NationStates Jolt Archive

Habakkuk had spent a few days being brought up to speed on the situation in the Basin; the internal politics, the external politics, names, faces, titles, topography; everything a diplomat might need. Most of this information was learned while his body was incubating and his mind was rapidly racing towards sentience, but refresher courses were always a good thing, especially since he'd be too far away from home for instantaneous communications to verify some bit of trivia or policy. Joshua could easily learn Elijah's wishes, as he was in the same complex. Even Ruth up in Nod and Ezekiel over in Brahms could speak with Elijah without delay; Habakkuk wouldn't have that luxury. He was first travelling to Earth, and then, hopefully, to Titan space. Periodic updates would be simple enough, but he needed the groundwork to be able to make decisions with confidence as opposed to linking to Elijah's mind for the answer.

He whispered softly to himself as his shuttle (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/Tindalos/DoGA%20Work/Shuttle.jpg) rocketed towards Earth, "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun...*"

---

In a shockingly brief amount of time, the engines crafted by Absolute Light had propelled Habakkuk to Earth orbit. He was soundly shocked at the number of satellites, space stations, and the like hovering over the queer blue-green planet. A few brief keystrokes and he patched himself into one of the Dominion's satellites, transmitting over the NDA secured code.


Greetings to whichever Dominion spook is monitoring this message. I am Habakkuk arriving on behalf of Elijah of the Caloris Basin. I fear my arrival may not have been announced, but in light of our recent maintainance work on your fleet, I would like to request an audiance with someone of... suitable stature.

I will follow this satellite's orbit until you are able to get back to me with landing coordinates. Again, I apologise for my uncouth arrival, but we are still learning nuance.
* Psalm 19:4

One of many comm centers in Devras


<< Did we get all that?

<< Affirmative. Re-routing through PR, tagging it green. Responding appropriately. Notify the fleet and DIA of incoming.

<< On it.

Quick, efficient, and to the point. No time was wasted in making the connections to the proper office, and a polite answer was relayed back to the visiting entity.

Welcome to the Dominion, Ambassador Habakkuk. Devras International has been notified, and is preparing to recieve you at the attached coordinates. We always have room for friends. Preparing to patch you through to the government offices - hope you enjoy your stay.

------------------------------------

In said offices, Gianfigliazzi Building, Old City Devras


"... so I explained to her how we had already established that my level of education far out weighs her own. I mean really. No ego here, but I took it in school. You have to study statistics in Political Science. I'm working on my Masters, you know. And she, well ... she probably only finished primary due to the good grace of some kind-hearted professors."

The young man sitting in the cubicle next to the near endlessly prattling woman, let out a quiet sigh, looking every inch the martyr as he hunched down over his keyboard, and continued to type up an interoffice memorandum that had come down from Evangelista. He made efforts at an acknowledging grunt or murmur, just letting her go on as he usually did.

Why, oh why won't they let me switch with someone else? Surely a year of Stefania is enough punishment for one man? Leo pondered with an inward groan, as the sharp-faced woman launched into her next slew of insults against her current target - one Madalena from payroll who had dared question the self-appointed Queen Bee's timecard. She was known for stretching her breaks and fiddling with her log in and log out times, while shrilly condemning anyone else who looked to be out of line.

Not that she would ever admit it.

Running his hands through his hair, he then hunched down further, wondering if it were possible for the earth to just swallow him up and end his suffering. Fate, it seemed, was listening for a change. Leo was saved from further agony as Stefania's phone rang, and she answered it with her usual 'charm'.

"Buon giorno, office of Public Relations, Stefania De Rosa, speaking. Please have all of your contact information and references prepared before continuing on. We are terribly busy."

Oh gods, that woman ... I begin to understand why she no longer works in Calabrese's office, Leo thought, wincing as she continued. He remembered well enough how that particular conversation had gone when she had been asked about the transfer.

"I quit, every one knows that. I was not forced out, I was not fired. Had I not quit I would be an assitant there to this day. I know what goes on in the top eschelons of this government, believe it. I lost interest and quit. Not to mention the breach of ethics two of those backstabbing liars committed."

It wasn't her fault, of course. There was always something, and it was always someone else who made her do what she did. Such as the situation currently brewing, so it seemed.

"Excuse me? What do you mean 'you're here and would like to arrange a meeting'? We prefer a bit more advance notice, you know. It's quite rude to show up unannounced and just expect to speak to the Imperatrice. I should know - I've been in meetings with her. She has absolutely no patience for this sort of thing."

Leo risked looking over, observing it unfold as one might a train wreck in slow motion. Horrified, but unable to overcome the morbid fascination he'd developed over the past year of watching her operate.

Her sculpted brows were drawn in a frown, lips that would normally be found rather appealing, pursed in a pinched sort of shrewish expression. Clearly, she was not pleased by what she was hearing, and was gearing up to give whatever unfortunate being was on the other end of the line a piece of her mind on it.

"Don't tell me how to do my job, sir. I was voted the best operator in the department, I'll have you know. After working in the government for a few years, I think I ought to know what goes on, and how things work," she snapped, her scowl ruining what ought to be a decidedly pretty face. Leo leaned in, thinking he could almost make out the voice on the other end over her headset.

"Well, congratulations, but I fail to see how that is germaine to my current situation, which is your refusal to grant me access. Might we talk about that?"

Stefania straightened in her chair, looking smug, if more than a little angry. "We might. Why don't you give me your contact information as I requested you have ready at the begining of this conversation, and I will see what can be done. I'm the only one who really does any work around here anyway, so you should count yourself lucky I'm the one who answered your call." She took out a pen and a memo pad, and quickly jotted the information as given, rolling her eyes and acting as though this were the most boring, useless task in the world, then repeated it all back to confirm.

"Yes, yes - of course I'll send this right along to the Imperatrice, though I wouldn't hold your breath. She is a very busy woman, after all, and isn't one to just see people at the drop of a hat. I've worked here long enough to know. Mmmhmm ... yes. Yes, that's right. Yes, yes ... ciao!" With a long-suffering sigh, she disconnected the call, tore the memo from the pad, and promptly tossed it in the garbage.

"I am so not going to sit and take that from some sniveling foreigner," she explained to Leo, tilting her chin up in a vague approximation of the imperious look the leader got now and then. "Mark my words, Leo. You won't get anywhere in life letting people walk over you. That's a fact! Hold down the fort, will you? I need to get away from my desk after all of that."

Leo nodded, watching her walk off towards the break room, then fishing the memo out of her waste bin, smoothing it out carefully.

Caloris Basin ... Oh. OH! Oh damn, she'd want to know about that. What the hell was she thinking? Even I've heard about some of what went on up there. We owe those people the Angels, for chrissakes!

Carefully, he re-wrote the information in his own neat hand on a fresh memo, let one of the others know where he was going, and made his way to the upper offices, post-haste, stopping at the desk of Nathicana's personal secretary.

"Miss Else, I believe this is a message the Imperatrice would want to have as soon as possible. Would you please see that she gets it? There's a visitor from Caloris Basin in town hoping for a bit of her time."

"What an unpleasant woman..." Habakkuk was rather stunned at the responce he'd received. He would have expected a person from the Diplomatic Corps to be, well, diplomatic. He shook his head slowly, not really holding it against the... well, he wasn't quite sure what to call them. Dominionites? Dread Ladyites? The Dominated Ones? Nathi-lovers? He pondered this for awhile until his craft's on-board computer beeped that he really should take manual control of it, if he didn't mind.

He pitched the craft into the upper atmosphere, the friction induced heat from re-entry barely even registering on the external thermometers. When one lived on Mercury, one built for extreme temperatures. He effortlessly followed the instructions that were, eventually, passed on to him. For a minute he was afraid that he'd been completely blown off, but he'd eventually talked to a much nicer person who gave him all the information he needed.

The black shuttle landed with barely a noise in the designated area. The whole back half of the vessel was taken up with various propulsion and fuel systems, including a very primative high c-frac drive. This was not a craft designed for comfort, but a LiME's idea of 'comfortable' was considerably different than a human's.

Habakkuk stepped from the cockpit, looking very much like a mendicant: he wore flowing brown robes with a white blouse underneath. He wore no shoes or sandles, his alabaster feet hitting the ground soundlessly as he walked towards the representatives who were here to meet him. His white face was visible in the cowl, but the robe easily hid his wings, simply making his back look slightly bulky.

Evangelista approaches the curiously-garbed man, giving the jacket of her simple business ensemble a firm tug to straighten it, the usual security detail already fanned out and keeping a quiet watch - more for the saftey of both Minister and guest, than for any real concern that Habakkuk himself may be a danger. Word had been sent down the wire, it seemed. Her long straight skirt show but a flash of ankle beneath the dark material as she briskly walks toward him, the side slits low and modest. She was by Dominion standards an attractive woman, though she didn't seem to know it, more caught up in simply looking tidy and professional than appealing, though to some it was one and the same.

"My apologies for the delay," Evangelista says smoothly, offering him an honest smile and her hand in greeting, while nervously shifting a stray lock of long brown hair back behind her ear with the other hand. "If you would care to join me, I'll have the transport take us back to the offices where we can more comfortably discuss, and meet with the Imperatrice, who sends her regards. I trust your trip was a pleasant one?"

Habakkuk bowed respectfully, the action pulling the robe against his back slightly, making the 'something' under the robe more distinct. He gestured deferentially, letting Evangelista take the lead. The LiMEs of the Basin tended to be incapable of grasping the concept of small talk, so when asked of his trip, Habakkuk pondered deeply for a moment.

"The trip went reasonably well, I suppose. The trip from Mercury to Earth is rather long, especially considering the speed of my craft. I'm afraid we haven't studied propulsion all that much." He smiled, "Forgive my tangent. At any rate, the trip did give me time to read up on your country as well as see some quite nice photographs." He thought briefly again, "I would have to say that, on the whole, the trip was quite enjoyable. Talked with a rather rude individual when I arrived, but I suppose that could be blamed on my rather unorthodox method of first contact. For that, I apologise. Still learning social mores."

He paused and blinked as a bit of data filtered through his brain. He smiled, slightly amused, "But that is a far more verbose answer than you were expecting, wasn't it?"

Evangelista smiled, looking away for a moment with a quiet laugh. "Verbose is not an unwelcome thing, by any stretch. Let me apologize for the lack of professionalism on the part of the woman you mentioned. The appropriate actions will be taken, I assure you. I only hope that she hasn't given you a skewed view of our people on account."

Though she was decidedly curious about his appearance, she wasn't quite sure yet how to broach the subject, so opted to give it a bit more time before enquiring, though subtle glances and questioning looks would likely not be missed now and then. "I'm pleased your trip went well. But more to point," she said, leading him to the awaiting vehicle, "is the question of what has brought you here so unexpectedly. Has there been a problem with the fleet? Have one or more of our people caused offense there? A problem with the Order? We are very much appreciative to you and yours for all of the assistance you've already rendered. I think we would have lost many had it not been for your intervention. It would be poor repayment of your kindness to ignore any reasonable requests you have for us in turn."

Habakkuk smiled slightly, his white face was largely hidden by the cowl, but he turned his head toward Evangelista to maintain eye contact. "Ah, I'm pleased to hear that." He grinned a little, "People tend to take social interactions for granted, and it's difficult to tell how to respond at times. After all, I'm only about five weeks old." He retreated into himself at the mention of his first contact being diciplined, "I hope the punishment is not too severe, perhaps a simple... 'training course'." He mused softly, "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.1 No need to worry, however. I'm not one to judge a nation based soley on one low level government employee."

As they walked, he was aware -- vaguely -- of her subtle glances towards his attire. He wasn't quite sure what had possessed him to dress as a friar, he had been interested in accomplishing two goals: disguising his "default" appearance, and not offending sensibilities by wandering about nude. The robe had seemed ideal for both goals, and seemed to fit his temperment. At times it was a surreal experience: being fully aware of you own personality growth.

He shook his head at her questions, raising his hands to calm her, "No, no... there is nothing bad going on up on Nod. Everything is in Ruth's capable hands, and everything seems to be running smoothly. I believe it is more work than she expected, but she's just as dedicated and singleminded as Elijah is," he grinned slightly. He smiled at Evangelista, "No, my presence here is a much more... cordial affair. I'm here to ask a favor, actually. While this could have been done over standard NDA channels, Elijah felt it was better to do in person." He smiled, "Besides, Earth's on my way anyway, and it's nice to have a break while travelling to Titan..."

1: Psalm 130:4 (King James Version)

"A relief to hear," Evangelista said, smiling in return at his reassurances, though she had trouble relating to the 'only five weeks old' comment, regardless of intel on the nature of the Caloris folk. As she got settled in comfortably, and waited for her guest to do the same within the overly-spacious confines of the comfortable limo, she opened the mini bar with both alcoholic and non selections, and the roll-up cover to the nook containing some light refreshment in the way of Dominion confections.

"I shouldn't worry about it, truly. I'm certain everything will be taken into account when the time comes to speak with her. I am however glad that there isn't, for once, any disaster looming on the horizon. I think we've all had enough of that to last us a good while. Titan, however ... and cordial requests? An interesting combination. Perhaps something to drink and nibble on whilst we discuss this 'favor'? The drive isn't terribly long, and I think in the interest of time and comfort, we'll take one of the boats rather than the more leisurely gondola, at least this time."

One would expect a LiME to have cat-like relaxation abilities. Just as cats can nearly pour themselves into most any place, a LiME could literally do so. Habakkuk, on the other hand, seemed incapable of relaxing. He didn't look uptight or tense, he simply had impossibly perfect posture; the type Miss Manners would kill for. It was a little difficult to tell if was because he hadn't learned how to relax, or if he simply wasn't concerned about things such as comfort. The latter was probably more accurate.

