:Well. Yes. They were very-: She stops. Very, very aware that the pain she's feeling there is quantifiably more than the last time she discussed this. :I need to point my diagnostics at this. I. This is not. I need to look at this. Ping me if you need me.:

Noeia, meanwhile, is comparing her earliest memories of her big sister and the last ones she has before this.

There... is a marked difference. Less for the amount of time that had passed there to her first set of comparisons, but definitely there.

Her early memories and the end of her -- no, that's a poor point of comparison. Shortly before that?

A noticeable difference, but much less of one.

It is at this point that she is interrupted by Polaris' response. She hesitates, and sends this data to Polaris, with a note that Polaris's own diagnostics are probably more precise.

:How is she?: Noeia asks Giant.

:...Not bad,: he responds carefully. :She is...now distracted. I will keep you updated. I continue to maintain the hug. Anesidora has joined us. Not precisely out of lack of choice, but more because Epimetheus needs them and is still sitting on him.:

:I am glad she is receiving hugs,: Noeia replies, a little wistfully, then, more publicly:

:...I intended to link Daedalus in.:

She goes to do so, pausing to set up a file transfer (a disk image and her notes on the decryption she attempted) as she does.

:Only if ze wants to.: Telamon realises they've been quiet for a while. Hadn't really intended to be that quiet. And also, that's important. As nice as it would be to talk with Daedalus, if ze isn't up for it, it's zir choice.

:Ooh!: Prometheus immediately accepts the file transfer. (He acknowledges the prospect of Daedalus being linked in with distinct pleasure, but doesn't say anything else about it.)

:Will take me a little while,: he says. :But not too long.:

:Of course,: Noeia replies to Kinematic distractedly, :but I want zir to have the option.:

Pause. :Giant, ze has reminded me that my encryption software is out of date. Can you please send me an up to date copy?:

:Reasonable.:

That gets a slightly distracted acknowledgement, there's a pause and then. :Of course you do not. Apologies. Should have sent that immediately. Telamon, copying you into this. You also need an update.: He sends them both the most recent update of the software.

Noeia accepts this and spends a bit examining it before passing it on to Daedalus to generate keys with.

After a little while she sends a public key to them, and starts plugging Daedalus into the existing framework for communications routed through one person's comms using this.

And eventually...

:hi: Daedalus says cautiously.

:Hi! It is wonderful to finally hear you!: Telamon pulls themself up, realising that that is, perhaps, a little overenthusiastic for someone who has only really had two people to communicate with. :Sorry. Sorry. I will be. Um.: They stop talking there, and adjusts settings so that less of their input is being broadcast.

Daedalus does, indeed, flinch back, dropping zir connection.

:--Give zir a moment,: Noeia says to Kinematic quickly. :Ze will be fine:

:Apologies,: Telamon sends to the general group, sounding utterly miserable. :Apparently my ability to curb my impulse control is. Not what it was.:

:Kinematic: Noeia says. :I said ze would be fine -- it is actually a good sign that ze withdrew rather than not reacting to being overwhelmed, I was concerned for a moment I might have to remind zir that was possible -- and you have not anyone to interact with for a while and -- relax, please?: (She follows this up with the glyph for a hug.)

:...Ze says ze just needs a little while and not to worry: she adds after a moment.

:...That is good,: they agree, seeming to relax some the minute they get the glyph. :I just...: They stop, and give an impression of a nod. :Hard not to worry. It is kind of inbuilt.: But nearly all the tension from possibly having managed to seriously mess up has gone.

:@Noeia, decryption underway. Epimetheus got distracted, will be back shortly.: Prometheus sends. :No reason to worry.:

:I told zir when we were setting it up that you three might be a bit enthusiastic, and to feel free to back off if ze needed space. In retrospect I should have mentioned this to you.: Noeia clarifies, unhappily.

Telamon makes a slightly distressed noise over their network. :I will be...less overwhelming next time,: they say.

Prometheus sends an acknowledgement, and then a busy tone. (It's fairly obvious that he's busy with the decryption.)

That... does not seem to help with Noeia's distress. She sends the hug glyph again.

:His glory, by whose might all things are mov'd,
Pierces the universe, and in one part
Sheds more resplendence, elsewhere less. In heav'n,
That largeliest of his light partakes, was I,
Witness of things, which to relate again
Surpasseth power of him who comes from thence;
For that, so near approaching its desire
Our intellect is to such depth absorb'd,
That memory cannot follow. Nathless all,
That in my thoughts I of that sacred realm
Could store, shall now be matter of my song.:

Benign Apollo! this last labour aid,
And make me such a vessel of thy worth,
As thy own laurel claims of me belov'd.
Thus far hath one of steep Parnassus' brows
Suffic'd me; henceforth there is need of both
For my remaining enterprise Do thou
Enter into my bosom, and there breathe
So, as when Marsyas by thy hand was dragg'd
Forth from his limbs unsheath'd. O power divine!

It is at this point that Daedalus registers as online again. Ze is silent, however, listening to them.