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“No apologies, not for that.” Signy folded herself back down to rest on her forearms, running a hand reassuringly through Cora’s hair. It felt like it would be awfully fun to tug. “How long?” she asked.

“One year and seven months,” Cora said. She placed a gentle hand on each of Signy’s hips. “But who’s counting?”

Signy breathed a laugh. “That’s surprising,” she said. She kissed Cora’s cheek, her jaw, her earlobe.

“Why?”

“Because you’re cocky,” Signy said, nuzzling her way to neck and collarbone. “And you’re beautiful.” She kissed a trio of freckles decorating the hollow of Cora’s throat, one by one. “I can’t be the only person who’s noticed.”

Cora slid a hand up into the hair at the nape of Signy’s neck. “I don’t really like hookups,” Cora said. “It’s not my—” She froze, in body and voice. She backpedaled, trying to act nonchalant. “I mean—uh, not that this has to be anything serious, or—”

Signy hushed Cora’s tongue with her own. However much she’d wanted her before, now it was an imperative. “I like hookups just fine, but I’d likewise prefer this wasn’t.” She shifted her body, laying herself between Cora’s legs. “Would you like to find out what it is?”

“Yes,” Cora whispered. Her hips said the same, pressing up as Signy kissed her way down. And when Cora moaned, Signy ached, and when Cora gasped, Signy soared.

Interstitial

Common name: Hasty Madder

Species name: Rubia alexandrae

Adaptation path: Rubia tinctorum -> Rubia astralis -> Rubia cypsela -> Rubia alexandrae

Acquiring the raw materials to synth clothing dyes for our community is challenging, and so there is considerable interest in botanical dye sources, especially if they use templates that were not suited for cultivation on Fortune. Rubia cypsela was engineered to require less water than Rubia astralis, as well as to be more tolerant of a wide variety of substrates (our soil mixes here in the Ring change frequently). However, the standard maturation rate of madder root is two to three years, making it an impractical crop in light of current demand. Rubia alexandrae has been further engineered to produce robust, harvest-ready roots within a year of planting.

This strain is named for my friend Alex, a neighbor who makes beautiful clothes.

Rubia alexandrae is a fertile strain. Seeds printed from this template or harvested from mature plants should germinate within one month. At current printing, this template’s rate of successful germination is 85%.

Chapter 28 Cora, Fortune

It was funny, how waking up brought you back to yourself in stages. First, the reestablishment that yes, you existed, and so did the world. Second, the remembrance of where you were. Third, the remembrance of why you were there.

That last one made Cora grin into the purple pillow.

The pillow was nicer than her own back at the dorms. Thicker. Didn’t require punching to get the lumps out. The blanket was heavier, too. Signy ran cold, Cora had learned. And Signy was . . .

Cora reached her foot back behind herself. She found nothing but more blanket. She searched with her hand and was met by another one, but from a different angle than expected.

“Good morning,” Signy said.

Cora raised her head from the pillow that didn’t require punching. Signy was seated on the end of the bed, her legs hanging off the mattress as she heated a kettle on a hot plate in the tiny kitchen nook. She was naked, and she was gorgeous. Cora was likewise naked, and as for gorgeous—well, that wasn’t something anybody could really say about themself, but Signy had made her feel gorgeous, and, like, what was the difference?

Cora sat up and ran a hand through her hair. She hadn’t planned to stay the night. It had just happened, and now she found herself in the nebulous situation of having entered someone’s morning without knowing where she fit.

“Come here,” Signy said, her voice soft. She stretched her hand back toward Cora, beckoning. “I’m cold.”

Cora scooched herself behind Signy, put her chin over her shoulder, and wrapped arms and legs around her torso. For the moment, at least, she fit right there.

It was a good fit.

“I have to get to the shop,” Signy said. Blunt, with a dash of apology.

“Are you open on Sundays?” Cora asked.

“No, but that’s why I need to go,” Signy said. “I’ve got some new shelves I need to put up, and that’s not something I can do with people coming in and out.”

“Do you need help?” Cora asked.