ａｕｄｉｏ + ａｃｔｉｏｎ.

[wolfchild]

[ she begins without preamble, speaking clearly and surely. ]

I have things to trade in the cafeteria. There's hams and cheeses, doughnuts, and juices. Socks too, and wet wipes, toys and jewelry. I've got books too for those who want them and markers in lots of colors. There's a lot more too. I'll be here all day or until it's all gone.

[ she took over a section of the cafeteria for her use. her direwolf lies beside her, guarding both her and the cart.

her wheeled cart ( commandeered from the clinic ) is full of items: the top has a tray of finger food from the promised cold hams and cheeses to oysters and shrimp packed in ice with sauces alongside, even cooked mini pizzas. below are assorted vending machine goods in their wrappers, sacks of ground coffee and hot chocolate, and a dozen fresh doughnuts. she has a pitcher of lemonade and a half-gallon of fruit punch.

in the drawers are assorted items such as wipes, hand sanitizers, socks and scarves, toys including a stuffed bear that moves and talks when you press its stomach, a few books and papers and markers.

hidden inside a bag at the girl's feet are a few cartons of cigarettes and small bottles of whiskey and wine for those who can pay a little extra. ]

Comments

[wolfchild]

[ she gives a nonchalant shrug. ]

I cannot read them. They are all in English.

[ensorceler]

[ Oh, that's right... It's so easy to forget the miracles of the speech here. And how little it helps with the written word. ]

Oh, it is not so difficult. I can teach you if you like.

[wolfchild]

[ she shakes her head. ]

I wouldn't want to trouble you.

[ensorceler]

It is no trouble, though I am no proper tutor. I can trade from one of these books you have, and then teach you how to read it.

[wolfchild]

[ that is one of the better deals she has heard all day. she can speak it some; reading english would be as good. ]

All right. Pick whichever you want. [ her selection is composed of new books with clean pages removed from a bookshop in an airport. two are thick novels, one is a collection of short stories and another of assorted fairytales, and a self-help book picked up because the cover drew the eye. ]

[ensorceler]

[ Anne crouches down as much as her bodice and skirts will allow (while being tasteful) to peruse. The fairytales one seems fun, even if it isn't exactly 'enlightening', so she picks it up. ]

Books are so costly, would I have enough to offer?

[wolfchild]

You can take it. [ she smiles. ] A gift, my lady.

[ensorceler]

[ Who would have thought a savage with a giant wolf for a buddy could be cute. Really, the smile itself actually touches Anne, but that could also be the gifts. Books are so valued, especially for women.

She takes it to hold over her breast, right above her heart. ]

Then I will treasure it as my most prized gift here. You do by your lord and king rightly.

[wolfchild]

[ she ducks her head seemingly in quiet embarrassment. inwardly, she wonder if she is. ]

I try to.

[ensorceler]

[ Anne will continue to peruse the cart for other things while responding. ]

Though I will be returning the favor I hope by helping you read English. If it is true that you enjoy missions so, it could be a useful skill.

[wolfchild]

Whenever you would start.

[ensorceler]

When you are not busy being a merchant, then.

[ She picks up a doughnut. Whatever it is, it smells good.]

A cake? Why are there holes? There is nothing to fill them.

[wolfchild]

It's a doughnut. It's not really a cake. I'm not sure why there are holes, but they're good.

[ensorceler]

Would some coin suffice? I can think of someone who might enjoy a treat like this.

[wolfchild]

[ she exhales in amusement. she's gonna have the best collection of coins c: ]

Yes.

[ensorceler]

[ And Anne is way overpaying, too, but what use is their money right now? Considering there's no huge market, she's been saving up a lot. ]

Now, you say doughnut, but I see no nuts. Have you any idea where these come from?

[wolfchild]

I got them from a place that said they were crispy creams or had crispy creams or something.

[ensorceler]

Crispy cream?

[ She wrinkles her nose. ]

That sounds not well at all.

[wolfchild]

That's the name of the shop. [ she shrugs. ] They've weird names.

[ensorceler]

[ Whatever. She'll shrug it off and take that and the book in opposite hands. Don't want to hurt the book! ]

May I wonder, what think you of the exiles, Cat? Those that we were told to leave behind?

[wolfchild]

[ that's an abrupt change. she blinks and nymeria noses her knee. ]

Some of them were my friends.

[ensorceler]

[ Her brow furrows, though the answer is better than some. It's hard enough for Anne to talk about, thinking of them as her distant countrymen, but she was not friends with any. Her charge still doesn't seem to like her.

He voice drops, careful not to let others overhear as she looks at other things. ]

I am sorry. But perhaps you can have another one. He seems closer to your age than others, and I worry for keeping him locked away at all times.

[wolfchild]

You have a boy? [ UM… ]

[ensorceler]

One of the peoples from Exsilium. We have worked to keep this of little note, for his own safety.

[wolfchild]

[ ABORT, ABORT, INDIA-GULF-NINER-NINER IS BUDDY SPIKED ]

That was good of you. I…I don't know what I could do.