Shady

Rana nodded. “Hopefully. Must be quite likeable to have convinced the Loquiturs to take her in, anyhow.”

“Interesting.” Rana straightened as well. “Must have given her quite the cultural shock, to go from slavery to luxury.”

Rana blinked, slowly processing it. “Why? Who is she, to be worth sending assassins after?”

Rana looked at him, aghast. “I beg your pardon?”

(Sounds good! Sleep well!) Rana nodded in agreement. “Have you met the new girl?”

(That’s amazing and I wanna see lol) (My gf sketched our cats today and I’m in love with the result) Rana nodded thoughtfully. “I hope the reunion is as peaceful ...

“Are you able to see her now?” Rana asked, hoping for a cheerier topic.

(Oh, I thought they were 14 and 20. I think I was thinking college graduates would be 20 but he only did two years. You right) Rana nodded somberly, not ...

“That’s sweet.” Rana smiled a little, though she doubted his math. Didn’t they have a six year gap? Oh well. “She sounds like a kind person.”

“Did you?” She looked at him curiously.

“That’s good to know,” Rana said, glancing at him. “Don’t the Loquiturs have two daughters my age, though? Isn’t that kind of what started this mess?”

Rana shrugged again, looking at the far wall for an excuse to not look at him. “I’ve never been free to do as I please. Why should I expect it ...

“Undoubtedly.” Rana shrugged, leaning up against the wall. “It is what it is. I think I’m coming to terms with the idea, depending on who says yes to his offer.”

Rana hesitated, blushing and avoiding eye contact, then gave a hesitant shake of her head. “He… rarely does, to be honest.”

“Presumably,” Rana confirmed with a nod. “… then again, it seems my father had plans I wasn’t aware of. So it’s hard to say what his actual intent is… sorry ...