." Tasha walks over to stand beside Galatea, just in case she's feeling anxious. Lowering her voice she adds, "There were consequences of our rescue of The Phoenix. Aside from a lengthy trip to the dream-moon, the transition from sleep to reality and egg to bird was, well, intense. Galatea absorbed the brunt of it. She probably saved the life of everyone on the base at the time, possibly including mine."
"That.. I was not prepared for the blast," Galatea explains. "Magic can bypass a lot of my defenses. I caused some problems while I was recovering."
"Perfectly understandable and necessary problems," Tasha assures Shojo and Lacci. "With some team-building side effects! What matters is Galatea is okay."
"Team building?" Galatea asks, surprised. "You were all in eachother's heads. And then all at once."
"That sounds.. uh.. interesting," Lacci says. "What was it like?"
"Well, we all understand each other a lot more. I've noticed people seem a lot more comfortable with each other. It's hard to be shy after that, or to feel distanced. It was a fast track to mutual understanding and communal dealing with a difficult problem," Tasha tells Galatea. To Lacci, she explains, "It's extremely hard to describe the group mind effect, and our brains aren't built to store that many thoughts at once, so that one was mostly confusing. Ostensibly I can function as a hive mind and I found it hard to keep track of without similar minds to match my own. As for the 'body swap,' well... " A pause, then. "I ended up in Liza."
"Oh, Liza isn't so bad," Lacci says. "Must have been relaxing."
"It was... mostly. Except when it wasn't." And so Tasha absently reaches for her ear again, catches herself, and stops. "You know how Lapi are."
"Wait.. you mean you and Aaron?" Lacci whispers. "Did he know it was you?"
"Liza and Aaron got Sasha and Vasha," Tasha ofers by way of explanation. "It wasn't... too bad." And she actually sounds shy? And shifty eyed.
"Wait.. so.. who was in Aaron?" Lacci asks.
Tasha coughs, then looks back at Sharon, then to Lacci, then she cocks her head and shrugs her shoulders in a 'what can you do' sort of way.
"So.. uh.. was it frustrating then?" Lacci asks. She's apparently never experienced super-hormonal states. But then, she did manage to seduce Shojo.
Tasha guesses Lacci is familiar with supra-hormonal states, at least. "It was very distracting, until I, well, dealt with it. After that was out of the way, it was kind of relaxing, except for everyone and everything being set to maximum volume. It was... " her head tilts. "Calming."
"Well, that sounds pleasant then," Lacci says. "Liza always did seem calm and level-headed. Did Sharon find it calming?"
"I think she found it empowering," Galatea offers.
"Sharon found it hyper-empowering and maddening. I don't know what she felt after we were done, because I couldn't risk sticking around. Whatever I am, I need to see to people in a emergency, and I felt seeing me be calm and present might help people feel at ease," Tasha explains. Then she adds, "It was nice. I think I miss the ears."
"My ears are burning," Liza says, appearing from around the nose of the Tadpole. She and Aaron also had a lot of mail to send. She reaches up and rubs her ears. Is she teasing Tasha by doing that? It's hard to tell.
Tasha responds to this presumed teasing by sticking her tongue out, then grinning. It's still a little eerie for her to see Liza, there's a strange effect of wondering if it's herself or not. As someone who has switched bodies more often than most here, her sense of self is less seated than it once was, in a single body. "Hi, Liza. Hi, Aaron."
"If you and Gabriel would like to switch with us sometime, just ask," Liza says. There is still an odd residual connection, especially when Aaron joins her and looks confused at her offer.
Tasha frowns for a moment, but in the manner of someone concentrating on something. "Huh, do you feel that, too, Liza..?"
The Lapi tilts her head. "A little," she admits. Then she takes Aaron's hand and they continue on towards the base.
"Hmmmmm," goes Tasha in a drawn out hum, to both the offer and the link.
