"Hmm, if it was higher tech level to begin with, would it have just been less of a big change, getting to 'no material scarcity'? ...I mean, I don't know exactly what difference that'd make, but it would probably be...less disruptive to people's lives? I don't know, just, people are weird sometimes about big changes. Even if they're good big changes." 

"The tech wasn't evenly distributed, but yes, it was less of a disruption on average."

"Why was it not evenly distributed?" 

Vanyel doesn't feel like this actually demands an explanation; wealth and resources - and Gifts, especially Gifts - aren't equally distributed here either. He doesn't say anything, though. 

"Some countries had inconveniently timed wars or natural disasters or well-intentioned disastrous economic policies that prevented them from advancing as quickly, and trade was - flatter than here, you could order stuff from anywhere in the world, but not so flat that everything settled evenly over the whole population, and the society wasn't rich enough - or smart enough, possibly the same wealth could have been applied more intelligently - to scaffold the wealth-building of the poorer segments off the largesse of the wealthier."

Moondance furrows his brow a little, as though he isn't quite following this.

He also looks...sad, mostly, and tired. 

"That makes sense." 

Vanyel wonders, vaguely, what Leareth would think. It doesn't seem like he would be surprised. 

Starwind squeezes Moondance's shoulder and then pulls away. "Brightstar, it is time to get ready for bed now." 

"Cam can I have one more ice cream? Please?" 

One mouthful of praline on Brightstar's spoon, sure.

Brightstar is reminded to say thank you, and then nudged off to get ready for bed.

The sun is starting to set. 

Moondance rises from the pool, dries himself quickly with magic, and slips his robe on. "I think perhaps I will go for a walk alone. Maybe the Goddess will offer advice, then." 

Vanyel nods, trying not to look as unhappy about this as he feels. "Cam, want to go watch the sunset from the top of that rock?" It's a very very tall rock, at least a dozen metres, a ways off but visible above the tree-canopy. 

"Sure, I should have room to take off from the pool area..." He gets up in the air and lands on the rock.

Vanyel catches up the slower way, jogging down the path and then climbing. 

"So? Curious what you think of -" vague gesture at the Vale around them. "That was, er. Not as eventful as I'd been worried it might be. Seems to be going pretty smoothly. Brightstar likes you." 

"I gave him ice cream, he's not a hard sell. It's a nice place, very - pleasant and magical and whatnot."

"Mmm." Vanyel picks at his thumbnail, staring vaguely out at the sunset on the other side of the faint-soap-bubble-shimmer that marks the magical boundary of the Vale. He's still feeling uneasy, on edge; he's not quite sure what he expects to go wrong, but...something. 

The sun sinks below the horizon, the sky fading to deep blue with a horizon of reds and purples. 

As the stars start popping out, it's impossible not to think of Leareth. Vanyel chews his lip. He REALLY SHOULD say something, at this point, but he keeps...not. 

Cam takes a picture of the pretty sunset.

Eventually Vanyel sighs and starts climbing down while there's still any light to see by. "Er, I'm getting pretty tired. Were you planning to stay the night? Moondance might have a Foresight dream." 

"Yeah, if that's a customary way to receive Foresight I should stay overnight. Also you can't pilot my shuttle so I should not abandon you here. I'll read or something."

"...Huh. Do you not need to sleep?" Vanyel rubs his eyes. He can't remember if that came up before or not, which is awkward, but apparently he's been kind of distracted. "Anyway, uh, Savil thought I should stay here longer. She said the Senior Circle would just overwork me otherwise." He looks embarrassed about this. 

"I do not need to sleep! I just drink coffee instead. I sleep every, like, month or three, so I can have dreams and stuff."

"Huh!" Somehow it's even weirder that he can sleep but doesn't have to. "Well, I guess that simplifies things, don't need to find you a room to sleep in. I can show you where the hammocks are if you want somewhere to sit?" 

"I'm not sure hammocks are super comfy with wings? I can just park up here, nice view of the stars, we don't have those at home. Will anyone mind if I make a chair at some point?"

"I don't see why they'd mind as long as it's not in the way of climbing up or jumping into the pool down there." Vanyel stifles a yawn. "...Sorry. Guess I really need to get some sleep."