13538/bezhgam vo Themyscira!

bezhgam vo Themyscira!
Date of Scene:	09 December 2022
Location:	Palace - Themyscira City
Synopsis:	Alura is welcomed to Themyscira by Donna, Diana, Hippolyta and Monet. She seems more concerned with the revelations about showers and horses than those about superpowers.
Cast of Characters:	Donna Troy, Monet St. Croix, Diana Prince, Alura In-Ze, Caitlin Fairchild, Hippolyta

---

Donna Troy has posed:
    The T-Jet arcs up steep and fast, the horizon slowly bending down to reveal the curvature of the Earth. Stealthed though it is, it's sensible to leave radar range well behind when flying over the Siberia. Only when the atmosphere has thinned almost to blackness does the craft make much progress over the Earth's surface, the vast empty tundra of the Sakha republic slowly giving away to the more verdant but similarly empty expanses of Irkutsk oblast, then the highlands of the Khentii mountains, the Mongolian plateau, the vast emptiness of the Gobi and Taklaman deserts. This might seem like a very empty world; just the brief oasis of life around Tashkent before the empty expanses of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Then at last a change -- the expanse of the Caspian revealing this is not an entirely dry world.

    It's somewhere there that Kal-El takes his leave of the T-Jet on a mission of his own, with a promise to track down Kara if possible, and deal with a mission of his own. Donna takes advantage of the mid-air goodbyes to send a message to Diana, warning her of the impending visitor to Themyscira.

    Then, at last, there's signs this is indeed a busy world after all. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey -- still landscapes of great variety, but with much greater signs of the impact of civilization on the landscape that had been seen before. Eventually the lights of Ankara spread out in a great sprawling urban mass below, the signs of true civilization. At significantly lower heights than the T-Jet is flying, the skies are crossed by silvery aircraft in busy streams.

    The T-Jet drops lower again as another sea comes into view, and it spirals down towards an island chain. The craft, so unfamiliar to Alura, is steered towards great dark banks of stormcloud that do not look at all safe, but the Terrans seem unconcerned, even when the pilot steers the craft into the deepest, most dangerous looking part of the storm.

    The stormclouds die away too suddenly to make sense; one moment they are in near darkness, with next to no visibility, the next there's barely a cloud in the sky. Brilliant clear blue seas surround a small archipelago of islands rich with vegetation, and as the craft comes in low, buildings that sit harmoniously upon the landscape come into view. The craft approaches a tall mountain, its side a cityscape of elegant structures, carefully manicured parklands and semi-wildernesses, and great cascading flows of water running around and between the buildings. Near the top of the mountain sits a cluster of large buildings, and the T-Jet approaches the largest and most sprawling structure in the complex, finally coming in to land at a simple landing field that looks newly constructed. A single other craft sits there already, a peculiar white vehicle with outlines that are hard to quite make out, as if the shape was unwilling to be entirely encompassed by the eye.

    The engines whine down to silence, and Donna flashes Alura an encouraging grin, before giving the tall red-headed pilot a pat on the shoulder. "Welcome to Themyscira Alura," Donna says, speaking in Kryptonian for the benefit of the new arrival. "This is my home. It's a place unique on this world, for reasons you'll come to learn in time. It's a place of peace and culture and learning. I think you'll like it."

