[Of course she did. After all this time, even he did. The station had been like a prison, once, but after many many cycles away from it, many missions, many losses, eventually it became the closest thing any of them had to a home. In many ways, it was more comfortable to him than any place he had spent his childhood, those haunted halls, the age and austerity, the eyes of everyone who had come before him. This place was older, but it was alive, and it wanted them here, in a way that was not clear initially but which became more clear days following days.
And for her, of course, it was more. The home of her who was everyone, but also some key piece of the Nest, a necessary fragment or a stable core. It was survival personified. Perhaps he was being too cynical. He takes a sip of the tea, already cooling, and it is decidedly sweeter, more mild on the tongue. Some contrast to the remembered taste of sea and sand.]
I'm not sure I could resist the urge to monitor their progress. [To be sure they were safe-] It would consume far too much of my time.
[But it wouldn't, of course. His priorities would change in turn. He would not be so concerned with the safety of each individual host. He would, he thinks, be more content with the overall health of the Nest.]
no subject
And for her, of course, it was more. The home of her who was everyone, but also some key piece of the Nest, a necessary fragment or a stable core. It was survival personified. Perhaps he was being too cynical. He takes a sip of the tea, already cooling, and it is decidedly sweeter, more mild on the tongue. Some contrast to the remembered taste of sea and sand.]
I'm not sure I could resist the urge to monitor their progress. [To be sure they were safe-] It would consume far too much of my time.
[But it wouldn't, of course. His priorities would change in turn. He would not be so concerned with the safety of each individual host. He would, he thinks, be more content with the overall health of the Nest.]