A/N
:
Some disgusting smell description near the end. Queasy folks prepare, if you can...
When I left Crystalline’s clothing shop, the consultant waved through the glass door as it was locked behind me. My tied up hair whips the air as I nod forward and turn on my heel.
Payment had gone through
without a hitch
, again. Even knowing there is a lot of technology involved, it’s amazing how money can trade hands without a
living intermediary
.
The idea of banking did exist in my world. But penning promissory notes is still quite different from a piece of plastic working
seamlessly
with computers to authorize the transfer of funds without any
immediate
human overwatch.
"Trust in society is high, when things like this are possible. Civilization indeed."
Autumn
was deepening its grip on the world; on Vossden. My warm breath formed
small clouds
of vapor that dissipated almost instantly in the night.
Darkness had greeted me with an immediate
chill
that hadn’t been present when I entered the spa. Hours ago after lunch, when the
sun still shone
on the streets.
Now it is filled with so much
artificial
lighting. The streetlights with their ’fluorescence’ cast harsh
white-blue light
onto the concrete and asphalt.
Pools of dimmer yellow-white illumination broke this up at regular intervals down this particular avenue. From lights mounted within the tops of
waist high posts
I must imagine serves as barricades against
errant
vehicle traffic harming the pedestrians.
The streets were somehow
more lonely
but no quieter now. The bustle of the day was replaced by nearly as many groups hurrying toward
evening entertainment
, food, or other destinations.
Essentially no different than my kingdom, other than a variance of
scale
because of the concentration of people in the higher buildings. Well, and trading
palanquins
for cars.
Traffic lights are
very bright
at night.
Greens and
reds
pull my gaze from afar. So much information that I need to grow accustomed to
ignoring
.
I needed to find shelter. Sooner than later.
But the city that
sprawled
around me was a bewildering maze of possibilities even in the light of day. None of the more
shadowy streets
feel particularly welcoming to walk down with all of the brightness of the sidewalk.
"Where do I go..."
My fingers found
Kyrie’s card
in my pocket. It could pay for lodging at a... ’hotel’.
However, while I admit to myself that I
lack control
over spending - that is mostly when the thing to buy is
right in front of me
. I am not currently in a nice, safe, clean room.
> Therefore, I can resist! That rabbit was lucky. Are you still upset that I ignored that feeling of yours? I’ve never used one, why would I need to start now? I don’t get it. Is there something wrong with that Vrika? Great. I did... accidentally kick the lid pretty hard while hopping over to retrieve the cardboard. <
"Did that dislodge something inside?"
The foul-smelling bouquet making itself known for the evening seemed to be
rotting takeout
from the warehouse workers. Including something vaguely spoiled fishy,
citrus spicy
, and - and is that...
Was that...
human seed
? Why does this container of
garbage
smell so *strongly* of it?
I’m starting to see why this area is
avoided
. I check the map again and behold... it has
dropped
to a ’six’ already.
My hand drifted to the bank card secured in my jacket pocket. Kyrie Voss had said to use it on
whatever I need
.
How easy it would be, to just... find a
cheap motel
? Even that would smell
less like sex
than this.
I’d get a shower in the morning. A bed that didn’t smell like
industrial decay
and
forgotten morals
.
A concerned whine from Vrika makes my
lip quiver
.
"Absolutely not."
I whispered to
myself
more than my wolf. To stay strong after already falling into
so many traps
.
The ’stringless gift’ from that woman felt warm against my palm as I
clutched
it hard.
Even though it’s
nothing
more than
cold plastic
. Tempting. So tempting.
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine I was back in my palace gardens. That I’d never been put into this
horrible set of impositions
in the first place.
That I’d
never
met...