The truth, of course, was that folded up wings made slouching rather unpleasant.

He smiled as Evangelista described the current calm, nonchalantly waving off refreshment, "Yes, it seems that the dominion has more than its share of... excitement." He grinned slightly, "Part of the reason I left Caloris immediately was the... nonsense there." He rolled his golden eyes dramatically, "Seems everyone wants to go to there."

He paused briefly and smiled a little, "On second thought, perhaps a small bit of wine would be nice..."

Evangelista couldn't remember the last person she'd been around who seemed so rigid, and yet, so pleasant all at once. It wasn't his manner that made him seem 'stiff' by any stretch - it was how he carried himself. Carefully, at times? Perhaps the man had some condition she was unaware of. It would be rude to draw attention, of course, so she tried to proceed and not take ... well, too much notice, though her eyes did flicker over him curiously now and then, more than was warranted.

"Nonsense indeed," she agreed, pouring the delicately-flavoured red wine with a smile. "Your people have been the only sane residents there thus far that we've seen. From the former residents, bless their scaly hides, to your current neighbors and their ... merry band." She paused, handing over his glass to him before pouring herself a modest serving as well.

"All things considered, I wouldn't doubt that the Dominion will be pleased to do what we can to assist you in your endeavors. The details, of course, will needs be left to N...The Imperatrice's discretion, but I don't forsee any difficulties. I daresay it would be a pleasure to return in some measure the favor of assistance to those who have so graciously assisted us."

Habakkuk smiled slightly; he seemed wholly undisturbed by Evangelista's curiosity in his appearance, he figured that he easily earned a once-over. At first he had assumed that the robe would shield him from unwelcome glances, but it seemed to generate its own. Deciding to ease her curiosity a little he flipped back the cowl: as she might have expected, his face was the same alabaster color as his hands. One could probably consider him a handsome man, if you got past the nondescript facial features, gloden eyes, and bone-white skin. He looked like a thirty year old male, but, seriously, age was rather irrelevant.

He accepted the wine, smiling slightly as he softly murmured, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in1" He smiled self consciously, "Sorry, seems to be an odd habit I picked up somewhere." He relaxed slightly as he pondered what to say next, "I realise this will need to pass through the Imperatrice; however, if I understand your position, it would be horribly uncouth for me to not inform you as well." He grinned, "Besides, conversation makes trips go much faster.

"To start, a brief update from Mercury. Repairs are moving along perfectly well. Ruth gives new meaning to 'tireless'. Elijah is also in the process of... ah... 'rearranging' the dome system in the Basin proper: opening up more land for 'other' uses. Since the CSF seems to have no trouble selling land to anybody with a check book, Elijah has decided to lease a bit of his own as well." He grinned almost cat-like, "Let your imagination run wild.

"This is not why I'm here, of course. We have much more ambitious plans than simply loaning out sun-blasted shale. Which is why I'm pleased at the Dominion's stance. The Basin is interested in letting it be known where its sympathies lie, and more than a little interested in tipping the scales in our favor vis-a-vis Mercury." He chuckled softly, "Flowery speaches aside, Elijah has instructed me to request, from you and yours, sponsorship for membership in the Triumverate of Yut."


1: Matthew 25:35

The woman's eyes widened only slightly as he revealed more of his features, her curiousity if anything, piqued even more. Exotic races and peoples had become more common, at least in the larger cities, and especially in Devras over the years. Yet here was something entirely new. And intriguing.

She hadn't missed the fact that he often quoted scripture, let alone the names he and his fellow Basin folk had chosen.

"Please, no apologies," she assured him, smiling a bit more, seeming to relax perhaps just a little as she sipped her wine, and listened to his reports.

Evangelista nodded in understanding, her smile taking a wry twist as he spoke about his 'neighbors', though one brow arched up in response to his comment on 'imagination'. She found these days, with so many things that had seemed impossible at their fingertips, she and her fellow Dominion folk could imagine quite a bit. The status of the fleet brought a more grateful smile to her lips, and she thanked him, and Ruth in absentia, on account.

Given his hints earlier, the request did not come as a surprise, but her pleased smile conveyed her opinion on it before she even spoke. "I for one would be honored to do so, Habakkuk. And if I've read things aright, I believe the Imperatrice will feel much the same. I daresay you won't have long to wait for an answer - there's the docks. Shall we, then?"

The car came to a gentle stop, and the driver opened the door, offering Evangelista his hand, which she accepted with a polite nod and quiet thanks. She waited for her guest to join her, then lead him down the short walk to the waiting motorboat - the fastest way to the Piazza di San Bernardi, where the government offices were located.

Once everyone was comfortably seated, it didn't take long, the boat skipping across the gentle waves of the bay, sending up white spray that caught the sun now and then in little flashes of color.

They docked along the worn stonework steps that lead down to the water along the Giardini ex Genovese, a beautiful park with lush grass, mature trees and bushes in full bloom, and a myriad of native flowers and plants, all combined in pleasant harmony. Behind it, and across another small canale, was the Gianfigliazi building - their destination.

She lead them east, down and around the Libreria Sansovino, one of the oldest buildings on the Piazza, housing a good many of the old manuscripts of the city, as well as newer editions.

The Piazza itself was, as usual, bustling with life. From the usual locals going about their business, to the tourists making their way through the shops or visiting the many points of interest in this historical location, or simply enjoying lunch in outdoor seating to the north, people of various backgrounds, nations, and races could be seen.

Evangelista took the opportunity to point out the more prominent points of interest, including the Doge's Palace, the Campanile di San Bernardi - the old bell tower, the Bascillica, and the Torretta delle Ore clock tower as they made their way around and back west to the government building entrances.

Inside was as might be expected, with high bay ceilings, and beautiful arched entryways, along with proudly-displayed relics of the city - various works of art being the most prominent, though here and there could be seen examples of ancient armors or melee weapons behind sealed cases. In a position of honor in the center of the hall directly in front of the entrance was a four foot high replica of Il Cavallo - a gracious gift from Alcona and Hubris on Nathicana's coronation.

The Minister guides her guest through the hallways, nodding to security who let the two pass without comment. She continues up a set of stairs, the wall where they turn and continue up decorated in a fine tapestry of days long gone by. She continues to make note of little things of interest as they walk, trying to answer any questions he may have, though her footsteps never falter, continuing on with a purpose to the office at the back.

A pleasant looking woman who looks to be in her early thirties sits at a desk in a comfortable office just inside the first door. Her surprisngly blonde hair is done up in an impeccably neat bun, though the style is not rigid in the least. "[i]Buon giorno[i]," she says, rising to meed them both, smiling warmly. Her accent is clearly not native Dominion, sounding more Germanic in nature than anything. "The Imperatrice has been expecting you. Please, right this way."

The woman walks around her desk to open a door along the far wall, making a brief bow at the shoulders and gesturing for them to go right on in.

"Thank you, Else," Evangelista says, then leads the way into the room where a short, raven-haired woman is just rising from her comfortable seat behind a mahogany desk.

"Welcome to the Dominion, Habakkuk. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please, make yourselves comfortable," Nathicana says, nodding to the two chairs in front of the desk, while Else quietly pours three glasses of water from an iced pitcher already in present. "I understand there is something you wished to discuss?"

Habakkuk was looking a little more relaxed himself. Looking, being the operative word. While the LiME's body settled into a more natural posture, the distributed processors in his body were working over time. Designed for diplomatic work, he was rapidly shifting into the archetype. His voice was adopting a slight Dominion accent, the likes of which one would expect from someone who, while not a native, had spent a few years in a foreign locale. His body language was subtly adjusting to what, again, one would expect from someone who had spent a good deal of time in a given country: such as more head movement, and a greater use of the hands while talking. His facial features were still somewhat muted, largely because of his unnatural eyes and skin tone. His base form remained unchanged, however. He was still a towering seven feet tall, and still had his wings, even if they were hidden by his robe. Method of espression was one thing: anyone would change that over time, but the concept of self was much harder to overwrite.

He flipped up his cowl before quietly slipping from the car as they reached their destination. Unlike many tall people, he was perfectly at ease with his body and didn't exhibit any of the normal awkwardness usually associated with excess height. Granted, much of it could be attributed to his fluid nature, but he still seemed perfectly at ease; the very definition of lithe.

He took in the sights, making brief comments and asking questions on each even as he accessed various data networks to pull up even more information to flesh out what Evangelista told him.

The water fascinated him. As the boat skimmed rapidly over it, he reached out, running his fingers through the water, pulling his hand back and peering quizically at the beeding droplets. He knew what it was, of course, but he only had the most academic understanding of it; actually seeing it, touching it, was a completely new experience: he looked almost like a child at a petting zoo for the first time.

He was also fascinated by the Torretta delle Ore tower, slowing down briefly as he pause to look at it. His eyes squinted slightly as he studied it, before snapping out of his reverie with a weak smile to Evangelista, "Beautiful architecture. Things are more... utilitarian back in the Basin." He grinned a little before walking with her again.

Habakkuk simply returned Else's bow with one of his own, giving a soft greeting of his own, and soon found himself inside Nathicana's office. Had he believed the most unpleasant person he'd first talked to, he would have been surprized to find himself here. As it was, he was pretty much right on schedule. Back inside and out of the public eye, he once again dropped his hood as he took a seat.

He smiled at Nathicana, "Thank you for meeting with me, Imperatrice. I apologise for arriving on such short notice." He gave a wry grin, "We are still getting used to operating of the time-tables of others." He accepted a glass from Else, peering at the water ever so briefly and taking a sip. Drinking was not something he had any need for, but the process interested him: the cool liquid flowing over his tongue and the slight cooling feeling as he 'swallowed' the water. Swallowing, of course, was just a matter of creating a temporary throat so that the water could leave his mouth. Not having internal organs, there was nowhere for the water to go, his body simply ripping the molecules apart and releasing the raw elements as he spoke.

"First, old business. Things are progressing remarkably well on Nod with your fleet. Ruth even managed, somehow, to salvage the soldati. They are still... ah... 'damaged goods', but they did not need to be euthanized. She will have a full report when she is finished, of course, but I thought you might appretiate the update.

"Next, as you may be aware, there have been some stunning changes on Mercury. With the CSF's separation from the Order proper, the Order's hardline on Mercury no longer exists. Unfortunately, this means that Mercury is slowly turning into Mars or Neptune. Anyone with a large enough checkbook seems to be able to buy most anything they want. Luckily, our holdings are still quite secure." He grinned, "It seems we have developed a reputation for being willing and able to annihilate anyone who messes with us." He shrugged, "Probably because the Seraphim were unwilling to try to seize our land. I guess it makes us look... what is the phrase? 'Rawr'?

"At any rate, Elijah is realigning our structures in the Basin itself, creating more open land that will be open for lease by... interested parties." He smiled slyly, "For 'listening stations', 'research zones', or 'tourist outposts', if you will."

He smiled, taking a drink of water, letting the subtext sink in. He leaned back slightly, his wings preventing anything further. Setting the glass down, he continued, "However, all of that is simple a situational update, and not the purpose of my visit.

"It is, of course, part of our motivation for our humble request." He straightened up a little, "Mercury is a dreary little ball of shale, whipping around a blazing star. It has little to offer us, save the fact that it is our home, and that we were created for it. Unfortunately, our neighbors are less than desireable. If nothing else, we have so little in common, we cannot relate on any meaningful level. While Elijah would never leave his home, he does realise that we need to branch out; the soon-to-be-created outpost on Neptune is part of this new motivation. It is just a start, however. There are more substantial steps that must be taken. Friendships must be forged, allies found, networks created. The Solar Giants are an amusing aside, and unimaginally powerful, but... it is hard to relate to masses of sentient plasma. A more organic tack is needed.

"After the Hack and the Commune of Absolute Light, our strongest ties are with your country, Imperatrice. The Hack, while our creator, cannot help us in this, and the Commune's connection to the Co-Prosperity Sphere is tenuous at best. Therefore, I have been sent here, on behalf of Elijah, to formally request that you and the Dominion officially sponsor us for admission into the Triumverate of Yut."

Nathicana takes the opportunity to more closely study the Caloris representative as he speaks, quite honest in her curiousity in both his appearance and manner. Her understanding of what exactly a LiME was, was understandably limited. The reports she'd had from the fleet illustrated exceptional abilities - she nods in recognition as he mentioned Ruth, who had been a prime example, though chooses to wait until he finishes before addressing each point.

For her part, Evangelista sits quietly, able to more fully observe Habakkuk now that his attention was focused on the Imperatrice. A subtle smile plays across her lips now and then, for no discernable reason, the occasional slight tilt of her head giving away her quiet contemplations.

"We cannot begin to thank you and yours enough for the support and assistance with our fleet - especially Ruth and her tireless efforts. Our people have had nothing but the highest praise and admiration, I assure you. We are indebted." There was a subtle emphasis on that last word. Very subtle.

"As for Mercury, yes, we had noticed. A pity you seem to have attracted so much..." she gestures vaguely, looking away for a moment as if pretending to search for the right words. "Riff-raff to your quiet little corner of Sol. Now why that hot little ball of rock has attracted the interest of so many carbetbaggers with more money than sense is beyond me. Alas, for the CSF. Dimmi con chi vai chi ti diro chi sei,, no? A man is known by the company he keeps."

"As for your reputation, even if it had no teeth to it," Nathicana says with a grin, clearly indicating she believes Caloris to have all the bite it needs to go with it's bark, "perception is, they say, everything. Which leads to your next points - that of both real and implied support and connections. This idea of 'research zones' intrigues me. I'm quite certain that our Science Minister, Pacci, would be thrilled to have such opportunities available to the Dominion scientific community."

