Purpose:
Determine the most economical balance between proprietary and open-source components.
It seems ridiculous to dress, so we descend the grand staircase together, my arms wrapped around Daniel and Evan on either side, with Malachi flanking Daniel and Quennel flanking Evan. I thought Evan would complain, but he didn’t, walking naked with his hair loose.
The most difficult thing had been to detach the adoring Quennel, so I gave him special permission to screw Evan whenever he wanted, even when I wasn’t present. I thought about giving blanket permission to everyone, but then I thought no, make them work for it. Malachi, especially, has to work a little harder for Daniel.
« This place is enormous, » says Malachi. « How can Suibhne live here? »
« He doesn’t, » says Daniel. « He spends most of his time at my flat. He hates being alone. He told me that when he’s alone, the shadows start to talk to him. »
We hear the sound of laughter, so we follow it through a maze of halls and sitting rooms. I am astonished to emerge in a room styled in a completely different fashion from the others, the walls gleaming with gilt-stamped leather in elaborate pseudo-Arabian motifs. There are windows covered completely with Moroccan-worked metal, keyhole recesses for vases and statuary, a white onyx fireplace. The centerpiece of the room is a fountain. Lucius, Lens and Valentin are playing in it when we arrive.
« Fountains are common in palaces, » says Valentin. « The one at Vuernaco is much more decadent, considering that it was built on a Terraformed desert world. This palace was directly on a river. Plenty of water. »
« There’s no soap, though, » says Lucius, clearly disappointed.
« Easy to remedy, » says Valentin. He cups his hands and they fill with bath flakes, which he then dumps into the fountain. « I didn’t want to get you started before Tara arrived. »
Lucius whoops as the agitation from the fountain spews volumes of suds. Mickey and Lens laugh. « I’d better take off my spectacles, » says Lens. « They’re getting covered with foam. »
« Damn, » says Mickey, ogling Evan. « I’ve known him all my life, but fuck, he’s hot. »
« Can we come in? » asks Daniel.
« That’s up to Tara, » says Mickey.
« It looks like there’s room. I don’t see why not. »
« Sit for a minute, » Quennel says to Evan. « I don’t want your hair to get wet. I’m going to braid it. »
I dip a toe in and shudder. « It’s cold. I like hot baths. »
« It should be easy enough to adjust the temperature, » says Valentin. Instantaneously, the water begins to steam.
« It’s a hot spring now, » says Mickey.
Lucius is flushed and laughing. I’d seen him like this before – he has a bubble fetish. Lens is shyly splashing Valentin a little. It’s clear that he wants to make a move on him, but isn’t sure how to start.
« Is there any way to get a bottle of champagne around here? » I ask.
« Whoever heard of a Russian palace without champagne and caviar? » says Valentin, producing a bottle.
« Oooh, Lucius, have you ever had caviar? It’s tiny fish eggs, and they pop in your mouth like bubbles. »
Valentin passes around a platter. « This is very traditional, » he says. « Little buckwheat pancakes with sour cream. »
Ailann is sitting on a lacquered stool in the corner, still fully dressed. « You should join us, » I tell him.
« It will only cause trouble, » he replies.
Ailann is being annoying. I assigned him to this group because Lucius requested him. I look to see if Lucius is disappointed at Ailann’s dour attitude, but between the champagne and the caviar, he is completely off his roots. Mickey has stripped (folded, not thrown) and is slipping into the fountain next to him.
I wonder how this is going to work out: according to the cross-pollination requests, Lens wants Valentin who wants Mickey who wants Lucius who wants Ailann who isn’t playing. And Lucius is looking so deliciously depraved that I want him, too. I remember what he was like in Bubble Fun.
Next to me, Daniel and Malachi are making out again. Quennel had finished braiding Evan’s hair, and is now carefully bathing him.
« Ailann, you should join us, » I repeat.
« The fountain is cramped, » says Ailann. « There are nine of you already in it. »
« Ailann, get your ass undressed and get in here. »
Ailann sighs, balls up his robes and throws them across the room. « You’d think that when you’re God, you get to do whatever you want, » he grumbles. « It’s a complete fallacy. » Lucius hands him a flute of champagne.
Mickey is behind Lucius, blowing bubbles at him. He looks at me pointedly, seeking permission. I nod.
Lens is still trying to decide what to do about Valentin, who is staring at Evan. Evan looks interested. Quennel looks worried. Lens looks lost – probably figuring that between Mickey and Evan, he doesn’t stand a chance of getting Valentin’s attention.
Mickey and Lucius are playing in the foam; Mickey splashes Lucius, who giggles. Then Mickey grabs his arm roughly and kisses him. I can see Lucius’ shock, then submission. Mickey has read him correctly.