"What was that about?" Gabriel asks as he rounds the nose of the bioship next, looking at the retreating Lapi. "Was there anything you needed to send back to your base, Shojo?"
The big Vartan notes, "I already included my report with the spare parts."
"Liza and I have a connection now, Liza offered to partner swap, Aaron stayed very quiet so as not to risk jinxing things," Tasha replies, saluting and grinning wider and wider as she does. "Shojo may need to include that in the report."
"Swap as in literally swapping mates or swap as in.." Gabriel taps his head to indicate body swapping.
Tasha tilts her head. "We'll have to ask them about it if we're interested, but probably the former. Probably." She looks the way the Lapi left, then back, then grins a little more. "Need anything from me?"
Gabriel rubs the back of his head for a bit, then says, "Nothing related to the launch. We've got everything loaded."
"Works for me. I was busy with Galatea, Kai, and so on. Side projects. That sort of thing." Tasha's grin fades and she looks around. "Oh, did you load my doll? That has to get to Mariel, along with my recordings. Oh! I need a shot with Pheeny, or, like, three. Five. Maybe nine. And some with Galatea, too."
After a few more non-risque photos to add to the payload, it's time to say farewell to the Tadpole as Darksight seals the 'cockpit' orifice. "This is s-so sad, and yet I feel really proud," Kaa says as he floats nearby.
"They grow up so fast," Tasha agrees, slinging an arm over the floating dolphin's rostrum and leaning against him. "Especially when they grow up almost instantly. Well, at least now we'll have a direct connection and not need to rely on the uncertainty that is Titanians."
"And so you don't have to let them no what trouble you've gotten into," Gabriel notes to Tasha with a grin.
Tasha gives Gabriel a big wink. "Who, me? Trouble? Naaaaaaahhhh... " She pushes off the Phin and then stretches a moment. "I have completely forgotten what I was supposed to do today besides what I just did."
Galatea steps aside, and looks up. A hole in the sky begins to expand, showing the starry sky of the asteroid.
Tasha also looks up. "Always uncomfortable looking out at the void without a suit on, though I've been through enough starscapes lately that I find I mind it less than I did. Well, good luck Tadpole, Darksight, you know how to reach us if you need help."
Hakeber hugs Tasha from behind. "I heard there was gonna be an orgy! Or else steak dinner. The Jotoki have been bringing in fish and these big water bugs called crabs and lobsters."
The Tadpole gives what feels like a telepathic hug before rising up towards the hole in the sky.
Tasha leans back in to Hakeber, reaching back to hug her in a reverse motion, without turning around. "Family orgy, Sasha's like me, so who knows if he's being serious, but he probably is. You're invited of course. If there's a steak dinner or a whatever a lobster or crab is I can do the cooking, assuming someone can tell me how to cook mystery bugs."
"Sasha's cooking," Hakeber says. "Vasha's going to help. Or at least look like she's helping. Sasha will need lots of energy, I imagine."
"He's a bit flimsy," Tasha agrees with a grin, which is amusing considering how thin and leggy she is now. "So do I," she adds, aware of how thin and leggy she is now. "I guess I can relax then. It feels like I did everything I planned to do, though I feel like I forgot something."
"I know how to grill," Gabriel says, watching the baby starship slip through the hole. "We just need a proper grill first. I should build one, after the sailboat is finished."
Galatea closes the hole once the Tadpole has passed through to the 'real' world, and takes a deep breath afterwards. Whisper and Pheeny are already running off to look over the Vartan shuttle Shojo and Lacci returned on.
"I can grill with my mind," Tasha says with excessive emphasis and hand wavey presumably magic motions. "I can feel the depth of the meat and sense its thermal state." Then she drops her hands and grins. "But I'm off apparently so you do it. Besides, it makes me hungrier."
"That's not as fun as do it over live coals under the sky," Gabriel says, looking wistful. "But Shojo brought the meat, so we need to toast his return. And ask Galatea to mess with Lacci's mind, switch her with Hakeber."
