SS Hot Mess shows up to mingles 15 minutes late with Starbucks

[notzubats]

Who: The Huntress Crew and Visitors
Broadcast: Maybe!!
Action: SS Huntress!
When: From now until end of the system!

[There's been an elf invasion! And an Ellen Page invasion! Also there's a star system! Come in Huntress, it's been awhile, so it's time for a mingle! ]

Comments

[monolike]

[what do you mean 'despite']

No, I agree with you! I've- well, you've definitely had more of a wait than I have, but there aren't any other Shepherds in my world either, so I know what you mean. It can be a little overwhelming. Like, am I doing this right? Even when I'm told there's no right or wrong way. Although I suppose in your case, it's more like, I shouldn't do this the 'right' way, huh?

[hearsthesea]

I think it was more like...changing what I thought right was supposed to be. But that was scary too, at first.

[She nods, because he's definitely hit on something familiar.]

I don't need the full powers of the Merines anymore, but I have a different kind of power now that people look to me as the Merines and as the Ferines ambassador. I've been trying my best to learn what I think I need, but there's no precedent for it among the Ferines. So I'm never entirely sure if I'm doing that right, either.

[monolike]

[Sorey nods along vigorously with that. changing the way you think is pretty terrifying, after all.]

You know what though? Sometimes it's nice not to have a precedent. I don't want to get ahead of myself but I always wonder if someone will hear about this hundreds of years later and use my journey as a lesson. Then, even if people like us screw up a little bit, it's okay. If we don't learn from it, someone else will. So if you think about it, even making mistakes is benefiting the world, too.

[hearsthesea]

I...never thought about it that way. I can't even imagine what it will be like hundreds of years from now.

[When will there be another Merines, after her? They used to be much closer together, until the Cataclysm and the four thousand year gap. Hard to know what that means for her successors, and what will fall on them.]

I guess the mistakes I've already made are certainly something to learn from, if the next Merines is able to hear about them.

[monolike]

[Grins.] Got anybody lined up to write the book of your travels, yet?

[hearsthesea]

The book of my travels?

[That's a new one.]

[monolike]

Oh yeah! Biographies and autobiographies are invaluable sources of information for historians and archeologists. Official records are often biased or even changed entirely to fit the political climate of the time, but things like journal entries and personal accounts can help shine light onto what actually happened during times of civil unrest and war.

[hearsthesea]

That...makes sense.

[Shirley never received much of an education as a kid, but it matches up with the books she's studied on the Fleet.]

Maybe I should start keeping a journal, then, if I want to pass my thoughts onto the next Merines.

[monolike]

I think that's a great idea. Especially if you have anybody else who'd also like to keep a journal! Then future historians could corroborate what was happening.

I'd personally love to read it, if you ever published it. Not that I'll ever get the chance, but just so you know. The interest is definitely there.

[hearsthesea]

Well, I don't mind telling you instead. Especially if you could learn from what happened to me.

[Lesson 1: don't get kidnapped.]

[monolike]

What if I transcribed what you told me? Unless you don't want it written down at all. [can he take notes]

[hearsthesea]

No, I don't mind at all. I don't think it's useful to keep secrets like that.

[Except for that one time Senel asked her about her festival wish. Despicable.]

[monolike]

Then that'd be great! Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll be able to take it home with you when you go. [when.] It'll be easier to write a book with it already half-written. Plus, I can't deny, I'm really interested in the Ferines and Orerines cultures and history.

[hearsthesea]

[The when is nice, honestly, since Shirley's well aware of how long she's been away from home. In the meantime, Sorey's hit on something else that sounds very appealing.]

Well, I'm interested in hearing about the Shepherd and the seraphim. I think things will work out just fine.

[monolike]

Excellent. We can have a good old-fashioned cultural exchange! [only a true nerd would be so pumped over that]

I might not many answers for you, though. A lot of our history has been buried or lost to mistranslation, politics and time.

[hearsthesea]

[Nerds or highly motivated career diplomats. Same difference.]

Some of the same is true for the Ferines, because of how scattered we've been for a long time. But people usually like hearing about the Legacy - that's my home, a massive ship with strong ties to the histories of both the Ferines and Orerines.

[monolike]

It's a ship? A space ship like this, [gestures] or is it like a ship in the water?

[hearsthesea]

Um, well...I suppose you could say it's both, technically.

[YEAH.]

It hasn't left the water for thousands of years, but history tells that a long time ago the Orerines came to our world on the Legacy.

[monolike]

...no way. You have actual historical evidence that one of the dominant races on your world is from space? That's- that's amazing! That's only the coolest thing I've ever heard! What a discovery!

[hearsthesea]

It's not really a discovery. Nerifes remembers, and so the Ferines remember as well.

[In other words, the ocean sure knows how to hold a grudge.]

There are some things left behind from that time, but so far I don't think anybody's tried to study them for historical research. And...some of what remains is very dangerous.

[monolike]

[ocean sounds kinda salty tbh]

Is it? [Sorey rocks back to sit, drawing up his knees thoughtfully.] Do you mean, like weaponry? That sort of thing?

[hearsthesea]

Yes, like that. For many reasons, I think it would be better left alone right now.

[Shirley looks down at the floor at that, thinking of what Stella had been subjected to. Yeah, definitely better left alone.]

[monolike]

[Yikes. That looks personal.]

I hope everyone back home listens to you about that. Do you have any ways to seal it off from intruders?

[hearsthesea]

[That gets Shirley to look back up and smile a little again. Thankfully people have her back there, and it's good to remember that.]

The areas with the most dangerous technology isn't easily accessible to many people, thankfully. And the Orerines leaders with the strongest presence on the Legacy also agree with me about how it shouldn't be used, so even in times of trouble I'm not the only one who thinks so.

[Thank goodness for Will and Musette, and the fact that every other citizen of Werites Beacon is a secret Rexalian troop.]

[monolike]

That's definitely helpful! I'm glad the Orerines leaders are compromising with you instead of fighting against you on that. Maybe one day the ship can be safely studied, or at least retired in a way that makes it harmless.