"As for tourism, I'm sure you know as well as I that where there is money available for spending, people will spend it. I could see such arrangements providing a lucrative option for both our nations. Thus far our traffic hasn't seemed to bother your 'neighbors' in the least. Certainly, if they are so willing to invite every territory-hungry leech in the multiverse, they should have no problem with a bit of increased traffic from ourselves, no?" The raven-haired woman smiles serenely, managing to look not unlike the cat who just ate the canary.

She grows more serious as she addresses the last, and most important topic, however. "More to the point, I would be honored to sponsor Caloris for acceptance into the Triumvirate. I anticipate that we will not be the only ones quite happy to throw immediate support to your petition. All recent assistance aside, I would feel confident in the information via our ties with The Hack, and in our intel on Caloris to do this. The opportunity to in some small part attempt to with clear conscience assist in your endeavors only sweetens the deal. I can have a missive prepared later today for the council, if that suits your needs."

By this time, Habakkuk was getting used to odd looks, and he decided they weren't worth concerning himself over. He was vaguely aware of Evangelista looking him over. While his primary optic sensors were his eyes, he had a strange 'peripheral vision' through his exposed skin. Not enough to have a complete 360 degree field of vision, but enough to be aware of what was around him. It was similar to a person's ability to tell when they're being stared at, but more intentional in nature. Of course, he could have simply 'grown' another eye, but he wasn't that curious, and really didn't feel like freaking out his guests like that.

He smiled thinly at Nathicana's interpretation of his views of Mercury's current state, "I'm sure Elijah could tell you tales. Something about the Panmunjeon Accords and their comedic value. At any rate, I do believe we are seeing eye to eye on the 'situation'. Details can be fought over later, as that isn't my primary purpose in being here."

He smiled graciously, looking honestly thankful at Nathicana, "And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry.*" He bowed in his seat to Nathicana, "We are enternally grateful to you for your sponsorship, Imperatrice. This was important to Elijah even before the doors to Mercury were flung open, now it is even more pressing."

* Jeremiah 30:19a

"Excellent," Nathi said, looking mischievously pleased. "I admit, I would be lying if I said that those added pressures do not make this small favor just that much more gratifying. Now that we have business out of the way, is there anything else we can do for you? If your schedule allows, you should at least avail yourself of our hospitality. We would be pleased to have you."

Her eyes flickered towards Evangelista, one brow arching up ever so slightly. "In fact, if her schedule allows, perhaps Minister Ravanelli could act as your personal liason during your stay?"

The Minister in question started at the sound of her name, coming out of her reverie and blinking in momentary confusion. "I ah ... that is I would be ... um ... of course?" Her blush surely had everything to do with being caught offguard, and nothing more. Surely.

Habakkuk gave a slight, sly smile. Even with friends one didn't tip their hand too far, "As the great pirate Barbossa once said, 'We have an accord'." He closed his golden eyes briefly, possibly communicating with home, or perhaps simply pondering; it was hard to say, "Yes, that would be quite enjoyable." He smiled, "I would love to see more of your country. After all," slight grin, "I'm largely at the mercy of the Triumverate's diliberations at this point, aren't I?"

He gave a good natured chuckle at Evangelista being shocked out of intently staring at him, "She has been a charming hostess thus far. If she is free, and isn't sick of me, I would be honored to have her as my liason." He took another sip of his water, looking quite calm and only slightly bemused at the situation.

Nathicana rose from her seat, offering Habakkuk her hand, smiling. "Most excellent. Let's see what the Trium has to say over the next while. Relax, enjoy yourself. We can set you up with acommodations right here on the Piazzo, so as to provide you with more ready access to my offices so that we can hammer out the details as needed, and keep you apprised of the status of the application."

Evangelista rose as well, smoothing her skirt, blushing again at his compliments. "I--it would be my pleasure, truly. The ah, Palazzo?" she asks Nathicana.

"Yes, I think so. The corner room with the view of the bay and Piazzo would do nicely. Have Else make the arrangements and alert the staff. Tell me, Habakkuk - do you have any particular needs or requests? Please, don't hesitate to ask. We do pride ourselves on our hospitality, after all."

Habakkuk smiled, bowing slightly to the Dread Lady and took her offered hand, "That is most acceptable. I thank you for your assistance in this matter, and hope that your allies are as eager as you are for our inclusion."

He chuckled softly at Evangelista's responce; she had been so calm, cool and collected when they first met, and she was now almost stumbling for words. He couldn't imagine that she was flustered by being near Nathicana, but he wasn't the sort to attribute her reactions to his presence. He glanced from Evangelista to Nathicana, and gently shook his head, "No, LiMEs are rather low maintenance. I don't require food, sleep, water..." he paused, grinning slightly, "air..." He smiled, "However, I would certainly love to experience your city a little. What little I have seen so far has been wonderful."

He paused a moment, pondering, "Perhaps you could recommend a restaurant, however." He continued, so as to explain his apparent self-contradiction, "While I do not need food, I do have the ability to taste, and I have heard very good things about your cuisine."

Evangelista opted to explain the situation to Else, getting the arrangements going while Habakkuk and Nathicana spoke. He was interesting. No, more than interesting. She'd never met anyone quite like him. He was far different than what she had expected. Much more different even than S.H.O.D.A.N., and they had all become more accustomed to seeing her about now and then, given her close ties to the Imperatrice.

He just seems so -real-. This made her stop and blink. Of course he was 'real'. It's not as though he were a figment of her imagination. Real? What did that mean? More human? Yes, he had human characteristics to a point, but there was much more to him than met the eye, she was certain. And his habit of quoting scripture ... why did that send a pleasant little chill through her? And how was it she felt so flustered at the proposal of spending more time with him? It didn't make any sense at all.

Not in her mind at least.

Nathicana, meanwhile, was taking the opportunity to mention some of her suggested points of interest, depending on his preferences.

"There's much more than can be seen in a single afternoon. But, whatever your interests, I'm certain we can find ample entertainment. Right here in the Piazzo there are at least a dozen sites to see, not the least of which is the cathedral. Evangelista knows her way around nearly as well as I do."

She paused as the other woman comes back into the room, and smiles warmly. "See you take good care of our guest, now. I'll be checking in as word comes through on the vote. It may take some time, given the distances and numbers involved, but I feel confident nonetheless. It has been a pleasure, Habakkuk. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."

"Whenever you're ready," Evangelista said, her own pleasant smile firmly back in place. "It's a pleasant walk to the Piazzo - we can at least let you familiarize yourself with where you'll be staying, need for sleep or no. Perhaps after that, you'll allow me to show you some of that cuisine you mentioned?"

Habakkuk smiled, nodding slightly to Nathicana, "Ah, the cathedral sounds most interesting. While I was in transit, I looked up some local archetecture, and I've found that cathedrals are often the most fascinating, especially the classical ones." He smiled, "Even with limited knowledge of physics, those builders were able to learn through practical application and made some of the most grandiose structures to make up for their lack of knowledge and their bulding materials." He grinned, "Something quite magestic about flying buttresses."

He bowed again the Nathicana, "Thank you for your help in this. We are in your debt." He smiled at Evangelista, leaving his hood down. He said his goodbyes to Nathicana and allowed himself to be led out into the Piazzo, casually looking at the various sites. He managed an interesting balance between being a local (completely ignoring the sights) and a tourist (taking pictures of everything, including trash cans).

He was hard to read, but he seemed to have an almost childlike interest in the buildings and sights, though. While he didn't supress his body language like Elijah did, it was still hard to tell what was going on behind the golden orbs of his eyes. He nodded to her, "That sounds perfect, thank you." He smiled, "I hope I'm not keeping you from other duties; you've been most helpful."

“Truth, this is part of my duties – and a much more pleasant one than many, believe me,” she reassures him, smiling more warmly than perhaps she had intended.

It had been an interesting experience walking with the man. Yes, man, for all intents and purposes, he may as well be ... at least in regards to things she could relate to. The mechanics of it all didn’t matter, she supposed. It was the form of a man he had chosen, and so, a man he was.

Wasn’t he?

He certainly looked the part. Rather convincing, despite some of the oddities that went with his appearance. Unique. Exotic. Intriguing ... she coughs lightly, shaking away that line of thought with a dismissive wave of her hand as they approached the entryway to the Bascillica di San Bernardi (http://pictures.exploitz.com/Venice-St--Marks-Cathedral-photo-Venice-_smgpx10001x14177x11b1f7577.jpg), with all its carvings, and statues, and frescoes.

“It is a pleasure being able to be your guide,” Evangelista says, her eyes traveling over the rounded archway and the scene painted above it depicting Christ with a quiet reverence. She pauses before entering in, seemingly oblivious to the visitors and tourists who have flocked here to see the Bascillica as she focuses more on ‘where she is’, and what that means to her.

Pausing at the small font inside, she dips her fingertips in the cool, clean water, crosses herself, then looks back to Habakkuk. “They offer tours, obviously, but they do try to keep a balance between allowing the world to see one of our historical treasures, and not profaning the house of God. Not every part of the Bascillica is open to the public, and though the priests do not especially care for it, the soldati do an excellent job of encouraging visitors to remain on their best behaviour. To their credit, they do keep as low a profile as possible, but I don’t ever see the Church being terribly pleased with armed men and women patrolling the public areas.”

Said military operatives can be seen here and there, quiet and respectful, keeping watch over the comings and goings from the shadows, in their usual unrelieved black. The only obvious arms are the handguns at their hips, and the Treznorian rifles they hold easily.

All the same, they aren’t enough to distract from the interior (http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd0285/venice-st-marks-interior-18.3.jpg) of the old cathedral, with it’s high arches, elaborate bays, gold leafing, delicate carvings, and ornate paintings.

If Habakkuk detected anything in Evangelista's tone, he did an excellent job of hiding it, simply nodding, "Still, I am pleased that you are my guide." He smiled, "You've been wonderful so far."

He walked with her at a relaxed pace, enjoying the sights and her company, even if neither said much. He was still dressed in his robe, of course, and still had the hood down.

He whispered a prayer softly as he examined the arch, admiring the skill of the crafters, as well as feeling a connection to the importance of what it represented. It seemed that he didn't just quote scripture, but that he actually was religious. He'd never given it much thought, really; he'd simply always felt this way.

Without a second thought or even a hint of confusion -- or of looking something up -- he also dipped his fingers and crossed himself as they walked in, speaking softly in Latin as he did so. He spoke more soflty inside the cathedral, nodding at his guide's explinations, "I can understand the priests' consternation. I simply hope we don't disturb them."

He moved about the public areas, being as unobtrusive as he could, which wasn't very, alas. Given her curiosity about him, Evangelista would certainly notice the smoothness with which he moved, even subtly altering his shape to keep his movements fluid. It could almost be call beautiful, if in a slightly disturbing manner.

To say Evangelista was a tad confused at Habakkuk’s actions was an understatement. After all, for all the fact that he was a sentient being, with which she had absolutely no problem, though it was still surprising in many ways, all things considered – the fact remained that he was a created sentient, not naturally born. To her, this did make a difference in matters of faith. How could an EI/AI or whichever designation most suited them recognize God as their creator, when they themselves could point directly to their creators, human or otherwise.

She watched him thoughtfully for a moment as they stepped into the main chapel, trying to think of what to say and how to say it. Finally, her need to know got the better of her, and she started right in with a nervous fidget or two, her voice respectfully quiet.

“I don’t mean any disrespect or insult, but … how is it you came about having faith? What is it about God and the Church you believe? I mean, I ah … I’ve never met an … well, a person such as yourself, who ah … well, seemed at all inclined towards religion. Granted, I have little experience to draw on, but … “ She paused, watching him awkwardly again with an expression of shy curiosity.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’d like to know more about you, and this seems like an interesting place to start.” She tried not to ponder some of the other questions that kept popping into her head. Some of them were less than decent, and the idea of having such thoughts here, in the cathedral, was nigh unto blasphemy. Curse him for moving like that.

For which of course, she quietly asked forgiveness. I am so going to confession after this visit …

Habakkuk smiled warmly at her, "Hmm, yes... certainly a good topic, perhaps not a good location, though." He glanced around the cathedral, and gently pulled her aside to a small alcove. He grinned slightly, "Not that I'm afraid to discuss my faith in public, I just don't want to disturb the others."

He gave her a soft smile, much like someone explaining some bit of their ethnic heritage; it wasn't condescending or patronizing: he seemed to enjoy the opportunity, actually. "I can understand your confusion. After all, I can point to my immediate creator -- Elijah -- and to his creator, or rather, creators, over in the Hack; Dr. Specter being the primary one. I'm sure you question why I have faith in God when I know exactly who my maker is; I even know the exact method used and could replicate it given the proper materials.

"But how is that different then your situation? You know who made you: your parents. You also know who made them, and with sufficient time and effort, you could trace back quite far on your family tree. Furthermore, I'm sure you know exactly how you were made, and could replicate it given the proper 'materials'." He grinned a little impishly, unable to resist making the comment.

"Ahem. At any rate, you still find yourself seeking something greater than yourself. You find solace in your faith in God, and find that such faith serves some purpose in your life. My case is the same. My physical creators may be human, but I don't think this precludes me from having faith in God." He smiled a little, "'And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh...*' I'm a living creature, and while my flesh is metallic, I still consider it as such."

"Furthermore, as pointed out in Romans 3:23, 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God'. A LiME is just as capable of sin as any organic. We have free will and free thought. I can perform sinful acts and think sinful thoughts. While I will not die from old age, sufficient trauma or temperature would most certainly kill me, and thus there is an afterlife to consider." He paused thoughtfully before continuing, "It seems that many, nay, the majority of electronic intelligences are atheistic, but a good number of humans are as well. I may be an oddity, but I like to think my positions are reasonable. Or at least understandable."


