Ayem blinked at the little figure in front of her, having spaced out completely in the time it took for Mary to reappear. [color=fff79a][i]Sharp child,[/i][/color] she thought without really knowing why. [color=fff79a][i]Pointy child. So pointy.[/i][/color]

A sudden globule of blood snapped her into the present moment and her smile wavered. [color=fff79a][i]I try so hard...[/i][/color]

[color=fff79a]"Grazie might be coming,"[/color] she said aloud. [color=fff79a]"She's around the corner."[/color] Ayem's foot tapped. She'd set aside money to transport the Kelawar, but even though the price of a tagalong prostheticist was a fraction that of a spacefighter, she was hesitant about paying Grazia's ticket on a whim. Ayem turned over the black card in her fingers and gave it back to Mary, along with the rest of the stuff in her pockets (minus the lint). 

[color=fff79a]"Here. How did you get this?"[/color]