Page 48 of Culture and Curiosities
And a very sneaky mate.
Chapter 13
Wren
“Is coloring during meetings typical for our people here, my mate?”
Daddy Manny was being very Daddy as he watched the meeting with me.
“No, but it’s making it more fun and it seemed rude to tell the diner men no.”
They’d offered, so I’d been polite…and if polite was fun that was just a bonus.
“At least it’s not more cupcakes?”
Daddy hadn’t liked how many of those I’d needed to eat to be polite.
“Your logic is manipulative, my mate.”
Yep.
“Oh, I think we’re finally going to do something besides tell stories. Pierce is getting antsy.”
Daddy’s very well-done sigh said he was on Pierce’s side. Even hanging out with Klynn at their campsite wasn’t keeping him occupied, but that was mostly because Klynn was ignoring him in favor of reading.
“No. I apologize for interrupting, but it was brought to my attention last night that while a significant portion of our group appreciated the stories we were telling yesterday, it might be a good idea to deal with the situation logically.” Pierce was trying to be polite but he looked like he wanted to strangle everyone who sighed.
Interestingly enough, it was the cupcake dragon Kenzie who decided to get us going in a more fascinating direction. “Making decisions about sending people to other planets is scary. Maybe we should ask WWPD.”
Daddy was confused but I was trying not to laugh as Merritt coughed and barely stopped himself from giggling as he translated for everyone. “What would Picard do.”
I was really starting to like him…especially when he nudged Kenzie’s idea into a more mainstream one. “I think we need to start with an understanding that we’re not sending unwilling people there. We’re asking dragons and mages if they want to do something strange and reckless. They’re going to volunteer.”
That had everyone around the table nodding and even Daddy shrugged in my head.
“He is not wrong, my mate.”
Daddy knew that because he’d volunteered for something stupid and reckless too.
“We do not have to feel guilty about people volunteering to answer questions. I’m sure half this town would volunteer to go.” Meritt didn’t seem to understand just how right he was, but I’d make sure he knew it at some point.
“We do dangerous things on a regular basis.” Kenzie shrugged as his Daddy looked like he wanted to shake his head.
As part of the Sherrif’s department, he saw our fun firsthand and was having a hard time looking bored as Kenzie continued. “Daddy pointed that out when I started to worry. I cannot worry about the stupid things other people do. So I will confidently send several stupid people through the portal and I will be very excited when they come back with good stories.”
“Should I apologize for being shocked this is the most logical local dragon?”
“I don’t know, but if you do, I need to as well.”
Maybe we could just be rude together and not confess it to anyone else?
“I agree.” Merritt looked like he’d agree with me and Daddy Manny too. “I’ve personally seen half this town do incredibly dangerous things on a regular basis. This is just important and dangerous.”
When Pierce straightened again, he looked less likely to murder everyone. “We need information. We need to know where we come from. We need to know who’s on the other side. We need to know if they realize the gate is open. I could keep going, but you get my point.”
Daddy Manny was nodding along, but Pierce got sighs from the rest of the room before they gave in and nodded.
They just wanted to keep playing pretend instead of actually making decisions…and it was making me and Daddy both wonder how some of them had gotten picked.
