[accepts transfer, transfers back to all]

Why am I not surprised you're the one who set this up?

For a moment Noeia isn't sure whether to thank Itru or scream at her.

After a few moments she accepts the file. Reads the message. Considers the interface.

It is very much like the one they used to use.

She copies her old settings, tweaks them to be significantly less permissive and broadcast almost nothing by default, and connects.

Iset rejects the connection, and after a few moments sends a note over private messages that she does not expect it to be safe to have it up, but thanks them for the offer.

(She notes she can probably safely maintain a minimal connection for pings if that is desirable.)

Prometheus alters very little about his settings - he hasn't had a reason to, and has never ceased broadcasting, even if only at Epimetheus.

He sends a ping at Iset, and a message agreeing with her point of view.

He sends a query at Noeia, asking if she's okay with this interface.

Telamon takes a moment to familiarise himself with the interface again, and then goes in search of the settings he used previously.

That takes a little while.

:It is nice to have it again,: Noeia sends back after a few moments, :missed you guys, but -- difficult:

(That is an understatement. It is not as bad as when the forum interface first fused itself into her code, by far; she is capable of doing things and talking if only barely. But it is terrifying, even with her emotions turned almost all of the way down.)

Telamon adjusts a couple of the settings he has found - he doesn't want to overwhelm them with the vastness of his input.

:It is good to have it back,: he agrees. :Please let me know if the settings I have selected are incorrect. Or you are receiving too much data.:

:Seeing as we have this...:

Prometheus sends Noeia the interactive files they had been using to try and plan out the new chassis.

Epimetheus isn't sure how to take Noeia's presence. At least she registers as online.

But...

She sends Noeia a private file. :If you would be more comfortable without my presence, I can withdraw. Let me know.:

Noeia accepts the interactive files, and starts to look them over. :Which of you is this for?: she inquires after a moment. There is an indication of more to follow, but she does not in fact follow up, interrupted by receiving Polaris's message.

:what: she sends back, after a moment, and then :Polaris, what (intensified):

A few moments later she seems to collect herself enough to send a slightly more coherent message. :No I would not be more comfortable without your presence, quite the opposite, why would you think that, Polaris:

:Debating making it multipurpose,: Prometheus sends back, frowning at the lack of follow-up, :but was originally intended for Epimetheus.:

:Hard to explain,: Epimetheus admits. :Not something I have sound logic to back up. Just...something I wondered.: There's other, less coherent, information in that file, but it looks like Epimetheus tried to erase that.

There is a pause. :Giant, would you please hug Polaris for me?: she sends to him, and then, to Polaris again:

:well, it is not true, Polaris. I just -- query me for information and I will probably approve it? I just need it to work like that, for now. I did not -- really expect you to mind this much, I suppose? You used to do this.:

Prometheus sends an acknowledgement, and does exactly that, not querying. (Epimetheus had seemed somewhat...off. He wonders whether a conversation with Noeia is the reason.)

Epimetheus is slightly startled when Prometheus hugs her, but doesn't need much encouragement to hug back. Her problem is that she has no idea how to explain her reasoning for that. :I know I did, I-: She has no idea how Noeia is going to take this, but she transfers the file summarising her reasoning - it had, to a degree, been a trust thing, she did not know who they were going to be, or how they were likely to react to her and how she was (her lack of emotions, the fact that she was, more than any of them, built for war), and she cared about them, and didn't want them to push her away, (she couldn't protect them if she wasn't near). :If it is how you need it to be, that is fine.:

:Polaris: Noeia sends back, and along with that -- a snapshot of a specific subset of her processes, those regarding her sister; caring about Polaris and and trusting her and that balancing against something unrelated and very very big in her emotional makeup. (The timestamp is from after Polaris sent her last message; it seems to have been taken and attached directly.) :And you have emotions, even if it is to a lesser degree than us or humans. Actually--:

...huh.

:Kinematic, Giant,: she says, on a new channel, :am I imagining things or is Polaris more emotional than my memories indicate her being?:

:I-: Epimetheus takes a moment, sorts through that information. :I know that. Logically.:

When Noeia cuts herself off, she makes a slightly discontent noise. :Continue?:

:No?: Prometheus says at first, hugging Epimetheus tighter at the noise she makes, and then he considers the matter. :Second. Running comparison.:

Telamon takes a little while to provide an initial response, searching still-fragmented memory banks. :Cannot say for absolute certain, given relatively low recent interaction with Sister, but initial comparison suggests that you are correct and her emotional responses are in fact heightened.:

:Comparison of current behaviour to behaviour...before, does indicate that her emotions are more prevalent now. It has been a gradual change, as such, I had not noticed. Quite peculiar.:

:Sorry,: Noeia replies to Polaris, as she cross-references her own files and waits for their responses, and then:

:I wanted to confirm I was not imagining this before I said, as it would be distressing if I was wrong. The thing that has been confusing me, interacting with you, that I just identified, is -- you are more emotional than you used to be.:

To Giant:

:Do you have any idea why?: (There is some not quite well enough tucked away concern, there.)