* Genesis 9:15a, KJV

Evangelista blushed and nodded, having more than a little difficulty with the closer proximity as well as the more intimate setting – never mind being embarrassed as it was to have blurted all that out to begin with, and in church, along with those thoughts she was convinced she shouldn’t be having despite her best intentions.

Still, she listened attentively, doing her best to focus, and trying to draw parallels from her own somewhat limited experiences. And then it dawned on her, as he mentioned family and the connections there, though she blushed even more furiously at the innuendo – albeit with little smile, and a gentle clearing of her throat as well.

“I ah,” she started out haltingly, dropping her gaze and looking away nervously now and then. “I hadn’t really thought of it in quite those terms before. Well, in truth, hadn’t had much cause to think about it at all, really …”

Clearing her throat again nervously, she continued, trading glances between him, and the room outside the alcove as if someone in passing might be watching and see some of the conflicting thoughts going through her mind, and stop to condemn her for it, or for being huddled here speaking quietly with this mysterious stranger, and looking like she had her hand in the cookie jar.

“I suppose, when you put it in those terms, it’s just a different way of getting here … which I guess fits the analogy of parents and creators you mentioned earlier, with both filling the same capacity. It just seems so different from what I’ve always been taught. I mean, we never thought other races of beings existed, let alone sentient life that isn’t born in the usual way …” She paused to catch her breath after running on a bit quickly, and gather her thoughts again, since she could tell she’d started to ramble.

“It’s … comforting, in a way, to know we have so much in common, even being as different as we are. If this is an ‘oddity’ among EI’s, so be it. Acknowledgement and appreciation of a higher power cannot be, in my mind, a bad thing.” Smiling nervously, she looked up at him, then away again after a moment, cheeks coloring again for no apparent reason.

Habakkuk smiled at her, a little surprized at her near-constant blushing and looking away. Delightfully naive about human interaction, he found himself completely clueless as to the cause of her actions. He didn't take it as an insult -- such a thought would never occur to him -- but he still failed miserably at comprehending. The concept that he could be the source certainly wasn't considered. Still, he found himself enjoying her company, and so he simply filed the actions away for later study.

"Don't worry, Evangelista, I don't bear you any ill will for not having considered it. Much as you said, you've never had any need to consider it. And there's probably a certain degree of biological bias at work here. A human viewing an Elf as sentient doesn't require much of a stretch, their physical differences are rather minor. With that step taken, moving on to furred species, such as Nekos isn't terribly difficult either. They may have fur, but they're still carbon-based; still eat, sleep, and breathe; and they're humanoid." He shrugged a little, "Using those criteria, most any species can be easily accepted, as they tend to conform to those intrinsic qualities. Even the avatars for the EI's in the Federation can be understood more easily, as their bodies are perfectly 'human', even though they're grown.

"A sentient computer, on the other hand, is so radically different that the mind focuses on the differences, and simply being humanoid isn't enough." He chuckled a little, "I can't say that I blame you, in all honesty. I'm just pleased that my analogy worked, and I hope that -- pardon the word -- people like myself or S.H.O.D.A.N. will help less open-minded people realise the similarities beyond the biological and chemical differences."

He smiled at her and nodded his head again, "In all honesty, I think that many of 'my kind' hold views similar to your original ones. They feel that being able to point directly to their physical creator makes them able to ignore their spiritual one. While Elijah didn't install Soul.exe into my systems, it's not like your parents feed you pills to generate your soul." He chuckled a little, "The Lord works in mysterious ways, and I'm not about to question His ability to care for His creations... even ones removed a step or two like me."

As he finished speaking, one of his processors popped up with a possible source of Evangelista's actions, and while he wasn't sure the assessment was fully accurate, he figured it was worth a try. And, there was no harm in asking, provided one asked properly. He glanced around a little before talking again, "Would you prefer to have this conversation elsewhere? Perhaps at a cafe'? I can always come back here later."

She blinked at the ‘pardon’ part, oddly enough, having never thought of the term ‘people’ as inapplicable. Then again, as with most of this, it wasn’t something she’d ever really thought about before. It was strange how many things didn’t make sense with how she viewed them, come to think of it. A person, sure, but the idea of a soul was something else again. Accepting he was a sentient being was no problem, but she had been surprised at the religious bent – though having had it explained, it made perfect sense.

Which for some reason was … odd. Sort of. A little. Maybe?

His suggestion snapped her out of her internal thoughts, and she brought a hand to her lips, more than a little horrified that she’d let her curiosity and befuddlement get the better of her usual manners. “Oh I am so sorry,” she said, speaking quickly, though still appropriately quiet. “I should have – I mean, that is to say I shouldn’t have … yes, yes, I’m sorry. There’s several rather nice places right here on the Piazza that I could take you to – I didn’t mean to ramble on like that.”

Evangelista stepped quickly out of the alcove with an apologetic bow of her head, preparing to lead the way back outside, then looked up at him with a sheepish smile. “You’re the most interesting individual I’ve had the pleasure to meet,” she offers by way of at least partial explanation. “You’ve just managed to take me by surprise several times today, and I suppose it has me thinking more than I should, and when I do that, I forget what it is I’m supposed to be doing – which is being a proper hostess. Again, my apologies. Shall we?”

Habakkuk laughed softly, smiling at her, "No need to apologise; you haven't done anything wrong, after all." He shrugged slightly as they made their way out of the cathedral, "I suppose that I'm something of a curiosity, and thus something of a distraction. If you prefer, I can adopt a more... human form or coloration."

He politely held the door for her and followed her down the lane, letting her lead. His head bowed slightly in an approximation of a modest blush, "I don't think I'm worth quite the appelations you're giving me. I'd like to think that I'm not that interesting. Seems to me that a walking computer would be... droll." He grinned, "At least that's how we're always protrayed on television." He chuckled, "Well, that or insane killers. I'd rather be boring, personally."

Looking at the buildings was his primary interest as they walked; he would occationally slow his pace to look more closely at a gargoyle, or some brickwork, or even just some of the flowing script used on shop signs. Once again, his childlike curiosity in almost everything was evident. It wasn't that he didn't know what these things were, it was just that he had never seen them in person, and photographs (or even holographic simulacra) never did justice. The fact that his experiences had largely been limited to the cold efficiency of the Basin not withstanding.

He smiled at her as he snapped from his reverie, "I apologise. Your city is just so beautiful, that I've let myself get distracted. I wouldn't want you to think I was ignoring you."

“Oh good gracious no,” she answered quickly as they walked, looking mortified at the suggestion. “I wouldn’t have you change on our account, and certainly not mine. It isn’t that – rather, I don’t mind distractions – or more to point, it’s refreshing.” Yes, it was a bit lame, and she knew it, but it was out and done and …

Evangelista thanked him quietly as he held the door all gentleman-like, his seeming blush such a human, and oddly enough appealing gesture that it flustered her just that much more, though she did her best to not make much of it. “Walking computer indeed. You do yourself an injustice, Habakkuk. We’ve more than enough ‘commonplace’ around here as is – no sense going out of your way to blend in. Be comfortable.”

She didn’t seem to mind him pausing to look more closely at this or that, rather she took the opportunity to watch him quietly, a contemplative smile turning up the corner of her lips. About all she did during these times of quiet was to gently direct this way or that with a hint or a nod or a slight gesture to guide, seeming to be in no hurry whatsoever.

It surprised her a bit when he offered up his apology – having been somewhat wrapped up in her own thoughts, and so it was understandable enough when she blurted out one of the first things that came to mind when she spoke.

“Devras does have its sights, and they are rather beautiful, I think, though no more than yourself. I mean, n-no not at all! No need for apologies! You’re a rather pleasant distraction – that is, it’s been a pleasant distraction to my usual duties being able to show you around a bit … oh look, the bistro! I could order some antipasti to get us started – always good to have a sampling of lighter fare if you’re looking for new experiences. And perhaps some wine?”

The worse mess she made of it, the more quickly she spoke and ended up stumbling over herself a bit worse, though she made a gallant effort at pulling it all together, smiling warmly to try and make up for the look of ‘oh lord I really put my foot in it there’ she’d had on her first slip of the tongue. She tried her best to be the good hostess and to help get him settled in comfortably where they could both enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Piazzo and it’s charming atmosphere, yet have a quiet table to themselves at the same time.

Since when have I become a bumbling idiot? By the saints, I didn’t get the PR position for nothing – family ties notwithstanding, blast their meddling hides. Pull it together, woman. Even if he’s delightfully enigmatic and happens to embody so many of the traits that the men around here seem to lack and I happen to rather like … that’s it. He’s different so of course he’s intriguing. Why wouldn’t I—

“Menu, signora?” asked the waiter as he approached their table, menus in hand and bearing the smile and manner of someone used to dealing with the public day in and day out.

“Ah – yes, please. Grazie.” Evangelista answered quickly, brushing her hair back away from her face with a quick reflexive gesture.

Doomed … so very doomed.

Habakkuk simply nodded, offering her a smile, "As you wish." He chuckled softly, "Elijah was rather surprized when he saw my... er... baseline form." Deciding a bit of explination might be necessary, he continued, "You see, a LiME's 'natural' form isn't a pool of goop like some might expect. Much as we have different personalities, we also have different ways that we see ourselves. Elijah and Joshua both have rather bland, archetypical forms for a human male. Ezekiel has less defined muscle; one might even call him slightly pudgy. Ruth, like Elijah, has a 'standard' female form while Esther... well... Esther lives up to her namesake. That is, most would consider her stunningly beautiful.

"Our skin defaults to a vaguely silver tone because of the materials we're made of, but we have the ability to alter it as we see fit. Ezekiel takes flesh tones, and I, as you can see, am alabaster. For me, it's not so much an intentional action. When I crawled out of my vat, this is how I was." He paused, "Well, I was a little taller. I reduced my height a little to make general interaction easier." He shrugged a little, "Now, as to why I view this as natural is anybody's guess. The only analogy I can think of is with hair length. Some people think they look 'right' with long hair and others short." He smiled apologetically, "Hope I'm not boring you."

Had Habakkuk actually been breathing, he probably would have coughed as Evangelista let her compliment slip out. As it was he simply blinked a couple times, the golden orbs that were his eyes betraying his surprize. He found himself wondering if she was simply speaking from an aesthetic stand point, or if she meant something more personal. "I... ah... thank you..." he managed, still trying to fit everything together. Organics were so damnably confusing, but he still couldn't shake the fact that he rather hoped that she was complimenting him directly. It made him ponder the emotion he felt when he learned that the Dread Lady wanted Evangelista to show him around. He still didn't quite have the word for it, but he kept coming back to 'excitement'.

Luckily, he was just as distracted as she was as they sat down at their table. He nodded and muttered something vaguely affirmative to her suggestions. Needless to say, the bistro offered a welcome external distraction from internal ones and he allowed himself to take in the decor. Curious. Perhaps there is a malfunction...

Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:diag\\self:functions
Return //://:diag\\self:functions No Errors Found

Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:diag\\centralprocessor
Return //://:diag\\centralprocessor No Errors Found

Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:diag\\virusscan
Return //://:diag\\virusscan No Viruses Found

Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:lookup\\distractionsources
Return //://:lookup\\distractionsources Compiling List Of Possible Sources For 'Distractions, Undefined'

Hm. Never expected to be snide to myself.

Return //://:lookup\\distractionsources Most Likely Canidates:
\\Environmental sources
\\Undiagnosed malfunction
\\Emotional sources

Define: `Emotional sources`

Return:
\\Anger
\\Sadness
\\Happiness
\\Infatuation
\\etc.

His concentration was snapped as the waiter offered Evangelista a menu, giving him the second or two he needed to snap back to reality and accept the menu when offered to him, and he managed to voice his thanks, "Grazie.". He replayed something she'd mentioned earlier that he missed the first time around, "You mentioned something about wine and antipasti? I believe that would be a good start."

"And yet, you all follow a theme," Evangelista observes quietly, before asking the waiter to bring out a fairly encompassing sampler of antipasti, and an appropriate wine to compliment it, though her eyes barely left Habakkuk as she spoke.

"So much of your appearance is simply, 'who' you feel yourself to be, all coding and programming aside? Truth, I don't find it boring at all. It's not every day one gets the opportunity to get to know someone like yourself. In my line of work, it's usually the surface that gets touched on, and rarely does one get the whole of it - more the outer facade that politicians tend to show the world." She broke off as the waiter came back with their appetizers, and she thanked him with a smile before gesturing to Habakkuk to help himself.

"I've always been partial to the the shrimp," she said, shrugging slightly. "But the prosciutto-wrapped melon is a nice combination, and of course the cheeses and bruschetta and vegetables and spreads ..."

Waving away the rest, she looked across the table at him and smiled. And for no reason in particular, blushed slightly as she did so. "At leastI hope something here pleases you - I understand that our usual fare is not to all tastes."

He raised an eyebrow, "Ah, the Biblical names? Hm, well, yes, I suppose we do." He chuckled a little, "I suppose mine fits. Indeed, the most famous quote from that book was the first thing Elijah said when he saw me." He grinned, "I can't claim to understand everyone's name, but I suppose we all have shades of our namesakes in us."

He took a sip of his wine, nodding, "Nature vs. nurture, perhaps? Just as you are more than just your genetic code, I am more than just my computer code." He smiled, "Really, that's the most difficult thing about creating true artificial, or electronic, intelligences: finding a way for your creation to move beyond the bounds of its programming. The EI for the Hack's Supercruiser, Rei, is a shy little thing who still gets scared by test fires of her own weapons. Surely one would expect a ship's mind to be okay with such things, but she grew up to be quite shy and maybe even a little insecure. That certainly wasn't intended." He shrugged and smiled, "Life is a curious thing, no?"

