the self-knower

[lifes_sake]

Vague and grandiose chat about motivated capitalism take up the rest of the wizards' evening. Plans are made for Cam to learn about worldgates the following (skipped from school with Renée's kind accomplicehood) day and, assuming he catches on quickly enough, to go to New York and meet Jenny and talk about her operating as their business proxy.

Presently it's bedtime, and Cam goes to his room and Matilda and Jellybean go to theirs and Cam has the chance to ask Grace what on earth she meant.

"Well," Grace says, whispering, "you've been holding off on labeling because you're only fourteen, but people stabilize at different ages, don't they? And as near as I can tell you've been stable for almost a year now. Not on either, but on whichever. I think you're just as likely to get a crush on Jellybean as Matilda and vice-versa, and I don't think it's because you're still undeclared, I think you're just wired that way."

Cam considers this. "Okay," he says. "I can live with that."

"I should hope so," says Grace, and Cam laughs, and he goes to sleep.

He's still on a sleep cycle appropriate to school, so he may be up before Jellybean and Matilda in the morning.

Comments

[pythbox]

Insofar as making out with Jellybean says anything about anyone's sexual orientation, yes indeed!

[lifes_sake]

As far as Cam knows, it's at least a hint!

[pythbox]

Anyways, kisses. Yes. Kisses on the Moon.

[lifes_sake]

In quantity!

[pythbox]

And quality!

[lifes_sake]

And sugaryness!

But eventually: "I should probably be home before Renée is."

[pythbox]

"Okay," says Jellybean.

He retrieves his puffy-sleeved white blouse from the lunar surface and wriggles back into it.

[lifes_sake]

Cam shakes the dust off his shirt, puts it on, and attempts to convince his outfit and skin to shoo dust away.

[pythbox]

Jellybean just runs both hands through his hair and shakes himself out. His clothes become pristine; his skin remains covered in moondust.

[lifes_sake]

"I wish you'd say more of your spells so I could pick them up. I can't read your mind," mutters Cam, and he tries a new wording to get cleaned up.

[pythbox]

"If you want repeatable spells, try Tilly," he says. "If you just wanna clean up—"

He runs his hands familiarly over Cam's clothes, murmuring to them. The moondust departs.

[lifes_sake]

"Thanks," says Cam. "I don't suppose there's a locus on the moon."

[pythbox]

"Nope," says Jellybean. "Gotta do it the hard way."

He rubs his hands together and starts talking to empty air.

[lifes_sake]

Cam pats Grace, who is in his bag.

"Transcribing, not that it'll do all that much good," she says.

[pythbox]

Jellybean definitely has his own style of spellcasting.

It works fine, though. He ushers Cam through the gate as soon as he has it open, then unravels the lunar amenities on the other side and pulls the gate shut all with a flick of his hand.

[lifes_sake]

And here they are!

Renée is not home yet. Good, good.

[pythbox]

"Hi," says Matilda. "Did you have fun?"

"Lots," beams Jellybean.

[lifes_sake]

Cam nods. "I made a moondust angel," he adds innocently.

[pythbox]

Matilda giggles. "Is that what they're calling it these days."

[lifes_sake]

Cam snorts. He goes to check on the seedlings in the yard and take notes on their progress.

[pythbox]

They're all growing cheerfully enough, at ordinary rates for their respective species.

[lifes_sake]

Dangit, they were supposed to go faster. Oh well. Speed isn't as important as yield.

[pythbox]

And at least they're growing, which in this climate most of them ordinarily wouldn't be.

[lifes_sake]

There is that! He pats them all encouragingly. He's going to be a millionaire and pull a Norman Borlaug. Awesome.