"China, I need your help."
"Not exactly the most promising way to begin a conversation, but do go on." China is on a short stepladder, rearranging the books on one of the higher shelves. It's not that he's not a tall man, except that he really isn't. Not that it in any way detracts from his charms, but it is kind of the thing that you tend to notice.
"I think I'm in love but all I do is continually make a terrible fool of myself and be an absolute arsehole and I don't know what to do about it."
"Isn't that how you spend your life, Einherji?" China asks and then he shakes his head. "No, that was cruel. Disregard it."
"If that's how you think about me, I can't imagine how he must."
"Far be it from me to say that gender means anything in matters of romance, but it is a boy, then?"
"He's definitely male, yes." A faraway look enters Einherji's eyes as he contemplates the object of his affections.
"You look absolutely smitten. Congratulations. I'm sure it will all work out very well for you."
"You're meant to be giving advice."
"Oh, so I am."
A/N: China is also sassy. I think that's why I don't like chinduggery. All the sass might cause spontaneous implosion.
~Mademise Morte, September 26, 2012.