update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/neviim/remote/codrin/007.md

@@ -1,5 +1,37 @@
 # Codrin Bălan#Emissary --- 2346
 
+During the short break, Codrin helped True Name compose her letter and, after he sent it, simply sat with her in quiet. The skunk remained still throughout, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring down at her knees. She looked small, and some part of em wanted to sit beside her and try to comfort her, but for the emotional and social distance between them, as well as her still jittery form.
+
+And so ey simply sat at her desk and watched her manage her breathing, keep her composure, meditate, or whatever it was that an Odist unbound did.
+
+Finally, ey reached out to offer a hand to the skunk to help her stand. "It's time we start back, True Name."
+
+She sighed, nodded, and waved eir hand away, standing on her own volition. "Thank you, Mx. Bălan. I appreciate your help."
+
+Ey nodded, hesitated as ey composed eir question, and then asked, "I don't wish to overstep my bounds, here, and will accept no as an answer, but can you tell me what exactly it was that Why Ask Questions meant by "I cannot feel em"?"
+
+After a moment swaying, the skunk straightened up and brushed her paws down over her blouse, straightening some imagined crease. "You ask because of the pronoun?"
+
+Ey nodded.
+
+"I cannot tell you," she said. Looking steadily at em, she fixed a kind and competent expression in place. "And that I cannot should explain enough."
+
+Codrin blinked, clutched eir notebook closer to eir chest, and bowed to her. "Of course, True Name. Shall we fetch Why Ask Questions?"
+
+The other Odist was not to be found in her room. She had apparently remained where she had been sitting before, arms crossed on the edge of the table with her head resting on them. Every time a shift in her form brought a jolt or an uncomfortable squirm, and yet she did not lift her head, even when True Name knelt down beside her to speak in hushed tones.
+
+The rest of the delegates arrived shortly after, Tycho and Stolon both looking quite happy.
+
+Even so, the meeting was slow to get started. There were a few questions asked by both sides about history, but they all felt very careful, well constructed, and circumspect. It was plagued by silences and subtle glances to where Answers Will Not Help rested her head on the table.
+
+"From the sounds of it," Iska said. "Of the four organic species present, all began their projects of building embedding systems after a traumatic event. It seems to be a common feature of biological systems."
+
+"We ran-existed in simulation space. There was no difference-change from post-biological life-existence and living in embedded form," Turun Ko added. "We are unable to add-explain to the topic of trauma. Apologies."
+
+True Name nodded. "We understand, recorder Turun Ko."
+
+"If I may ask," Codrin began. "Was there a period of adjustment for firstrace after--"
+
 "Prophets!"
 
 Silence around the table. Answers Will Not Help pushed herself to her feet. Waves of skunk and human crashed violently across her form. She was laughing. She was crying. Her back arched taught and she laughed up toward the ceiling, a choked, gasping sound.