Starship Amrita

Chapter XIV - Love Champions of a Princess Anachronism

Chapter XIV – Love Champions of a Princess Anachronism

"I noticed last time I was here... but Seraphina doesn't have any chairs... or like a bed, that I could see," said Mu, shifting her grip on the giant beanbag chair Nova had bid her to carry.

Nova, who was significantly smaller than Mu, was also carrying one, and also struggling. "She just sits on the floor. Or one time I found her sleeping – I think she was sleeping – while hovering in the air. That was kinda weird..."

As she spoke, Nova was attempting to free up one hand to hit the button for the doorbell while not dropping the chair.

Mu shook her head. "Don't worry, Seraphina will open the door in a moment."

Nova glanced over at her from behind the beanbag. "Is that foresight?"

Mu just gave a little smile and nodded towards the door with her head. "And... now."

The door slid open and Seraphina was standing there. Her ruby eyes blinked slowly at them. Mu saw she was dressed as usual, which once again included an oversized, pointy hat. The moment the door opened an intense fragrance of incense washed out into the corridor.

"Hi, Seraphina," she Mu.

"'Hey, girl," said Nova and without further ado shoved roughly past Mu and Seraphina, manoeuvring the beanbag chair into the space beyond.

Seraphina watched her for a few moments then turned back to Mu. "Please come in."

Mu smiled and made her way inside, managing the beanbag with a little more grace than Nova. Seraphina followed her after closing the door. Mu dropped the beanbag in approximately the centre of the room, next to the one Nova had brought.

"Shoes off, please," said Seraphina.

"Oh, sorry," said Mu and she and Nova returned to the door and removed their shoes.

Mu had opted for her default casual outfit since she'd been on the Amrita – the cropped top and baggy sweatpants Kal and Nova had got for her when she first reached the Orbital Ring of Shangxia. Since she had become aware that Seraphina's room was perpetually kept uncomfortably warm and humid, she'd opted to forego the hoodie she often wore with the outfit.

By contrast, Nova appeared to be dressed almost entirely in an enormous hoodie that just about completely concealed whatever she was wearing underneath, a glimpse of some blue shorts only occasionally visible. Most of her usual accoutrements were missing: she had no gloves and she'd opted for flip-flops instead of her usual heavy work boots on their way to Seraphina's room, probably cognizant of Seraphina's no shoes policy. The only thing that seemed to never leave her person was the goggles, which were pushed up to the top of her head. Mu vaguely wondered whether she slept and showered with the goggles on.

"I see Harry already got that new hat sorted," said Nova, pointing to Seraphina.

"He is very quick," said Seraphina, reaching up and touching the brim of her hat. "It still isn't as soft as I'm used to, but Harry said it would get there."

"Naw, he can be a sweetie at times," said Nova, then she pointed at the beanbags. "Sorry, we don't have one for you."

"That's okay," said Seraphina. "Would you like any snacks? I have fermented red algae, some black rye, and some Hecatean fen frog spawn, if that would suit you."

Nova's face contorted into an expression of disgust. "Eeww, rye! Not keen, sorry. But hey, knock yourself out, go wild, I'm not gonna stop you. I brought some supplies of my own for Mu and I because – and I don't mean to be rude here – but your food is gross."