Multicultural Discussion Thread
Longform Posting Enabled
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the first thread for the Multicultural Discussion Thread.
As many of you Twiceborn have no doubt noticed, our little slice of the Federation has taken on many new visitors from other cultures recently. In these weekly discussions, I intend to create a dialogue where our visitors can share a little about themselves and the crew can ask questions.
For our inaugural thread, we have decided to open a discussion on the distinctive Flying Sovereigns, led by our guest Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
News to me, bird!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
We discussed this at length, Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Nah. You were probably confusing me with someone else. We all look alike to you, huh, bird?
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
A fine start.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
There aren't any other Sovereigns on the ship, Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Ship's boring as hell then, huh?
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Mantlehammer. Please.
I am trying to create a dialogue.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
That's admirable and all but, knowing you, bird, you'll probably ditch it halfway through and leave me to clean up the mess.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Ha!
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
I'm loving the dialogue so far.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Come to my face and say that, monkey.
If your performance around the Overseers was any inclination, I should be seeing you sometime never.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Haha! Oh, that's the first respectful thing you've said since I got here.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
I've said a lot of respectful things, Mantlehammer. Maybe if you didn't run every time I came into view, you'd know that.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Alright, fine. You've convinced me. I'll lead your dialogue or whatever.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
So is trading insults some kind of Flying Sovereign custom?
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
No.
Mantlehammer is just an asshole.
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco
Weird to see you say that, Guide.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
I only have so much patience, Commander.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Alright, listen up! Let's talk about my species, the Flying Sovereigns!
Let's get the important shit out of the way. We're an Orchid species, and we were conquered by the Overseers when their 'good guy' cousins cut and run just as we needed them.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
I feel less remorse over that every time you talk.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Like every good Orchid, we have some special qualities. You know what I mean, right? The Seers can talk to anything and have those Fields, the Symphonians can fuse, and the Scumslinkers can shapeshift?
Well we have one of those too. See, we're an emotional people. Our emotions are so strong they actually warp our very bodies to match our inner realities! When we become angry, our strength goes through the roof! When we're scared, we become lightning-fast! Curiosity makes us hyper-focused, and a few emotions, like disgust, lets us fire particle beams from our hands and orifices!
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
Pardon me?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
We're pretty naturally strong and damn near impossible to kill.
But. Let's get some shit out of the way first.
We're not a 'warrior race'. People pull that shit because we've spent hundreds of years being forced into the role of elite shocktroops by the Overseer Empire.
But we were a splendid, glorious, diverse, technologically advanced people, damn it.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
I'm familiar with stuff like that. The old British Empire used to categorise Indians into 'warrior peoples' and 'non-warrior peoples', and defined the former as being brave but stupid, good for being led into combat but not for leading. That kind of categorical approach seems popular with prejudiced empires.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
I don't know what those nouns are, but the concept's kinda the same, yeah. But make no mistake: we're not stupid. When your curiosity and thirst for answers gives you hyper-focus and a perfect memory, then shit gets done.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
I can appreciate that a lot. Our emotions help like that, but it's more a willpower thing.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Yeah, that's the same for a lot of the emotional species.
Anyway! Conquered by the Overseers. Most of our people were exterminated at that time, and most of the survivors became slaves, the ancestors to the current elite shock troops. But we're not all slaves. Obviously.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Tell me more.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
A bunch of us escaped the conquest, and found new homes… Not always great homes. In fact, almost always shit homes where we had to sell our muscle to put food on the table. There've been a few colonies here and there, but those get targeted by the damn birds real quick.
Not all of us are born free, though. Plenty manage to run and escape from the Empire.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Did you escape or were you born free, Mantlehammer?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
You can't just ask that, Gagarin.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Sorry! I didn't mean any disrespect, I'm just curious.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
It's fine, don't sweat over it.
Let's get something straight here, though: all of us are born free.
Some of us are just living in places that don't realise that yet.And I was born in the Empire. Served as a shock trooper for over twenty of your years. Saw a lot of action in that time.
The Empire has a lot of fun tricks to keep its thralls enthralled. Conditioning, rewiring of the brain, hijacking natural processes… For us, it's an emotional collar. The Overseers use special implants to fuck about with our emotional states. If we step out of line, they jack up emotions that make us weak and drain emotions that make us strong. We're all also taught from a young age to revere them as our intellectual superiors. Or gods.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
A terrible, terrible thing to do.
