“There’s your reason, then. If you must have one.” That last bit was particularly hypocritical coming from her. Queen of making sure every action had a purpose and goal. No wonder she was having trouble acclimatizing to this new world, even with the wide spread of options available to her.
The pithy reply died on her tongue when he dared dangle a sketch of her face. Marisa lost control for a moment, allowing her mouth to drop open in shock, eyebrows shooting to the bright sky over head. “You!” the accusation slipped out before she could stop it. And then a curious thing happened: she didn’t know what to say next. Words failed for the first time in a long time.
Marisa pulled in a deep breath, chest rising and falling with the effort. The golden monkey’s limbs tensed with held energy, then he relaxed back into his customary crouch. “Perhaps a worthy subject will inspire you to practice more,” she said at last.
To think, Asriel didn’t even know the worst of what she’d done in the name of research. Hopefully he never would. She didn’t think she could bear that, and what an entirely unwelcome realization. It paired with his closer movement, perhaps causing her tongue to be even sharper than usual. “Have you been alone so long here that your mind jumps to being with someone?” She made a sharp noise in the back of her throat. “It was the wedding you took me to, wasn’t it? Getting sentimental in your old age, Asriel.”
Hands now empty, Marisa folded her arms over her chest, pulling the light jacket about her like armor. “If we’re going down that road, I’m surprised you haven’t charmed a woman or two already. Or did you?” Her nose twitched with the force of emotions she was concealing. “Think about it this way, Asriel. I don’t need a man to succeed here.” She could do it all under her own name, her own efforts.