People are the ultimate adventure.People are the ultimate adventure." "Right. Your mother makes art for artificial reasons. She makes it to hear applause, and to see money. She doesn't do it to see pleasure in another person's eyes, even if that pleasure is through the vicarious experience of whatever the art conveys, be it love, lust, hatred, whatever. That's what being alive is all about. No deity, no higher goal exists, than to bring joy to another person. Skii doesn't see that, but he's getting there, with every disappointment, with every physical pleasure, he gets a little closer. Aaden and I have known it for a long time, funny as it sounds. Almost from the first time we met, we knew it in each other- and if that joy comes in pushing the mystical boundaries of ourselves through... through whatever it is that Aaden and I do, so be it. P'nyssa and I are like you and Jofuran... we just have it. We just have to be there for each other, and we're happy." Nickolai nodded. "So what happens now?" "Now?" Shardik asked. "Well, we go on hold for two years. And you're right. You have to go home... back to Terra. You have to find out for yourself if everything you've learned is true. If you're ready to take responsibility for what I'm putting on you." "I don't think that's much of a problem." "Because it gets you Jofuran?" "Because it allows me Jofuran," Nickolai corrected after a pause. "Good..." Shardik seemed surprised. "Wow. You came around a lot faster than even I would have thought possible." He stopped and bit his lip. "Look, I took the liberty of having everything of yours packed away and ready to go, and had a few pictures of the picnic I especially liked set aside in an album. You don't mind?" Nickolai shook his head. "Also, I've cooked breakfast. If you want, come and join us in my home. "I will. Let me go wake Furry?" "See you in a few minutes." Nickolai floated back down the tube. "Furry?" he whispered gently into her ear. "Whuzza?" she asked groggily. "Time to get up," he said gently. "Ken's invited us to breakfast." She scowled gently, licking the taste in her mouth like she did every morning, apparently, and said, "Okay. |