Part 3: "Resort"

Prismagreen delivers her invitation with the exact type of direct and forward sensibility she knows appeals to her colleague, yet somehow Hissabeth manages to slip around it.
Hissabeth: What do you mean? A new project? What happened to your old one?
Hissabeth: Is that why you haven't published? Don't tell me it fell apart after I left. It was in great shape back then.
Prismagreen: Of course not. The project is thriving.
Prismagreen: We've found a completely new direction—super low-temperature materials. I do believe our future in that field is as bright as the diamond beaches of Reykjavik.
Prismagreen: I've applied for everything I'd need—staff, funding, labs, equipment, test samples, even vacation time and bonuses!
Hissabeth: In fact, our funding is very tight. So I do wish we had that here.
Hissabeth: I even had to spring for the runium for our teleport disks myself.
Pointer: Thanks for reminding me. You told me to deduct that from your own budget.
Prismagreen: Outrageous! How could Laplace leave such talent to languish without proper funding!
Hissabeth: If you get promoted and be my leader, I believe my supply application will be approved without a hitch.
Prismagreen: I'm not sure that's in my career plan, darling. But I'll try to keep it all in mind.
Prismagreen: As for why I'm here? Isn't it obvious? To take a vacation!
Prismagreen: I've been told by those lovely and always considerate little busybodies in HR that I've gone three years without a vacation. So, I won't be allowed to return to my project until I use up my leave.
Prismagreen: Luckily, just as I was flipping through travel guides, the whole of Laplace began buzzing about you!
Prismagreen: I really couldn't have asked for better timing. Clearly, darling, this is the work of fate:
Prismagreen: A stunning and gorgeous adventure across the far north along with a chance to see a friend and former colleague.
Hissabeth: Okay. So, you're here for a vacation, and seeing me is just a side trip.
Prismagreen: Oh, you mustn't think that, darling.
Hissabeth: I'm no better than you are when it comes to obsessing over work. If I didn't have so much work to do, I'd be happy to show you around.
Snake VIII: I would be more than thrilled to escort Camille on her sightseeing tour!
Hissabeth: Where? There aren't any sights worth seeing that wouldn't keep you away from us too long. It wouldn't be safe.
Prismagreen: Dear, it looks like we're star-crossed for now, but I do thank you both for the thought.
Prismagreen: Before I head out, Sylvie, tell me, will you accept my invitation? I'd be so thrilled for you to join us.
Hissabeth flings her hand out to a nearby bowl of gingerbread, cramming them in her mouth as if to put space between the question and her answer. Unfortunately, her siblings have mouths and minds of their own.
Snake VIII: Ha, great! A chance to work together again. I wouldn't dream of passing that up, Camille!
Snake VIII: It's been so long since I've had someone to talk literature with; there's no appreciation for poetry up here. No one to chat to about Eliot and Pound ... Sometimes I think I'd just be better off brumating.
Pointer eyes the complaining snake, musing over what emotion she ought to feel.
Pointer: Is it really so bad here, Hissabeth? I could recite more poems to you, if you'd like.
Hissabeth: gulp No, no, please no. I prefer more efficient modes of communication.
Snake I: It doesn't matter much to me either way, only ... did you say you've gotten full funding?
Prismagreen: Naturally, darling. We're a top-tier team in the internal priority rankings.
Snake V: That kind of backing is dangerously tempting. N'est pas, little Cornichon?
But Hissabeth has preemptively deployed another bite of gingerbread, offering only a strained and unclear response.
Prismagreen: Dear, please, oh please. Won't you consider it, Sylvie? You've already accomplished the impossible here, and all of Laplace is singing your praises.
Prismagreen: Your dream has come true. Now, with me, you could begin a brand new chapter, a new dream for us both. I can't think of a single reason for you to turn me down, darling.
Hissabeth: Okay, I'll hear you out. I assume you've brought the project proposal?
Prismagreen: Now?
Hissabeth: The sooner, the better.
Hissabeth: I can give you an hour. If we move quickly, we could start discussing your new project in half that time.
Prismagreen: There's really no need to rush things, darling. We'll have plenty of time to get you up to speed on the project while I'm enjoying the sights here.
Hissabeth: In fact, Camille, I didn't say that I'd accept—only that I'd consider it. So, why not tell me now?
Prismagreen gives a discontented huff as she dumps her travel bag onto the table. Somewhere between mounds of fleece scarves and earmuffs, she finds her proposal.
Prismagreen: Very well, darling. Read through this first, then come find me. But don't forget—I'm here on a wonderful whirlwind vacation. Now would any of you dears be so good as to tell me where I might see the aurora, or what was it—the ice plains?
Hissabeth takes the document and leaves her colleagues, new and old, behind as they chat about directions and forecasts.
Snake I: You know what, Two ...
Snake V: Yeah, what's up? I've got a feeling you weren't really craving three handfuls of gingerbread.
Snake VIII: Come on! Just accept the invitation, Sylvie. I don't see why you're hesitating!
Hissabeth: Ha. You don't?
Snake VI: Camille thinks we've already reached our dreams, but we've only answered one question. All our work so far has barely even brushed the edge of the cosmos.
Hissabeth: Always on cue, Monique.
Hissabeth: I thought we all agreed that this is our shared dream.
Snake V: Yes, we did. But still, shouldn't we take some time to pause and reflect?
Snake I: Five's right! Reflection, course correction—that's the best kind of relaxation after wrapping a project.
Hissabeth: Okay. You imply that a course correction is necessary.

Snake VIII: You're always so resolute, sister.
Snake VIII: The narrow tightrope ahead of us is shrouded in an inscrutable fog. Unless we walk it, blind to fate, how can we know we've made the right decision?
Hissabeth: Just give it a try.
It's common knowledge: nothing bridges distance faster than talking about a mutual friend.
Prismagreen: Dear, I must say, you seem a much better match for Sylvie than I was.
Prismagreen: She's always found fault with my poetic turns of phrase; she suggested I was too theatrical. Can you believe that? Theatrical? Me?
Prismagreen: As much as I care for her, she can be so unfeeling, wouldn't you agree?
Pointer takes a moment to calculate.
Pointer: She's well within acceptable parameters.
Pointer: We have had our disagreements. But I've always found Hissabeth to be straight to the point and dedicated to her work, sometimes dangerously so.
Prismagreen: Okay. More's the pity. You two really are a fine match.
Prismagreen: Darling, be honest with me: do you think there's any chance she'll say yes?
Pointer: What?
Prismagreen: To my invitation.
Prismagreen: Dear, it seems you have a much deeper insight into her mind than I ever had. Tell me, please, what do you think she'll do?
The pause is longer this time. The computations growing even more complex.
Pointer: Hissabeth is highly perceptive when it comes to interpreting new data on both its costs and benefits. In this, we are very alike.
Pointer: My analysis would suggest that she would find any proposal on such generous terms to be enticing.
Prismagreen: But, what if it isn't her preferred field?
Lacking any modeling to analyze this question, she offers only a very human shrug.