calligraphy

[isthisart]

Linya is working on a massive flowchart-like diagram of a planned software project for Dr. Cheung. It's laid out in every color and in three dimensions with sprawl of its little writing that takes up most of her office and keeps fading out at the edges and in her shadow when she moves around, but reappears when she turns or approaches.

Comments

[first_loyalty]

"Oh—yes, I'm fine," she says. "It's nothing."

[isthisart]

"...Okay."

[first_loyalty]

"Thank you. Sorry."

[isthisart]

"It's all right."

And then Linya takes them home (after stopping for dessert!) and then she makes a Komarr trip and then she comes back and invites Ekaterin to a maple fair at which there will be many maple things.

[first_loyalty]

Maple things! Who could turn down maple things?

Ekaterin, apparently. It seems she has other plans for that day.

[isthisart]

Well, the maple fair lasts only one day. Linya brings Tsipis and his family instead.

Mmm. Maple.

Next week - another picnic? Nikki liked the last one.

[first_loyalty]

I wish I could, but I've been so busy lately.

[isthisart]

Linya works on Aral Adri. Linya gets customer feedback about the ImpSec pens and makes them available as custom options. Linya takes classes and reads books and teaches herself Hebrew. Linya gets Miles to teach her to ride a horse. Linya tentatively finishes Aral Adri; he'll be ready to go whenever Miles wants unless Linya learns something she doesn't currently know about genetics.

Linya writes to Ekaterin a little note with this most recent news, and the last line is: We haven't seen each other in a while. Picnic? You can bring Nikki like last time.

[first_loyalty]

Tien got a new job, and we're moving in a few days. Congratulations on your son! You always do the most amazing things.

[isthisart]

Where are you moving to?

[first_loyalty]

Salair.

[isthisart]

That's all the way on the other side of the continent. Not within lightflyer range unless she stops for fuel and has unreasonably consistent weather the whole way.

Damn.

I hope you like it there. Let me know if you're ever hereabouts and I'll let you know if I'm over there.

I'd love to see a holo of your new garden when you have one set up.

[first_loyalty]

Thank you. I will. I'm afraid our new flat doesn't have room for a garden, though.

[isthisart]

Oh, poor Ekaterin.

Give me your new address and I'll send you a neighbor for your bonsai skellytum to make up for it?

[first_loyalty]

She provides the address.

[isthisart]

And she gets a tiny lilac in a white pot.

[first_loyalty]

Thank you so much for the lilac.

[isthisart]

You're welcome. I hope it helps.

Let me know if it starts dancing. That would be the wrong lilac.

[first_loyalty]

I haven't seen it display any musical inclinations so far, but maybe it's just biding its time.

[isthisart]

It hasn't? Darn, I thought I got you the kind that sings. It's only not supposed to dance.

[first_loyalty]

It can't sing, it can't dance, it can't pilot a lightflyer. Linyabel, did you get me a defective lilac?

[isthisart]

I must have gotten you a defective lilac. I'm so sorry. The reputation of the supplier was excellent, I don't know what went wrong.

[first_loyalty]

I will treasure it anyway. It's very beautiful, and it can't help how it was made.

[isthisart]

You are too kind, being a home for that talentless little lilac.

[first_loyalty]

Ekaterin sends a holo of the lilac. It is sitting in a windowsill, and on its stem below the spray of flowers it is wearing a tiny tutu made out of tissue paper and string.

I'm encouraging its dreams, she writes.