    The doors to the T-Jet open, and flood the interior with comfortably warm air and bright sunlight that seems to chase away shadows both actual and metaphorical. Donna hops down from the ship onto the clean stone ground, and gestures for the others to follow.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Themyscira was still a new place to her. Her experiences there minimal. The culture new and vibrant. From what little M could tell, it was in the midst of it's own renewal and change with all those new Amazons that were coming to it. That were having to learn their way through it. This was the second time she would set foot on the island sealed off from the rest of the world in it's own alcove, a haven.
    Her second time here. This one unexpected. Her knowledge of the language academic from the lessons being given by the embassy, and her own ability for instantaneous recall and occasionally plucking what she needed from the midns of others. As she comes off the ramp of the T-Jet she could only turn her attention over to the other craft there that was so difficult to make out with a 'really' expression on her face that quickly vanishes.
    She goes to sweep around, expression neutral even as her own sort of training sinks in and the exterior is given a quick sweep telepathically. After traumas, fights, and suffering from these last months at Xavier's, it had been drilled into her to always be alert, be ready. OF course there would be nothing. The Amazons would never let somethign surprise them on thier own island. But she had learend that the hard way.
    And it's mostly ruminating to herself the trip there, the walk off the T-Jet, and to their arrival. Monet is very, very out of her depth here. SUppressing her normal outer shell of arrogance for the sake of the others as now was not hte time nor the place for it. But also hiding her sense of uncertainty.
    There was an ancient epithet long paraphrased that she had come to loathe.
    May your life always be interesting.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana had received the message and setup a welcoming party of a handful of Amazon soldiers. The Princess is dressed well for the occasion, but when is she never not? In a light blue skirted dress that ends just above her knees, leather wrapped sandals, and a golden hued bodice over her midsection, she smiles at those who appear out of the arriving Titan-Jet.

The armored women that flank her on either sides are also observing the arrivals, as Diana steps forward.

"Welcome to Themyscira." She announces without too much fanfare, as the visitor this time, the new visitor that is, is quickly becoming a more frequent occurrence across this secluded place of paradise.

Diana looks to Donna specifically for a moment, sending a 'What is this?' question without really having to ask it, a gesture Donna would know well by these days.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura is glued to the window of the aircraft as they skirt the edges of space. Earth is not how she imagined it - at first desolate, but then sprawling settlements as far as the eye can see. All out there in the open to the elements. Once upon a time the cities of Krypton were like that.

Her mind is racing. The sheer number of people who must live on this planet boggles the mind. The logistics necessary to keep everyone up to date with the latest advancements and thoughts, food, clothing, power, medicine. A more manageable population this planet does not have.

All the colors are in a palette, hues, that are not foreign to her but are certainly not what she would have splashed together as a landscape. Earth is vibrantly different more so because of the yellow sunlight rather than the red sunlight of Rao.

But there's something else she's feeling - the sunlight through the porthole feels.. good. Perhaps it's just being away from the phantom zone, allowing her body to feel life once more. But she's not sure that's all there is to it. And if truth be told, that knot in the pit of her stomach is for Kara - she's apparently safe here, well loved, with many friends. But she still wants to see her daughter. :jahghah is a virtue though.

When they come in to land in a small city, she gathers with the rest to exit out of the aircraft. Her eyes fall upon the shimmering object and she's not quite sure what it is. But the gathering of women are clearly a welcoming committee.

More alien words but the body language is familiar enough. She places her palm to her heart and dips her head to Diana and replies, "/liguhsh-es rao w krep/" (Rao protects us / I am welcomed) Her eyes glance at the others and she dips her head again before her hand leaves her heart.

Her decayed Kryptonian clothing preserves enough of her modesty as if she'd run through fire and waded through bogs until brambles had torn it as much as it dare. Upon her chest is the ceremonial crest of House El, for she was in council session when the rebellion happened. If she hadn't been, perhaps Kal-El would not have acted as soon as he did to help her escape null space.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin emerges from the ship last, ensuring it's safely landed and the engines are shutting down correctly. The ship's virtual intelligence starts running down the post-flight checklist while everyone disembarks. Caitlin stops two steps off of the ramp, closes her eyes, and turns her face up to the sun. Shoulders rise and fall with a deep and heady inhalation of Themyscira's balmy winds. Sun, salt-spray, distant grasslands and not so much as whiff of industrial pollutants.

Before she gets too distracted Caitlin steps forward with Donna to present themselves to the guard and make the ceremonial greetings offered to them and the princess. Though crisp and polite there is certainly something familial in the gestures as Donna and Caitlin rejoin the ranks of their sisters.

