singing open the great gates

[middlingalong]

The following day, very little happens, except for Vorreedi mentioning that Yenaro has been arrested (by the civil police, for theft, on charges from a ghem-lord Miles has never heard of, as opposed to by Cetagandan security for treason).

Also, Ivan gets bored - with all the bodyguards Vorreedi now requires for them after the incident at the bioestheties exhibition, the possible spontaneity of going out with his ghem girlfriends is much reduced.

But the next day they get to attend the Singing Open of the Great Gates.

And oh, is there ever singing.

Comments

[middlingalong]

"Vat protein's just not the same," opines Ivan. "It's all made by people who've never had the real thing."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes, I've found it's often only possible to tell the difference because the real thing is tastier," says Miles. "I mean, in cases more subtle than 'whole roast pig'. But if you'd rather avoid it regardless, Mother's example makes it clear you won't have all that much trouble."

[isthisart]

"Is there vat meat around and it simply hasn't caught on, or is it unavailable altogether?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Mm, more the former. It's caught on in some places, but it's still not all that much cheaper except in a few areas and the taste difference is, as Ivan mentions, noticeable."

[isthisart]

"Are you sure animal meat is better, and not just what you're used to?"

[middlingalong]

"I sure think so."

[thisvorlunatic]

"It's certainly different. I don't know, maybe some people prefer vat. I'm not one of them."

[isthisart]

"I wonder if there's anyone in a position to give both a fair trial? Who doesn't go in finding the one kind grotesque or the other too unfamiliar."

[thisvorlunatic]

"In theory I should be such a person, actually," says Miles. "Thanks to Mother, I've had vat protein - just not as often as the other kind... do you suppose that's disqualifying?"

[isthisart]

"Not necessarily, and you're probably the best example ready to hand regardless. Interesting."

[thisvorlunatic]

[isthisart]

Predictably by this point, Linya finishes eating first, kisses Miles on the head, and absconds.

[middlingalong]

Ivan doesn't make any leading remarks at all! Wow!

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles gazes adoringly after his wife. To no one's surprise.

[isthisart]

The trip goes on. (Linya, perfect genetic paragon that she is, does not suffer from one bit of jump-sickness, but no one has figured out how to engineer jump-pilot potential; she does not have it.) The prolonged morning kisses are a continuing thing; she starts eating midnight snacks so she doesn't wake up distractingly peckish. She lets her husband braid her hair every morning - she'd let him rebraid it for sleeping in before she went to bed too if only he didn't go to sleep four hours before her. The midpoint of the trip appears without fanfare.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles, much to his own surprise, is starting to get used to braiding Linya's hair every morning. It's still an amazing near-religious experience, but it's not so totally all-consuming anymore.

So he has attention left over to do things like kiss the back of her neck. (Why? Because it's there and he can.)

[isthisart]

Linya...

makes a sound. It is sort of like a squeaky gasp bordering on a whimper.

[thisvorlunatic]

"...Was that a good sound?" inquires Miles, pausing in his braiding.

[isthisart]

"Yes that was a good sound."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Oh, good! In that case, should I do that again?"

[isthisart]

"Yes I think so."

[thisvorlunatic]

So he does that again.

[isthisart]

And there is a repeat of the sound. And a little squirm.

[thisvorlunatic]

Ooh.

Further experimentation may be required.

[isthisart]

Linya is not going to complain one bit about the abandoned braid or prolonged experimentation with causing her to make pleased noises!