A few weeks passed with Neo choosing to remain in the hospital. In almost every way, she'd given up. Incapable of speech, too self-conscious of her own scars. She even refused to allow the nurses to see them whenever possible, only putting them on display when absolutely necessary. The nurses had learned soon enough how upset Neo would become when someone saw them, and chose to work out a system for entering the room that would always allow her to cover them if need be.
The staff did their best to console her. They tried to cheer her up, or pretend that her scars weren't hideous. Neo knew they were lying. She caught every pitying glance, every twinge of a lip when they were forced to look at them during routine check ups. It only sent her spiraling further, into a deep depression where all hope was lost. No matter how hard the nurses or the blond man, Nicholas, tried to pretend otherwise… Neo had nothing left.
Currently, she laid in bed. It had become her semi-permanent abode these days. Now and then Neo would sit in a chair near the window, but every glance from passersby off the street was cause for alarm. She felt pitiful, like a horrendous freak that could only suffer through life, grasping for a crumb of happiness while avoiding human contact like the plague.
Knees raised and her back propped up, Neo was in the midst of doodling in her new notebook to pass the time. The nurses told her a few days prior that she'd have a visitor. A sign language instructor from Vale, hired on to teach her a new way to 'speak'. Neo was stubbornly resistant to the idea. The diagnosis said her vocal cords would heal in time, once she'd matured. Why did she need to waste hours of her life learning sign language when she would be better in a few years anyway?
Once she'd grown bored of her solitude and simply laying in bed all day, she'd asked for something to do. The nurses were so ecstatic over the minor improvement, they gave her what appeared to be the entire stock of a small hobby shop. All different kinds of paper and writing utensils, comic books, novels, and even a few board games she had looked at, but refused to consider playing. The notebook she had was one such newly acquired item, the outside cover decorated in a glittering pink that matched the right half of her hair.
Afterwards, when they yet again insisted she meet with the instructor, Neo had begrudgingly accepted. Seeing their happiness for her progress inspired the smallest flicker of warmth in her heart. Neo hated being a burden, and knew she must be an utter nuisance for the staff to deal with. If she could brighten their days just a tiny bit… It would lessen the guilt she felt.
Neo's hand stopped in its tracks when she heard a knock on the door. Anxious over meeting someone new, she shrunk down in bed and pulled her blankets up higher. Neo obscured her scars, body slumped down further to keep the sheets from sliding off her throat. She could hear some low murmurs from the other side of the door, followed by another knock a few seconds later. Part of their system involved repeated announcements, giving her time to prepare before anyone entered. One she'd snuggled down beneath the covers, Neo reached over to her bedside and rang the bell that rested there.
The door opened, admitting one of the nurses, Linnet. With such a small staff, it hadn't taken long to memorize all of their names. She was a tall brunette, in her early twenties and always with a smile on her face. That smile flashed encouragingly as she opened the door fully, stepping aside to allow Neo's new visitor past.
Another smile. This one worn by a shorter, much older woman. Her hair was graying and skin wrinkled, but there remained a twinkle in her eye that gave Neo an instant feeling or reassurance. The crow's feet around her eyes spoke of a lifetime of joy, as opposed to the narrow-eyed sternness she had so often seen in her own town.
Linnet introduced them, "Neo, this is Mrs. Celeste. She's the instructor that was kind enough to come from Vale to teach you sign language. Is it alright if she comes in?"
Holding her blanket tightly, Neo hesitantly offered up a nod to signal her acceptance.
"It's nice to meet you, Neo," Celeste spoke kindly. She stepped past the nurse and into the room, carrying a thin briefcase in one hand. "How has your day been so far?"
Neo frowned, certain the woman must know she couldn't speak. Still wanting to be polite and answer though, she gave a small shrug and lifted her notebook to show the doodles she'd been doing in the margins. Neo raised a hand, flat with her palm facing down, and shook it slightly to signal she was 'okay'.
Celeste's smile widened, "Well, I hope our time together will improve upon it." She pulled up a chair and sat near the side of Neo's bed, resting the briefcase on her lap. "Did you want to get started?"
Neo's eyes flickered to Linnet uncertainly, but she gave a timid nod all the same.
