16. azimuth

[exnihilo]

[Public Video]

[Mira Hidalgo is broadcasting from the bathtub. Her own tub, in her own quarters, hair wet and plastered to her neck. She's not quite flashing the whole barge, but currently it's only a matter of either careful or lucky cropping, rather than any actual coy bubble bath. She is drinking champagne from a bottle and utterly pleased with herself.]

Hi, barge.


[Private to Mickey]

I was thinking, if you wanted, I could...check on things, when I go. Baby things, I mean, or...whatever.


[Private separately to Mal and Luna]

Thank you.

Comments

private

[deshabille]

I like your bath.

[That means you're welcome.]

private

[exnihilo]

I like it too. Seems a shame to have it vanish so quickly.

I wish I could, like, bequeath it.

private

[deshabille]

I think that would ruin the Admiral's silly little rewards system.

Where will you be going?

private

[exnihilo]

I want to find Arya. I....hmm. Not owe her. But I want to untangle some things. After that, I don't know.

[But she's excited anyway.]

private

[deshabille]

I hope you know you're going to be magnificent.

private

[exnihilo]

I...

[She'd mostly been thinking about being free, and fun, and finding useful things to do for herself. About what her life will feel like, rather than what it will look like, what it will actually comprise.]

I suppose I shall.

[She toasts Mal with the bottle.]

[patheticvillain]

Oh my god, I can see your whole boob.

[exnihilo]

[She cracks up, all high, happy giggles and indelicate snorts.]

That makes it sound like I only have one!

[patheticvillain]

Maybe you do! I can only see that one!

[No, he can clearly see that she has two boobs. >8|]

[exnihilo]

[Still laughing.]

I could fix that.

[But she isn't actually, yet, because she has grown as a person.]

[patheticvillain]

Oh my god, don't!

[Is he shrieking? Maybe. Maybe he's shrieking.]

[exnihilo]

[She sticks her tongue out at him, because she is mature.]

[Private]

[americasdirtiest]

Jesus, Mira.

[He holds up a hand to block the bottom part of the screen, just... to prevent any of that careful cropping from getting a little less careful. He does not need to see what happens then. He squints at her above his fingers.]

Go when? Like when you graduate?

[A vital connection has not been made here. In his defense, he had private bathtub access for months without graduating, so why shouldn't she?]

[Private]

[exnihilo]

[She laughs, sticks the comm in the soap dish where it will not fall prey to her drunken coordination or lack thereof.]

Yeah, Mickey. Exactly like then. Which is now.

Re: [Private]

[americasdirtiest]

Wait, what?

[And then, as "bathtub" clicks, he grins.]

Hey!

...fuck you telling me from the bathtub for?

[Private]

[exnihilo]

I'm multitasking!

[Private]

[americasdirtiest]

Can you put some fucking clothes on so I can come and talk to you, please?

[Private]

[exnihilo]

I just got in!

[Priorities!]

You should definitely come over with your hands over your eyes. That would be hilarious.

[routemistress]

[For a moment Iris just grins happily: she, too, has made public posts from her hot tub, though it was before Mira came.

Then she recognises that this is a bathtub in Mira's own cabin, and she gasps, her expression slackening into something between joy and utter, sudden misery.]

...Oh. Oh Mira.

I'm coming up. Let me scrub your back.

[And bring more champagne.]

[exnihilo]

[Even through the champagne, her expression is a softer mirror of Iris's. Leaving will be painful no matter how excited she is, no matter how eager or proud, and leaving Iris will hurt worst of all.]

I'll be here.

[For a little while longer.]

[irishrotter]

[This, at least, is a comfort. He's all smiles for her.]

Mira.

[exnihilo]

I'm gonna do it, Simon. I really am.

[Live, she means; the great work for which graduation is only the first step. She's so happy and so scared.]

[irishrotter]

Of course you will. I never believed anything different.

[exnihilo]

Could I visit your church someday? Even though I'm mostly alive?

[irishrotter]

[He blinks.]

Come by the ULA? I'm... not sure how much you'd get out of it.