Upon Vestia: Chapter Eighteen

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(Starts on day six at the Guild of Scribes.)

Amity smiled. "I can be shorter if that helps. The scaling of my form is easy enough to manipulate though it does directly correlate with how high my drone flies."

--

[Maybe we should lend you our sign.] Kay suggested with a smirk.

"At least at this height you don't need to worry about people bumping into your drone," Ethan said. He reached out to pass his hand through Amity's hologram, "As long as the drone doesn't bump into door frames, you're fine."

Amity nodded and didn't move as Ethan ran his hand through the hologram. The image shimmered faintly and distorted as he ran his hand through it but that was about it. "I believe that's precisely why we were designed to project an image on the upper end of average height. While most still will walk around you, there's always a few who decide to try to walk through you. " He laughed. "I have very good proximity sensors, I don't crash into things."

"Sensible." Ethan prodded the image a couple more times, curious. "Did you have any guests try to walk through you?"

Amity laughed. "Once or twice. Once out of curiosity, once because I didn't get out of the doorway fast enough for them. " He shrugged. "I also had a guest attempt to bat my drone out of flight with a broom and another attempt to grab me with his bare hands which I must say is an extremely bad idea. My fans take a while to stop spinning even if I shut them off, it's sensible to stay well back and not attempt to handle a drone until those fans have completely stopped."

"Morons," Ethan said. "Do they want to get their fingers fucked up?" He shook his head, "If there's one thing you learn fast about organics, it's that they just can't resist damaging their hands on robots. It's like some sort of primal self destructive urge they have. I take it you were able to dodge in time."

Sawna chuckled then shrugged "Do you think that would be noticed?" She asked, looking around the cafe again then nodding "I like the thought that people will come to gather here."

Amity shook his head. "A curious preoccupation. Thankfully Aketi are very slow moving."

--

Kay shrugged. [The people here aren't very observant, but you never know.]

Ethan looked amused. The idea of people trying to catch drones in slow motion was kind of funny, okay? "Not just a trait of old guys like the professor?"

~~
"They'll notice the sign. Some of them will, anyway," Asher said with a smile. "This place is a better hangout than the med bag because it has food."

Amity shook his head. "It takes a great deal of energy for a plant based lifeform to actually move around. Of course, the older they get the slower they get and the more they rest, but from what I understand of interacting with younger Aketi, speed is not one of their strong points." He chuckled lightly. "and even the young ones spend a lot of time sleeping. That said, a good 80% of the guests Red Star Line deals with are into their second retirement. "

"Makes sense. Plants aren't exactly the most agile things at the best of times," Ethan said. He blinked. "What do you mean, second retirement?"

Sawna nodded and chuckled softly "Some will, others might have to have it pointed out. Sure, bring the sign if you want."

Asher laughed. "It'll be our housewarming present to you. I hope you like it."

Sawna smiled again and nodded "Yeah, I like it"

Amity nodded again. "Yes, Aketi are extremely long lived. They often will learn one subject, work at that for a while, then retire, take some time out and then go back into education and work for another few decades. By the time they hit second or even in some cases third retirement age, they're well into the end stage of their life. Their final retirement is less out of boredom and more out of necessity. They simply can't function as effectively anymore and tire too easily to be of much use. So the great majority take to cruises and resorts to enjoy their final years in comfort."

--

Kay looked amused. [Perhaps we should commission James to make it prettier. ]

"Well that's an odd setup. Keeps things from getting boring, I guess," Ethan said. "Has the Professor had multiple careers, then?"

~~
Asher laughed. "He could do a new sign with calligraphy. It'd be lovely." He was still stunned that James had such nice penmanship. When had that happened? He had no idea.

"Yes I believe so, he's two hundred years old, he's had a very long and eventful life." Amity shrugged. "you'd have to ask him about his careers and education though, he does seem to enjoy going on about it at length to anyone he thinks will listen but apparently my programming making me unable to get bored makes me.. less than satisfactory to lecture to." He laughed.

---

Kay nodded. [Maybe we can trick Esk into collaborating. He draws lovely flowers.] He smirked.

Ethan snorted, amused. Yeah, he was becoming a bit fond of Hewitt. The guy was such an old man. "Yes, I suppose I will have to ask," he agreed.

~~
Asher nodded. "Oh yes, between the two of them, we'll end up with a beautiful sign."

"He'll like that." Amity chuckled. "Aketi generally seem to enjoy an excuse to show off their intellectual prowess." He sounded like he found that endearing more than anything else.

---

Kay nodded and glanced toward Esk. [Just got to trick him into it, I can't see him doing anything just because someone asked. ] Hmmm.

Ethan nodded. "I was getting that impression with him. Some people do love having someone to talk at."

~~
"Maybe if we ask nicely," Asher said, smiling a bit. He was joking mostly, he doubted Esk cared about 'please'.

Kay looked amused. [Good luck with that.]
He wasn't even sure Esk KNEW the word please.

---

Amity nodded and smiled. "Precisely."

Asher smiled. "It's worth a try." He glanced over at Esk, "Maybe we should try it later though," he added.

Esk noticed the looks, which made him suspicious. He waved to Asher and smirked, yes, he'd seen you.

Kay sipped his drink and nodded.

Asher smiled brightly at Esk and waved. Yeah, he'd been caught. Might as well own the fact he'd been talking about Esk. He returned his attention to Sawna and Kay. "We'll figure something out. You don't have to name the cafe Conference Room One," he added to Sawna, "We're just giving you a sign."

Sawna chuckled and nodded again "I know, still do need a name for it though."

"'Not the Med Bay'?" Asher jokingly suggested.

"Who needs sleep?" Esk suggested, standing up and coming over for a cup of coffee and a muffin to go.

[You'll think of something.] Kay reassured, going to find somewhere to sit.