" "Oh." "Oh. Okay, I see your point. Speaking of which, when is your next?" "Well, the next one is going to be at Stirrangold in ten days. I blipped out there to see the 'incredible' waves they have there. You know, I didn't get one good curl all day." "Well, maybe that's part of it's charm." "Sure you couldn't ask for a good storm out to sea the day of the competition? I only really do well on high seas." "Learn," I said. "It takes skill to look good on meter waves." The door opened just as he was about to respond and Rowan walked in, followed by the silly stuffed-pillow dragondroid Paul had assigned to her for the duration. "Hi!" I said as she came in. She returned the greeting and sat down wearily on the couch. "I'm tired." "Tired?" I asked. "But tonight's the big night. Top of the cycle for both you and P'nyssa. Better not be tired." "Well, let me relax first. That smells great, what is it?" "What, in the kitchen? Baked salmon. Aaden's request." She nodded. "Why are you so tired." "Paul is trying to get me into shape; the UFT system left me with pretty atrophied muscles when I was decanted. He's trying to turn me into Aaden." "It is for her own good; Doctor Lewis explained that to her," the 'droid said peevishly. Whoever had programmed this incredibly silly- looking green 'droid with that nasal, sycophantic accent... Of course, I know damn well who it was. David. I laughed and said, "I bet." I walked over to her and said, "Don't I get a hug?" "Of course you get a hug. Just don't ask me to stand up." I leaned over and hugged her close, scratching her back gently as I did so. She sighed and said, "Oh, that feels good. Don't you dare stop." I followed her orders carefully, scratching and rubbing her furry back softly, concentrating on her shoulders and on the tight knot of muscles at the base of her tail. "You know, Rowan, you don't need to hold your tail up all the time." "My tail drags on the ground if I don't." Which was true; she did have a long tail for a Mephit. "Besides, people tell me that I look sexier when I do." "Yeah, but that's because Mephits are based on a skunk-image; I don't think that without that cultural reference you'd be thought any less of because you didn't hold your tail high thirty hours a day. |