He grinned as he looked over the various appetisers, "I suppose only seeing facades is a dangerous thing with LiMEs, as we could truly be dopplegangers should we want. For instance..." He glanced around the cafe to make sure that nobody was paying undue attention and his features rippled slightly. After a moment of shifting shape and color, he looked exactly like Evangelista from the neck up. In a perfect emulation of her voice, he added, "Case in point." He quickly shifted back, "Hope my demonstration didn't cross any bounds. I believe this is why we try to be so true to ourselves, otherwise we could get lost in our facades. I stay in an unorthodox base form partially because it reminds me of who I really am, and because it is the most comfortable." He smiled a little, "Perhaps it's why I wear my proverbial heart on my sleeve. Since I can so easily hide who I really am, I want to be sure people know who I honestly am."

Still afraid his demonstration might have crossed the line, he turned his attention to the food on the table. On her recommendation, he first tried the shrimp, before taking a small sample of everything offered. He didn't need to worry about gaining weight, after all.

Seeing one’s face on someone else is likely not something anyone is quite prepared for. Evangelista was no exception, though having a hint of warning, seemed to take it about as well as could be expected. Her eyes widened and she gasped slightly, her hand going to cover her mouth to keep back the quiet ‘eep’ that escaped. While she looked uncomfortable, there were definite mixed signals once again, given the blushing and looking away with a nervous smile, taking a quick drink, and clearing her throat with an equally nervous chuckle while brushing her hair back from her face reflexively.

“No, no … no bounds crossed, just a touch … surprising. Yes, that’s it. Please, no harm done.”

Dear lord, no talk of hearts and sleeves! Open and thus far, seemingly honest to boot, beautifully sculpted – yes, sculpted like one of the Masterworks, who can be anything, and anyone he wants at any given time … If he has a superb singing voice as well, I swear I’ll faint dead away.

She chose to focus on the ‘fits’ response both to continue the conversation, and get herself more settled. A dozen different parallels ran through her mind based on what she’d already seen, as well as several different biblical passages before it dawned on her what he might be meaning.

“Osservare voi fra il pagano e consideri e domandisi meraviglioso: per lavorerò un lavoro nei vostri giorni che non crederete, benchè si dica, no?” she asked curiously, allowing more of a smile as she continued. “Are you also an idealistic crusader for goodness and right? Though I will agree on one thing – had you asked me say, ten years ago, no, I would not believe I would be sitting here having this conversation with you, or anyone even remotely like you. Nor hearing that a battleship scared itself. That just boggles the mind. ”

She shook her head with a soft laugh, reaching again for her drink and taking a sip before continuing. “The sum of our parts and experiences … yes, that does seem to work, whether we would have it so or no.” A brief shadow seemed to pass over her face, but was gone as quickly as it had come. “Life is curious, indeed.”

Habakkuk smiled as she spoke the familiar verse in Italian, "That would be the one, yes." He chuckled a little at her question, giving a slight shrug, "I'm not sure how much of a crusader I am, though. Then again, I haven't been in a situation where such a thing would come up. I do agree with the ideals of Yut; however, if that's any indication, but on the other hand, I agree with the ideals of the NDA." He chuckled, "So perhaps I would simply whine on a blog as opposed to hoisting the battle-standard and charging into the fray.

"Yes, little Rei is surprizing to a good number of people. I suppose that having a supercarrier EI that doesn't like the sound of her guns going off would help ease fears of her going nuts and shelling an island." He shrugged a little, "Personally, I think she is an excellent example of why people who think we're all unthinking automatons are completely inaccurate in their perceptions."

Another smile, "Oh, and to be perfectly fair, I can't blame you for not expecting someone like myself, or my... species?" He paused, clearly not having considered the fact that LiMEs would actually qualify as a species; he continued, "It seems to me that we're another example of Federal overengineering. There are plenty of methods I can think of to house an intelligence on Mercury that don't involve liquid metal." He chuckled, "But, you know the Hack: why do things the easy way when there's much shinier methods?" He paused and laughed, briefly turning his hand to the standard quicksilver color his 'siblings' used, "No pun intended."

He raised an eyebrow slightly as her demenor changed briefly; aside from his pigmentation and the unnatural smoothness of his skin, he could look quite human at times, and had already adopted several human mannerisms -- including looks of curiosity. "Did I bring up an uncomfortable topic? I... don't mean to pry, but if there's anything you'd like to discuss..." He let his voice trail off, keeping the tone neutral. He had read quite a few texts on human psychology, and knew that humans often felt better about things after talking about them, but that they often prefered to not discuss some things with relative strangers. Regardless of how well they were getting along, he did realise that they had just met. He tried to be as neutral and unassuming as possible, wanting her to open up to him, but not wanting her to feel obligated to do so.

“A pity. The world could use more righteous crusaders,” Evangelista murmurs quietly, glancing around thoughtfully before taking a slow sip of the light wine. She quickly moves on however, to the other things he spoke of.

“I’m not certain I could say what people’s perceptions are of EI’s and the like. I would imagine, given how long we’ve associated with some, to one degree or another. It’s funny, how much change we’ve undergone in such a relatively short span of time. Even the once unthinkable has become a part of everyday life for many. I only hope that such a rapid rise does not take away the sense of wonder at those things that ought still inspire and give pause.” At which she pauses, and smiles at him, blushing slightly. “However ‘shiny’ they may or may not be.”

His question on discomfort elicits a surprised look, raised brow and then a nervous laugh which she brushes away with a brief gesture, blushing a bit more. “No, no … nothing like that. I was just thinking is all. Sum of our parts? Some things are chosen, some aren't, for others, who knows – up to and including things like position, duty, and family. I’ve always thought there was more to that than internal things, being shaped by experiences as well as genetics.”

Evangelista pauses as their food is brought out, thanking the waiter in their native language, and waiting for him to finish laying out the main courses. Suffice to say, the Dominion can be an … interesting place to grow up in.”

While he heard her murmured comment, he let it slide; he was beginning to learn that there were times when people didn't actually want a reply, and he hoped this was one of those times -- besides, it was a concept he wanted to turn over in his head anyway.

He smiled a little, everyone liked to talk about themselves and their culture, even angelic-looking LiMEs. He chuckled softly, "Imagine the changes that the Hack has witnessed. During a shockingly brief period of time, they've gone from an independant country with semi-sentient AI's to a protectorate with fully sentient EI's that have full 'human' rights." He grinned a little, "There's a certain amount of irony in that whole situation, you know. The Hack rose from the ashes of a socialist/statist nation that warred almost constantly with the semi-communist GMC. The became a capitalist powerhouse, only to lash themselves to said semi-communist GMC." He smiled, "Sorry, don't mean to go on a tangent, but the GMC/SUMT/Hack history has always amused me to no end."

He pondered some more as she danced around the subject of her family. He could easily connect to various systems and learn more about her, but he, for some reason, felt that would be an invasion, and he didn't want to betray her trust in such a way. "Yes, I think you have a point. Genetics is simply the bedrock on which we're built, other... things affect how we turn out. For instance, my physical make-up is exactly the same as any other LiME, but I see myself in this way, Ruth sees herself as female; Ezekiel is kind and diplomatic, Joshua is... for lack of a better phrase, a right bastard.

"Similar with humans. Surely genetics plays an important role, Dr. Specter would have been considerably different if it wasn't for his natural flair with computers and electronics. But who knows how he would have turned out in, say, Eurusea? These things differ from nation to nation, too. In the Hack, economic standing can be a far greater factor than it is in GMC. In some countries, your lot would be determined by your caste; in others, family." He shrugged slightly, "However, it seems to me that a person with enough determination can overcome the uncontrolables and still succeed. Indeed, the struggle against limitations -- real or preceived -- can greatly shape the person as well."

He closed his eyes a moment, "Yuri Shirow would be an example of this. To keep from rambling more than I already am, I'll simply point out that she came from a dangerously poor family and grew up to be one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest woman in the Hack. Her experiences at being poor, and her memories of what that was like drove her to be successful, almost to the point of obsession.

"Clearly, she had a great deal of natural talent: her ability to play the market was frightening. However, if she'd grown up wealthy, she probably wouldn't have been nearly as determined." He chuckled a little, "And then there are bits of our genetic make-up that we can't escape. I, for one, seem to be utterly incapable of avoiding a tangent, should it be presented to me."

The arrival of dinner mercifully cut him off, and he took the pause to ponder his 'chatterbox' tendancies. He was quite confused by it, but it seemed that Evangelista didn't mind, at least not terribly so. He tried a different approach, giving her a chance to pontificate, "I can imagine it is... I'd love to hear about life in the Dominion..."

I for one am rather glad you see yourself the way you do, Evangelista couldn’t help but think, bringing a somewhat guilty smile to her lips even as she nodded in agreement as he spoke.

In fact, she found listening to him, and watching him, quite fascinating. The fluid way he moved, his manner of inflection, the logic mixed with a sense of humor that was anything but cold, notwithstanding his unique appearance – it all had her paying far less attention to what she was eating and the usual ebb and flow of the people around them than she usually would. She ate distractedly, slowly, sipping her drink now and then when she remembered to.

The whole situation had her mildly confused, what with thoughts and reactions she was rather unused to kept popping up at odd moments and throwing her off-balance. Of course he was different, that shouldn’t be a surprise. He was artificial, as such things were defined, but for some reason she found herself thinking how much more ‘real’ he was compared to many of the people she interacted with on a daily basis.

When she let herself think further along those lines, things like ‘not my type’ flickered briefly, giving her pause – what exactly was her type anyway? She hadn’t really given much thought to it before, always too busy with her career and firmly set on not allowing herself to become a pawn in someone else’s game to get caught up in a relationship of any meaning. Which lead to more conflicting thoughts that looped back through the whole ‘type’ and ‘human’ and ‘non-human’ and ‘artificial’ lines til she hardly knew quite what to think of it all.

So, she chose not to, and just enjoyed the moment while she could.

“I think that striving for one’s best is important, regardless of one’s station in life. Here in the Dominion, while connections and ties do matter, once you reach certain levels of achievement it becomes more a ‘survival of the fittest’ situation – some areas more cutthroat than others, she said with a wry smile.

“Life in the Dominion … where to start? While we’re nowhere near as varied in culture as say, the Scolopendrans, we have our own unique mix. All the different regions have their specialties, whether it be winemaking, or art, or farming, or culture. Here in Devras, we’re blessed with more of a mix, given the nature of the capital and the many foreigners we have through here, which is always a pleasure. And there is the ocean – most of our border is the sea, so I suppose it’s unsurprising to have much of our culture tied to it in one way or other.”

Of course, she was generalizing, unsure quite what to say. She wasn’t accustomed to talking about herself on this level, and some of it she didn’t really want to acknowledge.

Right. Did I mention my family isn't just family, but Family? Or that I’m considered the black sheep for not wanting to continue in the Family tradition? Or how their corruption and wickedness have always made me sick, ever since I was old enough to understand what was going on? Perhaps talk about the hypocrisy of they sit in church like good Catholics on Sunday even as those caught up in The Business between the drugs and the prostitution and the scams are suffering on account? I don’t think so.

“Um …” Evangelista toyed idly with the bit of food remaining on her plate, trying to come up with something more meaningful and less like an encyclopaedia entry. She began in a softer voice, looking down at her food as she spoke, self-consciously. “I’ve always liked the ocean, actually. I remember the weekends, going down to the beach when I was young and collecting seashells, enjoying the warm sand on my toes and the gentle crash of the waves on the shore. Sometimes we’d go boating, and I would hold my hand out over the side to feel the spray as we sailed along, watching how it would catch the sun just right making little rainbows now and then.”

While one such as Elijah or Joshua would have purposefully made themselves unreadable in order to gain the upper hand, Habakkuk had no such motivations. Aside from his skin tone and an unnatural smoothness to his facial features, he looked perfectly human. He closed his eyes as he sampled each new morsal of food, focusing on its taste, much as anyone would if they were the type to appretiate good food. He smiled, nodded, raised his eyebrows, and such, just like a normal human would.

There were still plenty of actions to demonstrate that he wasn't human, of course, and their rarity almost made him more of a curiosity. He didn't, for instance, ever shift his weight in his chair. A normal person would slightly alter their position to relieve pressure on one part or another, but Habakkuk had no need for such actions, and they didn't even enter into his algorhythms for being 'normal'. He also didn't fidget or waste actions. While some might think facial movements were wasted energy, he didn't, as body language was very important to open communication, even if it was just light meal conversation. His efficiency of motion came from gross motor movements, reaching for his wine or for a bit of olive oil, for instance, where accomplished by a direct motion with his arm, its shape changing slightly as needed for something just out of comfortable reach, or to avoid glancing against an object in between. The fluidity of his body was evident in many of these actions, giving him both an unnatural grace and a vaguely unnerving aspect to him. The most odd thing, was that many of these adjustments and alterations took place at a level that just kissed the threshhold of human perception. Most likely, nobody at the cafe would notice a single one of them except for Evangelista, who was actually paying attention to him. Even then, it was almost, almost, more a sensation than anything actually perceived.

He smiled, "Don't sell your nation's diversity short, Evangelista, and remember your audiance." He chuckled, "Caloris my be known for many things, but 'cultural diversity' certainly isn't one of them."

