After finishing a long task of moving out, Virka exhaled with relief. When the spaceship started, she took off her shoes and, with bare feet, sprawled out with her whole body on the couch in the recreational room. Soon, Avi arrived there too with glasses of lemonade, very curious about her new acquaintance.

Avi sat down on top of the table, commenting. - “That was a lot of boxes. Can I ask what you keep in them?”

“Oh... nothing special. Mainly my finest wines and expensive bath oils.” - Virka smiled ambiguously.

“Your room looks luxurious too... that handcrafted furniture and silk curtains. On top of that, you have all these treasures of art... won't you be missing your palace? We have it pretty modest in here, and the place is rather cramped.”

“Of course I'll be missing it.” - Virka added. - “I barely could fit two wardrobes, and I have no idea how I am supposed to stay in shape without the gym.”

“Eee...” - Avi uttered. - “...right, we don't have space for that.”

“Ehh... I never thought that I'd have to limit myself to a foldable bench and a basic set of weights...” - Virka kept complaining. - “...but at least you have quite an advanced simulation chamber here, so I guess I won't get bored to death here.”

“It's three days of travel until the next star, I'm sure we'll get to know each other better.” - Avi added optimistically. - “If you're interested, I can show you recordings of planets that Luna and I have already visited.”

“I'll gladly see them, my darling...” - Virka said, stretching and rolling over onto her belly. - “...but before that, I would like to know more about you.”

Avi was slightly surprised. - “About me? I don't know where to start...”

“Start from the beginning, my darling. From the very beginning.” - Virka insisted. - “You can keep it short if you wish, we'll definitely get to know each other better later.”

“Oh... I was born on Earth, like you already know. I didn't know anyone, except my parents...”

“I remember, you were the last of your kind.” - Virka commented.

“...yes, but they soon were gone too. I... was struggling without them, my life lost its meaning until Luna found me. She showed me the path through this darkness... and well, that's how we got here.”

“Mmm...” - Virka stretched out her arms. - “So it was your first friend? How long have you known each other?”

“A few months.” - Avi answered.

“That's not that long.” - Virka noted. - “Honestly, it amazes me how close you two are.”

“We've been through a lot together.” - Avi explained. - “Uhm... and Luna is quite eccentric. I think she knew that she wanted to be my companion from the very beginning. I'm still puzzled by it.”

“Oh, is it so?” - Virka smiled enigmatically. - “She noticed so quickly... that you're special to her?”

“It wasn't even quick. It was immediate.” - Avi replied.

“Ah, I recall how she mentioned that you've saved her. Could it be related to this in any way?”

“Yes...” - Avi was shocked by Virka's wits. - “...her spaceship crashed in the forest next to my house.”

Virka pondered. - “The daughter of Anaari with such an advanced self-awareness, truly peculiar. I assume you two were on your own until now.”

“...yes, there is Caleb too, but Luna says he's a robot, and there is Aurora too, but you already know her.”

Virka moved her feet back and forth. - “In such a short time, you've created a second home here together. I'm jealous...”

“It's always better together, so I'll be happy if you choose to be a part of it.” - Avi added. - “I like you.”

A wide smile appeared on Virka's face. - “You're adorable... makes me want to munch on you.”

Avi giggled. - “What, are you really that hungry?”

“You have no idea... my lips haven't tasted anything remarkable in a long time.” - Virka said, her playful gaze admiring Avi's figure.

“Oh!!!” - Avi, oblivious of Virka's intentions, struck her hand with a fist. - “I know what I'll treat you to! Stay here!”

Virka raised her eyebrow, but let Avi leave, who, in a moment, was back with a fruit parfait.

“Here you go.” - Avi said, offering her the dessert.

“Ohh...” - Virka was about to say that it wasn't what she meant, but she refrained. - “...you are so sweet, and it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. I won't refuse, I won't refuse...”

Avi grinned. - “Luna and I discovered it in the golem factory on one of the visited planets.”

Virka scooped up a candied fruit ball with a spoon and put it in her mouth. - “Mmm... delicious... but I wonder, how did you manage to prepare it so fast?”

“Luna's synthesizer can replicate most of the stuff we scan.” - Avi explained.

Virka's jaw dropped. - “You have... that kind of technology?”

Avi nodded.

“Wait... what was the point of me packing everything?” - Virka muttered.

“Eee... sorry, I didn't think... You know, your boxes were sealed shut, I was sure those were mostly the personal items.”

Virka facepalmed. - “A replicator... do you know how many nations would wage wars for that kind of device, and how many could fall due to it? And you're just making desserts...”

“Eee... uhm... I guess we are?” - Avi muttered.

Virka tasted the cream and pondered with a spoon in her mouth. - “Eh, maybe it's better this way... do you have anything else that could also surprise me?”

