I lose track of time as Vita works the color into my hair and fur. She keeps up a lively conversation the entire time, even when my responses are rather sparse. It is all trivial light things, as well as tips on how to do the job well, which I appreciate. Even if the matter of me having the job is not quite decided yet.
"Alright! And with that we are done! Run along now and go see that friend of yours. And be sure to bring them for dinner, if you are not at dinner you are fired!"
"I shall! Wait, return to the previous point of discourse, I have the job?"
"Yup, you meet our very strict standards, look at that breathing. Remarkable, a living applicant."
"Yes I am quite accomplished in breathing!"
I hear laughing behind me as I make my way to the library. I do not have much of an issue being without my cloak in this area, but as soon as I get to leaving the beast-kin district I pull my cloak back up and around me. I trust the people in this zone but outside of it may pose risks of people asking questions. I was not ready for inquisitive beings at this point in time.
I bob and weave my way through the people having had my moment of understanding how the people move together. I decide that moving between and around others I can consider as extra adventurer training. Move to the left, dodge to the right. I make my way to the library much quicker this time.
I go in through the library and am preparing to take the stairs down to Kay's room when I hear some voices.
"I'm sorry Rex but I've already told you, I can't get you a book from that section." I hear Kay saying to someone.
"Can’t or won't you filthy blood." says a menacing voice in return.
I feel energy passing between my hands. I do not like the way this cretin is speaking to Kay. It is wholly unacceptable and I will NOT tolerate it.
I make my way through the stacks, venom and fire coursing through my veins. Should I make him believe I was planning on stabbing him? Violence is almost always not the answer, aside from when it is quite well and truly deserved.
"You scum sucking bottom feeder of a witless panty fiend!" I say, mixing together some of the best insults that I have heard.
“Panty friend?” the boy formerly named Rex responded, clearly confused.
Although it may not have been the time for it I hear Kay start laughing as well as the two standing on either side of Rex. Rex elbows them both in the ribs, and none too gently either.
"You, what? And who are you? Not that I care you filthy beast-kin, just shut up and get out of the way."
"A friend of Kay's. Something you seem to lack, as those two standing with you are sycophants who will cater to your whims. Also, someone more intelligent than yourself if you cannot even understand my insults. I have just met you and it is clear. Now step. Off."
"Jestin and Fowlie I need you to remove its cloak and bring it to me. It seems I need to put this rabid creature in its place."
"Away with thee. I have dinner plans with Kay, and you are interrupting."
One of the tall boys lunges at me and I swiftly turn my body away from him and he ends up crashing into the bookshelf. it seems that he has limited control over his mass. How utterly pitiful.
It seems as though all of the commotion catches the attention of the keeper of the library as an adult comes over to us.
"Are you causing problems again Rex? Leave Kay alone or I will ban you from the library for a month. Magically. I am not above sending non-lethal electrical currently through you or lethal, go on, test me."
"My father would not allow that to happen."
"Your father does not own this library. He may own some of the surrounding lands. This is a dungeon town. I can claim that this was to help you develop electrical resistance and there is nothing that he can do to argue against it. Don't you start adventurer training two days from now?"
He lets out a harrumph and grabs his sycophants to follow after him.
"Amaya, I had no idea you could talk so much. And those were some of the most creative insults I have ever heard. They don’t really make sense, but they are clever. You are so funny! I love it!" Kay says, the words seeming to tumble from his mouth.
"Well, where I grew up it was imperative to know how to have a clever tongue."
"Thank you, Amaya.” He runs up and hugs me, “and I was starting to think that you didn't actually like me and that you weren't going to show up. I was sad but I would understand. It seems that people don't really want to be friends with me."
"I can't see why." I say patting him on the head.
"I'm an orphan half-elf. He seems to see it as his moral obligation as a wealthy upper class pure blood elf. I seem to offend him by being alive." Kay says and shrugs him shoulders as though this is something that should just be accepted. I was not going to accept it.
"His loss. Does he plan to become an adventurer as well?"
"Of course he does. He plans to become a renowned archer and bring more pride to his family. Thinks he is so high and mighty because he has parents."
"Incomprehensible and two parents at that, the audacity!"
"I know right, but that's just how things are here."
“Unacceptable."
"I'm sorry?"
"We shall become stronger than them by far, and they will have to admit that they were wrong about you. How long has this been going on for?"
"Since my parents died, so just… 16 years."
"That long?" I nearly shout. This shall not do!
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Yup. So..." he says, trying to change the subject. "Did you find a place to live? Did you want to get some food, oh and what kind of food?"
"I did! I took a page out of your book and found a place that I can live and also work at. And they even serve food, would you like to come to dinner with me?"
"Yes! I would love to come to dinner with you. I don't remember the last time I went to dinner with someone." he says, excitedly hopping from one foot to the other.
He is so much fun to watch. His genuine excitement helps ease the tension of what just happened.
"I am glad to see that Kay made a friend" said the adult that I forgot was standing there.
I nod to them. I don’t think that words need to be spoken. It should be obvious. I don't know him that well, but I can feel the kindness that radiates off him. I don't understand how he could not already have friends.
"Thank you for stepping in Alice." Kay says to the woman that chased the boys off.
"You know I always have your back Kay. You feel almost like a son to me. Now off you go."
I could not help but feel the weight of that word. Almost like a son to her. Almost. Why must that word have been said, why must Kay accept this as though it is the most natural thing.
"Follow me." I say and lead the way out of the library. I am grateful for my memory and sense of direction. I can only imagine how useful that is going to be in the dungeon. I am surprised that Zayne had not commented during my exchange.