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco
I'm sorry to hear that, Mantlehammer. That's savagery.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Yeah.
But, you know, raised or no raised, we keep to our traditions, and as it turns out, it's really hard to burn 'hate birds' out of our culture.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
How did you escape? Did someone break your implants?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Nah. I broke myself out.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Woah. How?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Well, it's kind of a long story. Look, not every Sovereign is the same, okay? We had a lot of different cultures and traditions before our conquest, and many of them are still around.
But in the traditions of the Hammer family, we believe that the pinnacle of Sovereign existence is to become a Sovereign with absolute control over their emotions.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Sort of like the Shrinepath Devoted, then? Mastering oneself?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Not really. A lot of traditions like that are about controlling yourself in spite of your emotions. Acting calm when you're real angry, that kind of thing. I'm talking about controlling your emotions. Imagine if, just by willing it, you could make yourself immensely angry?
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
I understand. A Sovereign who could control their emotional state at will could completely control their physical form.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Exactly. And they would be unstoppable.
Well… I dunno if it was exactly it, but one day, I had a real, real shitty day. We'd invaded a planet, and the Overseers weren't taking prisoners.
I was told to do something you can't come back from. Something that you'd rather die than do.
But I dunno how it happened, but in that moment, I just felt this… Pure will. I feel into a kind of trance, then, just like that, I felt all the good emotions, all at once, as strong as possible.
And then I caused some shit. I overloaded my implants and tore through half the planet. Hijacked a ship and got the hell out.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
Damn. That's awesome.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
It was awesome, SadieTyrell26. But it only lasted a few minutes. And then I ran into an Overseer Duke and was lucky to walk away alive.
I'd love to get back to that state, though. But I dunno how.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
I think I'd like to see that.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Same here!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
I haven't seen anything like that happen, but I've seen excited Sovereigns before… And yes, the effect is quite impressive.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Yep. Speaking of impressive, who wants to hear about how we mate?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Gagarin does.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
What the hell, Lolter?!
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Don't pretend you're not curious about how they bone, Gagarin.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
You know, you're all painting me as some kind of lech, but I'm actually a very gentle, shy, romantic soul.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
*Gif of Kourosh Rustami breaking down in tears of laughter at a political meeting*
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Oh you all go to hell. What've I done to earn this?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Be hungry on main every damn day, Gagarin?
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
Don't start this again. We don't want Franco shutting us down again! It just got interesting!
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco
' '
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
Lewd.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
I have no idea what is going on, but it sounds incredibly dumb.
So. First and foremost. This is a thing that some of you types have, but: we don't have defined sexes or anything like that. We're a single-sex species. All of us can fertilise and all of us can carry. Except for those who can't, for reasons we should respect. Obviously.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Interesting! So you have no real concept of gender, then?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Nah. I mean, you other species are gonna put genders on us, but you should know we don't really have any rules about how we act sexually or culturally like that.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
The Symphonian I met on the Base talked about how their concept of gender is very fluid.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Which is great, right? It's so good. It made me so happy.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
So what about sexual orientation? Are all Sovereigns attracted to all other Sovereigns?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
No. The opposite.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Say what?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Of course this isn't a rule, y'know, we're a diverse damn people and we make our own damn rules, but generally speaking, we're… I don't know the word and the translator implants are failing me. Let me explain. The majority of Sovereigns bond with one other for life. But once we bond, that's it, we're attracted to that one person and one person only, forever. Well, that's how Mantlehammer does it, at least.
Okay, Violet, tag in for a second, will you?
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Very well. It is as Mantlehammer says.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Please, yes, be less useful, if you can.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Ha!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
I'm getting to it, Mantlehammer.
In any case, yes. Usually, Sovereigns bond with only one other and then mate for life, although they often split up- if only physically- for long periods of time, until the Sovereign reenters their reproductive season, at which point they usually seek each other out. Gestation takes thirteen months by Twiceborn standards, and is, by all reports, a painful experience.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Damn right it is, ha!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Alright, I thought you were busy or you had to go somewhere. Why did you ask me to take over if you're still going to comment?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
I just wanted to see a Defector Guide talk about fuckin'.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Sigh.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Hilarious.
