Shady

“Gaius gave me a tour and showed me,” Ky said. “I think I may have offended him by not understanding it… well, not offended. But disappointed. He seems very proud ...

“I don’t know.” Ky shrugged. “But seems like it would be, if you understand it… but I don’t.”

“Yeah.” Ky nodded. “I don’t know much about it; I just started reading up on it yesterday. But apparently there are different planets that spin around us, or something. It ...

Ky nodded. “And they’ve got an impressive model upstairs about the solar system… very academic Keep, if nothing else.”

Ky wasn’t sure what to add. “There has to be some redeeming qualities.”

“Ah,” Ky said. “Yeah, I guess.” It sounded like complete bullshit. But she wasn’t going to call her on it.

“Oh?”

“You should.” Ky nodded. She hesitated, the discontent starting to settle in. She shook her head. “It’s bet— it’s… I’m grateful to be here. It’s very generous… but far more ...

“Very nice.” Ky smiled, growing more contented than she’d been in a while now that she was thinking about it, rather than thinking about the fact that she couldn’t be ...

“Not at all.” Ky laughed a bit, grinning as she remembered them. “Anneliese talks as much as I used to. And Tomhas is always happy and talking. And the kids. ...

Ky nodded. “… it’s very nice to have them. It’s been a while.”

“Yes.” Ky nodded. “… I guess I got attached a bit too quick.”

“Wait.” Ky shrugged, trying not to look as sour as she felt about that possibility. “I don’t really have much choice.”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Hopefully just a few months.”

Ky nodded and took a step backward, trying to think if there was anything left to say.