18 - Future history

[no_fastolfe]

[Necessarily generous friends filter: if you've had one non-hostile conversation with her, you're on it.]

I have graduated. [She still sounds kind of surprised about this, a little lost.]

In three days I will be leaving to visit some of my friends who have left the barge, and to return to my household on Aurora to implement what I have learned. In the meantime, I would like to see you again. Many of you have been important to me.

[It's stiff and formal, since she still doesn't know exactly how and what to say, how to convey how important her friends have been.]

Comments

Spam

[nolongerhollow]

...oh.

Well, that just figures.

Worry not about it. Your friendship satisfies me well enough.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

I love as I can. [Said without guilt, but with some regret.]

Once I would have denied the word even applied to my feelings. But if a robot can find meaning in the word then I must admit some variant to myself.

[She shifts the pot of flowers into one arm to reach for his hand.]

Your friendship has been defining. I would have you in my circles only for that, but it seems even more selfish than ambitions of research.

Spam

[nolongerhollow]

Then by all means, be a little selfish. [He clasps her hand very gently.]

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

You hardly need tell a Spacer! [She squeezes tightly.]

Come, Count; you must tell me how to care for this plant. It will be on a strange planet, after all.

Spam

[nolongerhollow]

Ehm...well...it requires full sunlight and is used to stony soil, so it prefers a great deal of drainage. The blooming time is brief on a normal world, but it grows very well if tended.

You saw nothing

[no_fastolfe]

Do you think perhaps you would be able to recall any illusive details over tea? [She's teasing.]

You saw nothing

[nolongerhollow]

I'll even be able to drink some of it. Let us go. [He takes his brand new key from his pocket and lets them both out.]