Oh, that's right, you joined after Rhine Lab's first New Year's party.
Parvis
We didn't have our own building back then.
Parvis
Kristen rented half the floor of an office building next to the Trimounts Institute of Technology, and shared an old apartment with Saria nearby.
Parvis
Ferdinand talked about bringing in funding for us, but once he left his old job, his former associates stopped answering his mail.
Parvis
I was still at my old lab, and only went back to Trimounts a couple of times per month.
Parvis
On New Year's Eve, I got a message from Muelsyse ordering me to attend the party.
Parvis
It snowed heavily that night, and the roads back from Max D.C. were packed. I didn't want to go to all that effort, but Muelsyse didn't give me a choice.
Parvis
She said she would soak my pillow in icy water if I didn't get back on time.
Parvis
I stepped into the office, just before the clock struck twelve.
Parvis
Then I heard the song.
Parvis
It was a dreadful song.
Parvis
As a Leithanian, I have never understood, to this day, how Muelsyse, an authority on Originium Arts, could have such vulgar taste in music.
Parvis
But the others didn't seem bothered. Ferdinand asked Saria to dance with him, and she said yes. Could you believe it?
Parvis
As for Kristen... she watched from the sides. That night, she spent more time looking at the people in the room than outside the window.
The tune keeps playing, looping over and over again.
He does not know if the old Caprinae is still sitting by the communicator.
All he knows is that when he returns to Rhine Lab headquarters at dawn, he will see Parvis standing at his usual spot, a teacup in his hands, watching young faces come and go below with a smile on his face.
