“I’ll be OK."

“I think I’ll be OK,” you tell Mandy. “Thanks, though.”

“I’m paid to serve,” she bows slightly and laughs, making you smile. Mandy didn’t seem so bad after all. She walks her original path, allowing you to do the same.

The main tent is intense with life. You see a few other people, but none of them are familiar. You introduce yourself to a few, while others approach you first—girls, boys, some questionable folk, and then some private security crew. The topics in these interactions include grand political schemes, local news, gossip, and some questions about your background. Everyone is in a good mood; nothing seems overly ****, just decency.

You’re inside for almost 10 minutes before you finally find Arabella.

She’s separated herself from the rest of the people in the room, and she is simply watching the twins interact and do whatever they are directed to do. Arabella doesn’t look unhappy, but her body language is uncomfortable despite that. You get reasonably close to her before you’re noticed. Finally, she smiles and joins you halfway.

“Hello, master,” she chimes before wrapping herself around you warmly.

“Hey, Arabella,” you squeeze her in return. “Is something wrong?”

Arabella seems **** to share her emotions but tells you after barely a second. “I don’t like working,” she begins. “I mean… I don’t like working here. I’d rather be with you doing something…anything than this.”

Admittedly, you’re surprised to hear this from Arabella. You suspected the twins would have a more challenging time being separated from you and doing something so “normal” after living the way that had been for so long. “Is that all?” You ask her, and she narrows her gaze.

“Of course,” she says. “Why is that such a big deal?”

“It’s not,” you say, unsure if you’re lying or not. “What are you supposed to be doing?”

“Learning…some…thing? I honestly wasn’t listening,” she giggles slightly, rubbing the back of her neck. “It was boring, and I wanted to know what you were doing.”

Arabella hugs you again, and she feels her nose rubbing against you. It’s almost erotic the way she inhales your scent. She pulls back. “You smell like gunpowder and sweat.”

You half expected her to smell Half-Gob on you, too. But, if she did, she did not comment. She looks at you closer and tries for a smile. “Are you mad at me for not working?”

“A little,” you respond. “Come on, let’s walk around. Maybe you need a break and all. Will you get in trouble if you’re away?”

Arabella nods, her mouth going into a frown. You shake your head before continuing. “Whatever… I’ll take the blame then.”

“You shouldn’t get in trouble for my laziness,” Arabella sighs.

“Trust me,” you grab her hand and start pulling her with you. “I don’t think they can fire me.”

“Where are we going?” Arabella asks, following you out through one of the back exits.

You look back at her. “We’re going to have some fun,” you say.

“Sex?” Arabella says almost too quickly.

“I- I mean…If that’s all you want to do, I bet I could find a place to get ourselves relieved…?”

She blinks, looking around, seemingly worried someone might have overheard her blatant fallback to sexual interaction. There are a few people, but no one is looking.