[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.cdn.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjg4LmQyYjkxOS5VbUZuY3csLC4w/spektakel-demo.regular.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/qNjHUeE.png[/img]

[i](Surface, Orphanage)[/i][/center][hr][hr]


Rags noticeably raised her hackles when the other kids stared at her. They talked all the time! Why was it always so worthy of attention when she did it? Was it that she didn't talk often, or that she hadn't learned how to talk exactly like everybody else yet? Either way, it annoyed her for reasons she couldn't funny explain. After she'd made her points, she felt the shift in the attitudes of her onlookers. They'd started to think. For children who were supposedly smarter, they sure did a lot less thinking for themselves. They were content to turn off their brains and follow a set of rules as if it was just part of life; the same rules that Rags had lived her whole life without needing, and was trying to learn.

Chris' promise to look on the first layer again, Rags accepted with a nod as she turned back to stare at her plate. She wasn't smiling. Rags didn't know anything for sure, but given the evidence, it was just...outright wrong and made no sense to write off the possibility that they descended beyond the first layer. And why did nobody give credibility to this idea? Because it wasn't part of 'the rules'.

Rags was snapped out of her thoughts by Chris again, who asked her about her future. Rags actually had to think about her answer. She'd never really thought about her own future. She hadn't been put in this Orphanage by choice. She enjoyed delving, sure, as she knew that better whistles meant the Orphanage let you go down further. The truth was, Rags didn't want to stay in this Orphanage forever. She didn't want to spend years here, learning how to think like everybody else and obey their rules without thinking. Doing what they say when they say and never more. Rags wanted to be free! But she'd never tell Chris that. It would be rude. Rags understood and agreed with the concept of manners.

[color=cfb105]"Yes,"[/color] she answered without conviction. Rags was usually as excited as a puppy about things she was passionate about, but gaining ranks and whistles...apparently wasn't one of them, even though Chris knew she loved to delve...


[@liferusher]