"...I don't know, seems pretty reasonable to be upset about it when most of the people you know are dead! We - did our best, but that doesn't mean it was good enough, or that it's all right, or that it's not awful -"

"Well," says Carissa reasonably, "either there is nothing wrong with Hell, in which case it's not a problem that they're all in Hell, or there is something wrong with Hell, in which case you were right."

Was she not supposed to say that. It seems safe and orthodox. 

Alfirin walks across the airfield and into the silence. "How was the flight?"

"It was wonderful," says Carissa. "Thank you.

…very loud. For long trips I expect it'd be worth building silence in." See, she's a reasonable person who has been thinking about item enchantment as is her job. 

"Oh, if you can figure that out that'd be great," says Iomedae. "For airplanes and also for jetpacks, which I really really want to make possible."

Alfirin grins at her. "The engines will get a little bit quieter as we get better at building them but never so quiet that they wouldn't really benefit from a silence. Freedom has been asking me for jetpacks for years but I think the thing that would help most with that is a decanter of endless rocket fuel -"

"You can't do that," says Carissa immediately, "decanters of endless water function because there's an elemental plane of water and there isn't an elemental plane of rocket fuel."

"Well that's a pity… Everyone agrees there's just the six, that's not disputed?"

"...I've never heard it disputed but I grew up in Cheliax…this century…and our education had some deficiencies." Carissa is trying to sound cooperative and not upset about this.

"...isn't there a kind of rocket that can use water as fuel?" says Iomedae, thoughtfully.

Alfirin thinks. "It sounds plausible but I bet it's one of the kinds that's only useful in space… Have you seen the university yet, Ms. Sevar?"

"I went two nights ago," says Carissa. "It's - very impressive." There is an edge in her voice.

Probably about her city that burned and hasn't been repaired. Iomedae winces.

Alfirin is missing some context. She raises an eyebrow at Iomedae, then turns back to Sevar. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be pressuring you to make a decision right away. Take your time."

"Hmm? - no. I am going to stay, and accept your offer. I'm sorry, I should have said immediately."

"No need to apologize. I'm very glad to hear it. I'll let Jandi know, and you can ask her for any help you need with the logistics of moving to Almas. I'll also get her a copy of the deal for you to look over before you sign, if you're happy with it."

Carissa nods. Realizes she should be more upbeat and grateful. Nods again but more happily. "Thank you. I'm excited. It seems like - well, the most interesting problem in the world. And some of the most interesting people in the world."

That seems like it's both true and laying it on a little thick. Alfirin casts a mildly concerned glance to her wife. 

Mildly concerned glance indeed!!

Carissa catches that but is not sure how to interpret it. She will pretend she didn't notice that they're silently discussing her. Probably it's fine. If it's not fine she technically hasn't signed yet!

Alfirin feels like having walked into the middle of this conversation put her kind of out of her depth, moreso for being a little bit unsure how to relate to people who work for her but are also both older than her and very impressive magical prodigies who make her feel vaguely embarrassed about only being a second-circle wizard. If she were a more competent adult she would have a good way to handle this but instead she's going to try to get out of it, like a coward. "Well, I was just stopping by to check that the flight went well. I'm looking forward to working with you Ms. Sevar, enjoy the rest of your afternoon." And she retreats back toward her steamship workshop.

Carissa is not sure what that was about. She smiles at Freedom. "Thank you for the airplane ride."

"Of course. Let me know if you want to do it again sometime, when the weather's good I spend a lot of time in the air…you can learn to fly too, if you want."