"luminary of science," referring to Irene.
– No, I don't want to. Come here, on the screen.
– Can I join you? – I heard it from behind.
It was Julia.
– You'd better ask your friend what's wrong with her.
– A friend's clone," she made an ironic remark.
– What clone? Forget the clone! It's YatSan.
– Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just not really.
– Okay," Ruthra waved his hand, signifying both an end to the argument and permission to be present.
– What are we watching? – Irene asked.
– Is there a lot of it? – Ruthra asked a counter-question.
– Three days had passed in her conscious images. All the imagined scenes, all the fantasies of the body she was looking for, that is, the work of the brain in that body, passed into this brain by the most persistent sensations. That is, if she clearly visualized something, imagined something, wanted to "animate" these scenes, to make them real in that body, then in this she had it all laid down to her as a real event… or events.
– It's interesting to see what she's imagining," Iulia said with a slyness in her voice, but without losing her joking tone.
– You should ask her yourself.
– I asked, that's why I'm here.
– Come on, what did she tell you?
– Yeah, now.
– Madame Iulia, don't you think…
– Thank you, Rutra Tigrovich, for reminding me. And someone said friends, friends.
– IuLia, you should also understand correctly, the model of relationships that I proposed, which has developed – it is sincere. Just don't forget about the case and the relationships in the project. Maybe by violating these principles you are abusing friendship? Don't you think so?
– Okay, what do you want? You want me to tell you all the woman's secrets?
– What do you mean?
– In the box, as you like to say.
– Just tell it like it is.
– She says you've been practicing…
Iulia stopped talking, smiled, and shook her head up and down. The gesture added more ambiguity than clarified the situation.
– Specifically.
– Love!
– What's the big deal?
– That's your male mentality. So it doesn't mean anything to you? Then you wonder why she's acting like that.
– That's not what I meant.
– That's not what you all mean.
– Are you two in cahoots or something? Calm down and sit next to me. Irene, scroll down to the moments of high emotion.
– Why don't you look at it alone?
– Have you seen it yet?
– I've seen everything in the process.
– Ooh, that's interesting. Rutra Tigrovich, let's see what you're doing with your female employees," his colleague joked with the curiosity of a teenager.
– Oh, come on. I'll look at it separately first, then I'll decide.
– No, no, please allow us to enjoy such a racy scene.
– That's enough, honorable Parmenides.
It was a secret, though official for the center, name of a scientist. Rutra stood up, went into the next room.
– Can I come with you?
Ruthra wanted to forbid it, but changed his mind. She must have been a good judge of human nature. If it had been an order, he would have refused immediately, but this was a request.
– Okay, only up to a point, most likely.
– I agree.
– Did you do it out of curiosity? Or did a friend ask you to?
– No-" the scientist interrupted her. – So she's allowed?
– That's enough. You can watch it later.
– I'm not interested alone.
– Well, bring your girlfriend.
– This is an interesting topic, by the way.
– Oh, I don't think I'm in here.
– Uh, no. Let's go.
They went into the next room, Ruthra sat down at the monitor, and Iulia sat next to him, provocatively close. Not that he was against it, but… Ruthra knew that giving her hope and then screwing her up was ungentlemanly, but not giving her a chance was worse. So he decided to try it out. He knew he wasn't going to give her a chance. He knew he had a choice to make. But which one? Was the goal the same as hers? Probably not. Once, at the time of his youthful maturity, but still narcissistic naivety, with which many remain until the end of their lives, a familiar lady of Balzac's age on his "friendly" relationship with a very seductive young lady said: "All girls want to get married." It seems simple, but men think that women see in them the same thing they see in them – a seductive image. Women desire this, of course, but their main goal is not to become another station on the path of the locomotive.
Iulia was a master of seduction, and Rutra understood that. A lady with a child, divorced, careful of her inner and outer worlds, moderate in sports, non-smoker, strict with alcohol, as with men; she would smile, make a joke, have a taste of wine, not get drunk, but let her get drunk.
– I feel a little uncomfortable. Not because there might be scenes from the movie "Doubles of the Kama Sutra," but because of your friend's reaction.
– Why is that?
– Maybe she specifically said yes or asked you to. Maybe she wanted me to see if I would watch it with you.
– You're making too big a deal out of this. Trust me, it's much simpler than that. Girls do it, only the more important point for her will be your determination… since that's the case, I'll say, just you don't betray me, you need a bit of poofiness, which will be judged in public but perceived as independence and confidence.
– Where have you been before? How did I spend my life without your counseling?
– Be friends with me and you'll understand a lot of things.
– Yes, Comrade Commander.
– Come on, turn it on, let's see how macho you are.
– Irene, turn it on from here. By the way, before and after what?
– There's a life situation, a dialog. I'd say it's no less important.
– Well those are dreams…or imaginary. I don't have all the time in the world. Let's take this moment, see what it's all about.
Footage appeared on the screen. Rutra was walking down a busy street, with beautiful storefronts, everything sparkling. It was evening. He entered a building that had a two-level restaurant on the first floor. The ambiance was exquisite. He went up to the second level, headed to a row of tables along a stained glass wall. YatSan, Julia, and Catherine were seated at the table.
– Oh, we're here," Iulia almost exclaimed, moving closer to Ruthra as if she hadn't meant to.
– Quiet," he said in a whisper, keeping his eyes on the screen. – Let's hear it.
On the screen, Ruthra approached them.
– Hey, girls.
Ruthra approached Iulia and Catherine from behind and kissed them on the cheeks. They returned the favor. Then he approached YatSan, grabbed her gently under her knees and around the waist, lifted her up and sat her down, holding her in his arms.
– Rutra,