Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"Well, for one, I don't think 'commoners' refer to themselves as such, nor do they use words like 'beguiling.'" Her cheeks are pink as she gazes up at me. "But I appreciate the compliment."
Out of all the humans I have seen? Maeve is by far the most appealing. Granted, I have seen few of them in person, but in the past, they have always left me with a vague sense of distaste. I don't mind Maeve, though. I actually might even like her. She is kind but clever and determined, and she takes most everything in stride. We have butted heads many times over the last several days, but we have come out of it as friends, and I am learning to appreciate her sheer stubbornness.
She is also very friendly. Our hands are linked because she says that it makes me look less intimidating to cling to her, so I do. She says it is something that human couples do, this holding of hands, and so I make sure to clutch hers as she pauses to talk to almost everyone that passes by. There is a female that is a custodian's wife that pauses to chat. There is another who had trouble with her bots last week that Maeve offered advice over. Maeve greets yet another female, cooing over her pregnant belly. They are all very friendly and kind to Maeve, but they do not stay for long, and I can tell it disappoints her each time they make excuses and veer away.
"Is it me?" I ask after a moment. "I am doing my best to seem unimpressive."
"It's not you," she says, and there is sad wistfulness in her voice. "It's just...us. What we went through. It's hard to open up to anyone, to trust when they ask questions or want to linger and talk. You don't want to be noticed. I'm still working on them, though." She gives me a firm nod. "Anyhow, let's go say hi to Simone since it's her nosy ass that got us into this situation."
Simone is down the street, perched behind a cart with a festive—if crude—awning over it. The cart is full of baked goods of all kinds, and as we approach, the scents waft through the air. There's a lot of sweet things, but there's also the scent of cooked meat, and my mouth waters.
The human Simone eyes us skeptically as we approach. "I was starting to wonder if I needed to check in on you again," she says. "So this really is a thing? You and the praxiian?"
"Me and the praxiian," Maeve agrees cheerfully, leaning over the cart and sniffing with appreciation at the rows of rolls and stuffed buns. "You have my favorites today?"
"Don't I always?" Simone pulls a box out from the underside of her cart. "I put them aside for you just in case." Her gaze slides to me, her expression suspicious. "Consider it a wedding present."
"Aww," Maeve says, taking the box from her and handing it over to me. "You are the sweetest, Simone. I appreciate it."
"I just thought you were getting a pet from Kazex." Her tone lowers and she eyes Maeve. "I'm pretty sure that's what you told me."
"I changed my mind and asked for a bridegroom instead. Didn't he tell you?" Maeve passes the lie off seamlessly and points at a tray on the edge of the cart. "Are those new? What's inside them?"
"Don't change the subject on me," Simone tells her tightly. "And I plan on talking to Kazex when he comes back."
She is not the only one. I manage to keep my ironic huff under my breath as Maeve squeezes my hand tightly.
"But yeah, those are new. There's this chick on Kazex's ship that keeps coming by and criticizing everything I bake. Says I wasn't giving my bread enough of a rise or some bullshit like that." Her expression is indignant. "So I made these new puffs according to her instructions and she's not even here to try them."
She sounds like a jilted lover. "I am sure Maeve will try them," I offer. "As well as the other humans."
"Yes, but it's not the same," Simone says tightly.
Definitely a jilted lover.
"Any idea when their ship will be back?" Maeve asks.
"No clue. Why?" Simone wraps one of the new puffs in paper and hands one to Maeve. After a grudging moment, she wraps a second one in paper and offers it to me, and I get the impression she only does so because she must.
"Just wanted to tell him thank you," Maeve chirps, releasing my hand to take the sweet from her friend. She stomps on my foot when I don't reach for it right away. "This looks like it has a filling?"
"A bit of sugar and some spices, yeah. Kinda like a cinnamon roll from home when you split it open."