i'm a goddess of vicious precision

[autokinetic]

Because there are so many fewer diversions on this station than on the previous one, Aegis takes to those that are offered with more of an open mind than she might have done before. For instance, she stays after personal combat sometimes, to watch Sue sparring with Howlett. Now and then she takes a turn herself. Today she's just supervising.

Comments

[pythbox]

i like being your bird, he says listlessly.

[autokinetic]

you don't sound like you like anything, right now

[pythbox]

He considers this, then agrees wordlessly.

[autokinetic]

what's wrong, help me help you

[pythbox]

don't know, he says. i just. don't care. about me. about anything.

[autokinetic]

Aegis has to dig very deeply to bring down enough wall for it, but she finds out that she can, if she wants to badly enough, send a virtual hug.

[pythbox]

Now he is crying.

Is that an improvement?

It feels like it is.

[autokinetic]

talk to me? please?

[pythbox]

don't know what to say, he says. thank you, i guess. for being my friend.

[autokinetic]

you're welcome

[pythbox]

He doesn't know what the name of this feeling is, but it's a good feeling and he can't remember the last time he had one of those, so he sends it.

[autokinetic]

Sending feelings is hard, and her head still hurts, or she'd reply in kind. thank you

[pythbox]

you're a good friend.

[autokinetic]

I like to think so. I wish I'd been better. I could've softened him up more if I'd been ready, but he just - I was thinking ambush but he just came in.

[pythbox]

i wish i'd been better too. if i hadn't froze up he might not have got you like that.

[autokinetic]

you couldn't help it. you would've fought if you could. you did, when you could.

[pythbox]

He sniffles.

[autokinetic]

you don't think they'll ice you for this, do you?

[pythbox]

if i show them what happened, and they do, then i don't want to be here anyway.

[autokinetic]

they better not.

[pythbox]

He almost says he doesn't care that much, but... home is home.

yeah.

[autokinetic]

There's nothing else to say. I'm going to sleep.

[pythbox]

okay

[autokinetic]

They're released from the infirmary at about the same time.

They aren't called to any meetings, no one reacts beyond giving her missed lesson plans and homework assignments when Aegis goes back to class, Sue is not ordered to report to a shuttle to Earth.

It's like nothing happened.

They're hanging out in their room again when Aegis says, "So have you actually been to a million disciplinary hearings already when I haven't been looking and you just haven't mentioned or - are they doing exactly nothing?"

[pythbox]

"Nothing," says Sue. "I don't think they even told all the staff. Howlett doesn't act like he knows."