"Ooooo," Hakeber goes. "But Vasha would kill me!"
"Hey it's fun, fun for me anyway," Tasha insists, she then looks between Gabriel and Hakeber and raises an eyebrow. "Oh, is someone in to birds, now? And we'd have to have Shojo end up in someone. Also, I think it was semi-randomized, with the mind going to the closest similar being. Closest-ish."
"Well, nobody can swap minds with Shojo," Gabriel says. "Too dangerous. Just like swapping with one of the Phins. Although swapping Moka and Kaa might be interesting."
"Hmm, they can inquire about that. Maybe Kaa will learn interesting lessons," Tasha says with a cackle-laugh, something the others haven't heard in a while. "As for Lacci, well, it's only fair she goes to her counterpart, whoever that is."
"That was all an accidental.. mishap," Galatea says. "But now you want me to do it intentionally? You know that I'll be in the circuit too, sharing any experiences."
"Doesn't bother me, I'm already being recorded all the time. Might bother someone else, though." Tasha taps her cheek. "Although I feel that's becoming less of an issue over time."
"Team Building, right?" Galatea asks.
"Team building," Tasha agrees with a nod.
"Well.. I'm going to pick out an outfit for dinner," Galtea says. "Call if you need me before then." She then turns and heads back to her ship. Gabriel asks Tasha, "She looks like that Envoy creature that showed us how the crystals work, have you noticed?"
"I not only noticed I exclaimed with sudden realization, rather a bit loudly," Tasha replies, brows raising. "It's not a coincidence, either: They're of the same model line. Apparently Envoy was sent through a gate after a war criminal and never returned. The was one other, as well. They're different model lines than the Waymakers, the-" and she crunches up her face, "Stel-ah-rhy-an. In fact, the two of them resemble Daniarood quite a lot, too. I doubt it's a coincidence, considering it's their 'default' form. Small multiverse, right?"
"Or something is just causing all of this," Gabriel says. "But.. it got me out of eternal suspended animation reliving the same events over and over, so I can't complain. I guess it all started with the Orpheus mission. Or your birth."
"Or even before that. My birth is a consequence of Nora's situation, which was caused by the Sifra, who were created by the Ogdoad, who were influenced heavily by the Vril-ya, who associate with the Waymakers, and all of them are capable of acting on a extra-temporal and multiversal stage regularly. The Expedition was set in motion by Thoth and other factors. So, what you're saying has merit, this may have all been planned, although it's strange to think I was the intention, though maybe not this," she waves her hands about at their surroundings. "And now I'm walking down the same alchemical path Kainudy was forced down, something Daniarood created, who created modern day Humanity in this reality after Eve botched the last batch. And Daniarood is known to be a hyperintelligence capable of making complex plans that can span the entire lifetimes of civilizations, worlds, and maybe realities."
Gabriel rubs his forehead. "Of course there's a god at the root of it all, but at least Thoth seems.. harmless. To us at least. But he also wasn't of any use during the Void Wraith incident. And none of them are here now, or else want us to deal with this next bit on our own."
"They may not consider this major undertaking important enough, or have confidence we'll be able to see it through. They may also be watching to see what comes of it, given we're not sure of the consequences, and maybe neither are they. But it needs to happen. They may be playing it safe and believe we can achieve a result, if not exactly what result." Tasha tilts her head back and forth. "I guess it won't be long now, before we all head out. Everyone's reasonably healthy and accounted for. Mercenaries are moving to position now. I assume everyone has been training for their group roles, and expect more concentrated training before we go?"
"We'll need to focus more once we start getting reports from Shojo's men," Gabriel agrees. "A bit more intelligence on the situation will go a long way. And I don't know how to train the dragons! That's your job."