When Donna gets 'the look' from Diana, Caitlin glances sidelong at Donna and shrugs lamely. Utterly unapologetic she sliiiides a step back so she's near Alura and Monet. The former is given a flashing smile of reassurance, leaving Donna on the hook for explaining their presence on the island.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna and Caitlin greet the welcoming party with a clash of their bracelets that rings out across the landing field, which the warriors behind Diana return. For a place promised to be one of 'peace, culture and learning' it does have an oddly martial aspect to it. Then all sense of formality is lost as Donna greets the groups leader, Diana, with an enormous grin and a hug. "Hello sister! This is Kara's mother Alura In-Ze," she explains to Diana in Themysciran -- to Alura it's probably different enough to tell that another language is no being spoken than the one she had been hearing between those who'd welcomed her to Earth before. "She escaped from the Phantom Zone, and we picked her up. Kal is trying to find Kara and let her know. She only speaks Kryptonian, but Monet can do her mind thing so we can share language and talk. There's... a lot she doesn't know yet. We wanted her to get over the initial shock of it all before telling her what has happened to Argo city. Or indeed what will happen to her under the Earth's sun. She has just escaped from a long trauma, and there are more shocks to come. I felt there was nowhere better than Themyscira to let her recover herself, and learn how to handle her new powers as they develop."

    She turns back and switches to Kryptonian to translate Diana's greeting: "Princess Diana welcomes you to Themyscira, Alura. Kara knows this place. She is often a guest here, coming to relax and also as a place of instruction. That's something you will find out about soon. For now we will make sure you are comfortable,. get you some clean clothes to wear, and provide you with a place to stay. We will help you learn the local languages and explain... much."

    She gives a nod to Monet, grinning a little. "Could you do the thing?" she asks. "It's a lot easier than me translating back and forth all the time when only Cait and I speak any Kryptonian."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix goes to listen over to the exchange between Donna and Diana, and goes to focus over at what is asked for her. She takes a moment then and goes to speak to Alura in Kryptonian, "I am going to share the two primary languages here with you via telepathy. It will be disorienting so ready yourself." She gives Alura a few moments to ready herself or to ask any questions she might have. Then Monet goes to focus. Absorbing information is easier than sharing it.
    Particularly when it's a language that she's only passingly fluentw ith herself. But given the majority language here is Themysciran, M feels like it is only appropriate to share it as well. It is rude to have thsoe around you talking in something you cannot understand. The lessons at the embassy have been useful.
    And so Monet goes to quickly, presuming permission is given from Alura, to give the basics of English and Themysciran to her. In broad terms. Syntax, grammar, meaning, structure, tense.. All of those basic parts of language in relation to events and culture. Enough to be conversational with in an academic sense. Trying to give total fluency via telepathy is beyond that which M is capable of. There's a small wince on ehr face as she goes through the process of sorting information, streaming it, and giving it to the mind of the other woman,a nd making the alterations required for understanding of someone that has no real frame of reference to Earthern based linguistics when it comes to expression, including such things as how to vocalize and properly pronounce..

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana just looks between the faces of those arriving, then settles upon that of Alura herself. She smiles to the woman then.

"Welcome to Themyscira. Welcome to Earth, for that matter." She says, IN Kryptonian. Diana has been around Clark for over 10 years now, and his language has been in the databanks of the Justice League for just as long. Does she speak it often? Nope. Why would she.

With a soft breath though, the Princess nods to Donna and Caitlin. "You did well by bringing Alura here. We can hope to help you settle in to the local customs, and find a bit of peace and quiet to ... soak in the atmosphere of a new place."

Diana steps to Alura then, and extends her right hand to the woman to offer a shake, but not of hands, but rather forearms, Diana's own encased in that gleaming armored bracer of her people.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura nods her head. It seems from the looks that her coming here was not something normal. The language has a very different cadence to it than the one they were speaking around her in Siberia. A different kind of singsong - she wonders if all the languages on Earth are like a song.

Alura glances to the bracer on her own arm, not at all like the Amazonian ones - hers is technological, Kryptonian, while theirs is a weapon and a defence. But the glance is just to see if there's any Kryptonian connection, a computer she could use to learn the languages and translate. There are none here.