Oh, there's one other thing we should let you all know. Our attraction isn't limited to Sovereigns. We can be attracted to anyone.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Not as surprising as you'd think. Humans have been wanting to fuck aliens for over a century.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
We're in a crude mood tonight, ChatterComms, hm?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Oh, it's like this most nights, honestly. It's kind of an intraship id boiling to the surface.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
I had no idea you were all this lustful, and I'm psychically attuned to the background noise of the ship's collective subconscious on a permanent basis.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
I think you'll find we don't talk or think about sex all the time, Idris. We're multidimensional, you know? We can keep the sex thoughts out until we're off duty.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Besides, don't act so innocent, Mr. Evangelion. I bet you think about sex all the time.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
Such things are… Complicated when it comes to being an Evangelion.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Hey.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Really? Tell me more!
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Oh no.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
Our human avatars are part of our identity, but only a part. Once we become Eva, we become something more than just that, and so the erotic parts of our psyche become changed.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Hey!
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Changed how?
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
It's very difficult to explain, Gagarin. Perhaps later, I could show you?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Holy shit.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Sunspots, you people are distractable. We were talking about me!
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco
Idris, did you just proposition an officer on ChatterComms?
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
What? No. No. I was trying to propose offering Gagarin a glimpse of my psyche through the use of telepathy.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Is that what they're calling it nowadays?
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Yeah, uh, it sounded a lot like you were coming onto me, Idris. A lot.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
TALKIN' ABOUT MY PEOPLE HERE
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
I apologise. I meant no disrespect. It's just that these concepts are very hard to explain to someone without my frame of reference!
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Is that what they call it nowadays?
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
Can it, ShookCam.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEight
Perhaps we should turn our attention back toward Mantlehammer before we offend him with our ignorance.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Oops. Sorry, Mr. Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
We good? We back? We all ready to pay attention like big people now? Okay, fine. Good.
So. Where was i?
Right. Attraction. But it's more than just attraction… We're, what's the term, Violet? You know what I mean.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Flying Sovereigns possess an extremely rare trait known as universal sexual compatibility. Essentially, they are capable of producing viable offspring with any of the Orchid or Wildflower species that reproduces sexually.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellisme
No kidding? I thought that was impossible.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
We're pretty remarkable, SadieTyrell26. Don't underestimate us.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
So are the offspring hybrids, like Spock, or?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
No idea who that is, but the answer is kinda. The offspring are mostly Sovereign biologically, but sometimes they inherit a few stray traits from their parent. Coloration, height, more rarely the odd special quality… Anyway, that's a big reason why we've survived- we're not picky on who we bond and have babies with. A lot of Sovereigns, especially the exiles who've never been enslaved, have a little bit of non-Sovereign blood in 'em. Pretty neat, huh?
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco
That is neat.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
I have a question. You said you and your partners tend to split up geographically for long periods of time? How come?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Lots of reasons. Sometimes it's just how we do, you know? Other times, it's a safety thing… See, when I said we're tough to kill, I meant it. We're damn near impossible to kill and we regenerate pretty quickly. But we nonetheless can get hurt, and we can die. The Overseers are real good at killing us. Defectors are too, in their own way.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
Stop that.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
But that's where love comes in. Love is an emotion that when we feel it, massively accelerates our regeneration cycle… To the point of healing wounds almost before they're inflicted. It can bring us back from the brink of death… Even beyond death, so long as our mental organs aren't too compromised. And they decompose… Very, very slowly. So many of us split up, so that if one of us dies, the other can find us and revive us without being caught in the thing that killed us in the first place.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Hold on.
So… You guys cheat death through the power of love?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Yeah?
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
That's corny as hell.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
No idea what that means, Doublebaby, so I'm gonna assume it's a term meaning 'awesome'.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideViolet
It means… Tacky. Embarrassing. Hackneyed. They are comparing your regenerative states to childish entertainment.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Really?
Well, sad for you, ShookCam, that you're not a Sovereign, because I'm gonna kick your ass.
Actually, maybe even if you were, you'd still die because it's not like anyone loves you enough to bring you back.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam
Oh, we're going there, are we? Well, I'm going to cut off your tail and eat it.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Gross.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Hey, you've talked about love, Mantlehammer, but what about lust? What does that do for you?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
Funny story. Turns out, lust gives us endless stamina.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolter
Ohhhhhhh my god.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintrader
Wait, but doesn't that create a feedback loop?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammer
YES IT DOES, IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco
CLOSING THE THREAD
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletHello, everyone. Welcome to the first thread for the Multicultural Discussion Thread.
As many of you Twiceborn have no doubt noticed, our little slice of the Federation has taken on many new visitors from other cultures recently. In these weekly discussions, I intend to create a dialogue where our visitors can share a little about themselves and the crew can ask questions.
