landscape

[isthisart]

Linya avoids haring off to do things much while Miles's arms are unusable. Once he can feed himself comfortably enough to prefer to do so, though, she makes plans with Ekaterin to go with her and little Nikki on a hike in some nice woods of mixed-origin fauna. She packs a picnic and takes the lightflyer and flies out to pick up the relevant subset of Vorsoissons.

Comments

[isthisart]

"No? Not even his string of girlfriends?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes, and how long do those last? Longer than Mark knew him for, some of them, but - still."

[isthisart]

"Mm, fair."

This conversational topic having been exhausted, there is a lull, followed by Linya remarking, "Simon, if you do get a pen, do you know what kind you'll want? I'm keeping statistics."

[as_i_remember]

"I haven't decided."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Silver, fountain option, engraved with an eye," Miles suggests cheerfully.

[as_i_remember]

"Ha," says Simon. "No. The fountain option is tempting, but I prefer the simplicity of the original style. And I do think I want a custom engraving, but that custom engraving seems a bit much."

[isthisart]

"I think it would be very charming. Initials are popular. And little abstract designs wrapping around the casing."

[as_i_remember]

"I'm considering initials."

[isthisart]

"Then you are unlikely to cause any interesting anecdotes among the fabrication staff when they read your order form."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I still say go for the eye," says Miles.

[as_i_remember]

"It's an amusing thought," he acknowledges.

[isthisart]

"I don't think it's been done, though I'd have to check to be sure."

[as_i_remember]

"I haven't seen any."

[isthisart]

"Are pens of any engraving status popular around the office? I haven't extracted statistics on what professions are likely to buy. Mostly I'm tracking the increased popularity of the fountain version among Vor for my own amusement."

[as_i_remember]

"Somehow, despite regulations, they keep creeping in. In fact, ImpSec analysts are the source of more than half of the pseudonymously published clever tricks for disabling network features or irrecoverably wiping data storage."

[isthisart]

Linya laughs. "Well, that's just cute."

[as_i_remember]

"Yes."

[isthisart]

"I don't suppose they could be brought up to a standard that would eliminate the need for creeping, when you've sent in your opinions?"

[as_i_remember]

"It's possible that they could. When I send in my opinions, I'll let you know."

[isthisart]

Linya smiles.