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"Oh gosh! That's an interesting characterization of the city, for sure!" It was unlikely that he'd tasted those fists and feet himself, being a purpleblood, but it was not... inaccurate. It was also not all pugilism and pain, just as Four Fronds was probably not all highbloods relaxing by a lake (or... in the woods?). "Surely they have grocery stores in Four Fronds proper, though!" she said, surprised, "And New Hemisect, too. Is our selection really that good?"

What had happened to him to give him such a skewed perspective on her fair city? Surely Bloodfest hadn't been that bad! Perhaps tonight she would find an opening to find out, but walking around wasn't conducive to that. Yet.

Ah, but he was asking her such a fascinating question! It was rare to find a highblood that understood those challenges. It was very aware of him to ask. Alarmingly aware. Perhaps - she watched him with intense and hungry interest - deviantly aware? No, it was a reasonable question. She would see how he felt about her answer.

"Oh gosh, luck, wit, strength, and my lusus." And lots of friends! "It really depends on the night, and what's going on in the world..." she said, the roaches chittering her in reproach for bragging.

It was one thing, Ma'am insisted, to 'sell yourself' in an interview and to showcase your accomplishments. But one must be modest and pleasant, as that is how a redblood succeeds. Psykgi more or less ignored her. "I get by." she said cheerily. She wasn't really one to complain!

But he did give her something interesting to sink her tusks into... "Does the government worry you? I can't imagine they have too many outposts in the deeper woods... or in the resort, really, aside from keeping the peace!"

"Thank you!" She said. That was interesting - getting a compliment for surviving. Was this pity or just a general goodwill towards the lower castes? Was it to an aberrant degree? Inquiring minds needed to know!
"Gosh, you know, that's something that people really should complement other trolls on more often." she mused out loud. It made sense, after all - Alternia was harsh, and you had to be strong and smart and lucky to survive it. Congratulations should be in order, just generally.

She paused to check the street signs and make sure she was still heading in the right direction. She was. More interesting was Rastin's reaction to her question. A purpleblood worried about the government had something very interesting to hide. Or, something very interesting going on in his head. Or both. She wanted to press him, to ask him more about his apparent fear of the government and his phobia of civilization, but it was probably best to do so out of civilization itself.

"Oh gosh, I forgot to tell you?" she said, moving a strand of hair out of her face, "How silly of me!" she giggled, "There's a spice shop - we're almost there - and I hear they have a really wide selection of good quality organic top-selected spices... And see, there it is!"

And there it was. A few blocks away squatted a spice shop shaped like a fungus for whatever artistic reason. It glowed with a warm light in the streetlit, slightly wet night, and as they came closer Psykgi could see that it clearly displayed - artfully - a wide range of spices. They were arranged both in their whole and ground up forms, situated in gleaming glazed pottery bowls against a flowing, luxurious backdrop of fine cloth. It was definitely a spice shop.

And there, on the door, written in neat fountain-pen penmanship in indigo ink, was an equally clear sign:

"No Lowbloods Served"

That wasn't exactly what he meant, but he wasn't wrong.

"Not necessarily!" she said, "It's not like they'd be serving me, I'd just be walking in with you. No harm done." to either of them. "And I'd get to see just how good they are..."

He was startlingly reluctant, though. It wasn't as though she had much at stake here, she could find out about this establishment at a different time, with a different person. If he wasn't going to test it out for her...

"Or... gosh, is it that time of night? Theres several lovely teahouses along the way. We could have lunch, if you haven't had it already, and see if they sell stock."

... She could at least sit him down and begin to observe her specimen.

Did he really think that she didn't know that? Maybe he did. Psykgi didn't particularly feel like disabusing him of the notion. Again, investigating the truth of their advertising would be for another time.

"The two don't have to be completely exclusive." she said, moving on with a carefree shrug, "Anyway, though..." she gestured to the remains of his spice parcel, and the symbol on it, "If that's where you usually go, then there is definitely a teahouse on the way!"

Eventually, indeed, such a place indeed resolved itself. It was a bamboo paneled place with a modest view of the streets and the boardwalk. It smelled of herbs, steam, and food. And - perhaps more telling - there were lower bloods there. No redbloods as far as she could see - yellow was the lowest caste she could see through the window - but that was hardly surprising and didn't particularly matter to her.

"Lets eat here."

Entering was easy enough. They were led to a quaint, clean little table, and presented with a dizzying array of teas on a menu. "Oooh!" Psykgi said, sorting through the list of blends, including the outright bizzare ones with references to military weaponry and bodily injury. It was trying to stand out. "Look at this ginger-lemon one! It has notes of clove, too and some other spices... doesn't that sound delightfully spicy?"

"That sounds delicious!" Psykgi said. Chamomile and mint! "I'll try it next time. But we'll get two pots, and maybe we can have a taste - there are just so many options!"

But on to the less interesting options. "Sandwiches are always nice." Psy said, nodding at the menu, "Pastries... Scones are always delicious. Dumplings are great, too - they fry them up and season them and they are so good."

She continued to scroll down the menu. "... or, gosh, really anything on here." She made her own selection - a salad with fruit that she could share with her lusus - and eyed Rastin with amused interest. "What do people eat outside of the city, then?"

"Sure." sharing was fine with her. If she had too much, Ma'am could always take care of it, or she could bring it home with her, and all of her other shopping. And all the new fantastic and juicy informational tidbits about this purpleblood.

A very productive day.

"Sounds mostly vegetarian." she commented, "And also a lot of work. Gosh, you must be so hard working... are you?"

"Well, normally I eat fruit - it's nice, portable, and it keeps so nicely! And, if it doesn't keep, my Ma is always happy to take care of it for me." Or, sometimes, she ate it if it was just a little ripe, but not everyone understood how very sweet slightly overdone fruit could be. It was probably an aquired, cockroach-child taste.

"And occasionally some of those readymade meals? The sort you put into the radiation-heat box and POOF, a delicous meal?" she made a 'poofing' hand gesture and giggled, "... But when I eat out, I like to explore. And, often, I've been invited somewhere, so theres really no usual for that!"