I13: Yes, This Seems Right

[Altamira Vazquez]

The next time Samantha McManus would return to her office, she'd find a familiar visitor sitting in her chair, holding a pipe in one hand and looking out the window.

[Samantha McManus]

"...well then," Samantha said, quirking a brow as she walked in.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I like what you've done with the place, Sam. Very rural. Almost agrarian. Your own little domain, yes?"

[Samantha McManus]

"We like to think it offsets some of the pressures."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"And the office itself--leather's a good look for you. I'm almost surprised not to see you in some kind of tweed jacket with elbow patches."

[Samantha McManus]

"It hasn't been that long since you've seen it."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Of course it hasn't," she said--a little patronizingly? Hard to tell.

"Quiet here, though. It has that going for it, doesn't it, Sam?"

[Samantha McManus]

"As quiet as it ever gets."

"Still, I doubt that's what you're here for."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"You'd be surprised. It's been a rough time for me, and some peace and quiet sounds up my alley at the moment. Just letting you know I'll be around--one Goddess to another," she said, with a teasing lilt in her voice--almost like humoring a small child.

[Samantha McManus]

"...I'll make certain there's oranges in the dining hall."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"How is all that going, anyway? You were so uptight last time I saw you."

[Samantha McManus]

"Bit of a work in progress, but isn't everything?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Only the things that are Right and True. Evolve or die, and all that.

I don't know if I should be jealous or not, though."

[Samantha McManus]

"Of imperfection?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Heavens no. I'm not perfect; far from it. Has my ego really gone that far out of control since I've been gone?

No, I'm talking the whole red-haired primal goddess thing. Your girlfriend has a type, does she?" she said, teasingly.

[Samantha McManus]

"I wouldn't know."

[Altamira Vazquez]

Altamira just laughed. "Still a BIT dour then. Alright, that's fair enough."

"Anyway, I promise not to break your school too much while I'm here. Wouldn't want to muck around TOO much in your domain now, would I?"

[Samantha McManus]

"It was home to you once before. It could be again."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Well, we'll see about that. I suppose it depends on how warm my reception will be, in part.

Plus, I have certain...duties now. You understand."

[Samantha McManus]

"Increasingly, I do."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"We should talk. Double-date over dinner?"

[Samantha McManus]

"...dare I ask who you'd be bringing?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I have the entire cosmos to choose from. Don't worry about me."

[Samantha McManus]

"Knowing might help in choosing a restaurant," she smirked.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Don't worry, I don't THINK he'll cause any interplanetary incidents. Assuming he remembers to put on pants."

[Samantha McManus]

Samantha snorted. "I think we all have days like that."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Nothing anyone here hasn't seen before."