Conversation · Annette

Out of the rain and into the gutter.

"The lights are so pretty when it gets dark." She scans the surrounding buildings, a happy look on her face.

"Every snowflake is like a little gift from the sky." She shivers as one falls on her nose.

"Hello again, sir!" The girl is sipping on her hot juice. She looks at you with shy amusement.

"Hello again, sir! Are you interested in a new and exciting book this time?" She sways slowly on her feet.

"Is it okay if I ask you some questions?"

"Okay, sir. I'll try to answer any questions you have. I hope they're about books."

"What kind of a store is this anyway?"

"It's a bookstore, sir! We sell books, postcards, and some board games." She points at the window. "It's called Crime, Romance, and Biographies of Famous People."

Whoah! WHOAH-WHOAH-WHOAH! Hold your horses little girl!

Don't be ridiculous, I know all these things.

You're fooling nobody.

I said I know all of these things and I do, god dammit.

"Sir? Are you okay?" Her voice suddenly reaches your mind. "You've been standing here silently for a while now..."

Don't you sass me.

"Interesting. Thanks."

"My pleasure! Anything else you'd like to know?"

"What is a book?"

"That is a book." She points at the stands. "They have stories inside them -- it's like someone told you a story in a really long letter."

She is unfazed by your questions. She would consider it impolite to point out any perceived weirdness.

"What's a postcard?"

"A postcard," she observes you for a moment, "is a small cardboard picture. You can write a few words on the other side and send it to your friend or your beloved."

"What's a board... game?"

"Board games are like little games on a table, made to pass the time... There are several different ones." She pauses to ponder. "But sailors here mostly buy cards."

Pfft... books? Postcards? Easy! Even a kid would know all of this.

Nah, it feels inappropriate to lecture this girl.

Don't be a fool -- as an expert, it's your duty to tell what you know to everyone.

Don't tell me what to do.

"Sir? Are you okay?" Her voice suddenly reaches your mind. "You've been standing here silently for a while now..."

Hey now, I already made up my mind.

"Little girl, I know what a book is. Books are like very long letters, with stories inside them."

"Yes!" She nods, smiling. "That's exactly it."

"I also know what a postcard is... it's a small cardboard picture that you can send to a friend or a loved one."

"Mhm mhm. You've got it, sir. What about board games?"

"I like playing games... with peoples' minds."

"Okay, sir. This was all very... enlightening. Can I help you with anything else?"

"Who cares about board games? No one."

"The police don't have time for games."

"Alright, I think that was enough. I have proven myself."

"If you say so, sir. Can I help you with anything else?"

"Not really." [Leave.]

"Hello, sir! Step right in, the store is open!" A young girl with chubby red cheeks waves at you, smiling. Her nose is also red from the cold.

"Hi."

"Are you interested in a new and exciting book?" She stomps her feet to feel warmer.

"Hello."

"I am the law."

"I know, sir." She stomps her feet to feel warmer.

"Everyone understands you're the law. That's why you have that insignia on your arm. So you don't have to keep saying it."

"Yes, people get that you are the law. You really don't have to keep saying it."

"Hello, sir. How is the investigation going? Found any cuuurses yet?"

"It's going fine, I think."

"That's very good to hear." She flicks you a thumbs up. "You'll get to the bottom of this in no time! Just like a detective in the stories."

"Yeah, I found a way into the Doomed Commercial Area."

"Oh, that's great!" Her smile is warm. "I hope exciting adventures lie ahead! And maybe you can help mother become... less afraid."

"It's going bad, really bad."

"Oh, that's very sad to hear." She frowns. "But it'll pick up soon, don't worry. There's always a... bad spot in the stories, right before the detective figures things out."

"I can't get into the Doomed Commercial Area. Your mother won't let me through the back door."

"Mhm. Mum can get really agitated about that." She sways on her feet. "I guess you can try making her less afraid somehow... then she might trust you."