A tap on her bracer, she turns it off for now. It's become a habit for her to turn it off and preserve power - she had no idea how long she'd be in the phantom zone and there was no where to recharge there. Regardless, Monet is doing her 'thing', whatever that thing is is beyond Alura's understanding for the moment.

"Thank you. It's been a long time since I've been able to wash myself. And I'm very hungry. If there are safe foods for Kryptonians then I'd like to eat and drink too."

In her own mind she's aware she's using borrowed knowledge to speak a language foreign to herself. She understands what she said but it felt weird to say it and hear it. Like pasting parts of language samples together she forms the words and shares her meaning.

As Diana talks about the atmosphere Alura looks up at the blue skies and warm sun. Her shoulders relax a little and she feels the drain of the phantom zone drifting away like a bad memory. It takes her a moment to realise Diana was still talking and she snaps herself out of that brief daze. "Oh!," she replies and takes Diana's forearm. A smile returns to her face at the generosity she's being shown. She wonders how they'd have been greeted on Krypton - less amicably she supposes. There's a lesson in that.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna raises an eyebrow in mild surprise when Diana starts talking in Kryptonian -- she didn't know her sister could do that. It's only mild surprise though, because Amazons are pretty good at learning languages! Monet's psychic contribution really does make communication easier though, and she gives a thankful smile for the linguistic assistance.

    "Food is not going to be a problem," she tells Alura with a smile. "Earth is surprisingly compatible with Kryptonian life. More so, in some ways, than Krypton was. Our sun seems to be particularly beneficial to Kryptonians. Do not be shocked to find out that Kal is not the only one who can fly unaided by machinery -- Kara will fly here to visit you. You too will find yourself capable of things you never dreamed possible, and not just flying. Another advantage of bringing you here is that you will be amongst people who understands such things well, and can help you learn to use the new abilities you will find yourself developing safely."

    Donna rests a hand on the arm of one of the guards and exchange a few words. Soon the guard nods her head, and two of them peel away, walking back into the palace. "They'll make sure everything is prepared for you, Alura. A room to stay in, clean clothes, anything you need." She breaks into a wide grin. "Kara is well-liked here, her mother will be an honored guest."

    "This place, Themyscira -- it is not typical of Earth. However it is a very comfortable place to recuperate from your time in the Phantom Zone, and Kal and I agreed it would be a good place for to stay for the moment. It will be less of a shock than if we were to take you to one of the large human cities straight away, and we can make sure you get the help and information you'll need to make yourself at home on Earth."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The effort of uploading a language to someone is considerable, so Monet St. Croix shifts her posture ever so slightly. Enough to not stand out that she's floating just a couple of centimters on the back of her feet to ensure that she's not at risk of showing the disorietnation she feels physically from the strain. It takes her a few seconds to adjust, holding herself in a position of standing but in very partial hovering to let herself recover from the effort. LIstening to the back and forth for a few moments lets her reorient as she goes to look around.
    "Themyscira is.. One of the loveliest places on the planet. And is a good way to.. Explore." She goes through several phrases, discards those of excessive triteness, those that would be empty, and those that would not translate well when it came to intent, frame of reference, or anything else.
    That done she goes to just watch the exchange, her translation done as she watches the dynamic between the sisters and the Amazons. While also adding to her personal research things on the Phantom Zone, Null Space.. And other topics the likes of which she hasn't the faintest basis of fluency to research on. Always so much to learn about and to have to investigate.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana holds Alura's forearm for a few moments before releasing it again and lowering her hand again to her side. Her eyes sweep around to the faces of the other women gathering around here at the foot of the Titan-Jet's ramp, from Donna, to CAit, to Monet and some of the guards that Donna speaks to.

Finally, Diana looks once more to Alura and once more her red hued lips curve up in to a warm, genuine, smile.

"This is a palce of friends to the people of Krypton. You are an honored guest here, for as long as you so desire to remain upon our shores."