"Lucky for you I already have plans in mind. We need to introduce them to modern weaponry and technology; they can read up on modern politics and the details of technology on their own, once we set them up with information stations. I expect they'll be fast learners. I can handle combat training, so they're not caught off guard by our propensity for deadly gadgets. I'm sure Galatea, Yue, Hake, Lacci, and Shojo can handle the informational side of things. And, of course, my magical abilities are considerably greater than they were, so I should be able to compete with my 'draconic rivals'." She grins lopsidedly.
"Now that Galatea's back on her feet, have you been able to tap into the power she gave you?" Gabriel asks. "Assuming she's fully recovered. I have no idea how hard it is to open the sky like that."
"I make a point not to test her loaned powers when she doesn't seem ready to energize them. I mostly save them for emergency, although technically I power them, and Galatea just grants me 'usage access' and does the technical-side calculations, except in extreme cases where my own reserves aren't enough, such as rescuing The Phoenix," Tasha explains.
"Pheeny isn't going to explode again anytime soon I hope?" Gabriel asks, airing is uneasiness.
Tasha's ears go back, and her face is immediately lined in worry, stricken. "I hope not! That would mean... she... " She pushes her lips together in to a thin line, whining quietly, blinking.
Gabriel puts an arm around Tasha. "This is all new for her. And she must live a long time between.. events. It's just that Kai taught her or made her like this, which concerns me. Not that I don't trust Kai, but.. I don't trust Kai."
"Eh even Kai would tell you not to trust Kai. You have to take her for what she is, because she doesn't really change on that level. Right now she's extra excited she gets to try and corrupt, beat up, refine and many other words which are just going to make you frown harder at me than you already are. Let's just say... " Tasha looks around for a moment,t o make sure no one listening who can't just automatically or magically spy on her anyway, "Helping Galatea came with some personal insights and problems I need to deal with, now and then. And also, there's an arena. But the arena is just the top-side, public-facing side. There's more below. Anyway, Kai likes to have fun, and the type of fun she likes, she's not shy about elaborating on. So you can trust her that way."
"Sort of like trusting a child with a machine gun," Gabriel sighs. "And an arena? Should I ask what that is for?"
"Well she's no child, she knows what she's doing, and she's bound to Kainudy's will, so she can't go too far or risk getting deleted. As for the arena... " Tasha glances towards the distant dragons. "It's hard to utilize the full force of various entities here in a realistic combat scenario. Likewise, I can't go all out in, say, a practice session with the mercenaries. Alone I'm about as powerful as a well armed Titan, but am I really? And if I go full-out with Galatea backing me, I can do a lot more, to say nothing what Galatea can do, or Kai, or the dragons. I fought a dragon equivalent to myself, and it was rough, and he wasn't high on the list as dragons go. Basically, we need a place where there's no limit to our abilities if we're to grow beyond ourselves. So many of us are holding back out of fear."
"That sounds scary as Hell, but.. I feel rusty," Gabriel admits. "I wonder what Shojo can really do too. But there's still safety to consider, if people can get seriously hurt or killed. I'd like to see a fight between Yue and Katie as well though. That.. may just be a little fantasy of mine, truth be told."
"Hell, as it happens, is rather what it is. My Hell, in particular, made from my crystallized suffering." Tasha scratches her head, looking away. "A little embarrassing in hindsight but it was devastating at the time. It still hurts. It's like a poison I need squeezed out of me before I drop, or turn in to something more awful than I might otherwise be." She glances back and grins a little. "Yue and Katie... That'd be something. Well, the arena was designed with being maimed and killed. There may be limits and tiers, but at its full, it is a place of suffering, pain, and ultimately catharsis. I learned talking to Galatea just how many of us hold self-hate, a desire to hurt ourselves or be hurt, for all our myriad failings, mistakes, guilts, and so on. So I thought why not harness it, do something with it? Make it serve us."
"I imagine Yue would rather you went to therapy," Gabriel says, wincing a bit at the description. "I'd feel better if Pheeny was able to undo the death and maiming part. Unless Kai can do that? I have no idea what Kai and Galatea are really capable of."
