Painfully close to home

Ah, whatever!

Rei

D*mnit! And the day just HAD to take a dive into the sewer just now! I had thought that perhaps things could go a bit smoother now that we’d gotten some kind of plan of action ironed out here and now THIS had to just happen!

OH! Not to say that the plan to save Zhaan is totally screwed seven ways from Sunday. No, not saying that. It is just that I am saying it’s going to be more difficult than first believed for two reasons.

First, the “spell components” that I and my sisters apparently were lucky enough to be on sale here in this traveling elven caravan appear to be a bit MORE fresh than anticipated, given the apparent still living condition said “spell components” are in at this moment.

Fine. Even IF it looks like this world’s magic community took a different route to the idea of “spell components” is more akin to “animal sacrifice” than “chemical components” we can still get something from that woozy looking male gryphon over there. It isn’t like the blasted thing’s sentient like Trilling Blackfeather and the rest of the Terra Prime gryphon clans back home! Too small. Right about the same size and such for the non-intelligent gryphon breeds.

Albeit a species I’m not familiar with....

Just don’t feel too keen about doing the butcher’s work, getting some of the organs we’ll be needing to pulberize in order to fix Zhaan back up here. The thought of having to perform the chore itself does make my stomach churn and somewhat regret having . . .given up my meatless diet.

. . .

Oh please, you “Neon Genesis” purist out there. Given everything that has happened to me that has changed me, both physically and emotionally? Given that my adopted parents--dragons--are primarily carnivores? That I’ve inherited memories from “my” Yui Akari (treacherous b*tch) for meat, especially cravings for “horse meat” she’d developed during pregnancy?

. . .

Oh get OFF it! It’s an Easterner thing!

Anyway, given the fact that whilst in the Exploratory Corps sometimes a pure vegetarian diet just is NOT feasible? Sometimes one has to eat what is at hand! See, unlike the “anti-alcohol” patches--we shall NEVER be able to develop any kind of alcohol tolerance due to a side effect of being a Champion--I an my sisters can easily carry about and secretly wear whilst “mingling” during social occasions where alcohol is imbibed whenever on Mission, one cannot easily sneak in soy substitutes into a gathering!

Sidetracking aside, I can stomach playing the butcher here. All for a good cause, right? Zhaan’s life!

The thing that is the real kicker here is that it is bloody obvious what these elves are: slavers!! After having been one in all but name to NERV’s upper hierarchy as the First Child, I find the idea of even accidentally being offered . . . This!!

“Putting aside the feline/avian products here . . .why DO you have the elfin family here as well for sale?” Reika asks the suddenly concerned looking Belboz (!?) the elfin shaman.

Oh oh. I know that tone of voice. Sounds sweet and innocent enough but just one look in her eyes would belay any mistaken assumptions of it being ANYTHING in the same solar system as those words. Reika, the one who’s the more forgiving and loving of the three of us here is PISSED!

Despite their weariness the elfin women in question who looked resigned to a life of slavery suddenly are looking at us in a different light, if nothing else. Hope in their eyes, even?

. . .

And while perhaps “Belboz” here does not understand just WHY she’s pissed off here, he can tell that he’d better do something quick here . . .or he’ll probably lose this sale here . . .

1. “Is there a problem here?”

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