Siriah's Links
Keres Arkibe? That's a pretty obscure piece of trivia, but I do know this name! Keres was an escape artist who almost drowned live on stage, and decided to quit and become... either a priest, or a software auditor, I forgot. The priest version makes more sense, but I bet software auditor is the real answer. It's such a thematically unrelated career switch that I'm certain I wouldn't have just made it up.
I have no idea who this "Nova Kassidi" is. Although in the canon time-line it's likely I will never see her content, I would not be impressed by it. When I still performed, my shows had a lot more flair, and there was an actual thrill involved for the audience - I didn't expect them to sit still and watch me feed perfectly docile alien farm animals.
Keres comes across as knowing many things for certain, even things which he can't possibly be that certain about. I've met more people like that, but this one had the unpleasant distinction of believing I only became sentient so that the creator of the universe could manoeuver me into killing people. Regardless of whether it is true (and lately I see only evidence that it is not), it makes me uncomfortable that he'd serve a creator who he believes would use me like that.
I know that I have nothing to fear from an instrument of the Creator, so why do I feel nervous in this one's presence? Surely, I am less guilty of crimes than the bounty hunters standing before me. I would not be the first to die.
It must have taken a lot of bravery to call my tattoos "an affront to the Creator" to my face. Most people need to hear about my psionic implants before they start accusing me of modifying my body in disrespectful ways. Just for that, I will keep off my gloves so that he can enjoy the full design.
When I look into this killer's eyes, I see nothing but hate. There's not a shred of remorse, not a grain of respect for the gift of life. They stained their scales with symbols of death and display them proudly. Most people can change their ways, but I fear it's too late for this one.
If we had met under other circumstances, and I could have hidden what I do for a living, I'm sure Keres would have been an interesting individual to have a chat with. Unfortunately, we met during a job. He might not have been part of the bounty, but he gave us so much trouble that I almost wish he was.
Kraa speaks with pretty words in an attempt to disguise the truth: to earn a living as a bounty hunter, you must be willing to kill people for money. Clearly, they feel guilt about that, and they're trying to make amends, but they won't succeed if they keep lying. That which they claim as their "apprentice" is a tool of the Serpent, which has smelled the blood that clings to their feathers. Aiming to teach it morality is unnecessary; It knows already. The Serpent is willing to give them a second chance, but the moment they kill again, their "apprentice" will ensure that they can apologize to the Creator in person.
Imagine being an adult in this town and saying that Glenn "has green hair and a bill despite both of his parents being beavers because his grandmother on his father's side was a platypus, and sometimes being a platypus skips a generation." I tell some tall tales, but that takes the cake! Anyway, he's a good kid. Pretty sure he always spends so long picking out books while I'm telling a story at the library because he wants to listen in, but thinks he's too old for it.
I'm a little too old for storytime with Oliver at the library, but I can tell he's really good at it. He makes everything sound so exciting and real, you can almost believe it actually happened to him.
I feel like I could puzzle together his whole life story just from the book requests he makes, but I'm not going to do that, because I'm not that nosy rabbit. I appreciate that he always brings books back on time, though I really wish he wouldn't dog-ear the pages whenever he finds something particularly interesting!
The librarian is so nice, she found me some really great sheet music and copied it for me, free of charge.
Oh hey, what's a fairy doing all the way over here? Fairyland is quite far away!
What's the spirit of the Lake of Catsbane doing all the way over here? The lake is quite far away.
The biggest mystery surrounding Glenn has nothing to do with what he is. The mystery is: why doesn't he ever mention that he makes music as a hobby? I've heard him practice, he's really good!
She could probably find out how to get into Fairyland and find my fairy parents, but I'm not sure I want her to.
Glenn is my boss's son! I wonder if he's also going to be a carpenter after he graduates? He never joins us at the workplace after school, so he probably has something else in mind. Good, he should follow his dreams!
My dad's apprentice. I haven't spoken to her a lot, mostly because I don't want her to ask if I also want to become a carpenter. No, I do not. Nails are made of iron and I can't touch those without wearing thick gloves.
I didn't have the heart to tell this kid that "Fairyland" has no mailboxes, and that even if it did, the postal service needs a little bit more to go on than "the house of Glenn's fairy parents" for the address.
I once wrote a letter to my fairy parents, but I'm pretty sure the package I got in return was made by him, because the 'fairy bread' tasted exactly like the cookies my regular parents sometimes get from him. Which... Thanks... I guess?
The other teachers need to stop saying that fairies like to get up to mischief, that kind of prejudice is disturbing coming from my co-workers. In my class Glenn always finished his homework on time and didn't get in trouble.
My favourite teacher. Everyone says his magic tricks are corny, but I think they're cool. I wish I had that much confidence! My classmates would have probably made fun of me for saying so.
The fact that Oriko is a freelance bounty hunter tells me, at the very least, that we have a different outlook on life. If he's never committed murder, he's merely a victim of the capitalist gig economy. Having to pay for all expenses and only getting paid a fixed sum if you bring back the fugitive is patently unethical, even before we get into the whole "dead or alive" business.
How I feel about Pal Latsov? Let's see...