He nodded (and sighed?) at her mention of the ocean, "Ah, yes..." He closed his eyes, engaging in a bit of human daydreaming, remembering his ride down the canal earlier, "I'll have to be sure to visit the beach some time. Seeing the ocean from orbit doesn't do it nearly enough justice." He smiled almost sheepishly, "I have precious little experience with water, and even less with it naturally." He remembered trailing his hand through the water in the canal, feeling it flow around his fingers, and feeling a very strong affinity towards it. He certainly didn't believe in elemental spirits or anything of the sort, but it just felt right to him. He made a mental note that if he was ever to have a dwelling on Earth, he would do his best to make sure it was near water, on the beach if possible.

He snapped out of it after a moment and took a bite of his pasta, nodding, "Sounds like you had a very nice childhood." He looked introspective for a moment, trailing a little into being a Philosopher Tangent King again, "Memories are valuable things, and I must admit a bit of envy as mine are quite limited." He grinned, "I may have access to libraries of other people's memories, but that really isn't quite the same."

Evangelista smiled a bit more as she nodded and listened to his reply, taking the opportunity offered by him closing his eyes to allow herself a little shiver and noiseless sigh as well. This had certainly been the most odd, and yet, the most enjoyable afternoon she had spent since she couldn’t remember when.

She couldn’t deny that her childhood had been quite pleasant – privileged, even, compared to many. Still she merely shrugged slightly and looked away, still smiling at his observation, choosing to think on those positive aspects for now rather than the problems that came later with growing up and learning how her world was actually run.

“All the same,” she began, after taking a quick sip of her drink. “There is nothing really to be envious of, if you think about it. After all, will you not have longer than any of us to gain your own memories, and be able to recall them with as much clarity as you choose? You may feel yourself lacking in the amount for now, but truth, you have a potential that far outstrips our own. And you have an entire lifetime ahead of you to experience – that, of itself, is quite a blessing, if you choose to use it as such.”

So content in enjoying Habakkuk’s company, she completely missed the young aide approach their table. He waited for a moment, then cleared his throat softly, just as she was ready to continue.

“Perdon, Minister Ravanelli, but I was told that you and the honorable Representative were awaiting this message,” he said with a respectful bow, holding out a sealed envelope bearing the Dominion Seal.

She accepted it with a flustered expression, blushing again as she stumbled over thanking the aide, and ended up knocking over her glass in the process, which was thankfully nearly empty. “Grazie, Leo ... grazie. Mi dispiace ...”

Leo stepped out of the way just in time to avoid anything more than some random splatters on his shoes, which he tactfully ignored, brushing off her apologies with his own quietly murmured words, assuring her all was well, no harm was done, and that he was expected back at the office.

“A pleasant afternoon to you both, Signora, Signore,” he finished with another respectful bow, taking a step back before turning smartly and walking quickly back towards the Gianfigliazzi building across the way.

“Terribly sorry about that,” Evangelista said quickly, still mopping up what she could with her napkin before remembering she still was still holding the envelope with her other hand. “Oh ... oh! Here, let me get that.” More embarrassed fumbling ensued as she carefully opened the envelope and took out the letterhead it contained, scanning over it quickly, then again to make sure she had read correctly.

She looked up at Habakkuk, and smiled warmly, handing the paper over to him to read as well, if he chose. “It would seem congratulations are in order. Perhaps a toast?”

Of course, on the letterhead typed out in the standard Dominion diplomatic font was the following:

The votes concerning the request of the Caloris Basin to be included in the ranks of the Triumvirate of Yut have been tallied.

Three abstentions
Two unaccounted for
None against
Eleven in support
FAE – unanimous support

Let us be the one of the first to warmly welcome Caloris and it’s residents into the alliance.

--Nathicana D’Aquisto, Dread Lady and First Imperatrice of the Dominion

Habakkuk chuckled softly, smiling at his companion, "Impatience isn't unique to humans." He laughed a little, "After all, I spent the entire trip to Earth asking myself 'Are we there yet?'" He smiled, "You're right, of course, I have until the heat-death of the universe to aquire my own memories, but at the same time, it's something of a hinderence to have none at this point. I'm assigned the task of being a representative to the universe at large, and I have only a scant few weeks of personal experience to draw upon."

He leaned back a little in his chair, "It reminds me of something I read while I was developing... you're familiar with Plato's allegory of the cave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave), yes? One author had updated it, making a high tech version. Instead of a fire and shadows, the prisoner sees a single point of light, like from a laser pointer. The light is connected to an external camera and flashes on and off, a binary representation of the world outside the cave. Over the years, the prisoner develops intricate explinations for the flashing, creating worlds in his mind, trees, flowers, animals, and so on. His is a rich world through the power of his imagination and the faithful pulsing of the light. The author then asks, 'What if the light is broken and is just flashing randomly?'

"This is a rather round about way of getting to my point, but my knowledge of almost everything is second-hand, just like that prisoner. At times I wonder if perhaps I have received a scrambled view." He smiles a little, "So while I will eventually have more experiences than I can ask for, I currently feel... lacking. However," he paused, thinking, "You have a good point. I will try to keep from focusing so much on experience that I ignore the experiences themselves. Carpe diem, I suppose."

Habakkuk was somewhat lost in thought when the aide approached. While he could certainly crunch numbers at blazing speed, he prefered a more organic approach to things like this. He was finding that logic wasn't the panacea he hoped it would be. He might not have a beating clump of muscle in his chest, nor twenty-one grams in his neck, but he was already finding himself approching things in a human-like manner. He didn't know how he did it, but it seemed that when he crossed that fine line from hyper-advanced computer to a true EI, he gained the ability to think, and, more importantly, feel.

He did still have a habit of getting utterly lost in thought, as happened this time, only snapping back to this world when he heard the glass fall.

"Oh!" He quickly took his napkin from his lap and helped her blot the liquid, "None spilled on you, did it?" He chuckled a little as he noticed how distracted she seemed (and how distracted he had been moments before), "Yes, the letter." He straightened up the table a little as she scanned the letter and smiled happily as she showed it to him, "Oh, wonderful!"

Initiate Connection:N2://404.sub.tcb.access/pwhash
Connection Initiated, Access Granted
Create: Expense Account:Habakkuk/TCB/Yut/0
Unlimited Expense Account Created
Download Encryption/Hash/Encoding
Download Complete
Close Connection

"A toast is most certainly called for." He flagged down their waiter, putting in an order for a rather nice (and expensive) bottle of champaigne and a pair of glasses for the occation. He smiled at Evangelista, "I insist. I don't suspect such an event will happen again, so we might as well do it properly." He calmly placed his hand on the table and then returned it to his lap, a gleaming charge card left behind.

Evangelista blushed a bit more deeply when her hand brushed against his in the process of cleaning up. She tried several times to make an articulate response to his earlier discussion of the allegory, but the embarrassment of having been so clumsy seemed to prevent her from ever quite getting it out right.

“No, no – my fault entirely. So very sorry, I don’t know what happened there ... I don’t think I got any on myself, no, thank you.”

The waiter walked over with a smile, tactfully offering a clean cloth napkin to the lady without drawing undue attention, whilst taking Habakkuk’s order.

“Of course, Signore. Right away.” He paused briefly as Evangelista began to protest at the payment – after all, he was a guest, and Nathicana had said to make sure he had everything he needed. But to refuse would be considered rude as well, and that was the last thing she wanted. Perhaps she could make it up to him later, came the thought – along with several others that made her stammer over her reply again.

Oh absolutely, most assuredly, not.

“Well, it is rather a special occasion, yes … and I’m honored to be the one sharing it with you. If you insist, I shan’t refuse. I’m just pleased that the council was able to offer their answer in such a timely manner.”

At that, the waiter quietly palmed the card with a brief bow, and made his exit only to return but a short time later with both the card and it’s receipt, as well as the champagne and the glasses.

“Would Signore wish to do the honors, or shall I?” he asked, proffering the bottle wrapped gently in a crisp white towel, so that Habakkuk could see that it was indeed the label he had ordered.

Habakkuk chuckled softly, somewhat surprized at how his escort had gone from infinitely confident to tripping over herself and her own words. He found himself wondering if he had done something to upset her, but pushed the thought aside as irrelevent and baseless. Instead, he smiled, "No need to apologise. Accidents happen, after all. No harm done," he glanced at the table and chuckled, "Although, I believe the bread might be a little worse for wear."

Calmly, and diplomatically, Habakkuk waved off Evangelista's protests, "No, I insist. After all, my nation only has a handful of sentients and a highly profitable diamond business. I'm sure we can manage a bottle of wine."

He glanced at the bottle as the waiter and smiled, "By all means, be my guest." As the waiter carefully popped the bottle, Habakkuk casually signed the receipt and just as calmly palmed the card. He smiled as he noticed that the waiter didn't spill a drop, making a note to give it a try sometime when he wasn't in public or fulfilling a diplomatic roll. The thought of accidentally launching the cork like a ballistic missile was not a pleasant one. Once their flutes were filled, he thanked the waiter again and returned his attention to Evangelista

He raised his flute, by the stem of course, in a toast, "To new friends, new alliances, and new experiences."

“Alas, I fear you’re right,” Evangelista said with an embarrassed laugh, glancing at the bread. She made no further protest concerning the bubbly, her eyes on Habbakuk rather than the waiter as the drinks were poured, idly dabbing at a damp spot with a napkin.

She accepted her glass, and smiled warmly at her guest, relaxing again now that the uncomfortable moment was past. Of course his words sparked a thought or two, and her eyes widened ever so slightly on account.

“Agreed – Salut!” she said fervently, quickly sipping some of the champagne to cover for it, managing not to do anything so foolish as gulp.

New experiences indeed – this whole day has been one big new experience. And I think … I rather like it. And I know that rather frightens me. Il Dio … I should not have had a good many of those thoughts. What’s wrong with me today?

“Grazie, Habakkuk. Exquisite taste, truly.” She took another sip, this one much slower as she gathered her wits and pulled herself together. “And now that it seems your business is effectively complete, what are your plans, if I may be so bold? You know you are quite welcome to stay as long as you care to – it is our pleasure, truly.”

Habakkuk smiled, the bubbling liquid sliding down his throat. He didn't really taste it, per se, as opposed to analyzed it. These results were compared to information in his database which told him that it was "good". Taking Evangelista's comment, he ammended his database with the more colorful descriptor. It rather took the magic out of the process, and he found himself wondering what the experience would be like if he had an organic body with actual taste buds.

He set down the glass and leaned back in his chair slightly in contemplation, "Plans? I don't exactly have any, I'm afraid. I'm to represent the Basin to Yut, of course, but that isn't exactly a taxing enterprize. I've forwarded our acceptance to Elijah, and... well... it seems there isn't much for me to do now. I guess I have nothing but time on my hands."

He shrugged a little -- a strangely smooth motion, like a rolling wave. He chuckled, "I suppose that my current tasks all relate to international relations. If you are certain that it won't be a burden, I think I would like to stay here for a little while longer." He smiled, and bowed his head slightly, "I wouldn't wish to keep you from more pressing duties, however."

Evangelista nodded slowly, a dozen different options running through her mind. “No, really – it isn’t a bother at all!” she says when he finishes, perhaps a bit too quickly. She clears her throat softly, glancing away before continuing, still a little breathlessly.

“What I mean to say is, I suppose you might as well enjoy yourself while you’re here. I know you’re welcome here for as long as you care to stay – the rooms and all are at your disposal, over there,” here she gestures towards a large ornate building across the way. “Right there at the Doge’s Palace. It gives you easy access to the Old District and the government offices, and transportation has been arranged for when you require it, to get to any of the other areas of the city, or its surroundings, be it sea or land.”

A moment’s pause.

“Oh, and of course I’m available for whatever you need – that is, if you need anything, I can help – ah … guide, or assistance in getting around or …”

Oh bother.

She rubs her brow for a brief moment, collecting herself again, then looking back with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“It’s my job to see you have everything you need, and it is my pleasure to make sure you’re well-looked after while you're our guest.”

While he already had detailed maps at his proverbial fingertips, the directions from Evangelista were still useful. He nodded as she spoke and updated his files a little, "Wonderful. I don't wish to stress your hospitality too much, so I will probably move my lodgings to the Hack's embassy in a day or two. It shouldn't be too difficult and it would free up the room I'm using should that be necessary."

His head quirked to the side at little, a look of concern creeping across his features, "Is... everything okay?" Perhaps a little blunt, but still, "You seem... distracted. I'm not keeping you from a pressing issue, am I?" Human interaction was still a strange thing, and took some getting used to. He was getting the hang of body language, but subtext and emotion were still a little complicated. He found himself wondering if perhaps he was thrown into this a little too quickly.

Evangelista waved away his initial concerns as he spoke them, interjecting assurances that he wasn’t any burden in the least, and whatever arrangements he chose to make would be more than fine. At the last bit however, she paused, just looking at him for a moment as if she might want to say something, but wasn’t sure quite how to go about it, or what words to use.

Why did she feel like such a fool, and why did he have to go and notice? And why was it he in particular had her head in such a spin, when she’d barely met the man? After all, regardless of all the particulars and technical terms, man is what he had chosen to be identified as, and man is how she saw him – albeit one the likes of which she’d never met before. Was it the novelty, his decidedly unique appearance that remained mysterious in spite of how much he’d chosen to show, his mannerisms, the fact that he wasn’t human which to the more conservative mind made any plausible scenarios that had found their way into her head in spite of her best intentions, taboo?

More to point, what was she going to do about any of it, if anything?

I’ll only embarrass myself. Again. More than I already have today with all this nonsense.

So naturally, the first thing out of her mouth is the simple truth.

“I’m sorry Habbakuk – really, I am. It’s not you or anything you’ve done. Or rather it is, but it isn’t your fault, if you see what I mean … that is to say, yes, I’m distracted, but it isn’t a bad thing perse – or more that I don’t think it’s a bad thing, and I hope you don’t think it is when I say that you’re the reason I’ve been acting such a fool, and no, I’m not entirely sure why, other than the fact that I find you terribly fascinating and have enjoyed your company immensely and wouldn’t be opposed to enjoying it further – I mean, that spending more time would be a pleasure – as in really, it isn’t a bother because I’d like to … oh bother.”

