update from sparkleup
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Madison Scott-Clary
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<p>“Codrin, uh, Mx. Bălan, I really, really need to talk with you. Like, right now. I need to talk with you right now. Can we meet? It’s incredibly urgent, I’m sorry. I know it’s late. Can we meet?”</p>
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<p>As soon as he finished, he began pacing once more and waited for a response, doing his level best not to send another sensorium ping immediately to wake Codrin up, just in case.</p>
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<p>Instead, he walked around the small hill in the center of the clearing, muttering now down to the grass, shouting now up to the sky. Half words, half sentences, anything to vent the pressure he felt building inside him, but there was nothing to be done.</p>
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<p>When the response finally came, he realized he’d only made it halfway around that hill. Time seemed to have stretched itself out long. The response was a mumbled, sleepy-sounding address.</p>
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<p>When the response finally came, he realized he’d only made it halfway around that hill. Less than a minute must have passed. Time seemed to have stretched itself out long. The response was a mumbled, sleepy-sounding address.</p>
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<p>Tycho left before his next footfall hit the ground.</p>
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<p>Low clouds hung above the low house on the shortgrass prairie. He forced himself to walk, not run, up to the house, where already he could see a light turning on, vague shapes moving behind the glass. The soft chime that announced his arrival led to those two shapes, one human, one not, perking up, and before ey even made it to the house’s door, Codrin was already there, much as he remembered, though much more tired.</p>
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<p>Low clouds hung above the low house on the shortgrass prairie. He forced himself to walk, not run, up to the house, where he could already see a light turning on, vague shapes moving behind the glass. The soft chime that announced his arrival led to those two shapes, one human, one not, looking up, and before ey even made it to the house’s door, Codrin was already there, much as he remembered, though much more tired.</p>
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<p>“Tycho Brahe, yes?” ey asked. “Is everything okay?”</p>
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<p>He tore his eyes away from the figure beside the historian, what looked to be some large-eared vulpine standing on two legs, looking just as tired as Codrin.</p>
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<p>“Uh, yes.” He stammered. “No? I don’t think so, at least. I’m sorry for waking you. I don’t think things are okay, though.”</p>
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@ -39,11 +39,11 @@
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<p>“Can we at least step outside?”</p>
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<p><em>“If you would like me to be elsewhere, I can, Dr. Brahe,”</em> the fox said, standing at the entryway to the kitchen, three mugs in its paws. <em>“But I do hope that you will trust me.”</em></p>
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<p>Tycho stared at the fox.</p>
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<p>It stepped forward, set the three mugs down on the table, each smelling of chamomile. <em>“You must forgive me for eavesdropping, but I did hear you mention the Dreamer Module. I can assure you that I share little in common with the elements of the clade that were against its inclusion. It is not something that I particularly care about, but it is, fine, I am sure.”</em></p>
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<p>“I can vouch for it,” Codrin said, reaching for eir mug but simply holding it in eir hands rather than sipping. “If we absolutely must step outside, you understand that, as it’s my partner, I’ll likely tell it about our conversation anyway, right?”</p>
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<p>It stepped forward, set the three mugs down on the table, each smelling of chamomile. <em>“You must forgive me for eavesdropping, but I did hear you mention the Dreamer Module. I can assure you that I share little in common with the elements of the clade that were against its inclusion. It is not something that I particularly care about, but it is fine, I am sure.”</em></p>
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<p>“I can vouch for it,” Codrin said, reaching for eir mug but simply holding it in eir hands rather than sipping. “If we absolutely must step outside, you understand that, as it’s my partner, I’ll likely tell it about our conversation anyway, yes?”</p>
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<p>After a pause, Tycho’s shoulders slumped as he let out the pent up tension within them. “Alright, alright. Besides, it doesn’t sound like there’s much use in trying to hide anything from them.”</p>
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<p>Dear rolled its eyes, but sat at the table anyway. <em>“You could hide whatever you like from me, Dr. Brahe, I will not look. As you guess, though, the same is not true of other Odists.”</em></p>
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<p>“I read some of your histories, Codrin,” he said at last. “So I know you know what’s on the Module.”</p>
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<p>“I read the <em>History</em>, Codrin,” he said at last. “So I know you know what’s on the Module.”</p>
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<p>Codrin froze, mug halfway lifted. Dear’s ears stood erect, and all sleepiness fled from its features.</p>
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<p>“You understand why I’m concerned, then, right?”</p>
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<p>The historian set eir mug back down on the table without taking a sip, saying, “Tell me all that you can.”</p>
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@ -68,14 +68,14 @@
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<p><em>“Are there no other astronomers working with you?”</em></p>
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<p>“There are. Of course there are. I’m sure they’ve even read the message by now, and doubtless my response.” He shrugged, realized that he’d started crying. “But what would I tell them? Extraterrestrials contacted us, asked to board, and I just said ‘yes’? Didn’t ask anyone, didn’t wait to have a conversation, just up and said yes?”</p>
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<p>“Well, okay,” Codrin said. “Why me, then? We’ve not spoken in twenty years.”</p>
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<p>“Instinct?” he said, voice choked with half laughter, half tears. “I have no idea, Mx. Bălan. You listened to my story back then, and I read your histories, and you seemed nice, and I guess you’re just always at the center of things.”</p>
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<p>“Instinct?” he said, voice choked with half laughter, half tears. “I have no idea, Mx. Bălan. You listened to my story back then, and I read your <em>History</em>, and you seemed nice, and I guess you’re just always at the center of things.”</p>
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<p>The fox across the table giggled — there was no better way to put it — and there was a tink of ceramic as it bumped its mug to Codrin’s. <em>“You, my dear, are so caught in stardom that even astronomers know your name.”</em></p>
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<p>None of that amusement showed in the historian’s voice as ey said, “I am, at that, aren’t I? Well, Tycho, what are the next steps?”</p>
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<p>“I don’t know,” he said, finally looking up to the pair, to Dear’s grin and Codrin’s frown. “I was hoping you’d know.”</p>
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<p>Ey sighed, leaned over and patted him on the shoulder. “Well, since I’m sure as hell not sleeping anymore, I guess coffee’s next. Coffee, and figuring out what to do with our wayward astronomer and upcoming guests.”</p>
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</article>
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<footer>
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<p>Page generated on 2021-12-27</p>
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<p>Page generated on 2021-12-28</p>
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</footer>
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</main>
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