I decide to gamble. I move closer to Lens, tugging at his hand. Instantly, his attention is fixed on me. And so is Ailann’s. Ailann is jealous.
Lens is really cute, and I am hoping that my attention will draw Valentin’s. However, it looks like it is going to be impossible to draw Valentin’s attention away from Evan – he isn’t even noticing Mickey anymore. Fuck, it’s hard to draw my attention away from Evan. I hope like hell that Ailann doesn’t notice that.
But of course he does. That’s why he’s being such an asshole. He is sulking.
« I don’t see the point of any of this, » he says. « Pollination is one thing. It has to happen, and it evolved to have a peculiar form. But we’re all branches in the same grove. We’re part of the same entity. This sort of relationship between us is perversely self-indulgent. »
« We’ve already resolved that, » says Evan, impatiently.
« Resolved or not, the point is that Tara thinks it’s hot, » says Mickey.
« The point is that we need to cooperate closely with each other to achieve the same goal, » says Malachi. « Sex play between us will tend to reinforce our ties to each other so that…»
« …so that we don’t all go off on jealousy trips about being Tara’s favorite, » says Daniel.
« One hundred and one, » says Ailann. « You were first. How do you feel about that? Look around you – we’re in a fucking harem. It cheapens our value. »
Lens responds to Ailann’s pronouncement with utter dejection; Valentin puts his arm protectively around him. Fortunately, Daniel, Evan and Mickey are all older than Ailann, and they have had enough of his shit. But it is Quennel, one of the most recent emanations, who calls him on it.
« Are you saying that my love for Tara is cheapened because I love Evan? »
« Not exactly, » says Ailann. « I’m saying that I and I is losing focus. I’m surprised that Whirljack hasn’t said anything. »
« Right now, Whirljack is in bed with Blackjack, » says Mickey.
« Really? All on their own, without me there? That’s hot. »
« See? » Mickey says to Ailann. « She approves. So just fuck off. If you can’t enjoy this, keep your leaves out of the sunbeam of those who can. »
Lucius gapes at Mickey, who kisses him again. Ah, then Mickey has made a point of standing up to Ailann in order to impress Lucius. I can almost hear the clashing of antlers in the distance.
Lens has snuggled a little closer to Valentin. Valentin’s expression is of mild surprise; he is fairly sensitive, and he is starting to understand. He glances at Mickey and at Evan, then shrugs. « Pluck the ripe fruit first, » he says.
I decide to push the issue. « Ailann, why do you have to be so jealous? It’s like you said – you’re all part of the same entity. »
« Jealousy has nothing to do with it, » he replies.
« I know you. You’re being an asshole because I fell in love with Evan. »
« Is that true? » asks Daniel. « Everyone else is happy that Evan got the Gold Card. He waited long enough. »
« You’re telling me it doesn’t bother you? » Ailann retorts.
« Why should it? I’ve already got one. Even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t bother me. We know the deal, Ailann. When Tara falls in love with one of us, she falls in love with I and I all over again. If you didn’t believe that, why did you take the Golden Vow? »
« Seth was insistent, » Ailann grumbles. « He has a way of getting in your face. »
« Ash, answer the question. Why does Ailann have to be so jealous? »
« Someone has to, » says Evan. « Just like I had to express I and I’s inhibitions, like Lorcan had to express His self-loathing. But guess what? We can get over it. We’re not just mental complexes. We’re fully realized personalities, which means that we can change and grow. »
« It’s rather brilliant, » says Malachi. « I wonder if other Cu’enashti use the emanations that way, or if this is an innovation by the Mover? I suppose I can ask Tarlach. »
« Solomon told me to ask better questions, so maybe I should ask this: Ash, why are you jealous? »
« As Davy would say, it’s obvious, » says Ailann. « I and I needs you to live. You don’t need Him. »
« My life revolves around him, but I’m not even going to address that. When you’re jealous of other men, I understand it. But being jealous of your own emanations is self-defeating. The others have it right – the more you love and support them, the better you can serve me. The better you can defeat me. And that’s a big part of it, isn’t it? If you get stuck on something I won’t agree to, then you throw Daniel at me, and I break down. Or Patrick charms me, or Whirljack talks some sense into me, or Cüinn makes me laugh. It’s not a harem, it’s an arsenal. »
« Can we move along here? » asks Mickey. « Because I really want to fuck Lucius. »
« You were upset that Solomon emanated, » says Ailann.