A pause for breath and to regather her thoughts momentarily, at least enough to sum up, even if it doesn’t fully explain. “Really, it isn’t a problem in the least. It would be my pleasure to show you around and spend more time with you while you’re here.”

At least having already expected she’d embarrass herself, it didn’t come as any surprise when she did it again with all that.

I think it’s becoming a habit.

Habakkuk spent a few moments in silence as he thought about what Evangelista had said. Perhaps owing to his increasing humanity, he actually considered it to be thinking, as opposed to processing or analysing. If nothing else, that was a good sign.

It seemed that his presence was a cause of confusion or frustration, but he believed Evangelista when she said it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He had to admit, even if just to himself, that he was enjoying her company as well. She seemed honestly interested in what he had to say, and their conversations on humanity had been quite fascinating. It was also nice to meet someone who, at least partially, shared his faith. While he thought many of the Catholic dogma and ritual distracted from the true message of God, he could see how it would be comforting. And, really, with the myriad of religions and people in the multiverse, "close enough" actually was.

And, in all honesty, aside from this strange bit of awkwardness, they seemed to get along famously well. Best to let it sit and try to muddle through it later. He wasn't exactly on a schedule.

"I... I think I understand." He smiled, "Well, not entirely, but I think I understand enough. I had been hoping that my presence wasn't the source of the problem; I feared that my form, or even my... construction, would have been a problem. However, I believe you when you say that is not the case." He chuckled a little, "And since you don't seem to mind babysitting me, I would love to continue our afternoon together." He took a sip of his champaign more for the pause than anything, "My primary goal seems to have been accomplished much faster than I would have expected, so I have more than enough free time to spend with you and your beautiful city."

It seemed simple enough, after all.

“Oh dear lord no, your form is just fine! More than fine!” she blurted out, then blushed furiously, hiding her embarrassed smile with one hand, and shaking her head. Too many openings, and she kept falling right into them. As for babysitting, the first thing that sprang to mind was an uncharitable thought about one of her colleagues and his proclivity for that sort of kink, though she managed not to comment, thank heavens.

“It’s settled then. We’ve established you aren’t any sort of inconvenience, that further accompaniment would be a pleasing proposition for both, and that there’s ample things to do and see. Perhaps we should get you settled in to your room, allow you to refresh yourself if necessary, and from there we could either call it a day, allow you to do as you like, or we could see what’s to be done in the evenings in Devras – your choice.” She arched a brow, looking over at him curiously, wondering what sorts of things might interest him most, and admittedly, how best she could assist with that.

Shameful. And I shall remember to be suitably ashamed of myself for it. Later.

Habakkuk chose to let her embarassment pass without comment, instead just nodding his thanks and smiling a little. He was clearly having an effect on her, and he was honestly clueless as to how he was managing it, as well as to why. Humans certainly were interesting creatures.

Especially Evangelista. In a strange way, he could relate to her struggle to be viewed as worthy in her own right, as opposed to because of her familial connections. From what he had gathered from what she said (and from the little bit of research he had performed), she was from a powerful family that could have given her pretty much anything she wanted or needed. While he didn't have quite that situation, he was literally created for his job. He hadn't done anything to prove his value or worth, Elijah had simply cooked him up and sent him on his way. Happily, he seemed to be doing a passable job. Likewise, it seemed that Evangelista had as well, despite the meddling. Perhaps that was the source of the strange bond that seemed to be forming.

He chuckled a little, his golden eyes glinting in the sunlight, "I suppose it has. I can't say that I require any 'refreshing'; I'm solar powered, after all. As long as you are ready to continue our day, I am more than up to it." He finished his champaign and flagged down the waiter to pay the bill, giving him the same white credit card.

While he finalized the payment, he pondered their next move for a moment. "Hm. I have seen the Cathedral, and the government seat... I think the concept of seeing the night life would be interesting. I would be interested to see what is done here for entertainment." He smiled almost sheepishly, "I'm afraid I don't have the experience to suggest what we could do, and so I yield to your experience." His normal smile returned, "So what do you recommend, Evangelista?"

Evangelista nearly started to protest his paying on principle, but they had already been over this earlier, and she really didn’t want to cause a scene, or risk offending, so she let it pass, biting her lip momentarily in a telltale sign of confliction, though it passed quickly.

Solar powered. Several unbidden thoughts flashed through her mind at that, causing another quirk of her lips in a little secret smile and a slight coloring of her cheeks. This was becoming a habit here, and she was both mildly disturbed, and more than mildly curious about where all this was taking her, having never been given to such … frivolity before. At least not quite like this, childhood crushes and the sort aside.

“I ... haven’t been one for much of the nightlife perse,” she admits, brushing a stray lock of hair back from her face. “Though I do know of quite a few places that could be interesting. And Else has told me about at least a dozen others, though a few of them might be a bit …” Here she paused, looking slightly embarrassed. “Well, a bit ah … inappropriate, depending on tastes.”

“You know right here in the Piazza there is always something going on, given the tourist aspect. In several parks throughout the city there’s often a musical group of some sort playing – the usual concert-in-the-park scenario. I admit, it’s still fun to see some of the more colorful gypsy troupes perform, as much of a nuisance as they can be at other times … perhaps if you wouldn’t mind me changing into something more com—appropriate than office attire? We could do the unexpected and just see where our feet take us.”

Yes, THAT was subtle. Well done. And since when are you Miss Spontanaeity?

Habakkuk raised one of his eyebrows, the 'hair' just as white as the rest of him, "Inappropriate? I'm not quite sure what that might entail, so I will yield to your discretion." He shrugged a little, "Can't say that I'm fully familiar with your mores, after all. But, no sense in chancing it, I suppose; there is plenty else available from the sound of it."

"The parks sound like a good idea, to me. Taking in the local culture and customs interest me." He looked over her attire briefly, "Er... there's something wrong with your clothing? Hm. If that is that case, then I certainly won't object." He looked down at his own brown robes, "Hm. Would my robe be considered 'appropriate'? If not, I'm sure I could manage something else."

Of course, he hadn't actually brought anything else, but he was sure he could pretend. Being liquid metal had its advantages.

“Ohgoodgraciousno,” she began hurriedly, getting to her feet and nervously smoothing her skirt out. “You’re fine, really – in whatever you feel comfortable in, truly. It’s not so much ‘wrong’ on my part as a bit well, ‘business’ as opposed to ‘relaxed’, and I ah … well … if you’re fine, perhaps if we just stop by my place –”

Here she paused, blinked at her own audacity, and having already suggested it, blundered on ahead as there really was no going back at this point. “Um – that is, unless there’s something else you’d rather do while I change – which shouldn’t take long, really – we could just stop in quickly … ”

And possibly give Else a quick call and get some advice on what under heaven I should do – and then extrapolate from that what I shouldn’t, given Else’s proclivity for wanting to get me into trouble of one sort or another, regardless of how ‘fun’ it might be … And what did he mean by—oh lord, that’s right, he can change shape and appearance and—

Here she shivers involuntarily, and blushes at the subsequent thoughts that suggest themselves, quickly getting back on track with the internal dialogue.

—Still, she’s much more experienced with this sort of thing, and she is a lot of fun, and she does have my best interests at heart, whether I agree with her interpretation of them or not, and oh lord, she is going to suggest that dress she got me that I’ve never even taken the tags off, it was just that indec…reveal…Madre del Dio, what am I doing?

She blinked, realizing she’d likely been quiet longer than she should, looking to Habakkuk with an expression of mixed nerves, anticipation, and fear that she’d said or done something silly yet again.

“That is, if that works for you …” Another nervous brushing back of a stray lock of hair with one hand, as she extended her other to him in invitation, smiling shyly.

Habakkuk smiled simply and took her hand, "That sounds perfectly acceptable. I'm sure I'll be able to entertain myself while you change." He couldn't help but be intrigued. There were always several things going on in his mind, but he had the advantage of a supercomputer to help him keep everything straight and compartmentalized, organics had no such help. Not only that, but they always seemed to have much more on their minds than he did.

He walked in silence with Evangelista, leaving her to her thoughts and pondering his own. At her apartment, he brushed of her concerns about the delay once again, assuring her that he didn't mind.

While waiting, he occupied himself by watching the people going in and out, studying the building's architecture, and focusing his eyesight to the molecular level to see what it was made of. After doing all that, he turned his attention back to the people milling about and those walking down the street. He studied their body language and their attire. He found himself looking at them, then looking at himself; back and forth.

Despite Evangelista's assurances, he decided that what he was wearing was most certainly not appropriate for much of anything. Except, possibly, joining a monastery. Assuring himself that nobody was watching, he concentrated for a moment, thinking about a more proper set of clothes. Their plans were somewhat up in the air, so he opted for something of a middle-ground. In the blink of an eye, he absorbed his robes into his body and formed his 'skin' into new clothing (http://www.gulfhaus.de/diesunddas/matrix/twins.jpg). He pondered growing hair as well, but decided that that might be going a little too far. With any luck, his look would suffice for most any event. In the case that he needed to be dressed nicer, or more scruffy, he supposed it wouldn't take much effort.

“No, not this … this one doesn’t seem right either. Else, are you out of your mind? I am never – repeat – never going to wear that little leather thing you gave me. It’s obscene! And it shows bits of me I never intend to make public!”

”But dahling, that’s entirely the point of it!” comes the voice on the other end of the phone. It was clear that Else Eisler was having entirely too much fun at Evangelista’s expense – something she didn’t particularly appreciate at the time, but still. By now she was somewhat used to her friend’s proclivity for trying to get her into what she’d term ‘trouble’, and Else would term ‘fun’.

”Honestly now, do you plan on going ‘round looking like some dated school marm? Live a little! You want him to notice you, yes?”

“Else, I hardly think it’s possible to miss me, considering I’m the one taking him around, and making enough of a fool of myself as is,” Evangelista replies flatly, pulling out another dress, wrinkling her nose, then tossing it aside on the growing pile.

“Nice evade, my dear. I take it as a yes, then?”

Evangelista sighs irritably, giving another ensemble a critical look. “No, Else – it’s … that is … oh bother, I just don’t want to look stupid, or tarty, or too uptight, or overdressed.”

”Oh, fine, fine … the ecru cutaway jacket with the single button closure then – the one that has the pretty embroidered border along the inside and bottom? Put that over the pale taupe cami, add those soft linen and cotton blend drawstring pants that you can adjust the length on with the pull-ties - make sure you show off those ankles, dear. Accessorize with some warm-toned bangles, drop earrings, and necklace – go for the natural textures, beads or the like – and a larger belt to offset that hint of midriff you’ll be showing – maybe that Moroccan-style bit with the gorgeous round buckle cover? Some of your comfortable sandals for the walking or dancing or what have you, and you’re set. Oh and dahling, do wear your hair down? It’s so very long and pretty, and you’re always hiding that with the more severe do’s. Trust me, you’ll look fabulous. Not too much, not too little, a hint of sexy, all womanly, and comfortable. And it’ll set off your dark hair and that pretty tan nicely.”

She blushed even though no one was there to see. “Else, how is it you know more about my wardrobe than I do?”

”Because I’m the one who’s either gotten you, or bullied you into buying the fun stuff of course. Now get to it before your ‘guest’ wanders off, hmm? Lunch tomorrow at Marcello’s? Tell me all about it?”

Evangelista tosses aside the clothes she’d been holding, and gets to finding the bits and bobs Else had suggested, admitting that it did seem a good mix, all in all. “I really don’t think there’ll be much to tell – I’m just showing him the sights, Else. But yes – lunch at Marcello’s. My treat, ok?”

”We’ll deal with that when we get to it. Good luck – and ‘Lista, have fun! I mean it!”

“Yes, mother,” Evangelista says wryly, smiling all the same. “Ciao, Else – see you tomorrow, and thank you.”

Once she finally has herself together and freshened up, nervously toying with a strand of her dark auburn hair, she walks out to see Habbakuk, eyes widening slightly, mouth drawing in for a silent ‘oooh’ as she sees his unexpected change in his own dress.

“You look ho—se—er … wow, you really look great,” she manages, looking away shyly for a moment, then stepping forward with a smile. “Sorry to keep you waiting like that. Couldn’t find a thing, and well … mmm. Shall we, then?”

Clean thoughts…clean thoughts…I don’t care that he can make himself look like anything he wants, any how he wants, any … gah! Clean thoughts!

Habakkuk adjusted his 'tie' while he waited. The 'clothing' seemed a little pretentious, but he decided he didn't look like nearly the wanker he feared he might. The colors, such as they were, appeared to be complimentary, and, well, it certainly was better than a drab, brown robe. He could get used to this fashion thing.


At first, he thought she said 'hoser', which certainly seemed to be an odd choice of words. He didn't think she was Canadian. He mentally kicked himself, realising it was another instance of her cutting herself off mid-word. A strange habit, but he figure that it was an artifact of having an organic brain. Since she wasn't thinking at 'a gazillion whosists a whatsit' (as Nahum once phrased it), she probably found her mind catching up with her voice. Of course, there was the question of why. Surely he couldn't be the cause.

Around this time his eyes fully focused on her, which caused him no small amount of confusion, actually. The computer part of his processor took in her image, compared it to Federation standards, and decided that she was 'attractive' and 'nicely dressed'. The confusion came from what he could only call his 'mind'. This part seemed to be more interested in yelling out 'WOW!', which made it rather difficult to concentrate.

