>>5235912Shaking the thought from your mind, you take the helm in reconfiguring the Roost into a proper conference space. You settle on augmenting the vast balcony with a lengthier table than your usual fare, complete with leather seats stuffed with FuzzBuzz down encircling the calcite tableau with enough space for some of your larger guests.
“Now that everyone’s settled, while I’d like to hear out what everyone wants to do next, there are a few topic of note I’d like to cover, first.” You begin once the last of your number takes their seat, and you address Cassandra and Director Pendra, to start. “Do the remaining Dissociated have a place to stay, now that the rocket has launched? If not, where can we get them set up?”
“That was a concern we aimed to address ourselves, dear.” Cassandra serenely replies. “We would not place the burden of our continued existence on-“
“Laoc.” Jeraha swiftly interrupts. “We’d welcome you, if you’d be willing to bring your tech-spertice to bear in helping us expand sustainably.”
“Oh?” Pendra leans forward, intrigued. “What did you have in mind?”
“We may have to start building vertically, but I want an engineer on hand to help supervise the construction” Jeraha explains, holding Pendra’s eye with her own stony gaze. “Given the influx of Daughters we’ve got coming from all corners of the country, it’s either that or horizontally, and the reinforcements we’ve recently made to the outer gates aren’t something that’re easily moved.”
“If I may be so bold—why the sudden surge in numbers?” Dorian asks as he pulls out the seat he’s reserved for Julia.
“Seems that ever since a certain someone made peace with the one who nearly toppled our fine city, we’re a hot new locale on everyone’s radars. Though I suspect someone’s been advertising us, as of late.”
Jeraha shoots you a look as Ziz happily exclaims; “Oh! Oh, it’s Shu! You’re talking about Shu!”
“Indeed I am.” Laoc’s mayor hums, still eyeing the thunderbird with mild suspicion before turning to Cassandra. “We can talk more privately, but the offer’s on the table.”
“Then it’s one I’ll take. You have my thanks, dear.” Cassandra gives one of her whole-body nods across the table before rotating to face you. “We can iron out the details after all this—what is next on the agenda, Dear Defiant?”
“Nerada.” You announce, her and Amara seizing up a few chairs to your far right as the mischievous pair cease their whispering. “What do you plan to do now, given our previous discussion?”
The young Hive Mistress gives Amara a furtive glance before staring at the table, uncertain of how to reply in the moment until you speak once more. “You don’t have to tell me now, but I’d like to know when you’re ready.”
You think you hear a faint ‘thank you’ from Nerada, but Leviathan’s booming voice quickly fills the space.
(Continued)
