Dropped off Anand at programming Python camp, ensconced at Fairgrounds, doing a little more writing on the Patreon story.
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The central quadrangle was suitably festive for the opening week dance; the University had hired a troupe of luminous Feyrians to dance glittering acrobatics above the crowd – with hundreds of the small beings hard at work, there was no need for artificial lighting. Surinder sighed, once again wishing he could afford the mods to add wings. Functional wings were wildly expensive, of course, requiring substantial physical changes, and even then, would only work for gliding on a low-gravity planet, but he’d be tempted by purely decorative wings too.
Despite the infectious music being played by a group of grad students from the Music Department, few people were dancing. Mostly, the hundreds of people in the quad seemed to be huddling in small groups – it took a few minutes for Surinder to identify his own compatriots. Nami and her crush, Selah, Selah’s roommate Tsinga, and some blonde boy Surinder didn’t know.
He walked up to hear the boy saying, “He’s taken a turn for the worse – they’re not sure if he’s going to make it through the night.”
Surinder asked, “What are we talking about?”
Nami answered, “Surinder, I don’t think you know Joe?” She gestured at the blonde boy, who nodded in a friendly manner. She continued, “We were talking about the Quernan who was assaulted – apparently, there were some complications from surgery, and now they’re not sure he’s going to live after all.”
“So we end up with a murder investigation on campus?” Selah asked. She shivered, despite the dome’s temperature controls, and wrapped her arms around herself. That’s right – Selah had been the one to trip over the victim. It wasn’t surprising that it was hitting her harder than the rest of them.
“As if anyone on this benighted planet knows how to conduct a proper murder investigation.” A slender young man had walked up to their group. He might’ve been good-looking if he weren’t so contemptuous. All right, he was still good-looking. “There have only been three murders since the Founders arrived. Those clowns of campus security are completely out of their depth.”
Nami frowned at him – “Jonathan, right? I registered you.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Jonathan’s expression turned uncertain, and as a result, he became more appealing. Surinder found himself taking a step closer. “I didn’t mean to intrude.” He hesitated, then added, “I haven’t really met anyone yet.”
Joe said cheerfully, “You can hang with us. Although I don’t think there’s a lot of point to our standing here, chewing over the few details we have – and I suspect Selah would like to be thinking about something else?” He smiled, and sketched a bow, ending with a hand outstretched in Selah’s direction. “What do you say, milady – shall we dance?”
Bold. Surinder would approve, if he hadn’t been hoping Selah might end up with his friend instead. Selah did glance towards Nami, but then turned back to Joe, putting her hand in his, letting him draw her away from their cluster, into an open space. Her voice grew fainter, as she said, “I’m a terrible dancer, as you may have heard.”
Joe replied, “You’ll just have to let me lead, then. I’ve been taking dance lessons since I was five years old – if I can’t lead you properly, my ancestors will turn over in their graves.”
Tsinga said abruptly, “If you humans are going to start dancing, I’m going to go find something to eat.”
Nami’s stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, and she put her hand on it, looking startled. “I think I forgot to eat lunch – my mom needed me to help at home – well, I guess I’ll just go with you.”
“Fine,” Tsinga said, and then stomped off on his stubby feet, Nami trailing behind. Leaving Surinder with the handsome Jonathan. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He was born and bred to Kriti, and while he wasn’t particularly fond of the cops, he didn’t really like some outsider mocking them right off.
“Sorry,” Jonathan said. “I think I put my foot in it.” He looked impatient, frustrated. “I keep doing that. Everything here is so different. And I don’t have a lot of patience for dealing with incompetent cops.”
Surinder shrugged, hoping it was graceful. He was the local, Jonathan the new arrival – it was incumbent on him to make the guest welcome. “That’s why you came to the Dome, right? To experience something different?”
“I came because my parents made me come,” Jonathan snapped.
“Come on,” Surinder coaxed. Surely there was something here that Jonathan might like. The musicians swung into another song, faster and more upbeat. “Maybe you’ll feel better if you dance. Do you like dancing?”
“I love dancing,” Jonathan admitted.
“Good,” Surinder said, daring to take a step closer, letting his body start moving to the music. Maybe Jonathan was an ass, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have some fun together…
Jonathan reached out, grabbed his hip, and pulled Surinder close, matching his motion. Oh. This was about to get interesting.
******