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

[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.

[isthisart]

Linya can't stop laughing for a solid minute.

It has achieved more than I ever thought possible! Those fools at the lilac academy will see when they're paying top dollar for front seats at its debut performance!

[first_loyalty]

No immediate response.



No response afer several days, either.

[isthisart]

Well - maybe the conversation came to a natural end.

Conversations do that.

Linya has now written enough songs that stay put (as opposed to her aimless improvisational fare) that she has troubled to take an afternoon recording them for general dissemination to anyone who's interested.

She sends Ekaterin a copy.

[first_loyalty]

Thank you very much. They're absolutely lovely.

[isthisart]

Thank you. How are you settling in?

[first_loyalty]

It's not going as smoothly as I hoped, but I have a sweet little lilac to keep me company.

[isthisart]

What troubles is it consoling you about?

[first_loyalty]

Nothing very important. It's just hard to keep up with all the little things sometimes. I'm sure I'll manage.

[isthisart]

Does Nikki like the new place?