2024-11-18: Something Special
- Log: 2024-11-19: Something Special
- Cast: Aurora Dusk (as herself and as Emily Ashcroft), Eight Orlodhari
- Where: Riksent (the capital), Riksent (the country)
- OOC - IC Date: November 18th, UC 0099
- Summary: On separate diplomatic missions to Riksent, Eight runs into Aurora and her "mother". They get to talking, and eventually reveal their affiliations. The surface level ones, anyway.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Riksent (the country) is an odd place to go for ice hockey. It may not be cold enough to set up a proper open air ice rink here, but there are fans of the sport wherever you go, and the defining trait of tool using species is imposing their will on the natural world. Thus, the monument to humanity's hubris known as "indoor ice rinks".
At the moment, one such arena in Riksent (the capital, not to be confused with the country) is playing host to its very own Battle on the Ice. It's closer to a pickup game than a major league contest, so it's open to casual challengers and people passing through the country. One such stranger to the country is on the rink right now, in fact - icy blue eyes flashing behind her helmet as she glides over the ice, watched from the stands by an (almost?) identical pair of eyes. Both women were here on diplomatic business (the player on the field is a junior officer in the entourage of the senior officer in the stands), but inbetween business, there is time for sport, so here they are.
Besides, it's good for Aurora to get the opportunity to move her body for play rather than business sometimes, even if there are no knives in ice hockey.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Eight Orlodhari is accustomed to both indoor and outdoor rinks, but they've always been artificial in any case for her--growing up on a colony like Winter Wonderland, hockey is definitely one of the fashionable pastimes. ...Before she went to Winter Wonderland, she wasn't attending any games. That's not important right now.
Instead, Eight is here in Riksent on diplomatic business, and found the time to stop by for a game of her favorite sport! She's seated next to Emily, wearing high jeans and a red blouse under a proper snug coat for the chill. She is not drinking alcohol, though a lot of people in the stands are.
Instead she watches that last movement on the ice and--
"Wow," she says. "That girl's really good."
...Maybe she's talking to someone, and maybe she's not, but she's looking right at Aurora.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
"She is, isn't she?" The woman next to Eight, clad in an unbuttoned red semi-formal jacket and white blouse speaks up reflexively, almost chuckling. She stays fixed on Aurora's performance, gazing on proudly as she drives the puck forwards towards the goal, and sips her hot cocoa. (Day drinking while watching sports is gauche. Emily would certainly never do that. In public. ...when people are watching.)
It's not like Emily Ashcroft is a hockey superfan, but she does enjoy spectating and playing various sports, from time to time. Riksent is an important go-between between the AEU and the OAC, and practically defunct as a collective bloc the latter may be, those gold mines are still important, so here she is in Riksent, trying to keep the lines open between the present day NUNE bloc and the parts of the OAC that still talk to them.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Eight doesn't have to be a Newtype to draw a conclusion there. "You know her, then," Eight ventures, sipping some water as she does. Hot cocoa is also normal for her, but not today. She doesn't want to assume exactly what their relationship is, but...
It's clear pride there. As for Eight Orlodhari, she's here on opposite business to Emily's; offering alternative places for some of that gold to go, making ties between other nations.
"Mine aren't old enough for hockey yet."
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Emily takes a second to ponder her response, then decides to just go with the simplest one. "...She's like a daughter to me," she clarifies. No, maybe she just is her daughter.
She makes her own stab in the dark. "So, yours are... around two or younger?"
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"That's nice," Eight says. "It must be fun to watch her get to play, then. I used to, myself."
She smiles, and looks back to the rink, answering, "That's right. A little over two now. Twins."
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
"Oh yes. We were around, and we had the time, so we decided to go here. I play some sports myself, but I'm in a spectating mood now." She sips her cocoa, again. It's not SUPER cold in here by her standards, but... it's still something you bring heat for.
Two or younger. Aurora was at least six when Emily got her. But... she HAS taken care of a baby that age. One vibrant child up to the age of three... and one Newtype lab child from the age of six. The mismatch is... something wistful stirs in Emily. "Ah, the Terrible Twos. I hope you're not having too much trouble."
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"I see! Same story for me; I knew there was a game going on, so I dropped by." Eight's coat is enough for the cold, along with her gloves; the truth is she's fairly sensitive to temperature, but she's also used to downplaying that sensitivity.
"Heh. That's what they say. ...But I don't mind. Even when they drive me a little crazy, it's still something I've wanted for a long time."
A beat, "And they do do that. If their father weren't so involved I'd have a lot more trouble."