Another glance is sent to Cait and Donna then from Diana. "I would love to hear from Kal on this subject, but I know that bringing Kara here is a very important matter also. She will be very eager to learn of this, I am certain."

With a light breath taken, Diana nods once more to Alura. "When you do wish to see more of the world, you wil have plenty of assistance with that as well."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura nods her head to the group, "Then I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality. Jor spoke at length about this planet and his hopes here for our children. He was clearly not exaggerating, though perhaps he didn't tell me everything I needed to know for my daughter."

She lets out a small breath, "I feel as though I've slept for a thousand years and I'm only just now waking up. Everything looks so crisp and the air smells so fresh - after the phantom zone and Argo City... Jor did not believe this planet had reached the stars. Do you know how to travel faster than light? I will need to get word to Argo, to Zor, that I am alright."

Hippolyta has posed:
Some time after the messengers have peeled away, and as the introductions are being made, a distinctive sound comes from the distance: the distant thundering of hooves. The message of a visitor coming to Themyscira was hastily delivered, and soon, the riders become visible and the gleaming armor flashes under the sun as Queen Hippolyta and her honor guard approach the landing site. The beating of the hooves is complemented by some of the riders beating on the tympanon, accompanied by piercing blasts of the salpinx, heralding the presence of the Queen of the Amazons.

At the head of the expedition is Queen Hippolyta herself: an imposing vision in white and gold, her purple cape and flowing black hair trailing behind her as she rides forth on her white steed. The immortal queen rides with a preternatural grace that does justice to her name, as if rider and horse were but one being. As the company comes to a stop before those gathered at the landing site, the Queen's honor guard's bracelets ring like bells as they are crossed in greeting, in time with Hippolyta as she speaks.

"I am Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Be welcomed to the shores of Themyscira," she says, her eyes resting on Alura, and moving to the princesses with a gleam of curiosity.

Donna Troy has posed:
    "You'll get a chance to talk to Kal about it soon Diana. I have assured him he is welcome to come her and talk with Alura any time he wants." She arches an eyebrow and gives Diana a wry, amused smile. Diana knows that it's not quite as simple as that, and while Kal is on the list of acceptables, Donna was perhaps overstepping slightly to tell Kal that. No doubt Troia will be on the receiving end of a lecture on forewarning from their mother later today.

    Donna takes a step back, finding herself shoulder-to-shoulder with Monet, and gives her a gentle shoulder nudge. "Whadda ya mean 'one of' she whispers to Monet with a smirk. "'The'. Definitely 'the'."

    Alura's  question is fateful, and Donna frowns a little, but now's not the time to give Alura bad news. Soon. When she's sitting down, at the very least. Donna contents herself with addressing the question actually spoken. "Faster than light travel is a quite new capability on this world. There are a small number of vehicles that are capable of it. The one you travelled here on does have a form of propulsion that manipulates space-time, but cannot go faster than light. It is the prototype for another vehicle that does, though. And Diana's plane..." Donna nods in the direction of the odd vehicle parked beside the T-Jet "... is another that can make interstellar journeys."

    Decisions on when to break the bad news about Argo City to Alura are however put aside when the fanfare heralds the arrival of Hippolyta, and Donna greets her mother with a clash of bracelets to the match that of the queen's entourage. She dips her head to Hippolyta, before making introductions. "Mother, this is Alura In-Ze, the mother of my friend Kara. She has spent some years trapped in an extra-dimensional prison, and has just escaped. I have invited her to stay on Themyscira while she recuperates and learns about our world. We expect her to start developing abilities similar to Kara's, and I believe we are best equipped to help her safely come to terms with that change.

    "Alura, this is our mother Hippolyta, queen of these islands. She is a woman of great compassion, experience and wisdom."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Information on technological status of Earth. Cultural status. All these sorts of things are questions that Monet can answer and do so gladly. But in a highly overly technocratic response. And it is of little consequence now and can come later. When the mention is made of Argo, there's a quick look in her eyes given to the direction of Donna, a telepathic confirmation <She does not know?> Or if she has and is in emotional denial over it. Two very different things that share something in comparison.

