Snark and sarcasm aside, perhaps it was a good idea to foster some form of bond with this woman - if only because there was always the possibility that she was going to make some form of official report on this little outing you had gone on with her.
Though you weren't exactly certain how she would react to finding out just what your interests were - there were people who were regarded as nerds, bookworms, people that loved to study and learn and you... Well, you were of that variety, certainly, but you found a certain type of information and learning to be more to your persuasion.
She wouldn't laugh, would she?
No, she wouldn't dare, she was your captive audience, here to appease you.
Here, to ensure that you were content so that they had no issues with studying you, quantifying you, classifying you and shipping you off to be another cog in their magical workplace machine.
Sans magic.
Your studies so far had told you that there was no such thing outside of books.
"Well, I... It's silly," you teased, opting to go with the route where you could later say that she had asked for it when she undoubtedly took the bait.
Or was it you who had taken her bait?
Perhaps it was both of you whom had baited the other.
"No, go ahead, I promise I won't laugh," Millicent responded, as predicted.
"Promise? It's... Well..."
"Hey, it can't be any worse than my dreams of being a princess when I was younger," she laughed, in what you took to be an attempt to reassure you.
"I think most girls dream of that, so that's hardly a big admission."
"I went around in a big ruffle covered satin pink dress wearing a tiara in public until I was five."
"Well, that's a little more-"
"I still have the little plastic tiara in my glove compartment-" she paused, nudging it open as she took one hand from the wheel to reveal that worn tiara, one that had seen all the abuse of a growing girls childhood. It had once been sparkly, painted silver and covered in glittery pieces of mirrored glass.
Once. Now it was worn until the plastic beneath was revealed, now, there were spots that showed where some of the faux gemstones had been set in with glue.
"Okay," you breathed as she flipped the glove compartment closed, resolving that yes, you would tell her a little about your interests, about what you loved so much to do in your spare time. "I like to read a lot in my spare time - not just any kind of thing though. I like to study mythology, history, ancient cultures and practices-"
"Ooh, like ancient egypt and-" Millicent started, only to hold up her hands to appease you as you immediately gave her the dirtiest look you could muster.
"That is just a single over-exposed facet of this and no, I don't believe I'm a reincarnation of Cleopatra before you ask!"
"People actually accuse you of that?"
"...Sometimes," you responded, your cheeks flushing with embaressment.
"So, who would you like to be a reincarnation of, if you could choose?" she teased, as she turned to steal a glance at you.
"Someone more interesting, like... Boudica or Joan of-"
"Ah, so you'd like to be a warrior queen or something of the like, I can't blame you though, though you... You don't really have the figure to be such."
"Again with my figure," you huffed, folding your arms over your chest as you did so. "I don't put weight on easily, I have a fast metabolism."
"Oh, I hate you so much, I eat a bar of chocolate and it goes straight to my-"
"Too much information!"
"Hey, I wasn't going anywhere with that," she laughed, "I have to keep it clean on the job."
You understood now why they set you up with this woman, she seemed to be very, very good at whatever it was she was supposed to be doing. That, or very, very lucky as she had so far made you feel as if... As if you were bickering with someone you'd known all your life. You felt at ease, inclined to talk about things without fear of judgement, as if the worst she could do was tease you on a point to get you to-
Oh, she was doing that to get you to defend your points more passionately.
Sneaky.
"I also like all the myths and legends each culture has, how they diverge from the likely histories that we know of them, and-"
"There's usually some form of basis for a fantastic story, that came from a real world event."
"Exactly, like if you look at the stories of King Arthur, you get something that could be based events during the roman occupation of england. If you look at, on the other side of the spectrum say, the magic and rituals used by ancient people, you get how their superstition shaped what they believed in as they hadn't yet learned how the world works in the way we understand it."
"Some people still believe in magic, though."
"Some people, yes, typically isolated tribes in the less developed parts of the world, where they have their own myths and legends shaped by their cultures. It is interesting though how many of these cultures share themes in their myths though, like coyote trickster spirits or..."
"It suggests we're all connected on some primal wavelength, huh?"
"Maybe," you paused to look out of the passenger side window for a long moment, watching the darkening skies give way to neon signs and brightly illuminated streets. "It's odd how we're not sure what to believe though when it comes to the past few hundred years. There's stories of powerful beings doing battle, but there's no evidence they ever existed, and there's the recent trend of people showing talents that are-"
"It's not a recent trend."
"It isn't?"
"No, it's just more publicised as the stigma over it has been overcome in part by our efforts to raise awareness instead of allowing those whom actively manifest such talents to spend their lives hiding them out of shame."
"You said... Actively. Does that mean that a lot of people never realise they have-"
"Fewer than that, but yes, outside of a handful of people born with talents that manifest actively, you get a scattered net of people that never realise they're special."
"How long do you think this has been the case?"
"How far back do myths go?" Millicent smiled as she twisted the wheel of the car, turning it into the parking lot of one of the brightly illuminated supermarkets.
You weren't certain what to make of this.
You had been expecting her to simply patronise you, to give you some verbal equivlent of a 'that's nice dear' response and simply nod and smile as she listened to you talk about your interests. Instead, she had made you feel as if it wasn't so odd that you found all of this to have been facinating, that perhaps there was a precedent for these stories, that perhaps...
Perhaps there was a reason you were so drawn to them.
"Ah, shit," came the womans voice from beside you as she peered across the parking lot towards the supermarket, "This isn't good."
"What's wrong?" you asked, surprised by how the womans expression had turned, even partially obscured by shadows as it was, into a clear mask of disgust.
"Look. What do you see?" she asked as she pointed towards the doors of the supermarket.
"I don't... See anything?" You responded quizically as you glanced between her and the building.
"Exactly. It's all lit up and open and... There's no movement," she muttered, pausing as you caught the faintest shift in her features - as if she was scenting the air. "I'm pretty certain the roof'll be swarming with vultures. That's normal though, they're only a threat if provoked and they're more inclined to scavenge than hunt..."
"You're not going to go look, are you?" you paused, drawing your arms about yourself as the rising tide of anxiety within you threatened to take grip. "That's..."
"Shit, shit, shit," she hissed as she removed her seatbelt, opened the door and half stepped from the car. With one foot still inside, she paused, leaning against the top of the doorframe as she stared at the brightly lit shop front for a long moment. "Alyssa?" came her voice once more, as she stepped fully from the car.
"Yes, Millicent?" you responded, as you dug your nails into your palm.
"Protocol dictates that I can't leave you in the car alone, as I have to be present to ensure your well being. It'd look bad if I simply called in the police and this turned out to be nothing more than a quiet night, so I need to take a closer look..." she paused as she leaned down to look back into the car, her face obscured by the shadows cast by the street lights. "I don't want to endanger you if this is something serious, however. Are you okay with coming with me to get confirmation, or shall I call in that there's a potential disturbance?"
You swallowed, nervously as the question was put to you, though you knew she was waiting on you to answer.
Did you suggest she played it safe, so you could avoid any potential danger?
Did you go with her, figuring that it couldn't be too serious if she was willing to take you with her?
Did you fall silent, unable to handle being put on the spot like this?
Did you have other ideas?---
Ah, I didn't expect to see this back! Gonna be as fantastic as the first, no doubt.
I'll give making it so my best shot!
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Topic: I told them I could be anything... (Read 25880 times)