[ fei du stays quiet while lambda takes the painting in, mostly to let her have the moment, though he's watching. the smile, the glow; what a marked difference from yesterday.

it's nice. this is how these things should be, he thinks. museums full of works of art for people to see, instead of relics trapped in an office, squirreled away by the wealthy out of a possessive greed. when fei du comes up next to her to look at it, hands folding now behind his back to let her have her penguin hands back, he makes a soft noise of acknowledgment. ]

It would be nice - but that's the dilemma, too, that something so beautiful could be so easily damaged, no matter how careful we are. Age and time.

[ a pause. ] This is the first time I've seen this one in person. It's beautiful.