"Wonderful!" Celeste beamed, undoing the latches on her briefcase to open it. "Now, I have a few different study plans prepared depending on the student's age. How old are you, dear?"
Neo thought for a moment, then held up nine fingers.
"Nine?" A hint of genuine surprise seeped into the tone of Celeste's voice. It didn't reach her face, aside from a brief widening of the eyes that was there and gone the next instant.
Neo pouted. She knew she was small, even for her age.
Celeste's smile returned, "Sorry, dear. I didn't mean to offend."
Neo shrugged minutely, showing that she wasn't really all that offended. She was small. She just didn't like being reminded of it.
"So, nine… nine… nine… Here we are," Celeste pulled out a thin packet and closed her briefcase. She set it down to the side of her chair, only the papers now held in her hands. Her eyes returned, and she smiled encouragingly at the younger girl. "I'm happy to say we're already off to a great start! You're doing wonderfully. I want you to know that."
Neo's face screwed up in confusion, eyebrows drawing together and a frown crossing her lips. 'What is she talking about? I haven't learned anything yet…'
Celeste grinned, and nodded her chin towards Neo's, drawing attention to her confused expression. "Ninety-three percent of communication is nonverbal, dear. Even if you didn't think about it that way, you've been carrying on a conversation with us ever since the nurse and I arrived. You told me how your day has been, told me your age, expressed dislike for your size, and accepted my apology, all without saying a word!"
Neo's eyebrows drew together further, replaying the events that had transpired only moments ago. She… she had done all of those things, hadn't she?
"I've always found it to be an important factor to take note of for cases such as yours. Sign language is a tool, used to communicate thoughts or expressions that you might not otherwise be able to. Fortunately, there's already so much you can say, even without speaking. Through gestures alone, even if the person you're communicating with doesn't understand sign language. You aren't truly mute, dear. Your 'voice' hasn't been taken away... You're only vocally impaired."
Neo continued to frown. It was all a little confusing, but she thought she understood the woman's point. Neo was still capable of communicating, even as she was, and without needing to write in order to do so. Her mind strayed back, thinking of all her interactions with the nursing staff. When she'd shown her discomfort for them entering unannounced… she'd even asked for the bell by gesturing with her hand instead of writing it down.
'I… I can still talk, in a way…'
A hesitant smile worked its way onto Neo's lips. While that didn't change the fact that she wouldn't be able to speak for at least the next few years, it did offer a form of hope, and comfort despite her situation. Her eyes returned to Celeste's, and she gave the woman a semi-confident nod of thanks.
"You're welcome, dear."
From there, the lesson began. Linnet left the room, giving the two a shred of privacy while Neo began to learn different hand gestures and what they meant. They spent a while going over things that every day people would understand as well, broadening Neo's horizons when it came to what was possible for her. She learned how to sign her own name, how to ask for others', about how they were doing and how their day had been. It was a little odd at first, since the order of words wasn't always the same as if she'd been speaking, but Neo got the hang of it soon enough.
Neo grew excited with each new word, each new phrase that was added to her steadily growing repertoire. She hardly noticed when the blanket began to slip, and her scars were slowly put more and more on display. Celeste maintained eye contact, never flinching or giving away that Neo's throat was exposed.
It wasn't until Neo started to learn 'please' that she herself noticed. Hand flat and raised to rub in a circle against her upper chest, she froze upon feeling her hand contacting skin instead of the cloth of a blanket. Neo's eyes widened in panic, and she quickly grasped the fallen sheets to pull them back up.
Celeste's brow furrowed in worry, "Is everything alright, dear? You don't need to hide your scars from me. I'm not bothered by them."
She shivered. That's what they all said, but how could it be true? Neo wasn't capable of meeting her gaze, afraid of seeing one of the two emotions she knew would be there. Her eyes strayed off to the side instead, fingers tightening around the hem of her blanket.
Celeste was quiet for a few long moments, her considering gaze barely visible from the corner of Neo's periphery. After a minute passed of Neo refusing to respond, the older woman sighed emphatically, and reached down to grab her briefcase. Two sharp pops followed soon after, Celeste opening it once more to return the packet of papers she held.
Neo noticed a flash of something else being pulled out, another small square of thick paper. White, on the half she could see. Celeste smiled at it, eyes flickering to Neo every so often.
