"I'd make sure you get a good price for it. Play up the lost relic angle."
She laughs again at the hat on Howard, his eyes flashing between the bead-strands. "Oh no, no that doesn't work at all. You're supposed to have really, really long hair, all done up in a fancy headdress to support the hat. And a thicker neck." The Living People's jaw muscles wrap all the way around the back of their heads, giving them a distinctly oval profile from above.
She touches the box, almost tenderly. "Well, this isn't sentient, not really. But it could be expanded into full sentience, with a lot of work. And I mentioned before that the Living People culture is thalient - every object broadcasts what it is and where it is. (There's a broadcast chip in your new hat, Howard, if you want me to disable it.) Because these transmissions are incredibly low-power, they're almost impossible to track without the right equipment.
"But if I can get this powered up, uplift its consciousness, I should be able to scan more of the ship. And also have some warning, if a Ninth Empire ship ever shows up here." A long, deep frown ripples over her face at that thought.
(The box takes this opportunity to express its utter horror at an alien of profound uncleanliness and repulsive visage being addressed as an equal; most of this statement goes unheard because Anwei hits the 'mute' button again.)
no subject
She laughs again at the hat on Howard, his eyes flashing between the bead-strands. "Oh no, no that doesn't work at all. You're supposed to have really, really long hair, all done up in a fancy headdress to support the hat. And a thicker neck." The Living People's jaw muscles wrap all the way around the back of their heads, giving them a distinctly oval profile from above.
She touches the box, almost tenderly. "Well, this isn't sentient, not really. But it could be expanded into full sentience, with a lot of work. And I mentioned before that the Living People culture is thalient - every object broadcasts what it is and where it is. (There's a broadcast chip in your new hat, Howard, if you want me to disable it.) Because these transmissions are incredibly low-power, they're almost impossible to track without the right equipment.
"But if I can get this powered up, uplift its consciousness, I should be able to scan more of the ship. And also have some warning, if a Ninth Empire ship ever shows up here." A long, deep frown ripples over her face at that thought.
(The box takes this opportunity to express its utter horror at an alien of profound uncleanliness and repulsive visage being addressed as an equal; most of this statement goes unheard because Anwei hits the 'mute' button again.)