Avi put a finger to her lips. - “Probably not... but we have a lot of films, games, and music. I'm sure you'll like them.”

“Are those mementos from your home planet?” - Virka asked, still savoring the parfait.

“Yes.”

“It'll be nice to learn a bit more about your culture.” - Virka said, licking the spoon clean. - “Show me what you've got...”

---

When Luna entered the recreational room, she found Avi and Virka, both sitting on pillows in front of their TV with gamepads connected to their console. Hearing their laughs and victory cheers, Luna deduced they both had a lot of fun. She smiled gently and watched from afar, even Avi didn't notice her because of how immersed she was in the gameplay. It was Virka who paused their game and put the controller aside first, then waved to her.

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“Oh, Hi Luna!” - Avi uttered.

“Hello, Avi.” - Luna said, sitting down behind them. - “Ah, I see you are playing 'The Faraway Place'.”

“It's Luna's favorite game.” - Avi mentioned, a bit shy.

“Will it bother you if I watch a little?” - Luna asked.

“Of course not, make yourself comfortable.” - Virka replied and resumed their game.

Avi's character was standing in a shallow pond, surrounded by waterfalls from all sides. Next to her, Virka's black cat was standing on a lily pad. The woman pressed her buttons to jump up a few times, then she bounced along some green platforms. Avi rushed to the left, finding a cave behind the falling water.

It was a co-op game with a split-screen, a gift from Avi's parents, but she wasn't able to play it until she met Luna. When they played together, Avi was usually the cat, so playing the main heroine now was a new experience for her. Currently, she and Virka were trying to solve a skill-based riddle with a logic puzzle. While Avi was supposed to properly time pulling the levers that moved platforms, Virka had to choose an appropriate path to the top of the waterfalls and call an elevator for Avi.

“I see that you're still at the very beginning.” - Luna commented, she knew it usually took about three hours to reach their location. - “If you would like, I can point out a quicker way to do it.”

“No hints!” - Avi protested, her tongue sticking out in focus.

“Ah... so there is a shortcut, yes?” - Virka guessed and looked at the protruding rocks. - “Let's try... this way!” - Her cat, however, ended up falling into the stream and returned right to the beginning of the level. It shook its tiny body to dry off, and the girls had to restart the riddle. - “Oops...”

“Nice try...” - Luna commented. - “...but this game requires two people.”

“Luna! Quiet!!” - Avi reprimanded her once more.

“Okay, okay... I won't bother you, keep playing.” - Luna shifted away, lying on her stomach on the pillow and resting her head on her arms.

When Virka and Luna figured out the solution, there was an auto-save, then a boss fight with a giant, flying jellyfish. After three attempts, they finished the level.

“Ahh...” - Avi stretched out her arms. - “A little break, okay?”

Virka yawned. - “I'm tired too.” - She put her gamepad away and jumped back to her pillow, turning to Luna, then gave her a meaningful glance. - “The daughter of Anaari... in person.”

Luna allowed her to continue.

“In a humanoid shell, your people are way more beautiful.” - Virka added.

“You sound like you knew more of my kind.” - Luna said. - “Is it another secret that I'm not supposed to ask about?”

“Who knows...” - Virka uttered. - “...I met many entities akin to you, but I can't tell you the details. However...”

“However?” - Luna asked.

“One of them had eyes just like yours, enjoying a genuine freedom.” - Virka added. - “You just want to get lost in that gaze... and draw even more intensity from it.”

“Hmpf. You're good with words, but it's a pity they don't contain any useful information for us.” - Luna responded.

“Mmm... you want me to become useful to you? That's a lot of pragmatism, but not enough joy... with three of us, things could get fun... or even wild.” - Virka replied with a tempting smile.

Luna sighed. - “For now, I'm not interested. We have to track down some sentient beings. I'm sure you know a lot.”

Virka puffed her cheeks, feigning innocence and disappointment. - “How not nice... we still have plenty of time to get to know each other better.”

“That's true, Luna. We don't have to hurry.” - Avi added. - “Lately, you seem so tense. Maybe you'll play with Virka together, and I'll prepare dinner?”

“Eh.” - Luna had a sour expression.

“Luna... don't make me beg.” - Virka uttered. - “We'll have a lot of fun... and I promise to help you ease all the stress that you're carrying.”

Luna sighed. - “You two devils. Did you scheme together when I wasn't around?”

Avi and Virka looked at each other, then both laughed inwardly.

“Then, it's decided!” - Avi exclaimed. - “I'll be back in a bit less than an hour.” - Then left the room.

Luna crossed her arms and looked at Virka reluctantly. - “What do you want to do, then? I'll give you a warning, though. I'm very competitive, so if you want to try me, I won't make it easy.”

Virka leaned in close to Luna, their faces were only inches away. - “Ohh, is it so? Because I know enough games to make even a brave little being like you back off.”