For our inaugural thread, we have decided to open a discussion on the distinctive Flying Sovereigns, led by our guest Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNews to me, bird!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletWe discussed this at length, Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNah. You were probably confusing me with someone else. We all look alike to you, huh, bird?
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeA fine start.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletThere aren't any other Sovereigns on the ship, Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerShip's boring as hell then, huh?
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletMantlehammer. Please.
I am trying to create a dialogue.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerThat's admirable and all but, knowing you, bird, you'll probably ditch it halfway through and leave me to clean up the mess.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterHa!
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamI'm loving the dialogue so far.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletCome to my face and say that, monkey.
If your performance around the Overseers was any inclination, I should be seeing you sometime never.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerHaha! Oh, that's the first respectful thing you've said since I got here.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletI've said a lot of respectful things, Mantlehammer. Maybe if you didn't run every time I came into view, you'd know that.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerAlright, fine. You've convinced me. I'll lead your dialogue or whatever.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeSo is trading insults some kind of Flying Sovereign custom?
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletNo.
Mantlehammer is just an asshole.
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFrancoWeird to see you say that, Guide.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletI only have so much patience, Commander.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerAlright, listen up! Let's talk about my species, the Flying Sovereigns!
Let's get the important shit out of the way. We're an Orchid species, and we were conquered by the Overseers when their 'good guy' cousins cut and run just as we needed them.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletI feel less remorse over that every time you talk.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerLike every good Orchid, we have some special qualities. You know what I mean, right? The Seers can talk to anything and have those Fields, the Symphonians can fuse, and the Scumslinkers can shapeshift?
Well we have one of those too. See, we're an emotional people. Our emotions are so strong they actually warp our very bodies to match our inner realities! When we become angry, our strength goes through the roof! When we're scared, we become lightning-fast! Curiosity makes us hyper-focused, and a few emotions, like disgust, lets us fire particle beams from our hands and orifices!
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightPardon me?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerWe're pretty naturally strong and damn near impossible to kill.
But. Let's get some shit out of the way first.
We're not a 'warrior race'. People pull that shit because we've spent hundreds of years being forced into the role of elite shocktroops by the Overseer Empire.
But we were a splendid, glorious, diverse, technologically advanced people, damn it.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamI'm familiar with stuff like that. The old British Empire used to categorise Indians into 'warrior peoples' and 'non-warrior peoples', and defined the former as being brave but stupid, good for being led into combat but not for leading. That kind of categorical approach seems popular with prejudiced empires.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerI don't know what those nouns are, but the concept's kinda the same, yeah. But make no mistake: we're not stupid. When your curiosity and thirst for answers gives you hyper-focus and a perfect memory, then shit gets done.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeI can appreciate that a lot. Our emotions help like that, but it's more a willpower thing.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerYeah, that's the same for a lot of the emotional species.
Anyway! Conquered by the Overseers. Most of our people were exterminated at that time, and most of the survivors became slaves, the ancestors to the current elite shock troops. But we're not all slaves. Obviously.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterTell me more.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerA bunch of us escaped the conquest, and found new homes… Not always great homes. In fact, almost always shit homes where we had to sell our muscle to put food on the table. There've been a few colonies here and there, but those get targeted by the damn birds real quick.
Not all of us are born free, though. Plenty manage to run and escape from the Empire.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderDid you escape or were you born free, Mantlehammer?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterYou can't just ask that, Gagarin.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderSorry! I didn't mean any disrespect, I'm just curious.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerIt's fine, don't sweat over it.
Let's get something straight here, though: all of us are born free.
Some of us are just living in places that don't realise that yet.And I was born in the Empire. Served as a shock trooper for over twenty of your years. Saw a lot of action in that time.
The Empire has a lot of fun tricks to keep its thralls enthralled. Conditioning, rewiring of the brain, hijacking natural processes… For us, it's an emotional collar. The Overseers use special implants to fuck about with our emotional states. If we step out of line, they jack up emotions that make us weak and drain emotions that make us strong. We're all also taught from a young age to revere them as our intellectual superiors. Or gods.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletA terrible, terrible thing to do.
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFrancoI'm sorry to hear that, Mantlehammer. That's savagery.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerYeah.
But, you know, raised or no raised, we keep to our traditions, and as it turns out, it's really hard to burn 'hate birds' out of our culture.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderHow did you escape? Did someone break your implants?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNah. I broke myself out.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterWoah. How?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerWell, it's kind of a long story. Look, not every Sovereign is the same, okay? We had a lot of different cultures and traditions before our conquest, and many of them are still around.
