Shady

“Wow,” Pratik looked at it admiringly. “This is incredible.”

“… yes’m,” she said miserably, reluctantly reaching for the mug.

Ky let out a sigh and stared at the mug. She didn’t want that at all. “…I’m not… sure… I… have a… stomach.”

Pratik reached for one and flipped it open.

Tadaaki felt himself fading in and out of consciousness, though he never lost it full. Ky wished she would. This was awful. Worse than when Aleth came after her. This… ...

Pratik buried his hands in his pockets and glanced around. This place really was so fantastic. He still wasn’t tired of it.

“Forever,” she whispered, eyes closed tightly.

Pratik shrugged. “Think it over. It’s up to you.”

“I mean…” Pratik shrugged. “It’s up to you. But I think it’s worth at least feeling her out. You can’t decide for her whether she does or doesn’t wish to ...

Fear spiked through Ky, stabbing from her chest all the way through her gut. Which did not in fact make this feel any better. Ky’s abdominal muscles clenched as the ...

Pratik waved his hand. “She’s a child. And one that’s away from home — she’d probably appreciate company.”

Ky sensed her presence and shrank even further under these blankets of death. They were an oven, but perhaps they would block whatever other nastiness was coming. It’d probably hurt ...

“Take it slow,” he encouraged. “You don’t need a heart to heart right away. Just practice with small talk. Harmless chit chat.”

Aleth huffed again and closed his eyes, swallowing hard. She was probably right. Fuck Tarr. He was paying a whole hell of a lot more now — his toes hadn’t ...

His eyes snapped open. “No.”