Inbox

[artistinexile]

You have reached the inbox of the former Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and the Seventh Fleet, also formerly known as Senior Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Springhawk.

I will return your message promptly.

[The message repeats in six different languages]

Comments

[planetdialup]

All life comes from the planet.

The Lifestream to be specific. It is a river thay goes throughout the planet, that is filled with memories with every living thing.

Not a metaphor. Our bodies break down to planetary essence and goes back to the planet.

Including the soul. Most of the time, the individual soul will break down overtime, and while the memories remain, the soul comes back in the form of new life.

In short- I can't return to any planet to visit, because...I'm essentially planetary water, held together by the Admiral.

[artistinexile]

[oh okay that just makes his suspicions worse]

Have you tried?

[planetdialup]

No?

I'm...dead back home? It's too risky to try.

[artistinexile]

If you are dead, then there is no feasible reason not to try.

[planetdialup]

Thrawn, I understand this comes from a place of care.

But this is starting to sound more like a high risk experiment where, at best, if I do try, I won't be able to come back.

And you already know that I have a background where I was experimented on as a child.

Please reflect on that for a moment.

[artistinexile]

[His eyes, perhaps shockingly, narrow with slight insult. Thrawn will only speak when he is sure of himself; asking him to reflect on his words is to indicate wrongness. But he takes it for disagreement in personal opinion instead and relaxes his hold. He does not wish to fight.

He nods, once]

Very well.

[a_titanum]

[ A small bit of smoothing- ]

I'm sure that, as something of an expert in this energy, Aerith has good reason to believe that her understanding of how it works makes the risk of the experiment greater than the potential gain in knowledge in regards to this subject in ways that would be difficult to easily summarize and explain to us both when we are so new to this system.

[He dips his head to her.]

[planetdialup]

I've been in tune with this energy since I was a child. And, while there have been allusions that I can do things in my future while in the Lifestream, it doesn't mean I will know how to leave.

Or that something wouldn't go very wrong if I did try.

I could come back, physically, but only physically. Living people who are exposed too much to the Lifestream can have their minds and souls swept away.

There's still a lot that I don't know when it comes to having any control over the Lifestream. I can only assume that if the reports are true, it's something I learned after I entered it, and have because I'm a Cetra.

[artistinexile]

[a brief nod of thanks to Florian]

So you are essence made manifest, only here by the Admiral's grace. Is that correct?

[planetdialup]

Correct.

[artistinexile]

[a short nod.

Then, Thrawn reaches forward and prods Aerith, quite hard, on her arm]

[planetdialup]

Ow.

[She doesn't move but...she's puzzled.]

Um? Thrawn? I'm not...you wouldn't really see it unless I was dead?

[artistinexile]

I see Florian, and he is dead.

Forgive me; an experiment only.

[his tone is dry but his eyes are mischievous. He's messing with her, in his own odd way]

[a_titanum]

Technically, I'm undead, being a vampire.

And as I was resurrected by graduation from being dead.

[planetdialup]

Right...

I keep thinking of you as...Florian. Not Florian, vampire.

Or...undead?

I just thought...vampires are vampires?

[She shrugs, and glances at Thrawn.]

[artistinexile]

Florian’s aura has changed. He has no heartbeat, no pulse, and is colder in body temperature than he once was. His movements are subtly different, more akin to a coiled spring: an easy predator lope. To my eyes he looks something like a cross between a groundlion and a walking corpse.

[planetdialup]

I'm not sure about the aura but...

I don't really see Florian slinking? He's very light on his feet, but I guess...


Florian? Does this mean you're cold all the time? Would you like some hugs to warm up?

[a_titanum]

[ Florian can't help but smile. ]

I would not mind a hug or two from you, Aerith, but I assure you, I am more comfortable now than when I was not a vampire.

[ A small smile at Thrawn. ]

And my change in stance is more of a choice than anything. I assure you that if I chose to, I could appear as docile and vulnerable as a bared throat. Appearing in the pose of a prey animal, an easy victim, is a very useful tactic. I did it before as part of my business. Being a vampire only accelerated my choice in shifting to something more honest.

[planetdialup]

Maybe cuddles later if you're up for it.

And...I am glad it's comfortable for you Florian.

[She offers him a fond smile, before moving to clasp her hands in front of her.]

Though- that makes me wonder. How do you feel you move Thrawn? What does your aura project to the world?

[artistinexile]

That would be something to see. I would be interested to see if I could catch on; it is not simply something you choose that reflects your aura, but who and what you are.

[a slight head tilt towards Aerith]

It is difficult to describe to a non-Chiss. An 'aura' is akin to many things at once: it is how I can identify others before they make themselves known outside doors, or behind masks or disguises.

Yours is something I have memorized as belonging to Aerith Gainsborough and no other. Were you in a crowd of thousands, I could find you.

[a_titanum]

[ Not something for now, or he would. But there's a nod to Thrawn's comment as if to say 'later, sure'. ]

I imagine it's something like hearing someone's heartbeat. Or their magical signature would be to me.

[planetdialup]

Huh.

It sounds like...how I sometimes have just the awareness of people I know sometimes. It's not like...colors, or music, or magic.

It just is. Like...Florian is still...Florian, vampire or not.

[artistinexile]

Yes. All of us have our additional senses to recognize one another.

Forgive me when I overstep. It is difficult to determine your boundaries between 'curious friend' and 'invasive scientist.'

[planetdialup]

I'm still learning to be comfortable with talking about being a cetra.

And there are still things I don't know about it. So long as you're not trying to get samples or strapping me down to a chair...

I'm not going to punch you in the nose, literally or figuratively.

[artistinexile]

[an eyebrow raise.]

You could not reach my nose.