“Shouldn’t I get dressed or something, what is the dress code? Wait this is all I have to wear so it doesn’t matter!”
I just had to think about him didn't I.
'Zayne while that sounds like a wonderful drama now is not the time to be filling my mind.'
‘No. Let me have this dinner. We may have a better time to talk later.’
He doesn’t reply after that so maybe he will stay quiet for a bit. Also, it feels as though he is sulking. I do understand. For years on end saying the same things until finally someone hears you saying something else.
I lead Kay through the streets and into the beast-kin zone. I feel a sense of comfort wash over me. I was not expecting it which makes it all that much nicer.
"Here we are." I say when we get to the Paws and Claws Inn and Tavern.
"I think that I have heard of this place. People seem to like it because of the diverse and attractive women that work here. Also, apparently, they are rather colorful. Oh I am so excited!" Kay says and nearly leaps at the door to open it. I get there first somehow and open the door for him, so he leaps through the doorway instead.
People turn to look at us when we come through the door.
"Welcome welcome!" says Vita running over to us. "Glad that you could make it. Is this your friend? She's a bunny kin? Oh my gosh! Does she want to work here? To have a bunny kin as well. Oh, think of the possibilities! Think of all the customers that could be brought in. Do you need a job, no because now you have one!"
Kay seems nearly overwhelmed but was somehow able to match her energy.
"I'm sorry but I already work at the library. I have been working there for a while so I would feel bad if I stopped working there. It is a fun job and I know it well. Also, I get to read all of the new books that come in early before they even get shelved."
"Wow not just a bunny but a smart bunny! Are you sure? Are you positively sure? I bet that we could pay you much better. Also, you would get to work with our other new person, Amaya. Hmm I guess it would be rather sad to dye those ears. Oh, they look so soft. I want to touch them. Can I touch them?"
"Umm Vita? We were going to go up to my room for a moment before we come back down for dinner." I feel I need to intercede and stop this meeting before it goes too far.
"Fine. You do need to put away your cloak. I feel a little hurt that you are hiding my new dye job. Do not like the colors?"
"I love the colors. I just left the zone and I heard about how badly we are treated."
“Colors?” Kay perked up in interest.
"Oh, that is a good idea. Maybe I should try it. Oh, but it seems too restricting and I like to be able to move around as much as I want to." She swishes her skirt back and forth.
"I don't find it restricting."
"You don't?"
“Colors?” Kay asks again but goes unheard.
"No." I say honestly. I think that it is quiet cozy to be frankly honest. It’s warm and I felt very secure wrapped up in it.
"Where did you get it?"
"My family made it for me."
"Hmm, I doubt they would make me one if I asked."
I laugh awkwardly and she lets the topic drop. I grab Kay's hand and drag him up the stairs and into my room.
"Sorry to drag you out of there like that. I didn't even ask your permission. Would you have preferred to stay downstairs?" I ask him, concerned.
"No no no this is good. I am happy to be in here. Hmm the bed looks soft and springy. Oh, what's in here? Wow look at how nice this tub is! I just have to go to the local bath house. How nice to be able to bathe in your room! Now, colors! Show me, immediately, post haste… please."
It was a new experience for me having bathed in here. The room feels small and restricting. I am used to much larger bathing areas. I used to swim in the outdoor bathing area, something that I was told not to do rather often. I couldn't understand why, I had found it warm and fun.
"Indeed. It is rather convenient." I say and take my cloak off and lay it down on the bed. I run my hands over it before stepping away. In that cloak was my mother's love. I am truly more blessed than I know. I catch Kay staring at my newly colored fur and hair.
I ignore the commenter in my head and turn around to face Kay. As I do I catch my reflection in the glass. The snow fox that had been there was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there are deep reds and purples such as crimson, cranberry, mulberry, ruby, plumb, and violet. Hmm a lot of them reminded me of food. How odd. I must be hungry?
I spin around for Kay, but also for myself, looking at the colors from different angles. I don’t look like myself at all, but I also feel that the colors are rich and rather striking. I guess I’m not sure what I had been expecting after seeing Vita. Maybe that they would be vibrant pastel colors? I feel relief that they are not. This suits the mysterious vibe that she was going for I suppose? Oh, at this angle I can see sapphire.
"Wow so this is what you look like! I don't know why but for some reason I thought that I wasn't going to be allowed to see you. I thought that you were a mysterious desert rose and that one such as I would have to avert my eyes. And that if I somehow caught a glimpse of you, people would hunt me down to the endsof the earth to cause me to swear an oath to never discuss what I had seen, and if I ever do they would cut out my tongue!
"You are really pretty though so I am glad that I get to see you. Oh, can I touch your ears and tail, they look so fluffy. Whoops! I suppose that isn't allowed as that is seen as rather intimate isn't it. Haha..." he says as he laughs nervously.
"It is rather intimate yes. But I suppose you can touch my tail for a short moment." I say, and he nearly pounces at me.
"So fluffy soft! I am never letting go, I live here now."
"Okay that is enough. Shall we go partake in a meal together? I feel my hunger growing and I need to slake my thirst." I say as I touch my throat. I had not even realized that I was hungry.
"Yes we should! Oh and what a pretty dress. I like pretty things. It looks so silky! Do you think there is one in my size? Now then you are right let’s go!" Kay shouts and makes a fist and thrusts it into the air before bouncing out of the room. Mahaps one day I shall have him teach me how to bounce so joyously.