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
"The upside of moving around a lot is getting to see these things."
"You've been looking forwards to it, huh..."
Eight mentions the father of her children. Another beat. "...That's good," she responds. She's not quite a single mother (it takes a village to raise a child. Or a laboratory. Ha ha ha.) but... she's single, and a mother, so... again, it feels nostalgic.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"True. I'm used to traveling, myself."
"I was," Eight answers freely. "And I lucked out meeting a man I could see myself with long-term. ...Though we almost didn't manage to get married before the twins..." A laugh, as she rubs the back of her neck.
"Well, me aside. What's she like? Does she do hockey a lot, or is it sort of 'whatever sport's available'?"
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Her own chuckle. "Well, that's the way it is sometimes. It's not like it's a problem these days, certain outdated mindsets aside..."
"She's... vigorous," Emily says, as Aurora body checks another player with... a normal amount of force, if you look at her movements.
Looking at the opposing player, though, it seems almost outsized. As if she moved, and it was only natural the other player was sent sprawling. Part of it is her own eagerness; she's really getting into the game now... but Aurora should damn well be able to check her strength at her age. "Focused, too. A little troubled. A bit of a handful to take care of, sometimes, but..."
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"You get it," Eight says. "Besides, I wouldn't trade the way it turned out anyway."
Vigorous, Eight says, and lifts an eyebrow at the other player moving. A normal amount of force for her, but...
"I see," she answers. "I'm expecting to deal with some of that with mine growing up, too. They're already a little of a handful at home, like you suggested--they're... sturdy, since their father is Zentradi."
She doesn't know why Aurora is so strong, but it's a way to venture the subject.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
"...Sometimes I wonder, about things..." What if they HADN'T died? What if that colony didn't fall? Would she have settled into an easy retirement with her family? Or would she still have sought out more war?
Focus. There is nothing for you down that path. You can't undo what has been done. (Can't really undo what you've done, either. Or what those Blue Cosmos freaks are doing. You're committed to this path to the end, Colonel.)
"Ah, so yours are half-Zentradi?" And Aurora isn't, but... she DOES have a history of panicked frenzies. Not so much recently, but in the earlier years... it's hard to restrain violent Cyber-Newtypes.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"It's hard not to, isn't it? I try to avoid it myself. A lot of 'what if?' for me would just be worse, anyway."
Eight, for her part, lives by the idea that what they chose, for better or worse, is what they chose. But for the question--
"Mm-hm. Their father's from the Colony Fleets originally."
"...I was pretty strong myself, when I was younger, though. Still am. But I was then, too. So maybe they get it from both sides? Either way."
"I find athletics are a good way to work off some of that 'trouble' too. It was like that for me."
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
"...Wondering about what could have been is never pleasant. I prefer keeping my eyes pointed forwards."
"I'm no slouch either, I'd say." She couldn't be and keep her job.
"Sometimes you just need to move your body to work things off." And Aurora moves her body - dodging at least two players trying to check her with almost-supernatural speed and reflexes to send a puck flying into the goal.
No, not almost supernatural. Can Eight tell what she is yet? She's definitely active on that layer. Maybe there's something tingling...?
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"Agreed. It might be hard to avoid, but that doesn't mean we should indulge it."
"Good!" Eight nods along. "I feel the same. When everything is too much in your head, getting it out through the body is the way to go. A healthy mind needs a healthy body."
Pause. She watches Aurora... and watches the way she dodges, moves around. It's definitely not almost.
Eight senses it, all right. She has a momentary flash of insight--and Aurora might feel it too, the presence of someone like her in the crowd, watching her for just a moment.
"Really good," she echoes herself from earlier thoughtfully.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Emily, too, has noticed how blatantly Good At This Aurora is. She doesn't really begrudge her the chance to show off, when she has the chance. What good is power that you can't use?
And show off she does. Aurora spins back from the goal, brimming with pride. And then, for just an instant, there's the prickling feeling of being watched, somewhere in the back of her brain, and her head twists to the crowd. Looking for the reaction of the crowd? Someone's approval, perhaps? That's the natural assumption.
It can't be that. Her eyes are meeting a stranger's.
Emily turns to look at Eight, who is so clearly realising something, but doesn't comment.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Eight doesn't know what Emily's thinking, of course; it doesn't work like that. She doesn't even really know what Aurora is thinking... but she smiles, when Aurora meets her eyes, and turns her gaze first so as not to distract her too much.
She notices Emily looking at her, and is apologetic. "...You've got something special with her I think," Eight settles on instead. "Thanks for sharing."
