But do they have a working printing press at that point?

They're going to need the molds for letters to cool and then they can test if they're making legible prints, and then they'll probably spend a while developing better ones. They have a lot of progress towards a printing press.

Fair enough.

Where's she staying? Several people offer couches if she needs one. (All women, since this is after all the sister of married-the-prince-by-accident.)

It wasn't an accident and she's way less reckless than her sister but she does have a guest room, she does not desperately need to borrow someone's couch.

Oh, good. Does she need any help finding it?

Nah. Thanks anyway.

See her tomorrow!

She looks forward to it!

And they cheerfully part ways, except for a few people who still have work to do.

Yawn.

Flumph.

Dreams! Nothing especially useful, but she makes sure to fix them in her mind as best she can anyway, in the morning.

Someone brings by breakfast.

It's delicious, of course Why is everything here done so well. Don't feel intimidated, Imliss, you are literally bringing these people the printing press.

She is. By the end of the second day of work they have a practically workable prototype although the Elves don't think so because it's ugly.

Well, it's only a prototype.

Yes, but still! Now they'll try for a prettier one.

Naturally. Imliss has aesthetic suggestions!

Oh, good. This one's going to look so much nicer.

Post-scarcity results in such better pride in one's work, it's so great.

They're all curious what she means by that, and what her world is like.

Not as pretty! Have some mental images.

Yeah. Definitely not as pretty. Are people not just miserable all the time? Do they somehow get used to it?

Apparently? It's not really ugly, to her, just--not as pretty. Must be a species difference.

Probably. Or an exposure difference. Anyway, even if people are starving it seems odd they could be happy if things weren't exceptionally pretty. But not starving helps.

It'd be fascinating to see how the differences actually shake out but there aren't really a lot of ethical tests that could be applied to the topic.