Why Do You Persist?

A familiar head of lavender-bluish hair caught Brei’s eye the next time she had to wander down to market.

Well, “had” to. It was necessary, but not just for the usual supplies. For a moment she hesitated, the impulse to go over and say hello warring with her reasons for being there in the first place. Then again, I am early. There’s time.

Holding her basket innocently, she breezed across the busy street with a smile. “Bright morning, Winds!”

He glanced at her without turning his head, a neutral expression on his face as he scooped whatever he’d just bought—lobals, from the looks of it—off the vendor’s countertop. “Bright morning, miss.”

“Oh.” Had she never told him her name? She wracked her memory, trying to remember. Probably not, actually, so for politeness’ sake, she touched her fingers to the central scalelet of her crown and flicked them towards him with a smile. “I’m Brei. You’ve run into me a half-dozen times? I don’t think we were ever formally introduced.”

“I ran into you twice,” he stated. “Accidentally.”

...I like him. She hid a laugh, clearing her throat lightly into her hand and offering him a sympathetic look instead. “I hope your systems are working properly now. Can’t imagine Hafest would be very happy with a defective Divination.”

His eyes flashed, and she blinked, the hairs on the back of her neck prickling even as his voice came out perfectly level. “I function as I was designed to. Excuse me, I have errands to run.”

Well. That was... interesting. She frowned slightly as he turned, and moved to walk next to him, casting his frozen expression a subtle glance. Perhaps he was as touchy about his function as Scissors. “I’m sorry, I’m only curious. I work with constructs.”

“I am not a construct.”

Oookay. Technically, you are. “Of course not. I’m not saying you are.”

He stopped, his eyes narrowed to slits that glowed even in the daylight as he turned to face her with the full-force of a Divination’s stare. The kind that didn’t feel the burning itch to blink after a few seconds and could have physically pushed her back with its intensity. “What do you want from me?”

She opened her mouth. And closed it again. Well, the simple answer was easy enough. “Just a conversation.”

For a moment longer he stared at her, and abruptly started marching off again, nearly cutting her off when he slipped past a chatting group of colourful, fluttering fabric she would have appreciated at literally any other time.

What, was he playing hard to get? She scowled fiercely as she fought to catch up, taking advantage of her longer stride, which wasn’t as long as Seih’s, but still impressive when she wanted it to be. “I’m being genuine! Honestly, you are the strangest Divination I’ve ever met—what is wrong with you? You’re meant to accommodate humans, not march off when they try to talk to you—”

“I am meant to accommodate my master. I don’t work according to a set of inputs and rules like your little constructs. If I choose to walk away, I can, and unless you intend to attempt resetting me here and now, I am not liable to be punished for it.” The words came out like thrown rocks, each sentence punching its way out. “And if you try, you will no longer possess a hand to do it with.”

She smiled through her teeth, wringing the handle of her basket. Why did this feel like some romance-themed theatre production scene? “I don’t know why you’re being so hostile—”

“And I don’t know why you seem so intent to study me.”

That brought her up short. “You... have an opinion on being studied?”

He came to a halt as well, turning on her with that stare. “You don’t?”

Well, ouch. Her face did a host of gymnastics against her will. That was fair enough, but....

Puffing out a breath, she admitted she was probably being too pushy again. With a smile, she shrugged one shoulder in defeat. “Touche. I suppose meeting a Divination who actually cared enough to apologise for smearing me against the floor is something I’ve never encountered before.” She gave an amused breath. “If I were injured and had to do errands anyway, I probably wouldn’t have.”

He frowned at her, tilting his head slightly. They’d ended up more to the side, out of the way of traffic, so at least she could stand there without being jostled as he analysed her. “You said it’s a Divination’s obligation to accommodate people.”

“Yes, well—” she gave him a half-smile “—usually you don’t pick and choose when to be accommodating.”

He hummed. “Is that why you want to study me?”

She made a face. “Yes, of course, I’d love to conduct tests and record data— No, I never said I wanted to study you.”

“You implied it.”

“You seem to have absorbed politics.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m interested in getting to know you. An informal version of study, maybe, but it’s not quite the same.”

Interestingly, that quieted him for a long time, his expression turning downright thoughtful as he searched her face, and probably her aura. Divinations were capable of seeing the electro-magnetic pulses and SA of any creature that produced it, which was useful for reading emotions. As long as he didn’t come to the conclusion that he never wanted to interact with her again, she’d be fine—

“I don’t possess any sexual characteristics, nor am I designed to provide certain services,” he informed her with the voice of a soul-destroying, serene angel who could not possibly comprehend the social implications of the words he’d just said.

She did her best not to shrivel up and die right there in the street, wondering how in the damned wastes of Darkness’ Void he had come up with that. “Exactly how many terrible romantic stories have you been forced to consume.”

“There are many recorded both physically and in Soulspace.” He blinked slowly, like a felid, and she had the distinct impression that if Divination faces were capable of it he would be smiling like one, too. Because he was absolutely milking this.

A romantic relationship with a Divination. She was not one of those people.

“I’m afraid you look about twelve, you act like a pompous Domini, and my heart is already given to a man who is a man.” She held her hand over her heart, feigning regret. “I’m sorry, but I must break your soulcore. It could never work between us.”

“Your suitor is a Domini.”

“Yes, but he’s more of soggy pelt than pompous.” A flicker caught the corner of her eye, briefly. Ah, she’d actually managed to forget about that. A part of her would have liked to probe him for a bit more, but things might turn sour again if she did. Really, it was the perfect excuse to gently close this interaction on a high note. “Anyway, I have some important dealings to get to, but I hope to see you again one day. Do you come to the market often?”

He tilted his head again, searching her face. “Yes. Hafest sends me for errands.”

“Well.” She smiled, waving goodbye to him as she moved off. “Maybe I can give you some company, next time.”

He didn’t reply, only watching her as she made her way down the street to the other boy who’d waved at her. Maybe he’d take her up on her offer, and maybe he wouldn’t, but at least their conversation had ended on a relatively amiable note. There was hope.

“Why were you talking to a Divination?” Dais asked her as soon as she was in earshot, peering around her and the stack of boxes they were half-hidden behind like the Divination himself was planning to spy on them from a street away.

“He’s interesting.” She waved him off when he gave her a look of utter disbelief. “Anyway, I managed to find a few scalelets of the kind you’re after. Your brother should be able to manage these.”

“Great!” He scooped the unassuming little sack out of her basket and tucked it away into a pouch under his tunic. “Shan isn’t the best at it, but I think he can do the basics enough for you to finish it.”

“Yes, well, he’ll have to get better.” She narrowed her eyes, glancing back briefly at the oblivious pedestrians passing by. “Because if we plan to make a real difference, we’ll need to expand.”