Immense turmoil and pain.

The arrival of the Queen makes for a more pleasant distraction, and for M, it is her first time meeting Hippolyta beyond her very brief period when the new Amazons came to the island. There's a more formal posture taken now by Monet as she gives a formal curtsy the likes of which her tutors instructed her from a very young age. Something reserved for the rituals of the European nobles. Despite her outfit not being appropriate for that level of pomp, the gesticulation is still there as is the ritual. For Monet, having something to focus on for a few seconds is very much of an appreciated breather.
    With that few momrents to recover, ehr attentiong oes back over to Alura thoughtfully. And she goes to rapidly scale up in her mind what she has seen of Kryptonian physiology and adaptation and goes to contemplate how quickly said abilities will manifest and their growth patterns.. The thoughts being a pleasant thing to ground herself in away from things like 'emotions'.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura takes a moment, the surprise on her face though, a queen? a monarchy? of all the governmental systems this was not what she expected. But here she is and she nods her head in greeting to her, "I am welcomed, thank you Hippolyta." Still, one does not cast stones in a glass house - where did her own government get her? exiled, that's where.

Alura looks at the mostly invisible object once more at the prompting and nods to Donna, "New to your world. Then Jor underestimated your world. Krypton forsake the stars after many set backs in our history. We remained a solitary world, looking inwards instead of outwards."

"Our people found only pane and suffering amongst the stars. I hope that Earth does not meet the same reception," she states rather matter of factly. Her eyes drift to her bare arms, pale from the phantom zone they are not - they have enriched with color since arriving on Earth and she watches the way the sunlight dances off of her skin with fascination for a moment too long.

"If it's all the same to you, I would very much like to clean - do you have molecular vibration rays for cleaning or is there some other way you achieve the task?" Sometimes you have to accept the kindness but press the things that matter.

Diana Prince has posed:
With the statement of being tired, Diana shows another softer smile, a dip of her chin in a nod and then she glances over to Donna. The question of FTL is responded to, and the Princess lets it lie there. "We will see to it you have a wonderful place to get as much sleep as you so should desire, plus... plenty of sunlight here." She notes, knowing all too well the benefits of the Sol System's star for Alura's people.

With the arrival of her mother, Diana takes a step back and to the side,her hands coming together in front of her lap. She shows her mother an equally warm expression, but otherwise remains quiet for the time being, though she does dart her eyes out over the city for just a moment before regarding the others with her again.

Hippolyta has posed:
"Alura In-Ze, your daughter is a treasured companion of my daughters, and she is considered a sister among us. In similar manner we welcome you in sisterhood to our city, the worthy mother of a worthy daughter." Her eyes linger over Diana and Donna, with maternal warmth, before returning to Alura "Your trials have been long and arduous and well-deserving of rest. We will provide all that is necessary to restore the body and soothe the soul- although we do not have the hygienic devices you are familiar with, I am certain you will find the our healing baths in the palace to be more than satisfactory, for they partake in the blessed springs."

Monet's gesture is not lost, and the queen The queen gestures to her honor guard, and the Queen acknowledges her curtsey with a tilt of her head, "Let us not delay any further, then. We shall head to the palace and arrange your accommodations."

Members of the honor guard descend from their horses and present them to the members of the party, for them to ride with the company. Alura is offered a seafoam-white horse, similar to Hippolyta's. "Will you ride by my side?" Hippolyta offers, "I shall tell you of your daughter's last visit here. No doubt, my daughters will reach out to her to let her know of your arrival here."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura looks at the horse and.. well.. she's never seen one before Hippolyta turned up with them. She looks at the way the queen rides hers and then looks at the horse before her. Perhaps.. a leg? no.. an arm? may be.. a jump? the vexxing crosses her face and she approaches the beautiful beast of burden.

