F-339-Lia: The Elephant Suite

The Elephant Suite

He says she’s welcome to the suite if she wishes as he will retire to his own quarters.  He thanks her for ‘knocking the rust off’.  He asks her to wait and, re-attired in his robe, departs briefly to return with an unauthorised Money card in the amount they have agreed.  We can detail whatever farewell you wish, but eventually he will leave.  She can stay as long as she wishes and he says when she is ready to leave she can use the terminal in the suite to call someone to escort her out and a Vizierate aerostat or car will drop her wherever she wishes to go.

Outside

It’s a bit after half-way through Blue Shift, just getting into late evening by Lia’s body clock.  Outside it is light and the star is rising toward the meridian; there’s not a cloud in the pale blue sky.  Outside the window Lia can see the Vizierate complex is set on extensive grounds with low rises and falls in the terrain, mostly manicured lawn but with patches of bushes and trees here and there.  The perimeter is bordered by a double ring of trees and a high wall, except for where it meets a small lake directly in front of her window, beyond which she can see the buildings of the city.