While she murmured, I released a breath. So very glad that she pulled herself away. The noise was probably just a server dropping a tray. The door guards aren’t even moving to go look...
"I’m sorry, but I have a feeling that, while we are speaking the sa language, our anings are not connecting. What is ’full on’?"
"Your total commitnt to character setting. Even the eye thing! I an, I know all werewolves do it when transforming, but the timing and control was absolutely perfect!"
I stared at her hyperactive whispering, so very confused... though that sounds like an understatent at this point. I think back to when I told that Paul teenager who I was - and he thought I was an ’actress’ taking on a role..
> Alright. I can admit that - in a way - my princess identity itself really always was putting on a facade and a role. Even back ho. But Vrika, why are these people jumping to this idea? Would it not be much more rational to just think of as a crazy person?! <
My wolf barks twice and lets out a howl. So I fill my mindscape with scorpions and seal it up for five seconds. I was not asking the spirit to start calling a lunatic in their place!
"Ellie, please listen. I truly don’t understand how you could think that-"
"No, no, don’t break character for !"
The woman waved her hands frantically. Too frantically.
"Today is so incredible. I got to et a persona in the wild... ’Princess Citra of the Royal Fox Kingdom,’ mysteriously transported to our world with twin tails as a personal symbol. Oh, I wish you also had a more fitting outfit for the roleplay, but I shouldn’t be greedy..."
"...Roleplay?"
"Yeah, you’ve been developing a whole origin myth! So getting the clothes right cos next. Oh, the glowing eyes were total chuunibyou!"
"Now I’m certain that we are not even talking the sa language."
Seeing my blank expression and desire to just leave, she turns fawning. Like a courtier realizing they just insulted you.
"A-ah. Right, Ms. Lomdi. My apologies. It’s about... people who create elaborate fantasy personas. It’s huge in ani culture, but of course your *character* wouldn’t know that...."
I felt a headache forming. Once again I revise my understanding of this social encounter. This woman is absolutely my natural opponent, but we are not playing the sa ga in the first place.
> More like she doesn’t see it as a ga at all... which is most concerning. <
"Ms. Rushwater, I think there’s been a misunderstanding-"
"No, no, please, actually keep calling Ellie. And there’s no misunderstanding. Your secret is safe with , Princess."
She actually ’zipped her lip’ and winked at . Then she closed her eyes and let out a long breath. When she opened them, they were a bit wistful.
"I totally get it, after all. Real life can be boring. Creating sothing more... magical... helps make it bearable."
Allowing her to think my actual truth was all an elaborate fantasy ant to deal with reality made uncomfortable deep down inside. But correcting her would only make things more complicated.
> Talking to her any more is draining sothing in faster than talking to anyone else at all. <
"I appreciate your... discretion. If you could keep my identity to yourself within the Moonwater Pack, I would appreciate that."
"Absolutely!"
She was beaming now. Like a child trusted with a parent’s secret. So much, that a slight protective instinct even rises up in - but it fades the mont she opens her mouth again. So I consider it just a passing phantom feeling.
"Wait, you haven’t been hanging out with those Archivists, have you? Pretty sure there is a Pineheart in their ranks. Mira? They’re the only ones I know who still use our old pack na. "
"Old pack na?"
Genuinely confused, I’m already cursing the system for its ’old information’. Even with myself, it still calls things out like I am Helene. It also doesn’t tell you everything at once and despite giving you information you can’t possibly have... only seems to update when you already know sothing, sotis!
"We’ve been the Stonewater Tribe, and pack, for generations now. Officially, ever since we had to register as an indigenous people when the governnt was... yeah, I won’t get into that."
She narrowed her eyes and scratched her chin.
"How else would a young Duskpaw know that original na unless soone told you?"
I thought quickly. Coming up with the absolute best idea I could.
"I... read it sowhere."
"Right..."
Clearly not believing , she seed more amused by it than suspicious. The idea ca to mind that she may believe that I was still trying to maintain character - and seeking out vague reasons to know sothing that ’Citra’ should not.
> Would anyone really go through sothing so tireso? <
"Thank you for your assistance today."
Eager to end this increasingly bizarre conversation, I give her a nod and step away. But she calls out and reaches into her jacket... producing a business card and offering it to .
"Oh, before you go. If you’re also establishing yourself in Vossden, then we are neighbors."
I accepted the dense rectangle of paper stock, reading the embossed text while noting the stylized water drop. At least it is not an ’ani’ character.
[Ellie Rushwater, Director of Cultural Developnt, Stonewater Holdings.]
"The Stonewater takes a different approach to our integration than so other packs. We haven’t actually started interpack hiring programs yet, but if you’re officially a rogue then... it does make things a little gray? Anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to apply if you need work."
"I appreciate the information."
"Oh, and if you ever want to join my group’s weekly ani club, we’d be honored to have royalty attend. I’ll let them know not to prod your character as much as I did today!"
> I very much might rather starve than risk being placed into a working environnt with her... or at least go out into the wilderness on my own. <
She followed only part of the way back through the casino, and I was grateful I wasn’t forced to ask her to ’get lost’. All things considered, she was actually rather kind. Even if she had a completely different wavelength of ntal operations.
"What is a tsundere, anyway? She was rambling so much that I forgot to ask."
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