Laying her arms across its back, she hops as little and ends up belly over it. With an awkward squirm, she pulls a leg up and over and manages to sit upon its back. An amused smile is on her face and she leans down whispering to the horse:

"Thank you for humoring my ignorance, I apologise for sticking elbows and knees in to you. Please be gentle with me, I have never seen your like before."

With a nod to the queen she says, "It is my pleasure Hippolyta." She looks back to Donna, Diana, Monet and smiles from atop this powerful horse and it's clear she has no idea what she's doing. But there's a familiar look upon her face. A smile, almost mischievous if you didn't know the family. No, she's thrilled by this encounter with the unknown.

"I would love nothing more than to hear of my daughters exploits," she says almost roguishly. She knows Kara very well but in the years they've been apart some of that connection has faded and she aims to rekindle it. And here, on this planet, Kara has become a woman.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna hopes that Kal finds Kara quickly. There's clearly a lot of explaining to be done, and she doesn't want to be the one to have to do it all! "We clean ourselves with warm water and cleansing foams," she replies, her lips curling up just shy of a smirk. "That may sound simplistic to you but we have a lot of fresh, clean water here, and it's a more refreshing and luxurious way to clean oneself than vibrating the grime off. "

    "Our reception amongst the stars has been... mixed. We have found good friends. There have also been a few aggressive space empires that have made the mistake of thinking we would be an easy target. They come, they discover Earth is far better protected than the level of technology we have lead them to expect, they run away as quickly as they can leaving much of their equipment behind for us to learn from. We are progressing fast."

    It is at least an /approximately/ accurate narrative, and while it raises questions of its own, it should at least give Alura some concept of why Earth is not quite what she was expecting.

    And then there's the question of horses. Has Alura ever ridden on an animal before? Donna has no idea if it's something that has been done on Krypton for a very long time, so she settles for a reassuring "The animals are placid and extremely well trained," and an offer to help Alura mount the offered horse. Only when that particular issue is resolved and the journey to the palace begun does she find time to respond to Monet's question with a quick shake of the head. "Not yet... when she's a little more settled."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Listening to things more is a welcome breather for Monet as she goes to look over. At the talk of the stars, she nods thoughtfully. Debating to add to the discussion, and deciding not to. She does, however, look almost offended over at molecular vibration rays. No matter how advanced the technology or energy reclamation, the sheer inefficiency of such a system having to brute force through the physics.. The gall of some utopian post-scarciety societies.

There we go, there's that normal M-ness back. Her posture and facial expressions are much more relaxed now that she's managed to center herself and she settles 'down' from that smalla djustment she's made to float. And so the mutant girl goes to take the time to fully look around the landing area and appreciate the sight.

At the acknowledgement of her curtsy from Hippolyta, and then the offer of horses, the algerian girl lets out a sigh, goes to search her memories for those few times she was taken riding for some reason or other, brings those memories to the forefront, smooths them over to adjust for change in circumstances.. She'd rather fly, but it's a local custom and it probably would be even more confusing for Alura.
    The mention of 'daughter's exploits' gets the first actual show of emotion that Monet has given since she was scrambled along from the embassy to help arrives. A smile. A small, but sincere smile. And it actually stays there on her face as she goes along and just listens as the group makes the next phase of their journey.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura glances over at Donna's explanation of how they clean themselves. "That..." she considers for a long moment, "...sounds like it'd take a while." Do they really strip down and touch themselves everywhere with foams and wash it away with water? Donna doesn't seem like she's making it up. May be it's true.

Her eyes keep being drawn to the flora of the island as they ride. 'Ride' in the most uncomfortable sense for Alura as the horse moves underneath her, bounce-bounce-bounce. This is, apparently, how it's meant to be. She looks at the others and notes that they are moving with the horses. There must be a rhythm to it.

"Krypton built a defensive grid. I know from time to time hostile species would attempt to probe Rao but they were efficiently sent away. I should hope that most never bothered to come near us after a while but like /svult/ drawn to a plasma they cannot help themselves."

She supposes now people go there to pick over the corpse of her civilisation. What could possibly have remained after that disaster though? she doubts not much.