The midday sun beat down as I trudged along the sidewalk. Overall it was still quite brisk out, but the direct sunlight could still feel pretty warm.
Adding all those items to my backpack didn’t seem like much when I purchased it, but combined with everything else I’ve been lugging around... the weight is starting to wear on .
> Thank you, by the way. <
Vrika is keeping healed nicely as I overextend the human side more than its muscles are capable. With enough days like this and enough food... I might even be able to be as ’ripped’ as Marco.
"But never as good a salesman... I can’t believe I let him sell that too at the end..."
I muttered to no one while adjusting the straps digging into my shoulders. The extra weight of a heavy duty power bank was not small.
Just as I was about to pay for everything, he’d casually ntioned how unfortunate it would be if I found myself away from outlets. Stressing how a power bank is essential for soone who relies on their phone in the field.
Considering I may very well leave the city so day, it was hard to say no to that logic. I’d managed a small victory, however.
Insisting that I’d only purchase it if I could ’test’ the charger for ten minutes in the shop. He gave a funny look and a laugh, but agreed.
> The fact that I considered this a win at all shows how compromised my bargaining position really is... <
While the device charged at the shop, Marco showed the features of the power bank. Multiple ports and the tiny status lights that indicated its own charge level.
Ten minutes had been enough to bring the phone from completely dead to about fifteen percent. More than sufficient to power it on and see that familiar lock screen.
Plenty enough to thank the man and get out of there before I was sold anything else!
Now, after walking for nearly fifteen minutes, I found myself approaching a small ’parkette’ with benches placed down beneath tree cover. Perfect to take a break for what I needed to do next.
I dropped my bags at my feet and sank down onto the nearest seat. The battery had not changed the displayed charge value since leaving the store.
"Efficient capabilities, indeed."
Helene’s old device had such a faulty battery it would have lost half of it by now. This is more than just a cara upgrade.
Perspectives being what they are, now I can hardly believe I attempted to sell it in the first place - even if I needed funds to survive.
Staring at the lock screen for a long ti, which needed nothing other than for to swipe once... I can’t help but argue with myself. By using Vrika as a stand in.
> This is the wrong ti to be doing this. I should get to the clinic first. Maybe send it when I’m eating... or when... <
My wolf’s tail swept lazily across my ntal landscape as I chattered. The spirit had been oddly behaved since our visit with Edgar this morning.
It is probably because of how I phrased sothing to it. Admitting that it and Kyrie’s wolf are fated.
Which is as good as saying I, the contractor, am also fated to the other person in a similar position of twinned spirits. So easily pacified...
A ’jogger’ suddenly passes by on the path and breaks from my thoughts, that were all ant to distract from this choice.
"No, I need to do this now. If I don’t, I’ll just keep thinking about it. And keep putting it off. A horrendous cycle."
With a deep breath, I unlocked the phone and navigated to the ’ssenger’. I tapped the only contact in my list without reading the silly na.
The blank space and blinking cursor stare back at for what felt like an eternity.
C: [You can co get that car whenever you need it. No need to wait for permission or send a driver to pick it up.]
Was that too much - did it reveal I’d been eavesdropping? I deleted the second line, then rewrote it, then deleted it again.
"This shouldn’t be so difficult."
I growled under my breath and Vrika chuffed in my mind, clearly amused at my indecision.
> Glad you’re enjoying this, stupid wolf. At least I have thumbs to text in the first place! <
It looked at my floating fox form and gave a look. But I will not be pulled into arguing this point!
With another breath, I hit send before I could change my mind again. The ssage gained a ’delivered’ tistamp and I quickly locked the screen.
Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I stood up while gathering my bags. I’d only taken three steps when I felt the device vibrate against my thigh with an unusual chi sound.
With a great struggle of resistance... I pulled it back out and unlocked the screen.
K: [Thank you. I was starting to worry about the motel owner having it towed.]
I stared at the ssage. So... polite?
Like we were acquaintances having a conversation.
Which I suppose was technically true, but...
K: [Are you doing alright?]
The second ssage appeared on screen before I could even think of handling a response to the first. Sothing about those words made my chest tighten.
It could be said that I am... and that I’m not. But a lot of the reasons that the first statent is true is because of her.
And so of the reasons the last would be true is... also her.
> Or mostly ... but a lot of her! I won’t fall for it. She’s just being nice because... she has to. <
Vrika’s reaction was completely different from my twisting thoughts. A pleased rumble that I could almost feel vibrating in my own chest.
Probably because it is. The back of my hand holding the phone covers my face as I try to control this mix of anxiety and unnatural happiness.
When I started typing again, I stopped and started like before. Part of it is being unskilled with the ’on-screen keyboard’... but this really would be a ridiculous use of paper and ink by now if I was drafting a letter.
So many crossed out words and letters, if so. I’d definitely burn the whole page instead of sending it!
C: [Your scent marking around the motel was very excessive and obvious. Did you think no one would notice and grow curious?]
My thumb hovered over the send button for a mont feeling squeamish before I pressed it firmly. Surprisingly, I feel a lot of relief.
From being honest about sothing that was bothering . Her response was so quick that she could not have even thought it through twice!
K: [I apologize. It wasn’t subtle, was it? Force of habit. When I’m concerned. About soone of mine’s safety.]
The implication that I needed protection irked , even as a small part of appreciates the sentint due to it kind of being true. But the casual possessiveness when we don’t really have anything going?
I cannot just let that
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