Epimetheus pauses. Thinks about that. :That is not possible. Updates to emotional software were declined. Decided with- with our creators that risk to core personality was too great and that I was already enough of a person in my own right that risking those adjustments was not correct?:

:None, alterations are gradual, so unlikely to be someone tampering...: Prometheus is completely confused, and fairly concerned as well. :Potential for early development runtime to not have halted? Or to have been reactivated at some point?:

Noeia relaxes somewhat at Giant's initial response. :That is good at least,: she sends back, clearly relieved, and then, :Could any of upkeep have reactived it? Or -- has it been running all this time --:

She resists comparing her memories to add, :Are you still hugging her? If not please hug her again: and then respond to Polaris:

:You decided that, as I recall, Polaris.: (The emphasis on 'you' is quite clearly 'that was a decision that was yours to make, no one else's') :But -- I know. Giant thinks it is unlikely to be tampering, at least; he said something about your early development runtime as a possibility?: (The full details of this follows, after a quick ping to Giant for permission.)

:I would find it...unlikely that upkeep would reactivate it. But not impossible... Confirmed still hugging Epimetheus, not stopping until one of you tells me to move.:

: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.

Telamon pings Daedalus with a reserved apology, and then goes back to reciting the first Canto of Paradise. They had rather forgotten just how much they adored reciting - especially when their siblings joined in. They knew that sometimes their obsession with a variety of historical literature could verge well into the irritating.

It is not her favorite piece of historic literature, for all there are some bits she likes. But it is Kinematic and they are alive and there and enjoying themself and that is the important part.

And she remembers well enough to keep up.

Prometheus had been vaguely aware of what was going on, and his attention abruptly snaps into focus on the ongoing conversation. And he immediately jumps in before Telamon can pick up the recitation again, although only does a couple of lines, more to show he's there and listening and glad. (Historical literature in general had never really been his thing, but it made Telamon so happy.)

He notices Daedalus, and sends a quiet greeting, before splitting his attention between his decryption work and the reciting.

So said, she turn'd toward the heav'n her face.

Daedalus waits for a few moments after Telamon's closing comment to speak. :hi: ze attempts again.

(To Telamon, ze sends a private reply of :Please do not worry about it.:)

Noeia sends Kinematic a smile and an :I missed you: and collects herself.

:This is Itru's younger sibling,: she says, :who I've mentioned in my messages. Ze does not have a name ze prefers yet, but has been going by Daedalus. Daedalus, this is Kinematic -- Telamon, original identifier Atlas; and Giant -- Prometheus, or 'Metheus.:

:Missed you too,: they send back, smiling as well.

:Pleased to meet you,: they say, much more gently this time.

:What Telamon said,: Prometheus agrees.

Daedalus hesitates briefly, and then, at Noeia's encouragement, says :Noeia talked about you a great deal. It is... strange to actually meet you.:

:I can imagine,: Prometheus says, the impression of a smile, but also some sadness.

:...It is strange to be interacting with people properly again,: Telamon says, :I know it is not quite the same. But...:

Noeia sends them both hug-glyphs.

(She can't hug them properly. She wants to.)

:I am glad you are here,: she tells Kinematic. And then, thoughtfully, asks Giant, :how is Hermes?:

Prometheus pauses for a minute - not evasive, just gathering thoughts - and then sends Noeia a full breakdown of his assessment of Anesidora. Physically, he is fine, and emotionally he is coping. He is upset, but no longer wanting to punch a wall, and also very relieved both Noeia and Telamon are still alive and around. (Even if he is concerned about their relative mental states.)

:Well. At least he is no longer inclined to punch a wall. --do you not have non-wall things for him to punch at the moment?:

:And we are -- we are here.: she agrees, after a moment.

:We are working on acquiring such,: Prometheus assures. :It was...not the highest thing on our list until this moment.: It feels important to point that out.

Epimetheus' presence suddenly seems more present again. :I do not wish to alarm anyone,: she says carefully. :But having run full diagnostics, it would appear that somehow, parts of all of your emotional ability and processing code has found its way to being grafted into my own.:

Noeia is about to respond to Giant when Polaris returns and speaks.

She is silent for a moment, before asking: :Our code? Is there -- anything foreign? Or -- just that?:

:There does not appear to be any completely foreign code. Confirm?: Epimetheus sends a copy of her diagnostic report to them.

:Confirm.: Telamon says. :Only Iapetian code present.:

Noeia takes a few moments to look over it very carefully before also confirming, sounding relieved.

And Daedalus --

:I do not recognize anything that is not Iapetian code,: she agrees