(eng) Madeline Ashby - Machine Dynasty 02 by iD

Author:iD [iD]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Buried deep in the core of the ship was the Winter Wonderland. Its nationality and temporality changed on four-hour shifts. Sometimes it was German. Sometimes English. Sometimes it was medieval, and sometimes Victorian. Sometimes it was Tokyo on Christmas Eve, with a spindly replica Tokyo Tower and a real working Ferris wheel. At least, that’s what the gilt-edged display worked into the heart of the glittering Door Into Winter ™ said, as it slowly revealed images of the many options of Christmas, each more crisp than the last. The Door was shaped like a huge wardrobe. It stood out from the wall of Deck 4. Tiny crystals frosted its edges. As Javier watched, they replicated, etching the surface in new fractals.

“The rest of the world may have forgotten what a real winter feels like, but not us,” the Door said. “Step into our Winter Wonderland, and relive the glories of wintertimes long, long ago.”

Javier chose to visit the Wonderland during a shift in which the vN were leading a posada. He followed the couple, dressed as Joseph and Mary, as they walked through pine forests asking shopkeepers and homeowners for a place to stay. It reminded him briefly of his and Amy’s journey through the forests of Washington State. Then he made the memory go away, and focused on his target instead.

The target was ahead of him. He shuffled along through the snow, alone. He was a tad overweight, but not in any way that would hinder him sexually as far as mechanics were concerned. He was also Latino. Javier was already rusty; he wasn’t going to handicap himself trying to do this in English his first time out.

Javier’s first test of the target was how the target reacted to him personally. He made sure to cross the target’s sightline on two separate occasions while the crowd waited for the posada to start. Both times, the target made eye contact. Just one furtive look, then a look away. Maybe he was confused. Javier looked like the staff members, but he dressed like the loft suite: a charcoal wool suit with a crisp white shirt and an ice blue tie. It was looser than he would have chosen for looks, but if he needed to jump anywhere, he would need flexibility. For this reason, his shoes were slip-ons without socks.

“Aren’t you cold?” the target asked.

Javier had been waiting to start this conversation for the past half hour. He had his responses already selected, branched, planned for. “Only a little. I didn’t think it would really be this cold.” He made a show of staring at the other guy’s mouth. His target was in the process of growing a vacation beard. It was going pretty well. “Wow. I can even see your breath, it’s so cold.”

The other guy squinted. “I can’t see yours.”

Javier smiled. “I don’t breathe. It just looks like I do.” He used it as an excuse to come closer. “See? Watch my chest. I’m talking to you normally, but…” He pointed.

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