canon is The Iron Dragon's Daughter by Michael Swanwick

[crueldragonsthesis]

Exchanging Melancthon for another invisible fucking guiding hand? Throwing me into another rigged game? After all that happened, after I was this close to ramming those missiles up The Goddess's sacred fundament, you're taking away the revenge that me and Melancthon deserve?

You'd make a good fae.

That means: go fuck yourself.

Comments

[blackberries]

That's how things work for women, I find.

[crueldragonsthesis]

Hmm. Or any group that gets its nose shoved down in it.

What should I call you? You're the first other human i've seen in a long time.

[blackberries]

Yes. I suppose. I have a limited scope of experience, and so women's lot is the first thing that came to mind.

I am Merricat. I should have been born a werewolf and not a girl.

You are at least used to non-humans, then. There are rather a lot in the game.

[crueldragonsthesis]

I guess so. I'm just not really used to my own kind.

I've met a few wolfboys. They're fairly aggro guys, all classic leather jackets and thick jeans. No offense, but you don't strike me as the type.

[blackberries]

I'd like a leather jacket some day, actually. It seems rather rebellious. But perhaps I ought to be a nymph, then.

You seem well-traveled. How many kinds of people you must know.

[crueldragonsthesis]

I'll see if I can steal you one.

Me? I've always thought of myself as pretty damn parochial. Childhood as an indentured worker in a dragon factory. Second class high school. College on a scholarship.

[A bit of a pleading look that's only partially deceptive. The best legerdemains are partially honest, after all.]

Can you..tell me about where you're from? The human world?

[blackberries]

I should have liked to go to school. I am afraid I'd never really left my house until the game, which you cannot honestly call the human world.

I could tell you about the village where I lived-- or whatever you'd like to know?

[crueldragonsthesis]

The village, yes. Your home too. The people. It's all new to me.

[blackberries]

My house is tall, and what they call Victorian-- arched windows, many gables, and it was bright once upon a time but the paint has faded away. The people of the village are stupid. And hateful. There are grocery stores and places to get coffee, or dinner, but I have never been and none of it is worth it.

[crueldragonsthesis]

I see. So it's kinda decaying but still elegant.

Are they...cruel?