***[POV: Photogenic Fox-in-a-Wolf]***
"Would something like having a career of your own and achievements to stand on help?"
The directness of her question catches me off guard, but there’s no sarcasm or taunting in her tone. I pause with my chopsticks halfway to my mouth, with a piece of what Anise called ’amberjack’ balanced between them.
> What is she... getting at? Well, she can wait. She has drink to sip. And this body seems like a black hole for seafood. I really hope she isn’t the belligerent kind... Yet still sort of formal. It’s like always being on guard with an attempt at respect. The old man was watching us? I suppose I was eating for quite a while... seconds and thirds... Were either well known food stalls in the bazaar or larger communal eating areas where older women slaved over pots, to feed those forking over hard earned coins for the day. An unsubtle tax from the kingdom, in a way... as we ’subsidized’ these places and also owned the farmland. <
"Ginzaburo has a head for business and fish - but he’s a charmer and a gentleman, don’t worry."
I wasn’t especially worried before, but now I am. Because I’m not sure if I can pronounce that name as fluently as Anise just did!