She won't pry. ...Mentioning what kind of special she is tends to raise questions...
But if Emily looks very closely, she might notice a scar or two at Eight's hairline, long faded but still extant, the sort of thing one might find on an older Cyber-Newtype.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Aurora turns her attention back to the game, and soon enough, the "away team" wins.
Emily, meanwhile, has definitely noticed the scars. This is part of her field of expertise. "...You too, I see. You could say that. Newtype children can be a handful... My Aurora is... basically adopted." Special doesn't even cover the half of it. If only Eight knew.
Why is she sharing all of this, anyway? Somehow, it feels natural. Newtype Mother empathy, maybe. Weird thing for her to feel.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"Mine are too young to manifest those kinds of abilities, but..." She won't be surprised if they do when they're older, even being Half-Zentradi. "I see," Eight answers of Aurora. That's her name, then. "Well, I was adopted too," she adds.
A lot of people still don't believe in 'newtypes', or don't believe in them as any more than a weapon. Still... "I've been compiling some information on what it's like. I want other Newtype parents to have a little more guidance than I've had. On both sides."
For obvious reasons, she says this more quietly, though.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Emily believes in Newtype phenomena, of course. She worked on some of the original research! Not that she's telling ANYONE that. Ever. Unless they look sympathetic. This woman doesn't seem like she could keep it a secret, though. She didn't get this far by blabbing to everybody she sees about things that have a good chance of sending her into a dark hole in the ground.
"I've got some notes, myself." Not that she's sharing those, either. Not without sanitising them HEAVILY. Illegal activities aside, some of these tips aren't actionable without support staff, and most of them wouldn't be applicable to parents.
The spectators are starting to filter out of the stands, but there wouldn't be anything wrong with staying at this point. Maybe they could take the conversation outside, though.
Aurora, meanwhile, has changed out of the loaner hockey uniform and back into her street clothes, and is swiftly making her way over to the two, torn between expectant gazing at Emily and curious peering at Eight.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Eight would definitely not keep that secret.
She's willing to share about herself, about things that are public record, and about things she wants to make more accepted. But, "I'm sure. Mine I'm going to compile eventually... if I get the time."
The spectators are filtering out, and when Aurora comes back, Eight stands up and smiles. "Hi. She kept me company," Eight explains, and now that she's standing a perceptive person might notice even through her thick clothes a light bump at her belly. "You did great out there! Thanks for a good show."
A beat, "I should let you catch up. But it was nice to meet you. My name's Eight, by the way."
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Eight pre-empts Aurora's obvious 'who are you' question, and Emily responds to the sideways glance of 'that was good right? Right?' with an approving look. Aurora smiles. (She reads Eight's words as congratulations, too. The adoring audience! Maybe she could get used to it. If they didn't stare so much...)
"I'm number 294, but my name is Aurora." Aurora tilts her head, appearing to have mistaken Eight's name for her number. How cute! "My name is Aurora, though."
Emily introduces herself too. "Emily Ashcroft. Eight, huh..." Interesting name. Does Emily know an Eight? Everybody does, but... how many Eights are there in this world? Surprisingly many, Emily thinks.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Right! It was good. But...
294. That confirms that much, anyway. Eight is willing to assume for the moment that this is the loving relationship it appears to be. She has no reason to think otherwise, and likes to think the best of people.
"Eight's also my number," she explains when Aurora calls herself 294, "But when I got out, I kept 'Eight' instead of picking a new name. ...So it sort of stuck."
A smile. "A pleasure to meet you." Then, she considers; she gave her name, she gave her origin...
"Eight Orlodhari," she clarifies. It's neutral territory.
But she makes to leave after that, true to her word. Unless Emily or Aurora ask her to wait.
Her security are suddenly very stressed out, but Eight is an honest sort of person.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
"I see. You kept it as your name... 294 is a mouthful. 294 Dusk would sound weird..." Aurora taps her chin thoughtfully. There WAS a period in her life where she was 'Aurora-294', to be fair.
Is it a loving relationship? ...it's certainly not ...an entirely GOOD one. Neither of them is always completely sure what they think of it. There's a closeness and a distance involved. Certainly, Emily is the closest thing to a mother that Aurora has, and Aurora is the closest thing to a child Emily has now, and that relationship produces certain reactions in both of them... but they're also a subordinate and her CO, and that has its own implications. On top of that... you have to be abusive, by definition, to raise a child as a weapon. No amount of doublethink can completely sanitize that aspect of their relationship, even from Aurora's end.