1) Atrocious taste in literature.
2) Her pacifist ideals are hypocritical. People like her get the credit for ending the war, when everyone knows that interstellar peace negotiations only work out in your favour when your side is winning.
3) Discovered the English language and somehow concluded that it could be used to do diplomacy with Earthlings, even though its grammar is so bad, it actually manages to violate our Constitution.
Yeah, I don't have to meet her to know we wouldn't get along.
Not gonna lie, when I first met Oriko I was terrified! But then I saw the way he acted around Exif and his partner, and I realized, he's just a bit intense right now because he's worried I might hurt his friend. I love when my first impressions are proven wrong!
I didn't quite trust that this maintenance technician that Nefu had found on the aethernet was the real deal, but turns out she's just as good at reverse-engineering unknown technology as the reviews promised, and she acted only a little bit weird about meeting a sentient AI for the first time. Why would she go to Earth? Her talents are surely wasted there.
Oriko is one of the bounty hunters who found me after I'd just become self-aware. He is like family to me, and from the very beginning, I have seen a different side to his personality than what he presents in public. Many other people on the First Contact team would be skeptical of my assertion that he is a good person, if they were to meet him. It would be good to avoid such a meeting.
Yeah, so me & Kraa probably saved Nefu's life. What about it? Anyone else should have done the same thing in that situation.
My best friend and longtime business partner! Before I come to Earth, we do freelance interstellar bounty hunting together. The author doesn't know yet if we're going to end up having a huge falling-out that irreparably wrecks our friendship, or get married. I hope it's the latter, I love Oriko and would follow him to the edge of the known universe. In a friendship way. Because I know that Oriko doesn't like me in a romantic way, and therefore there is absolutely NO reason to even think about whether I'm attracted to Oriko or not.
I don't care that these notes are 'breaking the fourth wall' and 'nobody except for strange aliens from another universe is going to read them', I'm not telling you how I feel about Kraa.
[The author will use this space to deny Kraa's assertion that Oriko "does not like them in a romantic way". Much like Kraa, Oriko doesn't do a very good job at inspecting his own emotions, but it probably doesn't count as entirely platonic to suddenly feel warm & fuzzy about your best friend after several years, and start fantasizing about whether, after you both get tired of bounty-hunting, you could buy a house together and start a family or bounty hunting academy or something.]
Chaartle chaaaaar! ❤
Me and my team created the first water/grass/fire type! Isn't it adorable?
Is nobody else going to point out that she's literally a bunch of water in a cat suit?
Oh! I know her. She's that rabbit who stopped by to investigate the 'mystery of the Lake of Catsbane'. I approve of her inquisitive nature, even though I sure hope she's not on to me! Hee hee!
Had a really weird conversation with her after I explained that I was a teacher. Maybe she somehow misheard and thought that I teach philosophy at a university to adults, and questions like 'what is money' were not intended literally?
If he's a 'teacher' why won't he teach me anything? I think it might be because I wasn't offering him any money, but I still don't understand how this whole concept works. The fish seem to get along fine without it. I want to know!
She claims to appreciate any snacks I offer her, but I've never seen her actually eat anything. If you give her a cookie, it just vanishes the moment you look away. Is she only accepting my food out of politeness?
I LOVE his baking! It's probably not good for my fish to eat his cookies, but once or twice won't hurt, and it's not like it's the same fish every time. Has he ever considered opening one of those places where people give you 'money' in exchange for food, what do you call 'em, a 'restaurant'?
Drips water basically everywhere she goes, even when it's not raining. There's no way I'm letting her anywhere near anything made of paper.
An abomination who disrespects the cycle of life and death, and also, she won't let me into the library, which is very rude. I want to know what books are like! Let me in!
Ooh, I love her drip! Is her head made out of wood? That's awesome.
She might just be an apprentice carpenter, but I'm already very impressed with what she can make! Furniture and buildings are so cool. She'll go far in life, I'm sure.
Something about her makes me nervous. I get the feeling that she hates me, and I have no idea why!
Ugh, this guy! I had to capsize his rowboat like twenty times before he finally decided that fishing in the lake was not worth his time. Now he boasts about how brave he is for fishing in the ocean instead.
Kraa is one of the bounty hunters who found me after I'd just become self-aware, and I'm eternally in their debt not just for getting me a ride off of that planet, but also for teaching me everything they know. They're also on Earth against the wishes of literally everyone here. This is an extremely unfortunate turn of events, so I have decided to pretend not to know them.
If I get the chance I should try to pay Nefu a visit after I finish the job, it will be good to see my child I mean old apprentice again!
Wait that's illegal. Bounty hunters shouldn't be allowed to come here, that's why I chose this planet.
The target I'm hunting is apparently some kind of beloved public figure here. This is a problem, because it makes me look like the villain.
Oh no. I'm going to have to deal with this mess, aren't I?
I don't have the best first impression of Ambassador Tarazed for two reasons:
1) If they had done their job properly, I wouldn't have had to sneak onto Earth like some kind of criminal.
2) Earthlings keep asking me if I also have a cool jetpack, and I don't.