(Untitled)

[aimedforthemoon]

There is, the Russian astronaut thinks, something terribly reassuring about mathematics. The majority of it, anyway, and today she's really not in the mood to get into areas where there are questions and/or philosophical quandries. No, what she is is in the mood for is something nice and easy to keep in practice

Comments

[isaysimplewords]

Cal is standing at the Bar, one hand resting on it lightly. He's staring across the room at something in transfixed silence.

He doesn't seem to be seeing anything else right now.

[aimedforthemoon]

Eventually, she catches sight of him. Him, Cal, Cal Chandler no longer with that gasmask and-

Her pen goes still.

She doesn't say anything (yet).

[isaysimplewords]

Cal remains unmoving. Whatever it he's looking at has the whole of his attention. He doesn't look happy or unhappy. Just - dazed.

[aimedforthemoon]

Slowly, she puts her pen down. Just as slowly, she pushes at her chair and walks over.

She stops a distance away - a large distance, relative to how she'd normally stand close to a friend. But then he's not...she'd...

"Good to see you up," she says at last, voice as perfectly neutral as her expression.

[52_dropoff]

Charlie watches Esfir for a moment or two. He's seen that look more than a few times. On himself, on friends, even on one or two occasions on enemies. That look that says everything should be fine and it only would be if the world would cooperate a little more.

"Penny for your thoughts. Or should be a ruble?" What do they call 1/100 of a ruble, anyway?

[aimedforthemoon]

She blinks, and then smiles at him.

"I hear the American dollar is quite popular..." Then she shakes her head. "It's....I'm just worried about some friends."

[52_dropoff]

"In my day...probably more popular then would want to believe." He's not going to tell her that in some quarters, the dollar is the only real money Russians will handle.

"Which friends? Here or in your new world?" He takes a seat unbidden.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Here. New world is just...before battle, so you don't think."

[not_lugosi]

"Hi, Esfir," Bela says, walking over with her book. "I've been doing some research. Are you too busy with your algebra?"

She knows what it is at first glance. She was never brilliant with maths, but she was functional.

[aimedforthemoon]

She glances up, smiles and shakes her head.

"Just keeping in practice."

[not_lugosi]

Bela sits down with a grin.

"Math was never my best subject, but I liked it well enough."

[aimedforthemoon]

"I love it," she admits with a rueful smile.

[dazzling_future]

There is something terribly reassuring about mathematics, particularly when one is a worried maths student trying very hard to write a letter to one's father's associate. Bella glances up from her notes, and smiles at the astronaut.

[aimedforthemoon]

There is a cautious, polite smile back.

"Having trouble?"

[dazzling_future]

"No," Bella replies quickly, "I am just unused to seeing other people studying here. What are you working on?"

[aimedforthemoon]

"Algebra. Just keeping in practice."