"I see. Eight Orlodhari." What? THAT Eight? It clicks. Of course it is. She must be here on... some kind of Magellanica business, equal and opposite to Emily's.
Londo Bell's Traitor-Captain. (Traitor Admiral, now. Congratulations on the promotion.) An enemy. (A couple people vaguely near Emily, who were watching Aurora's game, also perk up... but that's all they do.) And they were getting on so well. Emily's feelings are extremely mixed. They've fought the same enemies, they've fought as enemies... not directly, but they've been on some of the same battlefields. Break the World. The reprisal attack. Just now, wasn't the Ra Mari fighting that dragon? Eight must have shown up then... she's been a major thorn in their side, but when the sky is falling, you can't turn down help from any corner. Even if it feels a little suspicious.
"Wait." Emily calls out to Eight. "Admiral." Everybody knows her title. "You've introduced yourself properly, so I should too. We've fought on the same battlefields before... sometimes against the same enemies, sometimes not. It would only be right."
She runs a hand through her hair. "Colonel Emily Ashcroft. Formerly of G-Hound... presently of the Gaia Sabers." What passes between them isn't hostility, from her end, but it's charged. If Eight chooses to become her enemy, she will fight. If Eight joins whatever her cause is at that moment, she will fight then, too.
Aurora looks between them. Introductions, huh...
Something like empathy appears to be building with Aurora, and while Eight is here... "Which lab are you from?"
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"It is," Eight agrees amiably. "I kept it because it was easy. ...It was the thing that was 'mine' when all was said and done, so I built on it."
Eight doesn't yet know Aurora's a weapon; she's about to have to recontextualize a lot, though. A whole lot.
That Eight. But she starts off, since she doesn't assume that name will inspire friendliness. She's addressed, though. As 'Admiral'.
So Eight pauses, and turns. She's the Admiral now; it's in her posture, standing up straight, looking Emily in the eye. "Colonel then," Eight understands, and it is charged--but Eight doesn't press the difference to hostility. Not right now, anyway. Not in front of her... daughter?
"...Rhella Kan Zeitun's lab," Eight answers. "In Neo-Zeon. It's long closed now, of course. Zeitun's in prison. ....You?"
Eight comes back, and offers a hand to shake. "I should still not take up your time with Aurora here... but if you're going to give me a proper introduction, I'll respect that, too."
"I'm glad we're in neutral territory."
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
Emily, too, transforms. She was fairly casual then; it doesn't entirely disappear, but her bearing changes to 'professional'.
Something comes over Aurora, too. Her behaviour doesn't change, but... her stance definitely does. She focuses, and becomes a little more professional as well. A little warier. But the feeling of you're like me doesn't vanish. "Neo-Zeon, huh... Axis, right?" Aurora's answer to Eight's question is less expository, mainly because naming whose lab would be incriminating. "Augusta. There were a few others, but that was the first one, I think... It was when I was really young." There's something else, too, as Aurora ponders whether SHE should introduce herself. "...Do I introduce myself here?"
Back to Emily, a half-second passes before she firmly takes Eight's hand and shakes it. Emily is very good at being hard to read... but yes, her feelings about this are mixed. Which, at least, means some of them are positive. "...It was enjoyable," she eventually settles on.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Eight, for all that she's a politicial now, doesn't seem that different--just a little crisper, a little taller. And she's already very tall. She notices the change in the two of them, and it's unfortunate, but... "That's right," Eight says. "Axis. I was involved in Gryps, before my parents got me out of there."
Back to Aurora, further, at Augusta. "I see. Well, I'm happy you're not there anymore."
Colonel... and Aurora... hm. "I already know your name, so you don't have to," Eight answers, and then looks back to Emily.
"It was," Eight agrees. "Take care of yourselves."
With that, she makes to go.
If, not long after, a few others in the crowd make their way after her, that's probably not a surprise, considering.
<Pose Tracker> Aurora Dusk has posed.
...well, Aurora isn't at Augusta RIGHT NOW. Eight will have to be happy with that, she thinks. Definitely not someone who she can let know about it.
"You too," Emily responds. Aurora echoes it after a little while.
As the two get up to leave, a few others begin doing so. Their own security.
"...What were you talking about?" Aurora turns to face Emily, once Eight is gone.
"Oh, just... a few things. The hockey game. Children."
Aurora turns back to look at Eight's retreating form. Is that one of her enemies...?
Part of her hopes not.
Less enemies is better than more, Emily thinks. And if she were completely honest with her feelings...
...she'd prefer 'with' to 'against'.