"I guess we'll find out. Galatea might appreciate the self-punishment-with-a-purpose; I made it for her, too. And, also, being able to use her powers without the usual devastating consequences. Some consequence, but by choice this time." Tasha gives Gabriel an apologetic, wincing smile. "You know me, I get hurt, and I fight. I'm not sure Yue can grasp what I go through, and I can't very well be collapsing to demonic tortures and existential meltdowns. I want to be stronger than Hell itself."
"Is it because the Ogdru-hem can use this sort of stuff against us?" Gabriel asks. "I know there are things I'd rather not face."
"Yes, and I've already had it used against me. And, there are many things we lie to ourselves about, truths we don't want to face, parts of ourselves we loathe, hate, or fear we will lose, or that things these will cause others to abandon us. Mortal failings. Immortal failings. Demons are masters of suffering, after all." Tasha's gives a little shrug, head ducked, what-can-you-do, and she looks a bit guilty. "Myself included, on both counts, though I'm not so much demon as Kai or Samael, suffering is my weapon, too. Though," and she raises a finger, "I don't expect everyone to just jump in, they need to be ready for what they'll face -- and if they're really smart realize they can't be ready for it."
"So Sam is involved as well?" Gabriel asks. "But not the dragons or Whisper? Just our two tamed monsters?"
"Pretty much. The dragons will be brought in later, to assess the wards and the arena and... lowers... regions themselves. We'll need wards on the entrance, for one, ones not even our talented children can't bypass easily. And maybe the dragons will have insights and improvements. Galatea may have some, too. And of course anyone else who comes in, just, be warned, it's not a nice place." Tasha's head shakes, but she grins encouragingly. "And ultimately it's made from my Hell, so it's still mine at the foundation."
"Magic," Gabriel says, shaking his head. "Over my head. Let's eat. That's something I can really get behind.
"Me too, time to send some things to the abyss that is my stomach." Tasha hooks her arm around Gabriel's, then starts walking with him
Dinner is a big event. The cooked water bugs are really tasty with melted butter too. It's also the first time the Jotoki join in, their hard mouths crunching through the shells of the critters. The only one not having steak is Mressa, who opts for one of the fish instead, and enthuses about eating real fish. Vasha personally serves Lacci and Shojo, still trying to ingratiate herself to the couple. Galatea eats as well, but slowly as she remembers how to eat. The only one missing is Kai.
And of course Tasha eats, though she refrains from trying to cook her own food. Her plate has something of everything, and she's pleased to admit the water bugs are really good, almost as good as the steak, but different. She sits with Gabriel and anyone else who came to join them looking, for once in a long while, like she's content to be where she is and to be part of the group instead of keeping a certain distance.
It's hard not to be part of the group after being the group. After the meal there's a cake, and rum.. and rum was used in the cake as well apparently. "Here's to everyone being back!" Sasha toasts.
"To us!" Tasha raises her glass after hastily patting her muzzle free of grease and debris. "And to great food!"
"And to Shojo and Lacci for bringing the meat!" Vasha offered. No mention of where the rum came from. They certainly wasn't a distillery on the base.. unless there was and Tasha just didn't know about it. It might have come from Kai if it was just 'found' somewhere. It did remind Tasha of her previous life though, where she would sneak whatever was left in the mugs after the crew celebrated something when she was still a child.
It all makes Tasha grin; except, this time, she's surrounded by people she knows and loves, rather than lurking in the back grabbing quick sips between orders or below decks out of sight. Once the cheers die down she leans back and stretches again. "It's nice to see everyone having a good time," she asides to Gabriel.
The only one sitting apart is Galatea, who is mostly just observing everything. She did clear her plate though, and joined in on the toasts. She's soon joined by Liza and Aaron though, the only vegetarians, and Liza begins talking to her.