But in the traditions of the Hammer family, we believe that the pinnacle of Sovereign existence is to become a Sovereign with absolute control over their emotions.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterSort of like the Shrinepath Devoted, then? Mastering oneself?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNot really. A lot of traditions like that are about controlling yourself in spite of your emotions. Acting calm when you're real angry, that kind of thing. I'm talking about controlling your emotions. Imagine if, just by willing it, you could make yourself immensely angry?
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightI understand. A Sovereign who could control their emotional state at will could completely control their physical form.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerExactly. And they would be unstoppable.
Well… I dunno if it was exactly it, but one day, I had a real, real shitty day. We'd invaded a planet, and the Overseers weren't taking prisoners.
I was told to do something you can't come back from. Something that you'd rather die than do.
But I dunno how it happened, but in that moment, I just felt this… Pure will. I feel into a kind of trance, then, just like that, I felt all the good emotions, all at once, as strong as possible.
And then I caused some shit. I overloaded my implants and tore through half the planet. Hijacked a ship and got the hell out.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeDamn. That's awesome.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerIt was awesome, SadieTyrell26. But it only lasted a few minutes. And then I ran into an Overseer Duke and was lucky to walk away alive.
I'd love to get back to that state, though. But I dunno how.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterI think I'd like to see that.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderSame here!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletI haven't seen anything like that happen, but I've seen excited Sovereigns before… And yes, the effect is quite impressive.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerYep. Speaking of impressive, who wants to hear about how we mate?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterGagarin does.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderWhat the hell, Lolter?!
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterDon't pretend you're not curious about how they bone, Gagarin.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderYou know, you're all painting me as some kind of lech, but I'm actually a very gentle, shy, romantic soul.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @Shookcam*Gif of Kourosh Rustami breaking down in tears of laughter at a political meeting*
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderOh you all go to hell. What've I done to earn this?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterBe hungry on main every damn day, Gagarin?
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeDon't start this again. We don't want Franco shutting us down again! It just got interesting!
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFranco' '
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightLewd.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerI have no idea what is going on, but it sounds incredibly dumb.
So. First and foremost. This is a thing that some of you types have, but: we don't have defined sexes or anything like that. We're a single-sex species. All of us can fertilise and all of us can carry. Except for those who can't, for reasons we should respect. Obviously.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamInteresting! So you have no real concept of gender, then?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNah. I mean, you other species are gonna put genders on us, but you should know we don't really have any rules about how we act sexually or culturally like that.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterThe Symphonian I met on the Base talked about how their concept of gender is very fluid.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamWhich is great, right? It's so good. It made me so happy.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderSo what about sexual orientation? Are all Sovereigns attracted to all other Sovereigns?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNo. The opposite.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterSay what?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerOf course this isn't a rule, y'know, we're a diverse damn people and we make our own damn rules, but generally speaking, we're… I don't know the word and the translator implants are failing me. Let me explain. The majority of Sovereigns bond with one other for life. But once we bond, that's it, we're attracted to that one person and one person only, forever. Well, that's how Mantlehammer does it, at least.
Okay, Violet, tag in for a second, will you?
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletVery well. It is as Mantlehammer says.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerPlease, yes, be less useful, if you can.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterHa!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletI'm getting to it, Mantlehammer.
In any case, yes. Usually, Sovereigns bond with only one other and then mate for life, although they often split up- if only physically- for long periods of time, until the Sovereign reenters their reproductive season, at which point they usually seek each other out. Gestation takes thirteen months by Twiceborn standards, and is, by all reports, a painful experience.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerDamn right it is, ha!
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletAlright, I thought you were busy or you had to go somewhere. Why did you ask me to take over if you're still going to comment?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerI just wanted to see a Defector Guide talk about fuckin'.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletSigh.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerHilarious.
Oh, there's one other thing we should let you all know. Our attraction isn't limited to Sovereigns. We can be attracted to anyone.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderNot as surprising as you'd think. Humans have been wanting to fuck aliens for over a century.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightWe're in a crude mood tonight, ChatterComms, hm?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterOh, it's like this most nights, honestly. It's kind of an intraship id boiling to the surface.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightI had no idea you were all this lustful, and I'm psychically attuned to the background noise of the ship's collective subconscious on a permanent basis.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeI think you'll find we don't talk or think about sex all the time, Idris. We're multidimensional, you know? We can keep the sex thoughts out until we're off duty.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterBesides, don't act so innocent, Mr. Evangelion. I bet you think about sex all the time.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightSuch things are… Complicated when it comes to being an Evangelion.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerHey.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderReally? Tell me more!
