Stories

Letters to Lelia - Chapter 9 - Uncertainty

“Where are we going to host the science symposium? It has come to my attention that the wisps expect to spend some of their time here discussing multiverse physics with Purple." Sarah lifted her head from her research to find herself face to face with Roberta. She didn't hear her come in, but that wasn't an unusual occurrence: her private office, the spacious one with its own VR room, covered lanai and garden was anything but. Sarah had long abandoned the expectation that if somebody wanted to stop by, use the equipment or borrow something, they would bother to ask her. "I assume that any number of conference rooms in this impressive building will prove adequate," she replied.”

Letters to Lelia - Chapter 8 - Nonlinear Time

“Sister, did you finish the table placement cards?" sister Jesse asked sister Benedict. "I thought you said you needed them Wednesday," sister Benedict replied. "Today is Wednesday." "Today is Monday." "I'm pretty sure it's Wednesday." Sister Benedict looked at her calendar. It said Monday. Sister Jesse looked at hers. It said Wednesday. "One of us must be losing her mind," sister Benedict mumbled. "And it surely isn't me," sister Jesse replied.”

Letters to Lelia - Chapter 7 Abolishing Fear

“Sister Novis," Lelia whispered, so softly that Novis, who had just returned from a rock climbing expedition and was struggling to put away her gear on a high shelf, almost didn't hear her. "Oh, sweetie, I didn't expect to see you here, I thought your mother kept you busy with the preparations for the ceremony, your input is very important, you know!" the sister said, cheerfully. "Not as much as you think. Bonding ceremonies are very prescriptive, other than the actual clouds involved, there isn't much that can be changed," Lelia replied.”

Letters to Lelia - Chapter 6 - Status and Rhetoric

“Places, please!" Lily spoke, a little sharper than she wished. She had shouted directions to staff, friends and caterers all day, and her voice was giving out a little. "Sister Joseph, you will lead the procession, followed by sister Novis and Sarah, then Seth will bring the rest of the group from the left side of the podium. Sys, queue music," she instructed. A soothing melody poured on the beach, making Purple hum, delighted. "Stop!" Lily interrupted the immortal bliss. "Where is Humon? He is supposed to stand right behind Lelia, according to tradition." "And the approved list," Seth couldn't help herself.”

Letters to Lelia - Chapter 5 - Out There

"We are going to wear our ceremonial robes, I assume?" Seth entered Sarah's apothecary. Sarah was mixing perfumes, she and Sys had come up with the idea of creating a scent to match the lavender gauze and flower arrangements, even though the plant decorations were still in question on account of the dragons' appetite. The small shed was saturated with a clamor of floral scents, which shouted at each other so loudly one could no longer tell them apart. They all ended up in a overpowering blend, screeching in sharp tunes of lavender and hyacinth. Lilac tried too assert itself as a top note too, but it was trounced by the other two scents, and whimpered helplessly at the end of the lab table where its open vial resided. "Good Heavens! Open the louvers, you can cut the smell with a knife. Whatever it is you are working on right now, throw it away it and never consider it again!" Seth protested, stifled by the heavy fragrance. "How can you even breathe in here? I'll never get this smell out of my clothes!" "It is a process," Sarah defended the obnoxious perfume.