Tasha smiles at Galatea socializing. "I was worried she'd just keep to herself, but I think, I just think, if just a bit, I was able to reach her. The rest, well, we'll see. But, I think she recognizes this is her home and she's one of us now, and not some outside. Everyone here owes her something Which reminds me ... "
Tasha takes up her glass, leans forward, then holds it up. "And one more! To Galatea, for herself selfless act of bravery in ensuring our steaks weren't roasted!
There are classes raised, and a fweee-tweet from Pheeny, who doesn't have a glass of rum. Galatea freezes though until the toast has passed. She still isn't used to having attention focused on her.
Tasha winks across the room at Galatea. Too bad Galatea, you deserve it. See, they all appreciate what you did. You're not as much of a coward as you think, not the person you used to be. There's no arguing with what you accomplished. She gives a little wave, then goes back to relaxing.
Something crawls into Tasha's lap then, and starts licking her plate and looking for crumbs. Goldie is still active, whether she's controlled by Galatea or not.
"Aww I thought you turned in to Galatea..," Tasha enthuses as she scoops up the dragon so she can eat her leftovers, not that there are many. "I love you Goldie." She gives the dragon a kiss on its forehead, then returns to petting her.
The little dragon churrs, which is sort of like a purr. "Is this our new permanent pet?" Gabriel asks Tasha. "Hopefully less mischievous now that Galatea is awake."
"But I like her mischief, it makes her extra-fun." Tasha's tone is loving, enthusiastic and babying, a very different tone from her others, and uncommon. "I assume Galatea is aware of her, though. "It's going to be alarming when Goldie lifts her head one day and says, "Tasha, there is a problem," in Galatea's there-is-a-problem-tone."
"As long she sticks to raiding your underwear drawer," Gabriel cautions. "If she starts going after the others, you'll have to deal with it. She's a dragon, and dragons hoard things."
"Clearly we should get her underwear from all over," Tasha suggests, grinning. "And hey, do you think I horde dragons? I do have a lot of dragons lately, and, also am one now. I didn't realize it at the time but I can project a draconic aura, and kobolds will respond to me, which I think makes me an actual dragon. It also means you're banging a dragon, so think about that a moment."
"Does that mean I can have a rumble with Gwyn?" Gabriel asks, waggling his eyebrows. "You've always had a fire in your belly, I knew that from the start. And I'm not sure you need more minions at this point."
"They're valued companions," Tasha insists with a wider grin. "As for Gwyndrael, just ask her, I won't stop you. Or maybe you can try for both of us. Dragons like interesting, unique, and rare things, since they get rather bored after hundreds or thousands of years of life. She's also a lawyer and probably an intellectual, so maybe you can engage her that way."
"It'll part of their training," Gabriel declares. "That's a good enough excuse, right?"
"Aww don't try and fool her, she'll see right through it. Be bold and direct, and highlight what you have that's interesting. There's no need to work around things," Tasha insists, poking Gabriel's shoulder.
"I'm the big bad wolf.. not counting Mr. Invention," Gabriel says. "And I've run the Wolf, so.. there's that. And I'm handsome and fluffy."
"Not to mention the peak of Karnordom, five thousand years old, and you're my mate me so clearly you've got something," Tasha says with a laugh. "Anyone else that's not me you want to sleep with?"
Gabriel ponders. "Well, if it's open to anyone, no matter how unlikely.. Katie, Yue, Kai, Galatea, Lacci, Gwyndrael, Thermoriax, Liza and Sharon."
"Katie's a real stretch unless you end up in in a girl she likes, and even then, who knows. Yue seems possible. I'm really surprised about Kai -- even though you don't trust her?" Tasha leans in to scrutinize this surprise turn around. "Reeeeeeeaally. Well. Galatea... I can ask. Lacci, well, I have no idea, she seems pretty dedicated to Shojo, and I let that ship sail a while ago. Gwyndrael's possible, Thermoriax... Why not ask her? I think she made a pass at me once, but I was too busy needing to go hunt and crusade, I get antsy if I sit around doing nothing too long. Liza already made an offer, and Sharon's probably coming around."