“Are you challenging me?” - Luna asked, not moving even slightly.

“Maybe...” - Virka whispered, fluttering her lashes, and drew nearer until their lips nearly touched.

“Bring it on.” - Luna furrowed her brows.

Virka pulled her head back, giggling. - “Oh, you're in such a hurry to taste the main course, sweetie... but we didn't even touch the appetizers yet.”

Luna lifted her brow, completely clueless about what Vrika was getting at.

Virka stood up, glancing at the gramophone. - “Come, come... I heard you've got a collection of good music here. Please, play something.”

Luna's gaze settled on Avi's records. She walked over to the shelves, running her fingers along the covers. She didn't want to confess this, but she felt like she was losing something intimate, something that was just between her and Avi. She recalled all the days when they both listened to the melodies or sang together.

It was an appropriate time to let it all go, so she chose an adequate melody called 'Pale Blue Moon'. She hesitated before setting the record on the player, but finally gave in, and a melancholic song filled the room.

“A sad one...” - Virka whispered, surprised.

“You don't like it?” - Luna asked.

“No, no, it's beautiful.” - Virka said, a bit teary.

When Luna turned to her, Virka quickly wiped her eyes.

“Is everything okay?” - Luna asked.

“Yes. It brings back memories. These painful ones, but worth remembering.”

“Maybe I should change the song.” - Luna suggested hesitantly.

“No, no. It's already fine. Shall we dance?” - Virka extended her hand to Luna.

“Dance?” - Luna had no idea what Virka meant.

“Come, let me show you.”

Luna moved closer to Virka, who gently held her back, guiding her slowly in circles.

“Do you like it?” - Virka asked, her eyes met with Luna's. She, however, was sad.

“I think I understand the idea....”

“You are thinking about doing it with Avi, right?” - Virka asked.

Luna blushed. - “How... how do you know!? Are you reading my mind!?”

Virka giggled, then smiled playfully. - “Not yet, sweetie. You're just making it too obvious... ouch!”

Luna stepped on Virka's foot. - “Sorry!” - She exclaimed, trying her best to regain her composure.

“Don't worry about it. You're learning, and I wasn't careful enough.” - Virka calmed her down.

Luna decided to stay silent and pay better attention to movement. It also helped her to hide her embarrassment.

“Back to the topic...” - Vrika continued.

Luna interrupted her. - “There's nothing to go back to. The situation is as it is, nothing will change it.”

“Why are you trying so hard to distance yourself from her?” - Virka asked. - “Do you really think it'll fix everything?”

“I... I think that's for the best. Avi doesn't tolerate the person that I want to be for her.” - Luna said with sadness.

“And that's why you want to cut ties with her?”

“No, I don't want to... but...”

“...but you think she will feel better due to that?”

“Yes.” - Luna admitted. - “She seems happy right now.”

“Do you think those are her real feelings? Maybe she smiles, avoids you, and hides how much she misses you... because she trusts your choices? But deep down, she's crying.”

Luna stepped back from Virka, she didn't want to dance anymore. - “Then, what am I supposed to do? When I'm next to her, it's wrong. When I'm away, it's even worse!”

“I was thinking about what you've told me earlier, Luna, regarding how you experience her lack of reciprocity. Avi, she needs time to understand, feel, and for the bond between you to properly form. Don't treat it as rejection, but as a delicate flower, still in bloom. It needs balanced care, so that one day you and Avi can both mature and enjoy what truly unites you, regardless of its final form.”

“It's like my garden... too much water, or not enough, and the plant will die.” - Luna replied.

“Remember, people aren't flowers. Moderation is important, but don't reduce it to homework... this requires an intuition, like dancing.”

“Virka, I don't know if I can. I was living as a computer for over four hundred years.”

“...but for several months now, the light of your heart has been pulsing brighter than the stars. I know that you'll try and give your best shot, because you care about her.”

Luna sat down on the couch, spreading her arms on the headrest and staring at the ceiling. - “It's all moving too fast.” - After a long pause, she added. - “Virka, how did you learn to notice these things so effortlessly?”

Virka backed away, hiding in the shadows. - “That was my job.”

“Can you tell me more about it?”

Virka tightened her lips. - “Maybe... one day.”

“Even you need time...” - Luna stated. - “...now I get how much I still don't understand. I'm sorry, I won't insist.”

Virka sat down against the wall, and there was a moment of silence until she asked. - “Is there a place to smoke?”

“No. The spaceship doesn't like pollution.”

Virka crossed her arms over her knees, looking downcast. - “Three days... I'll survive somehow.”

“Do you want to be alone?”

“Quite the opposite.” - Virka muttered. - “...your quiet presence is soothing.”

Luna accepted it and didn't say a word more.