PT 014 Xho and Viex

You are back on the ship, as preparations are being made for the next take off. Sage and a few people are on the ground going to go speak to Gottfried's "host". Everyone else is sorting to business.

[10:32 PM]

Because things aren't ready yet, you're free to roam around and sort to what business you find most appropriate at the time.

Xho06/20/2020

*goes to check on Viex.*

USS Adventure06/20/2020

You find Dr. Viex in the med bay. They're...not quite themselves as you know them. Their usually pale skin is much redder and their hair more rigid.

Xho06/20/2020

... Doctor?

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "NOT--Commander...I'm sorry. Everything ok. I hope the healing agent I gave you is functional."

Xho06/20/2020

Extremely. The cuts and bruising are gone.

[10:41 PM]

... and I am now "out" as... not alive. So if there was any testing or experimentation you were interested in, that would be easier now. However, I am really here to ask if you are all right.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...testing would be great, actually. I am rather curious how you function relatively normally. Some form of necromancy, likely, but this is the most advanced I've seen."

Xho06/20/2020

*nods.*

[10:44 PM]

Whatever you would like.

[10:44 PM]

... you seemed distressed to meet your parent.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...Changeling parents are...not the same as most humanoids. ...although, I do understand our coupling method is...similar to drows in a few respects."

Xho06/20/2020

I know virtually nothing about your people. ... I *do* know about having *difficult* parents, regrettably.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "We are often born to multiple...for lack of a better term, let's call them fathers. Those who spread seed but cannot get pregnant. But only one mother, one of our kind who can be impregnated. As a result, that parent is known to be a bit...invested in the child. And have certain expectations."

[10:48 PM]

Viex: "Expectations I never lived to."

Xho06/20/2020

Mine wanted me to go into politics.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "I'm so sorry to hear that."

Xho06/20/2020

... if you failed to meet your parent's expectations, I can only conclude that said expectations were unreasonable. You have earned an extremely competitive position at a comparatively young age, and have made a number of advances in many fields even in the past three months alone.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "I have. ...but my mother doesn't really approve of arcane, research-based forms of healing. She's a worshipper of Pelor and believes only in...religious healing."

[10:54 PM]

Viex: "But worst of all...I don't blend! Because apparently it's a crime to just...like what you actually look like!"

Xho06/20/2020

... is that socially frowned-upon for changelings? I feel you look fine? ... I do enjoy your use of makeup, it is visually interesting.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "Shapeshifting is considered a gift, especially in religious tribes like she was raised in. Shifting was how we escaped capture and execution. While that's not a fear now, it's meant to be used to express ourselves, present emotionally and spiritually."

[10:59 PM]

Viex: "But...I find it uncomfortable."

[11:00 PM]

Viex: "I most often feel best like this, and find "expressing myself" in that way dishonest."

Xho06/20/2020

Then you should not. Surely expressing yourself should be done accurately?

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "That's what my father Disen said. But mom...she thinks I'm just ashamed of being a changeling."

Xho06/20/2020

... if you were, you would have chosen a different form to stay in, surely.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex nods. "Mother is just...very stubborn."

Xho06/20/2020

I know it is not the same, but for what it is worth, you have exceeded my expectations. If you would like, I could attempt to speak with your mother, though I am not sure it would help.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "You are also free to explain it to a brick wall, but I doubt you'll make much headway. My father Ting was right, I need to learn to just meet my own expectations."

[11:08 PM]

Viex: "Now, I just need them to stop...trying to mend the fences."

Xho06/20/2020

Perhaps the fences should be mended. A fence is simply a boundary put in place to enforce the limits between two spaces. Your mother may at some point become willing to... agree to disagree. Which would create an effective boundary that both of you could honor.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "I believe the boundary of the planar barrier was sufficient."

Xho06/20/2020

I would have thought so as well, but clearly it is a small multiverse.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...so it would seem."

[11:12 PM]

((Out of curiosity...have you figured out the naming convention I gave all of Viex's parents?))

Xho06/20/2020

((Nope.))

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...well...they seem to be sticking with Dr. Forgewight's mom...who seems to be sticking with us. ...maybe I'll find a way to talk to them without imaging punching them in the face."

[11:14 PM]

((Maybe it'll help if I use their proper spellings. Tos. Tng. Dsn.))

Xho06/20/2020

((Aww, that's cute. I thought maybe it was something like dissenting something.))

1

[11:15 PM]

Feel free to imagine if it helps. .... and if there is anything I can do, please let me know.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...if you see my mother and me talking, feel free to back me up or call me away."

Xho06/20/2020

*nods.*

[11:17 PM]

I will certainly do so.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex smiles at you.

Xho06/20/2020

*smiles in return, just a tiny tiny bit.*

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...thank you for checking in on me. Most people aboard do not speak to me unless it is a professional matter...except for Vlad. ...he seems...very friendly."

Xho06/20/2020

Many people are afraid of doctors, that is probably why. Vlad is... gregarious. Have you considered working with him? There are liminal spaces between your disciplines that are not well-explored.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "We share work space and we have consulted. But our fields are not especially well designed to intermingle."

Xho06/20/2020

Platypi are not well-designed to exist, and yet they do. .... somehow.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...I could actually give you an extensive history of the biological necessities that led to the platypus, but the intention of your metaphor is noted."

Xho06/20/2020

I would like to hear that at some point. They seem *excessively* improbable.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...with all due respect, the improbability of any of us is absolutely mind boggling. There are so many bizarre factors in the drow physiology alone that only make sense in the context of your environment and likely evolutionary descendants. ...to grossly oversimplify, biology is absolutely bug nuts, ma'am."

Xho06/20/2020

It is.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex nods.

Xho06/20/2020

... still, I think Von Kemp might be persuaded toward useful research. One cannot possibly pray *all* day.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...he likely can be."

Xho06/20/2020

It is only a suggestion. Do with it what you will.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex nods. "Understood, commander."

Xho06/20/2020

Thank you for your work here. I hope it will continue, but in the event that the roster is changed, I have greatly valued your efforts in both practical day-to-day healing and also in moving the discipline forward.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "...thank you, Commander. ...I do hope we continue working together."

Xho06/20/2020

Me too. Now, I will let you get back to your work. Let me know when would be a convenient time to be poked and prodded. I have no objections.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "I will keep a spot open in my schedule. Do you know if you are immune to vivisection?"

Xho06/20/2020

I am not sure, but I do hope anaesthesia will be involved if we make the attempt.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Viex: "I have a number of sedatives. We can learn."

Xho06/20/2020

*nods.*

[11:38 PM]

We will.

[11:38 PM]

*heads out, and does go to find Aevarnis.*