« I was upset that I didn’t have any warning. And I was upset to go from Aran, an emanation I’m deeply in love with, to an unfamiliar one, especially since Aran and I had just fought. Those kinds of transition are jarring. »
« You’re upset that there are so many of us. You’re upset that there will be more. »
« UGH. I like it, and I don’t. It twists my heart around. But then again, getting a new emanation is like getting a present from Ash. And it’s another way to know him, to see another side of him. And I like the harem thing. I’m a self-indulgent autocrat, okay? »
« Tara, » says Malachi, « this is part of the experiment. »
His statement produces a weird disjuncture, a shock, like realizing that I am asleep while I am still dreaming.
« Even as we speak, » he continues, « the final design team of Davy, Axel and Solomon is putting the finishing touches on Mothman 2.1. The Mover wants to make sure that He’s gotten it right – that He’s gotten it completely right. The stress tests are intended to find any flaws in the design. He’s glad that you went along with Davy’s initial suggestion for having an orgy. It was the most efficient means of testing. »
« You know, Davy could’ve just told me that, instead of that ridiculous thing about sexual positions. »
« Has Davy, in his entire emanation, ever been able to express himself clearly or persuasively? »
« True. While we’re at it, he could’ve just told me what the fokkerflies were for. »
« Better to let Suibhne handle it, » Malachi replies. « Suibhne is the most expressive of the emanations. »
« Half the time Suibhne talks nonsense. And he lies. »
« I didn’t say that Suibhne was the most articulate, » says Malachi. « I’m the most articulate. And Rand is the most honest. Suibhne is the best at speaking the Mover’s mind. »
« Suibhne is a lunatic. »
Malachi nods. « That’s why he doesn’t try to impose rational structures over the Mover’s hyper-rational conclusions. He doesn’t filter his impressions through a human lens. »
« If it’s all symbolic, then the penguins must mean something. »
« Suibhne explained that years ago. He said that the penguin is a creature that looks ridiculous only because it’s out of its element. When underwater, it’s quite beautiful. »
« I get it, » says Daniel. « We’re the penguins. The emanations are the penguins. »
« Emperor penguins, » says Quennel. « The males wait for months holding a precious egg on their feet while the females cavort in the far-off ocean. They stand rigid through the most horrific blizzards of winter, huddled together, protecting their eggs. They have a strange pattern of movement where each slowly spirals into the center of the flock, then back to the outside, so that they can all have a chance at warmth. »
« Suibhne has put blue moth mushrooms in the water, » says Ailann. « You’re all starting to hallucinate. »
« We’ve lost the plot, » says Mickey, rather loudly. « I want to fuck Lucius. »
« Penguins are known to engage in homoerotic loveplay, » says Malachi. « Even in long-term pair-bonding. »
« AAAARGH! » screams Mickey.
« I’m with Mickey. I want to see some hot branch on branch action. If Ailann is going to be pissy, that’s his problem. »
« I need more of that champagne, » Ailann says to Lucius.
« Ailann uses his jealousy as an excuse, » says Daniel, « just like he uses his drinking. The real truth is that he feels like his authority would be compromised if he got too close to any of us. Authority isn’t an ego trip for him, though. It’s a burden. But he’s got to realize that even the strongest bough will bend under enough weight. It might even break, especially if it gets too dry. »
« But we haven’t exactly reached out to him, » says Evan. « Honestly, did anyone put Ailann on his cross-pollination request form? »
« I did, » says Lucius.
« You did? » says Ailann, clearly shocked. « But why? »
Lucius, high on champagne and soapsuds, fumbles for words. « I don’t know. I thought that you were sexy. Not that Mickey isn’t, he adds quickly. »
« It’s okay, » says Mickey. « I’m not jealous. But Valentin is absolutely right. Go for the ripest fruit first. »
Mickey grins and winks at Valentin, which his brother understands immediately.
« I think that Ailann just needs some sugar to sweeten him up, » I suggest, glancing at Evan.
Evan smiles, slipping his arms around Ailann, leaning forward to nuzzle Ailann’s neck. Evan had never made an aggressive move in his life. Tonight he is the one who can get away with it – he is the golden boy, and although he doesn’t look it, he is older than Ailann.
Quennel lunges forward to grab the end of Evan’s braid, to keep it from flopping into the water.
Daniel giggles, and then assaults Ailann from the front. Ailann looks shocked, but does not struggle. Suddenly I understand that I am not the only one incapable of refusing Daniel. He is the first, the flower-face, irresistible.
Mickey, sensing opportunity, swoops on Lucius, who laughs. Valentin gently kisses Lens.
« Ah well, who’s left to service me, » I complain.
« That would be me, » says Malachi. « The Mover would never be so remiss as to leave you with no companionship. »
Result of Stress-test 2:
Proprietary components have the desirable result of making the end user feel exclusive. However, overuse of proprietary components leads to inconvenience and frustrations. Care must also be taken to integrate such components seamlessly into the rest of the system. In Ailann’s case, considerable realignment was found to be necessary.