>>5160080>>5160105>>5160465>>5160498>>5160684You hadn't spent much time with the girl in the last few days. And the little encounter with the Prince wasn't exactly the best example of a friendly exchange. You had her alone, you knew it was your best chance to hopefully make your relationship less, argumentative. You weren't the best socialite. But you were impressed by your own leaping strides, it was shocking how quickly things change. But that two year gap is hard to fill. The emptiness echoing within you the more you think about it, what you have lost. What you can't remember. It hurts to imagine. You pity yourself, but you won't give up. Not while you had the chance to change and make up for what you've missed. "How about you show me your Phobos? We haven't really been talking as much as I'd hope"
She stopped eating, her fork tapping her tray in agitation. The Duchess's words are far from minced. "Oh? What makes you think I want to talk to you!" Lips tightly clamped together creases interlocking up her nose and brow. You sit there, weathering the girl's mood. You didn't need your shell to reply. Calmly and softly you answer. "Well who else are you going to talk to?" She looks up at that, evidently not happy with your rebuttal. You try to save yourself. "W-What I mean is-" The girl grinds her teeth but returns her attention to the food. "Fine…" she growls, cutting you off. Well it went better than you had hoped, she was smoldering.
But her intensity was something you could handle. Your mind has to deal with worse than she could muster. But you are far from a machine. Empathy helps guide you. "Good, how did the linking go?" The girl kisses her teeth, sighing loudly. So you continue. "Well I struggled in the second layer. But the first and third were pretty easy, I guess it caught me off guard. I thought I would easily…" The girl didn't wish to share information at the table. But it didn't stop you from sharing most of your experience. The pain, the visions, the feelings and the freedom of controlling your Phobos. You kept your shadowy companion and the more personal moments to yourself.