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamOh no.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightOur human avatars are part of our identity, but only a part. Once we become Eva, we become something more than just that, and so the erotic parts of our psyche become changed.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerHey!
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderChanged how?
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightIt's very difficult to explain, Gagarin. Perhaps later, I could show you?
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterHoly shit.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerSunspots, you people are distractable. We were talking about me!
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFrancoIdris, did you just proposition an officer on ChatterComms?
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightWhat? No. No. I was trying to propose offering Gagarin a glimpse of my psyche through the use of telepathy.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamIs that what they're calling it nowadays?
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderYeah, uh, it sounded a lot like you were coming onto me, Idris. A lot.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerTALKIN' ABOUT MY PEOPLE HERE
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightI apologise. I meant no disrespect. It's just that these concepts are very hard to explain to someone without my frame of reference!
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamIs that what they call it nowadays?
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeCan it, ShookCam.
Idris @AhuraOneOhEightPerhaps we should turn our attention back toward Mantlehammer before we offend him with our ignorance.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderOops. Sorry, Mr. Mantlehammer.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerWe good? We back? We all ready to pay attention like big people now? Okay, fine. Good.
So. Where was i?
Right. Attraction. But it's more than just attraction… We're, what's the term, Violet? You know what I mean.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletFlying Sovereigns possess an extremely rare trait known as universal sexual compatibility. Essentially, they are capable of producing viable offspring with any of the Orchid or Wildflower species that reproduces sexually.
SadieTyrell26 @sadietyrellismeNo kidding? I thought that was impossible.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerWe're pretty remarkable, SadieTyrell26. Don't underestimate us.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderSo are the offspring hybrids, like Spock, or?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNo idea who that is, but the answer is kinda. The offspring are mostly Sovereign biologically, but sometimes they inherit a few stray traits from their parent. Coloration, height, more rarely the odd special quality… Anyway, that's a big reason why we've survived- we're not picky on who we bond and have babies with. A lot of Sovereigns, especially the exiles who've never been enslaved, have a little bit of non-Sovereign blood in 'em. Pretty neat, huh?
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFrancoThat is neat.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderI have a question. You said you and your partners tend to split up geographically for long periods of time? How come?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerLots of reasons. Sometimes it's just how we do, you know? Other times, it's a safety thing… See, when I said we're tough to kill, I meant it. We're damn near impossible to kill and we regenerate pretty quickly. But we nonetheless can get hurt, and we can die. The Overseers are real good at killing us. Defectors are too, in their own way.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletStop that.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerBut that's where love comes in. Love is an emotion that when we feel it, massively accelerates our regeneration cycle… To the point of healing wounds almost before they're inflicted. It can bring us back from the brink of death… Even beyond death, so long as our mental organs aren't too compromised. And they decompose… Very, very slowly. So many of us split up, so that if one of us dies, the other can find us and revive us without being caught in the thing that killed us in the first place.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamHold on.
So… You guys cheat death through the power of love?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerYeah?
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamThat's corny as hell.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerNo idea what that means, Doublebaby, so I'm gonna assume it's a term meaning 'awesome'.
Calligrapher-of-the-Ultraviolet-Inks @GuideVioletIt means… Tacky. Embarrassing. Hackneyed. They are comparing your regenerative states to childish entertainment.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerReally?
Well, sad for you, ShookCam, that you're not a Sovereign, because I'm gonna kick your ass.
Actually, maybe even if you were, you'd still die because it's not like anyone loves you enough to bring you back.
ShookCam Vizier Maulus VIII @ShookcamOh, we're going there, are we? Well, I'm going to cut off your tail and eat it.
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerGross.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderHey, you've talked about love, Mantlehammer, but what about lust? What does that do for you?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerFunny story. Turns out, lust gives us endless stamina.
Positron Bath Bomb @HeavyLolterOhhhhhhh my god.
Zero-G Bigboss @gagarintraderWait, but doesn't that create a feedback loop?
Muscle Lusty Prince @mantlehammerYES IT DOES, IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME
Adrian's Wall @AdrianFrancoFrancoCLOSING THE THREAD
