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]

I don't take you for a man.

[debtor]

What!

[HE

HE'S A MAN]

[wolfchild]

You're a boy.

[ nnnnnnnnno. ]

[debtor]

[...He can't really argue it. He can call himself a man too, though!!]

I'm a fair bit older than you.

[Somehow it's relevant.]

[wolfchild]

But I'm a woman bled and you are still a boy.

[debtor]

[ SPUTTERING ] What sense does that make! If you say you're a woman [ and she clearly IS NOT ], then why'm I still a boy?

[wolfchild]

[ pointedly: ] Have you flowered?

[debtor]

[...Somehow, he feels it might be necessary to double-check her meaning,] Flowered?

[wolfchild]

[ she raises an eyebrow pointedly. ]

[debtor]

[ hhhestitantly ]

In what... sense...?

[wolfchild]

Let it be. You will only turn purple and get stupid.

[debtor]

[GOD stupid medieval terminology!!

Straightening up! And making a point to look unflustered, you cannot faze him, kid.]

Whatever you're referring to, it doesn't matter where I'm from. [ surely. ]

[wolfchild]

[ you asked for it. ]

A woman's bleeding doesn't matter? To mothers or wives? Or whores and the men they must lie with? How do they manage it? Does it only happen once a year instead? Do you know?

[debtor]

[HE REGRETS EVERYTHING

WAVING HIS HAND WILDLY AT HER while somehow attempting to remain composed were you asking him if he's bled ]

Those are private matters, and I'm not a woman!

[wolfchild]

Of course, you're not. No girl would be such a child.

[debtor]

[ deep breath. ]

That's simply not something we discuss in polite conversation.

[wolfchild]

You asked. I answered.

[debtor]

[Hand on his head,] I know, I know...

[And now he's figured out what "flowered" meant.

Taking a cup of whatever he wants to drink.]

It's to do with age, where I'm from. It's different.

[wolfchild]

It's to do with age for men too. You're still more a boy.

[debtor]

I guess so. For now. [ smiling, though. ] I'm nearly seventeen, you know.

[That's super almost-adult old.]

[wolfchild]

[ meaning robb is younger than he is. yet robb is a man whereas allen is only a boy. ]

When is your nameday?

[debtor]

[Being a king is totally cheating.

Nameday... birthday, that one's easier. And more appropriate, really, in this case.]

Next month. On Christmas.

[wolfchild]

When is Christmas? [ apart from...next month.... ]

[debtor]

[He thinks she'd figure that out easily enough next month, but:]

...The 25th. [And something occurs to him now: he's known her for aaalmost a year, so unless it's at the end of November, she's had hers already.]

When is yours?

[wolfchild]

I don't know.