“It’s… a tool.” Conmer struggled to restore the emotion in his face. “Similar to a wheelchair in purpose…” He started to fidget nervously. It was clear that the topic made him extremely uncomfortable, uncomfortable enough to let his emotions slip out through his body language. “See, some rosearn are born with… what you would consider ‘normal’ facial expressions. In other words, when they become riled up – their emotional states show quite blatantly on their faces. It’s a critical weakness, so they use a mask to keep their expressions secret.”
“Yep.” Ardjia put the mask in her jacket. “But I don’t wear mine very often, since I lean toward the Vitso’shi and Bras’moh styles of conversation. Styles that revolve around the strategic use of honesty and the obfuscation of important phrases through a barrage of meaningless words, respectively.”
“Yes, you always have been a bit odd in that regard.” Conmer returned to a relaxed state. Well, it was relaxed by rosearn standards. “But the results speak for themselves, you are a force to be reckoned with.”
Renz frowned skeptically. “…So, basically, what you’re telling me is that having totally normal facial expressions would qualify me for disability benefits on rosearn planets?”
“Well, ‘normal’ if you aren’t a rosearn. As a rosearn, I find the idea of a face that acts without its owner’s input or permission to be horrifying on both a practical and an existential level. It’s also just plain bizarre to think about.” Conmer cleared his throat. “…And rosearn nations don’t provide disability benefits, or anything else even resembling social security.”
“Oh. See, when you put it like that, I can understand why you consider -” Renz froze. “What was that about social security…?”
“O-kay!” Ardjia clapped her hands loudly. “I’ve had this conversation about rosearn social security enough times to know I don’t want to have it again. So, if you boys don’t mind, I’d like to change topics.” She tossed her older brother an envelope. “Markhette asked me to give this to you. Yes, I peeked, but that was my payment for delivering it.” Her eyes turned toward Renz. “Now if you don’t mind, Conny, I’d like to talk with your mechanic in private for a while.”
A note from the
authorninja:One thing a lot of sci-fi stories forget, is that cultures will always have subcultures. America has a population of 300 million, and the culture changes pretty drastically from state to state. Beyond that, social groups run parallel to geographical subcultures, there’s as big of a cultural gap between a nerd from Michigan and a goth from Michigan, as there is between a nerd from Michigan and a nerd from Texas.
So if the good ol’ US of A can’t coordinate a measly 300 million, what makes sci-fi authors think a planetary nation of 5 to 12 billion will be culturally homogeneous? Sure, this doesn’t mean “rosearn culture” isn’t a thing. Just like the existence of hundreds of dog breeds, doesn’t mean that “dogs” aren’t a thing. (Not that there aren’t some breeds that really test the limits of what can still be called a dog. Like pugs. What even are pugs? How can they be the same species as German Shepherds?)
Similarly, telling someone you practice the “art of subtlety” is much like telling someone you practice “kung fu,” or that you’re “Native American.” It refers to a group of things, rather than one singular thing (despite common misconceptions to the contrary.) To clarify, there are a plethora of different kung fu styles – each one unique, though some are more unique than others. Similarly, North America was not made up of one coherent nation before the European colonists arrived, there was a variety of different independent civilizations. Each tribe had their own unique cultural and governmental heritage, though tribes that had a lot of contact with each other (and therefore exchanged a lot of ideas with each other) would often have much in common. (Not to say familiarity never bred contempt, rather than camaraderie.)
Ah but I digress… What I was trying to get at, was that the “art of subtlety” is comprised of many different styles, much like kung fu. There is quite a bit more overlap when it comes certain aspects, due to the art of subtlety having close ties with rosearn religion and philosophy, but each style is still unique.
Ardjia just happens to practice the two styles that are more unique than most. The Vitso’shi (Face Shown) style, revolves around weaponized honesty. For example, during a poker game, a practitioner of Vitso’shi might take two cards from their hand and place them face up. This might seem like it would give the opponent an advantage (since they now have more information), but the knowledge that the player chose these two specific cards throws the whole thing into question. If they put down two aces, does that mean they have a full house? Or do they just have a two pair, and they’re bluffing their ass off. (This style suits Ardjia since it allows her to recover in case she accidentally lets slip her true feelings.) The Bras’moh (Loudly Hidden) style on the other hand, relies on using dozens of half baked plans instead of – or in addition to – one carefully plotted one. To use a metaphor, most people can solve a three digit multiplication or division problem, but how many people could solve one every four seconds – without making a single mistake, or leaving a single one unsolved. After six minutes, most people would probably be more than a little disoriented – and totally unprepared for the advanced calculus equation that was slipped in the middle somewhere while they were distracted by 678/47. (This style suits Ardjia because her mental speed is genius level by rosearn standards, but her ability to prepare for all eventualities and set inescapable traps are only average.)