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[ well if she couldn't before she can see the relief on it now. ]

Right! I mean, we don't have everything we need for it yet anyway, and what if we get more ideas before then? Like-- board games! And stuff.

[ y... yeah... okay she's walking. whew. okay. great. perfect. this is going well. ]

I play a mean hand of Old Maid, actually, so maybe a deck too...

We can pick things up bit by bit so we're all set! And we can keep an eye out for good snack food while we're out and about!

[ ... Wow, she really did look that relieved, huh? ]

Um, Malkuth, you know... you're not actually worried about it, are you? It's just something that's supposed to be fun.

Nope! Definitely not worried -- I mean, like you said! It's just fun, why would I be worried about it? Kinda stupid to be, right?

[ no reason to be nervous! or worried! or anything like that! yup, totally silly to be! she knew it was silly. just calm down. ]

... No, not really.

[ And she offers her a quieter, calmer smile. ]

When I was still trying to adjust to being on the Express, I didn't know what was expected. Like, what I was supposed to know or not. I wasn't sure if I'd sound stupid if I asked questions.

So I kind of get it, I think. And maybe that's just how it is for a lot of things that you might not have done before.

[ ... they're two of a kind, huh. it makes her feel a little bit better anyway. and after a moment, malkuth sighs. ]

You're... my first friend, actually. If we're friends, I mean -- I don't want to presume or anything like that, but I'd like to be friends! The people I work with... we're close, now we are anyways, but it's kind of a weird situation.

[ sometimes you just get used to people. they become part of your life, gain and again, and she wonders if they'll become part of each other's lives here, too. ]

I'm not that put together as a person. I trip up a lot, and I make a lot of mistakes if I'm not careful. So I wrote down a whole list of things that a sleepover might need in my book -- that way, I'd be doing everything I could to make sure it'd be fun! It really is kind of stupid, okay? I know that.

[ March (for once) doesn't interrupt her partway through this explanation to shake her by the shoulders, through her brow furrows like she would like to! Very much, actually!!

But she refrains until finally Malkuth stops and she takes a deep breath. Emphatically-- ]

Of course we're friends. And if I'm your first, then I need to step it up myself! The people I work with are kind of like a family more than coworkers, so I get that, though maybe the situation isn't as weird as yours?

[ Well. Her situation is weird af but it doesn't encompass the entire crew. ]

I also trip a lot and Dan Heng is always telling me to stay with the group or pay attention, but we're still really good friends! And maybe I'd be better off if I made more lists too, so I could learn from you! We can check out the list together and make sure we've got everything to make the first sleepover a total success, okay?

But don't call it stupid. I'm really happy you're thinking that highly of it!

[ thanks you can shake her now. it's not

family but it is weird!!! so!!! she gets it, kind of!!! malkuth doesn't know how to respond at first, unused to this as she is, and with a lack of book to grasp nervously she ends up fiddling with the hem of her sweater's sleeve. ]

Of course I am! Gosh, now I feel silly for making such a big deal about making a big deal out of it...

[ but that's okay. breathe in, breathe out. ]

Thanks, March. If there's anything that we can't fit in, or find out we'd like to do after it's all done, we can just have another sleepover. Right?

Right! We just have to pick a good time for one and we'll go from there!

But for now, nail polish and parfaits! It's March 7th, after all!

[ And that means! Celebrating! With her new friend!! ]

Right! It sure is!

[ ...! it sure is?! ]

Wait, it's your name!

[ wow... going out on your name day... she has such a bad naming sense, ]

Yeah!

I mean, it's the day I joined the Astral Express, so I figured it was important!

Of course it's important! Even if it's kind of a silly name, it's yours and you chose it! Not a lot of people can say that, you know?

[ actually, almost no one in the city can. malkuth didn't even choose her name here. why would she? elijah was a different person to her -- she doesn't want that existence to be swallowed up by this one, and she doesn't want to be swallowed up by it either.

... ]

Did you... invite me out because it's your name day?

I was going to invite you anyway, but I'm tossing the parfaits in because of that!

[ She'll find a way! To celebrate! ]

Also hey, I don't think it's silly! [ Okay, yes, she hadn't thought very long and hard about it, but it's a precious name to her now! ]

[ it is silly... but malkuth likes it. wow. friends are really nice. she needs to find a reason to celebrate with parfaits back. what can she think of. it'll come to her. does she have anything important? ]

It suits you, because you seem like you're always marching along -- towards your next destination, even if it's not that far, to your own beat, regardless of what others think or say... I admire that!

[ and she would have envied it in her last life too, but she can at least do that now. ]

You don't see that very much where I'm from.

Huh? Really?

[ She just looks a little perplexed, as much as she's also preening a bit from the compliments. ]

I didn't think that was uncommon...

It's not uncommon in most worlds, I guess, and... a lot of the guests who come to the Library tend to hold that same potential -- but there's more in my City who don't think they can.

[ who are led, who are shackled, who... ]

You'd be a breath of fresh air to a lot of them, but they'd probably call you a fool or naive too. There's not a better name you could have chosen for yourself, March.

Oh, that's nothing I'm not already used to! I just tell myself they don't actually know a thing about me, so there's no way they could be right!

[ With a little huff. ]

Sounds like they could use with some eye-opening! If I ever come to visit, I'll put the work in!

[ , ahaha, ]

I'd rather visit your Astral Express. What's it like?

Well, it's pretty spacious inside! There are a bunch of cabins and a kitchen and a common area and it travels all across the galaxy and makes a ton of different stops, depending on what our mission is!

But friends of the Astral Express are welcome anytime!

[ wow. ]

So you just... go around the galaxy? Just like that? No problems or anything? [ ... ] Ever run out of gas?

[ or star power or whatever it goes on, ]

Well, there are definitely problems, and yeah, we need to stop and refuel, but...

One time we got swallowed by a giant bug? And there are these things called Stellarons that we have to handle and contain because one of our crew knows how to seal 'em and, left alone, they're something like a cancer to the places they end up in. They also disrupt the flow of interstellar travel and they're pretty dangerous.

Mostly because of dealing with them, we end up fighting a lot.

[ so they're like Fixers... in a way. malkuth glances at the stores as they pass, seemingly just windowshopping. ]

Do you like fighting? Or do you just put up with it?

[ March has been checking all the windows, honestly, though doesn't appear to have found the Right Store yet. At the question, she heaves a sigh. ]

Are you kidding? I'd take negotiation any day! But even if people didn't pick a fight, there are all sorts of monsters out there that you can't exactly hold a conversation with, so I'm glad I know how to defend myself.

[ pfft. ]

I don't mind fighting myself, it's a pretty good work out! But it is better just to try talking first, huh...

[ yeah.... probably.... ]

My fists do it for me! [ punch punch!!! ] Hod's the one who usually talks things out of us.

Did you end up having to fight a lot where you're from?

... Yeah.

[ is march gonna be the second person she tells? we'll see, ]

Librarian doesn't sound like much of a fighting job, does it? But I've had to a number of times now. I might not look it, but I'm actually pretty strong!

[ within the confines of her space. ]

I am glad for the break, even though I'm still fighting back home. It's a nice change of pace from my usual.

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