MM: taking Cal on the Baba Yaga

[aimedforthemoon]

Outside, it is raining. Hard. Not impossible to walk through, but the kind of weather where you'd get drenched within a couple of minutes unless you had the right clothes. They are obviously in a city, and a major one at that; although Cormond is built on the salt-flats, overpopulation has meant that people build up, and given one side of the street has no buildings, there is a wide view of the rest of the city. It looks not unlike an Earth city, at least from a distance.

The buildings themselves are built in a style that is both functional and stark at the same time as being organic, and there is a science-fiction feel thanks to the airspeeders and the aliens (some rather obviously alien) mixed in with the humans.

"The port is just at the other end of the street," Esfir explains as they stand under the eaves.

Comments

[isaysimplewords]

Cal knows that smile.

He misses wearing that smile. Even the beauty of hyperspace can't stop the sudden tug of loss. He smiles his own smile back at Esfir, though, saying,

"Good. He's a great kid, Fira."

(Someday he'll have that smile again.)

[aimedforthemoon]

Her smile widens for a moment, and then pulls slightly to one side.

"You should have seen your face when you saw him."

[isaysimplewords]

"Oh, c'mon, cut me some slack. I didn't even know you were pregnant, then you show up with a kid. I needed a minute."

He's laughing a little as he says it, though.

[aimedforthemoon]

"In your time, I might not be."

Pause.

"Still. You were that surprised?"

[isaysimplewords]

"Might - what?" Confusion.

"Well, yeah. You've never said anything about kids. I didn't know you wanted any."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Maybe, you didn't ask?" Then she shrugs. "I didn't when I was younger."

[isaysimplewords]

"Well." Cal echoes the shrug. "I don't know about later, but kids - still not really an easy subject right now. Not really something I'd ask about."

[aimedforthemoon]

"I know." Beat. "Have you met Ben Wade yet?"

[isaysimplewords]

"Uh - what? Yes?"

He'll figure out that it's not the random subject change it seems. Give him a minute.

[aimedforthemoon]

"What did you think?"

[isaysimplewords]

"Seemed like a nice guy. Kinda slick. Wh - oh."

Theeeere we go.

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir is just going to be over here, studying hyperspace and trying not to laugh at his expression.

Again.

[isaysimplewords]

". . . Great guy. Really liked him."

As of now.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Liar."

[isaysimplewords]

". . . So?"

Cal is not always the best at mounting an on-the-spot defense.

[aimedforthemoon]

You know, she's just going to...let him work out that one.

[isaysimplewords]

"Well, he did seem like a good guy. But I've worked with a lot of guys who seemed like good guys. Politician. But it's not like I hang out with him all the time or anything, I don't know him that well, first impressions aren't always accurate . . ."

You gonna take away that shovel, Esfir, or you gonna keep right on letting him dig himself a nice hole?

[aimedforthemoon]

Given she's just raised an eyebrow, she might just see how deep the hole goes.

Call it morbid curiosity.

[isaysimplewords]

"I'm sure he's great. I mean, you're not the type to let just any guy knock you up, you're more careful than that, so. Of course he's great."

Really. Any time now.

[aimedforthemoon]

"He's a good man to his friends, and us." Beat. "And I've known him a long time."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal's expression says oh thank god.

His mouth says, "See, that's the important part. You've got good taste, Fira."

[aimedforthemoon]

You are so full of shit, her expression replies.

"Apparently," she observes. "No, he's...he is good to us. And adores Antosha. So, it all works."

[isaysimplewords]

"Well, of course he adores Antosha. Who wouldn't?"

That, at least, is completely sincere.

[aimedforthemoon]

"I'm...sure there are people."

Strange people. It does at least point out that Ben isn't going to be that kind of slick.

[isaysimplewords]

"Strange people," Cal scoffs. He can already tell there is nothing about Antony that is not to be adored, and there is absolutely no one who could successfully deny that.