"I hadn't even considered the body swap ability in any of this," Gabriel says. "I just like all of the women here. And yes, even Kai. She's crazy but human, and Karnors are encoded to find humans... desirable."
"Oh she just seems Human. She's wearing a disguise just as Galatea did," Tasha notes, making a magical wiggly finger gestures at herself. "Her actual form is a lot more intimidating."
"Well, she's another dragon, isn't she?" Gabriel guesses. "A human dragon. She claims her powers don't work on dragons, after all."
"She's Kainudy's bad thoughts made in to a person, so basically, all of Kainudy's nasty ideas, embarassing sexual interests, desires to plot and destroy, and so on. She's a walking talking repressed memory. In that sense, she's Kainudy, just only part of her that had achieved its own state of being after a while," Tasha explains, making vague and unhelpful gestures. "Kind of like Sasha, Vasha, and Sharon, for me, except unlike Kai, I didn't eject my thoughts to make them and retain all my nasty ideas, embarrassing sexual interests, and and desires to plot and destroy." Another grin.
"For now," Gabriel says, and pinches Tasha's cheek. "If you're part dragon, then you're eventually going to be a megalomaniac I'm sure," he says with a big grin.
Tasha doesn't even resist, beaming as her face gets tugged on. "I'm sure with enough time I'll be a big ol' monstrosity of power and domination, just you wait."
"I'll just have to tie you up then," Gabriel claims. This ears a raspberry sound from Goldie. There's also a throat clearing sound from the other side of Tasha. It's coming from Liza.
Tasha puts a hand on Goldie because it's hard not to pet her when she's being cute. She then turns and makes a raspberry noise at Liza, wiggling her ears.
The bunny's ears shoot up at that. "I've spoken to Galatea, and she has agreed to do the swap if you agree to it," Liza says.
"Explain," Tasha says, planting her head on a hand, and her elbow on the table. She even scoops Goldie up so as to pet her and look more arch by doing so.
"Aaron and I would possess your bodies, and you would possess ours," Liza says. "For one night."
"Huh. One night. Interesting limitation." Tasha taps her muzzle, then looks sidelong to Gabriel. "Bunny for a day? Bunny for your thoughts?"
"What do they intend to do with our bodies?" Gabriel asks.
"Mostly eat!" Liza claims. "Meat!"
"Are you sure? You may gain a craving for it and hunger forever for the flesh of the animal," Tasha intones, waggling her hand again before putting her head back down on it. "The forbidden fruit. Well. Meat. Meat fruit." She grins. "Who gets what body?"
"That doesn't sound so bad," Gabriel says.
"Well, Aaron would get Gabriel and I would get you," Liza says. "Because he has unrequited feelings about you. Or at least about your body."
"I've noticed," Tasha says a impressively faux-wry tone, and then she looks over at Aaron and wiggles her fingers at him before blowing him a kiss. Then she returns to Liza. "Does this mean sex, then? Gabriel, you know I can interbreed with anything, are you concerned I might get pregnant..?"
"It'll be my body doing it, so.. isn't that what we wanted anyway?" Gabriel asks. "And Liza is already pregnant so I'm pretty sure she can't get double-pregnant."
"I don't know, I have extraordinary powers," Tasha says with a laugh. "Well, sure, why not. I can enjoy having long ears again, and telling you what you can do with them, Gabriel. Maybe see what else I can do now that I don't have to spend most of my time reassuring and reconstructing people."
"Besides, how hard can it be to be Lapi?" Gabriel asks. "It's just being cute and fluffy all the time."
"Someone's going to learn a lot about themselves, others, and taking things for granted," Tasha tells Liza followed by another bout of laughter. "I at least have experience being booted from body to body, and I learned new things and changed how I saw myself."