Reality intrudes

Kenna’s persuasion is exactly what you expected, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. After spending an afternoon with the dragon girl, you’re **** to take another shower before you’re presentable enough to head out. You bring Sirona and Mazzy to a craft store, and help the manticore pick out the cloth she needs for her project, with some advice from Mazzy.

Though it’s a simple thing to find what Sirona needs, what’s less simple is the reactions you get. The crowd at the craft store is a bit older than average, and the three of you get some sidelong looks. You also hear some whispered conversations, and the snippets you catch are far from complimentary. Mazzy notices as well, and the two of you share a sigh. Fortunately, Sirona is absorbed in planning her project, and doesn’t seem to notice.

It’s easy to forget that monster girls aren’t completely accepted by most people just yet. You’ve surrounded yourself with people who are very accepting, and you sometimes think that that’s the general consensus. The truth is that, unfortunately, monster girls are regarded with disgust or fear by many people. And even you can admit that Sirona’s appearance is particularly intimidating. Tall and muscular, with wings and a tail, and feathers on her arms and legs, she can be frightening if you don’t know her.

You luck out today, however, in that none of the people in the store decide to take things further than some looks and whispers. Honestly, you probably have Sirona’s looks to thank for that. Not many people would intentionally anger a monster girl of her size. As for Sirona, she remains oblivious, humming a tune as the three of you head up to the cashiers, laden with a big pile of cloth.

The cashier is a bored looking teenager, and she only raises an eyebrow slightly at the sight of Sirona and Mazzy. It seems that the younger people have a tendency to just shrug and accept the monster girls, which you can definitely appreciate. You pay for the supplies, and head home, with Sirona still happily oblivious to the disdainful looks she got.

Mazzy clearly understood, however, and she takes your hand as you drive home. You hear her sigh as she looks out the window at the people in the streets. You understand what she must be thinking, but Mazzy isn’t one to dwell upon the bad things. By the time you get home, she’s all smiles again.

However, before you head inside, she stops you for a quick kiss. You look at her curiously. “Not that you need a reason, but what’s that for?”

Mazzy smiles. “For making us all feel so welcome that we completely forget about situations like that. Thank you, love.”

You gently brush your fingers through her dark hair. “I can’t change the whole world, but I can do my best to make you happy.”

She nods. “And you do. And it’s wonderful. Let’s go back to our little world, shall we?”

You smile and take her hand, heading back into the house.