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]

. . . he is now. The reminder was helpful.

He blinks over at her. There are absolutely no words, but he doesn't need them because it's written all over his face.

And, no doubt, because Esfir, with her joy in flying, feels it even more strongly.

[aimedforthemoon]

No, no words, and no, there is nothing like flying for her, but she has done this many, many times.

And there is nothing like seeing it for the first time.

So, she smiles at him, and guides them in the direction of the the hyperspace-path (although, really, more of a highway, given the traffic).

[isaysimplewords]

Cal's gaze turns back to the window, and he leans forward to better take it all in - the stars, the black of space, the other vehicles all around them . . . and, for the first time, starts to understand.

[aimedforthemoon]

"I'll go into hyperspace in about thirty seconds, and that is going to last for about fifteen minutes."

Beat.

"So remember to breathe, my friend."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal nods.

. . . it may not look as though that registered, but it did. Mostly.

[aimedforthemoon]

The coordinates from here to Corellia are something the computer has done time and time again, and she has jumped into hyperspace more times than she wants to think about.

But the jump - and it is a jump that presses force against them during it - and the way the stars stretch out just before it never fails to effect her.

Everything stretches, and then a brief hurtlejump later, they are in the swirling blue of the hyperspace-tunnel.

[isaysimplewords]

And, again, the failure of an image on a television screen to do justice to the real thing is laughable, like looking at a faded, yellowed picture of a full-scale feast cut from an old newspaper. Cal blinks only when his eyes start to sting, and breathes - well, it's a good thing breathing is a voluntary action only up to a certain point.

[aimedforthemoon]

She fiddles with a few controls, and then releases her seatbelt to lounge in her chair, one leg over the armrest.

"Welcome to hyperspace."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal sort of sags into his chair after a moment with a long exhale.

After another moment, he finally finds his voice again.

"Wow."

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir nods, happily.

"Sometimes, I just...sit here and watch it. More times than I'd like to admit, maybe."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal grins, and actually looks over at her, though his gaze will be flicking back and forth for a while.

"I won't tell."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Thank you."

Beat.

"I'll check on Antosha, and come back."

Which she does need to do, but also gives time Cal to watch the show.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal nods.

"Okay."

And he has turned his full attention back to the hyperspace display before she's even on the ladder.

[aimedforthemoon]

She rather thought as much.

Antony is nearly asleep, she leaves him with a kiss on his forehead and goes back up to the cockpit.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal is completely caught up in watching; he doesn't even realize Esfir's back until she sits, and then only because it puts her back at the edge of his vision. He blinks once or twice, then glances over.

"How's he doing?"

Because there are priorities.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Nearly asleep."

You see this smile?

She isn't aware of this smile.

(and oh, does she love her son)

[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.