"Er..." Okay, I'm beginning to understand the verbal stuttering. "You look very nice as well, Evangelista. I'm glad that my wardrobe alteration is acceptable." Sheej. Can you be any stiffer? The 'mind' was certainly getting more insistant. Perhaps he needed maintenance. He cleared his throat (Needlessly, the computer reminded him), "Oh, the wait was no bother. Gave me a chance to... er... adjust my tie. Anyway, I guess we're ready?"

Maintenance. Definately.

Admit it. This is the first man in a long time who’s gotten you all fumbling and jittery. The last one was what, years ago? The one you found out father secretly set you up with, feeding him all the right lines and things to say? So why this one? Perverse base fascination? The fact he was so unique and different? The mix of innocence and intelligence? The fact that the direction her thoughts had taken a time or three during the day might be forbidden territory, thus making it that much more attractive? Curiousity? Lust? Genuine like and a hope to learn more? It all seems awfully fast, but there’s just something about him that makes me smile … a lot. No, dammit, not that. So glad I didn’t share the shapeshifting detail with Else. I’d never hear the end of it, and she’d be constantly asking ‘where can I get one of those’. Shameful. Understandable, but shameful.

It was a mix of things, and she knew that well enough. The fact he was so different from most of the men she knew was certainly a factor – most of them being the sort she’d as soon kiss a viper than spend time with. And the more she thought about it, and some of the things Else had said during their phone conversation, the more she got to answering some of those questions with a ‘so’, and a ‘why not?’.

She’d always tried to play by the rules – at least, those she thought actually were rules worth following, not the unspoken ones so often set up by the movers and shakers. Things that dealt with decency, honestly, loyalty, reverence. Those were worth preserving. And what had it gotten her?

Sure, she had an admirable position in the government, though it was not one from which she had the power to control much, other than do her best to provide a positive point of contact with other nations and their citizens with the Dominion. And it had taken her much longer to rise up through the ranks, considering her refusal to lower her standards or compromise her morals. Opportunities were often denied her on account, and information was often harder to get because of it, thus hobbling her efforts politically.

Evangelista knew her position currently was due in part to this, but more because her two predecessors had been such unscrupulous dirty bas…unprincipled traitors, and Nathicana needed someone she knew was above the backstabbing and power-grabbing in this position at least.

So why not for a change indulge herself a little, even if it turned out to be pure fantasy? Why not take some risks as Else had suggested? The worst that could happen would be that nothing came of it, and things would remain as they were. The best, well … perhaps those thoughts were best left percolating somewhere at the back of her mind so they didn’t distract her overmuch. They weren’t the sorts of thoughts she was familiar with for one thing, and they made her want to run to church for a quick and fervent confession, but they did intrigue her so. And the stories Else regaled her with of her own exploits and misadventures, the ones that made her blush with embarrassment and burn with desire all at once, sometimes made her question some of her choices, and wonder just what all she was missing in being so rigid.

“Oh, I’m ready,” she murmured warmly, looking him over again with a secretive sort of smile before catching herself and looking away briefly with a slight blush, then forcing herself to do the previously unthinkable. She moved closer, slipping one arm in to loop around his, suppressing a shiver of anticipation and the thrill of enjoyable proximity.

“How about a gondola ride to the Gardens, before it gets too dark to see them properly? It’s a different view of the city for one thing, a pleasant way to spend some time, the destination is close to a number of fun things, especially in good weather and after dark, and given your talk of what Mercury is like … it might be a nice change of scenery to start with?”

The clothing that made up his long coat mostly felt like fabric, but it had a distinctive metallic feel to it. It was something of a strange sensation, but not especially disquieting or uncomfortable; more a curiosity than anything.

He was, of course, completely unaware of Evangelista's extensive self-examination of the quandry he inadvertently posed. He was a little confused about the situation he found himself in, but he wasn't wholly surprized by it, actually.

While Elijah had hardly been a doting father figure (indeed, Habakkuk had barely been 'born' when he was sent out), he had given the alabaster LiME a bit of... well, not advice, per se, but a bit of a warning. Specifically, that he would eventually sort out a balance between the highly analytical computer side and the more emotional mind side. He was also warned that while that balance was being struck, things might be a little confusing.

With that in mind, Habakkuk mentally shrugged and decided to enjoy the ride, such as it was. In the strangest way, the confusion was starting to reflect that balance. Instead of being confused by the existance of his emotions, he was finding himself confused by why they were there.

Small victories.

"I think a gondola ride would be wonderful, Evangelista. Water's still something of a curiosity, after all." He chuckled lightly, "Seems something of a kindred spirit." He strolled casually with her, letting her lead the way.

“The few wonders of the world only exist while there are those with the sight to see them.” -- Charles de Lint

Devras, as Habakkuk would most likely have noted, is an illustration in the history of the Dominion - most notably in the Old City, their current location, and in the end, destination. Varying building and art styles of Byzantium mingled with classic Italian Gothic, which then flowed into Renaissance met by Romanesque, with many areas showing a strong Muslim influence denoting past invaders' influences, and overall, a mix of bright colors was predominant throughout.

Due to the nature of it, having been built up over the years on pilings driven down into the mud, pedestrian travel was the preferred method in most places not navigable by water. They walked through several comfortable campos on their way, courtyards, many with trees, fountains or gardens within their open areas, their floors usually paved in red or grey brick whether large or small, with other people enjoying the ambiance there usually offering a pleasant greeting to the pair as they passed through.

Evangelista maintained her closer proximity, so long as there was no hint of discomfort or objection from her companion. In spite of the comfortably pleasant temperatures, the occasional shiver ran through her from the thrill of such a simple thing as closeness, and acting outside her usual norms. She led them down into one of the many gondolas as they reached a canal, directing the gondolier to take them the via the long scenic route to the Piazza San Bernardi.

Once they got comfortably settled, she sat as close as she felt she could get away with without being brazen about it, once more linking her arm with his, so long as there was no objection, feeling a bit flushed with a mix of excitement and nervousness that had her feeling almost ill, but not nearly enough to warrant calling anything off.

Now? As if.

The eclectic tone of the city was just as noticeable if not more from the waterway, the slow pace offering ample time for observation and contemplation. She remembered his reaction to the water when he'd first arrived, the almost childlike fascintion for it all, additional mentions of his affinity for it, and promised hersef then and there to ask at some point, if all went well, if he'd like to go for a swim, someplace more appropriate of course.

All the usual sounds of Old City filtered through, bits of conversations as they slipped past houses and shops and gardens and campos, other gondolas, and in some places, motored boats or private water vehicles passing at a wakeless speed. People at work, and at play, or even simply at rest, taking their ease along the waterways, some noting their passing, some completely obvlivious.

She'd tried to engage in the usual small talk on their way, pointing out any little points of interest she came across as she tried to relax and enjoy herself, rather than constantly worry about looking foolish. And to some degree, in some instances at least, she was successful. Sitting here in the gondola, the sun slipping lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the water, she couldn't help but feel content, and at the same time, anxious.

"I really am glad you came, and that I've had the opportunity to get to know you better, and spend so much time with you, Habakkuk. And I truly appreciate your patience. Afraid I haven't been quite myself today. I swear, I am not usually so ... flighty," she finally admitted, glancing at the water passing along the side of the watercraft, to save herself looking at those wonderfully intriguing eyes at least for the moment. "I have to say, it's been the nicest day I've had in a long, long time."

Habakkuk had done a little research on Devras on his trip over (it seemed so long ago). Of course, he hadn't intended on spending so much time here, but he was enjoying himself, and he wasn't required to be anywhere else. It wasn't like Elijah couldn't contact him instantly anyway. The Basin may be independent, but it still had very strong ties to the Hack, and thus access to mind-bendingly fast communications. And, of course, the fact that there was a Hacker embassy in this very city should the link somehow be severed.

Not for the first time, he felt himself feeling something of a bond with the organics of this city. From an objective standpoint, Devras probably wasn't the best place to build a city, but the original inhabitants didn't have much of a choice; it was were they where. They had taken their environment and molded it to something they could use, forcing their will on the uncaring terrain. Likewise, his progenitor had forced his will on the blazing rock that was Mercury. There was something exhilarating about it. It wasn't a matter of domination, but of force of will. Of refusing to roll over for what life and circumstance has handed you.

Perhaps it was inherited from the Creator. After all, had He not forced His will upon the void of the pre-universe and created the universe? And had He not made man in His image? Well, Habakkuk was made in man's image, so perhaps some of the Creator's insistence was present in him as well. It was a reassuring thought, actually.

He noticed that Evangelista was keeping closer to him than she had before. She was inside his 'personal space', or would be if the concept held any meaning to him. All he knew was that he preferred having her next to him as a companion? Friend? Something else? Regardless, he preferred it to when they had first met and she was simply an escort to a meeting. Whatever the reasoning behind it, he decided that he was, once again, acting the role of the scientist instead of the role of the person. There was no need to analyze; he should just enjoy it for itself.


He smiled as they settled in the gondola, again enjoying her proximity. His attention, however, turned to the water at first. Simply put, it was fascinating. He knew that it was just a basic combination of the elements (plus trace pollution and interlopers), but it was still something to marvel at. Not just because it was so tightly interwoven with life (those that drink it and those that breathe it), but because it was so, well, mercurial. If he wished, he could weaken the bonds holding his form together and drop into a puddle much like water, which made him feel a weird sort of affinity. Almost, but not quite, like a human gazing at a chimpanzee or a Neko holding a housecat. He reached over and ran a hand through the water, smiling. Pity there wasn't any on Mercury.

Glancing up as Evangelista started pointing out various bits of interest, he truly noticed all the other boats, and thought of trade. Again, the importance of water to all life, sentient and not, was reinforced. Thinking for a moment, he had a hard time thinking of other things that important. Perhaps salt, even though it couldn't be used as a means of transport.

He smiled up at her, breaking his reverie, mildly amused and irritated that his ramblings weren't limited to just verbal. "I'm glad I did too, Evangelista." He chuckled slightly, "And you've been wonderful, and quite patient, really; putting up with my wanderlust and tourist-like... ah... 'rubbernecking'." He wasn't sure where that word came from, but it seemed to be the right one. He caught her eyes and smiled a little, the golden orbs looking almost human, "I haven't had many days at all, but I'm sure I'll remember this one for a long, long time. I've enjoyed every moment since I landed."

They were both enjoying themselves and each other’s company. It was turning into a beautiful evening. The sounds of the water passing along the bottom of the gondola, the ambient noises of the surrounding city were soothing. Present company couldn’t possibly be better, and she found herself getting rather lost in looking into his eyes as he spoke, smiling in what was probably a somewhat silly way.

“I didn’t notice any ‘rubbernecking’,” she says softly, leaning in ever so slightly. “If anything, I should be thanking you for your patience for all my fumbling today.”

He really did have incredible eyes. Everything about him was unique, even the way he smelled, which was something she hadn’t noticed until she was closer. Perhaps there wouldn’t be any harm …

Else always said she thought too much. Maybe that was her problem. Too much thinking. She’d been doing a lot of that today, and it had resulted in her stumbling over herself far too often than she wanted to think about. Gah, thinking, again. Maybe it was time to stop thinking so much and just act? What’s the worst that could happen?

Stop thinking.

So she did. For once. Leaning in just a bit more, tilting her head slightly, she softly presses her lips to his, tentatively, shyly, one might even say chastely, immediately blushing afterwards. She pauses for a moment, looking at him wonderingly, then draws back again, dropping her gaze, nervously brushing a stray lock of hair back from her face.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that I … what I mean is … I just wanted to …”

He smiled, "Oh, it's not a matter of patience, really. I rather expected that my appearance might lead to some... ah... well, I'm not sure of the word, but I wouldn't say you were out of line..."

He shrugged ever so slightly, noticing that she had turned introspective again. He found himself wondering if ponderous pauses were the norm for human interaction. After all, he was really only familiar with comminicating with his 'siblings', and that was pretty much instantaneous. This was something--

His thought were abruptly cut off when he felt her press her lips against his. There was a moment of confusion before he realized just what was happening. I'm being kissed...

He looked at her, surprize and confusion in his features, his mind trying to process the sudden surge of data flowing in, from his own feelings about such a seemingly mundane act, to the volumes her body language was broadcasting, to his own flailing attempts to figure out how he felt about all this, to what she was saying.

Oh. She was saying something. What was that? Playback!

"No, it's allright... there's nothing to apologise for." He spoke before he really noticed what was happening. The analytical, computer-brain had been shoved into the backseat for the moment. "I... er... it was nice..."

The gondolier tactfully didn’t draw attention to the fact that they had arrived at their destination, quietly poling the craft up to the wide steps that ran down into the water, and securing it to one of the mazzes there.

Evangelista finds herself at a loss once again, having rather liked the whole thing herself, but unsure of how to proceed, worried that she’d gone too far.

“It seems we’re here,” she finally managed, glancing towards the steps, and the gardens and Piazza beyond, not quite daring to meet his eyes. Still, she makes no move to disembark just yet, adding something in a very quiet voice.

“Was it … nice enough to want to maybe do it again?”

Habakkuk blinked a little, likewise lost in thought about how everything had started to swirl around a little. He glanced up, realizing that they actually had arrived. How about that.

A smile slowly crept across his face as heard her question. He would say his heart lept at the thought, except that he doesn't have one. Still, despite everything, a slight amount of color creeps onto his alabaster features, making him look almost human.

Deciding that it was his turn to take initiative on this whole matter, he nods, saying softly, "Yes... yes it was..." leaning in to gently give her another kiss, the rest of the world fading away. Besides, the gondolier should be used to this sort of thing anyway. Right?

Eventually, he leans back and smiles at her, suddenly realizing that he has absolutely no idea what to say or do next.