"Very," Jessica admitted. "Can we just stay here all day and avoid Seraphine entirely?"
"I wish," Lyra said. "But she's expecting to conduct interviews today. We need to be present and professional."
They extracted themselves from the tangle of limbs and prepared for the day. Lyra's quarters had a private washing area, which they took turns using. The morning routine was surprisingly domestic—taking turns, sharing space, the casual intimacy of people comfortable with each other.
By the time they emerged into the settlement proper, Seraphine was already active.
She'd set up in one of the meeting rooms, with her retinue arranging furniture to create an interview space. When Satou, Lyra, and Jessica arrived, Seraphine looked up with that knowing smile.
"Good morning," she purred. "Did you all sleep well? Together, I assume? How cozy."
