Your friendly neighborhood space bugs!

[thespaceopera]

[For about a week, now, all ships in the Drift Fleet have had clearance to land on the Blue Planet whenever they'd like. The humanoid natives have all been very open and sociable, nothing short of grateful that the Iskaulit is no longer sending pods down to raid their towns and infect their insectoid brothers.

At first, the Nunnilis themselves stayed very quiet, hiding for safety... But as word of a stable cure spreads through the islands, more and more of them have been spotted out in the open. Now, it's not so unusual to spot a couple of them helping with repairs, and many have been assisting passengers in curing their sickly kin.

Have you been looking for a chance to talk to one? A lot of basic information has already been passed through the Fleet, but perhaps you're looking to ask your own questions about the situation, offer condolences, or just get to know a little more about the Nunnilis themselves. They seem perfectly friendly in their own strange, dozen-limbed way, so there's no time like the present!]


ooc: This is a post for anyone that wants to talk directly to one of the Nunnilis! Mention in your first comment if your character is talking to a particular bug or looking in a specific place (examples include: "someone helping with the cure", "a bug in the marketplace", "someone who looks like they might be in charge", "literally the first random bug they run into on the street"), and we'll go from there! Details on already-common knowledge and this mini-event can be found here (scroll down to "The Iskaulit Saga"). If you need a refresher on what they look like, check out this old info post. This post will be open and running all event, so it's never too late to tag in!

Comments

[dancingmd]

[Naturally, Beverly is heavily involved in the cure efforts, taking on infected Nunnilis as patients. However, she is fully aware that the fleet's own stockpile of medicine won't be nearly enough for the number of cases she's seeing. So she approaches one of the Nunnilis who seems that they might be one of those in charge of the medical facilities.]

Good morning. My name is Dr. Beverly Crusher, of the SS Blue Fish. I was wondering if I could have a word?

[thespaceopera]

[it's a little difficult to tell who is more "in charge" than the others, especially with how they seem to be a little hive-minded together... but this darker-shelled Nunnilis seems nothing but curious at her approach, scuttling its many legs around to face her properly.

she has probably already noticed that while their use of the common language is passable, they still sound kind of like someone is running a text-to-speech program through a moving fan.]

If Doctor Beverly Crusher would like. How may I help you?

[dancingmd]

Oh, it's not for me. I am just concerned that our fleet's supply of the cure won't last much longer. Besides, I'm uncertain - I don't know how much you know about our situation, but we have no control over when or where our... [Hesitating for a moment as she decides on the best word for this] mothership decides to take us. That being the case, I would like to know if there is someone I should speak with about the possibility of manufacturing the cure here on your planet, so that you don't have to depend on us.

[thespaceopera]

[it makes a low burbling noise, almost a hum, while tapping the ends of its upper arms together in thought...]

You do not need to worry. Our kind shares many thoughts, and we speak between each other often. Our minds are not separated like those of our mammalian brothers... You speak to many when you speak to one.

[it seems to duck its head a little, face pincers tucking closer. ...shy?]

We have already spoken about you much, Doctor Beverly Crusher. You have been very kind to us, for which we feel deep gratitude.

[dancingmd]

[Like the Borg. Yet not like them at all.

In response to the compliment, she gives the insectoid a small smile, quick, but genuine.]

You're welcome. I only wish I could have done more, for your people on the Iskaulit.

[unbearablynaive]

[The Vision is looking for someone who looks like they might be in charge! He's very interested in the political ramifications of the infection, their visit, and what can be done to keep the peace despite their slaughter of the infected bretheren. And if diplomacy can at all help, he's willing to try.]

[thespaceopera]

[unfortunately for the Vision, this isn't an easy search. there is no political center on this planet to speak of, nor do the Nunnilis seem to have much of a ranking system. they share at least a partial hive-mind, so talking to one of them is a lot like talking to all of them... but a little asking around will eventually direct him (after they've all complimented his lovely colors) to a bug that frequently handles matters of trade to nearby systems.

it is quite short, compared to the Vision, but none-the-less lifts its pedipalps in polite attention at his approach.]

[unbearablynaive]

[Well, he's glad someone appreciates his coloring! And he does get the hivemind thing better than many people might, so he's pleased to know that speaking with this Nunnili will, in effect, be like addressing many of them.]

Good afternoon. As I'm sure you've been informed, I am the Vision and I belong to the fleet of ships currently anchored around your beautiful planet.

May I begin my expressing my sincere condolences for the loss of the crew of the Iskaulit?

[thespaceopera]

[ah, it raises it's two smaller torso arms to tap its claws together, burbling quietly at the compliment... another thing that the Vision has quickly learned is that their adaptation of the common human language is passable, even though their voices sound kind of like a text-to-speech program being run through a spinning fan.]

I was told of your coming, yes. We are grateful, truly, that you would take the time to do so.

[this is accompanied with a small dip of its head (and all pincers attached).]

[unbearablynaive]

[It's certainly passable enough by his standards, and he inclines his head in response as well.]

Thank you for that regard. We've made copies of all the log files we were able to locate and are happy to pass them along to you so you may know as much as we do regarding the state of the ship prior to our arrival. Our medical team has also made significant progress in both preventative and curing techniques using the resources we had available. Would this be useful to you?

[averagestar]

[Well, I know what I want to do. I have some music from the Nunnilis ship, and I'd like to find out what kind of music it is, and the best way to find out, is... to talk to ones that seems like they're involved with music. Let's look for some musician bugs, yes.]

[thespaceopera]

[well, there aren't exactly any Nunnilis concert halls or instrument-playing street performers... but she can find one of them selling what look like music boxes in the marketplace!

it sits behind its booth, while something similar to what she found on the Iskaulit plays out of all the strange little percussion parts in the biggest box. it's bopping its head (and attached pincers) to the beat--so maybe it's in a good mood!]

[averagestar]

[Nobody that likes music can be a bad person. But yes, going to listen to the music for a bit, and before making speaking up.]

This is a good song, isn't it? Can you tell me anything about it? Music's important to me, so I'd kind of like to hear about music around here.

[thespaceopera]

[it looks up, pedipalps tasting the air with a sort of insectiod curiosity! their music has always been rather strange, but when one hears that they speak rather like a text-to-speak program that's being run through a fan, it kind of makes sense...]

This song is one of my very favorites! I would be happy to speak of it... [it clicks the ends of its two little torso legs together, almost like clapping.] May I ask, are you one of the visitors from the fleet that found our Iskaulit?

[averagestar]

Yes, I am... I'm afraid my job was just trying to see what we could put together from their ship computers, though. I found a song a lot like this one in there, actually.

[I transferred it to my communicator too, so let me just play that.]

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley's involved in the efforts to treat the Nunnilis, but what she's seen of their relationship with the local humanoid population makes her a little wistful for home - and hopeful, if this mingling culture is what people so different in at least appearance can achieve together. Hoping to find out more about that, she starts with one of the Nunnilis helping out with the cure work.]

Do you know who I might talk to in order to find out more about the history of this place?

[thespaceopera]

Ah... [the Nunnilis she picks looks a little smaller than the others, and has a brighter orange shell... but it still scuttles around on its many legs to face her, and duck its pincered head in polite greeting.

all Nunnilis have a good grasp of the common human language... even if they kind of sound like a text-to-speech program being run through a moving fan.]

Several of us are more experienced in communication and record archival, but... I would be happy to speak with you, if you are interested in general knowledge...

[hearsthesea]

Are you? Then yes, I would be delighted!

[Shirley is interested in that mention of archives, but she can look into that later. She's certain that there's much to be gained from talking to this one, as well.]

Do you know how long it's been since the Nunnilis came to this planet?

[thespaceopera]

Oh, generations beyond counting. They say it was while this planet and its waters were still new. They say that there our presence here is older than some of the islands in the seas.

[and it scuttles a little bit closer--hesitantly, with forearms held close but pedipalps waving up to taste the air. shy, perhaps?]

Why do you ask?

[hearsthesea]

This world reminds me a little of my own home. Um, not that there are other Nunnilis there...but there are other similarities. May I ask how long the human population has been here as well?

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue is both curious about what is going on in this world and really... feeling very badly about what she'd heard happened to the Nunnilis. She's not one to usually be put off by physical appearances, but her first encounter with the bug-like creatures was a bit on the shocking side. After seeing them around a bit more, she decides to try to talk to one who seems friendly and like they have some time on their hands... claws... mandibles? Something.

Rogue approaches a bit awkwardly.]

Uh. Hi.

[thespaceopera]

[the Nunnilis only stand about three feet tall, but the one that she approaches seems to be a little bit smaller than most, with a brightly speckled red shell.

its many legs clatter around until it faces her, and the assortment of pedipalps and tasters attached to its head segment wave up in her direction. really, if it wasn't for its voice, it would easily seem monstrous.

and even then, its voice sounds something like a text-to-speech program played through a moving fan.]

Hello, visiting friend.

[touchofrogue]

[...yeah, that's not going to get any less creepy any time soon. But Rogue did call someone who looked rather demonic her brother and - well - she kind of wishes Kurt was here right now, actually. He was better at this than she was, and part of her kind of thought it would do him good.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.]

My name's Rogue. What's yours?

[...great, now she feels about 8 years old.]

[thespaceopera]

[if there is any awkwardness, this little bug creature doesn't seem to notice. it scuttles up closer, tentatively, to a more comfortably conversational distance.]

My human brothers call me Nunnsi.

...Is there something that you would like me to call you?

[touchofrogue]

[There is something about this bug-like-person calling humans 'brothers' that melts her heart a little. Possibly it has to do with Kurt. Possibly Xavier's dream. Either way, she smiles at (him? her? zir?) Nunnsi a little.]

Rogue'll do fine. I was just hopin' for a little bit of your time, to learn more about this place and your people.

[Wow, that sounded almost coherent. She is momentarily pleased with herself.]