"You know, I don't typically accept personal lessons. I've always tended to teach classes up until now. I enjoy helping as many students as possible. I want them all to live their lives to the fullest... When I saw this job posting though, asking for someone to tutor a young girl that had been maimed… I knew I needed to be the one to take it."
Celeste leaned forward, holding out the paper she held. Hesitant, Neo accepted. She turned it around in her hand, eyes widening upon seeing the image of a young, disfigured man. Burn scars decorated his face, blotched sporadically across the surface of his skin. Neo frowned sadly, and gestured with the picture to ask Celeste who it was.
Celeste smiled dotingly, "My husband. We'd been married three years before he was grievously injured. He was working in a Dust factory. Their safety measures are usually up to code, but the company was going through financial hardship and was operating on minimal staff. None of the technicians noticed a fault in one of their machines… A batch of fire dust spilled out of one of the vats. He was pushing a cart full of lightning dust at the time… The explosion gave him third degree burns across most of his body, and ruptured his ear drums, making him deaf even after recovery..."
Celeste still wore her smile, though it had fallen with barely suppressed grief. "We tried putting him through therapy. He was in constant pain due to his injuries, and like you… didn't want people to see what he'd become. No matter how much I told him I didn't care about his scars, that I still loved him…" She wiped a hand across her eyes, "...He took his own life a year later... That picture is the last I have of him…"
Tears continued to brim in Celeste's eyes. She tried to smile through it, but only managed to let out a shaky sigh. "Sometimes I wonder if he couldn't believe me because my words were written on paper… We'd both started learning how to sign a few months before, but I never got a chance to tell him how I truly felt. That I still loved him, despite everything…" She cleared her throat, giving herself a small shake before grabbing her briefcase. "You can't give up hope, dear. You can't hide away, or be afraid of how other people are going to see you. Life still has so much left to offer, if only you'll let it."
Celeste slowly began to move towards the door, "I'll come back tomorrow and we can pick up where we left off. For now, I want you to consider what I've said. Next time… no blanket? You can't hide your scars forever, dear."
Neo stared into her lap while Celeste waited for a response. Eventually, she raised her eyes and offered up a timid nod.
Celeste smiled in return. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow."
In a brief panic, Neo raised the photo. She didn't want her to leave it behind on accident. Celeste smiled when she saw the gesture, but shook her head instead, speaking softly once more.
"Keep it. Think of it as a reminder that things could be worse… and as a reminder of the people you would leave behind if you ever chose to give up…" With one last, sad, lingering smile, she stepped out and closed the door.
Neo returned to staring at the photo, eyes taking in the horrible burns and scars on the man's face. 'Most of his body was like that?' Neo couldn't even imagine it. The excruciating pain and loss of hearing. She had it bad enough already, but to have it even worse…?
Celeste had been wrong about one thing, though. Neo set the photo down, then hesitantly reached out for the mirror on a nearby table. Her hand shook as she grasped it, bringing it back towards herself, careful not to catch a glimpse before she was ready.
'My parents are dead… I wouldn't be leaving anyone behind…'
Neo's breath came out ragged as she slowly brought the mirror closer. Three weeks had passed since she'd looked at her own scars. Even so, she still remembered exactly what awaited her. Every hideous detail was permanently etched into her mind.
With one last, long exhale, Neo lifted the mirror. Her scars were reflected back, just as gruesome as she remembered. Long, jagged strips of differently toned skin, stretching from one side of her throat to the other. Her other hand raised, and she very gently felt along their surface. Even after healing, each minute tug still sent a sharp twinge of pain through her body.
Tears gathered in Neo's eyes. She wiped them away, trying and failing to force herself to really look at her damaged flesh. How could anyone see them and not be disgusted? What kind of life could she lead from now, with nothing but pity to look forward to? Was everything going to be a struggle? Every interaction with other people? Would she ever be... normal again?
Neo's anger began to grow along with the rapidly sinking pit in her chest. It wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair. How could this happen to her? She deserved to be happy, didn't she? Instead, she'd been maimed for life, left a lonely orphan with nothing to look forward to besides a desolate future.
The last remaining shred of hope that Neo had shriveled up and died. Body shaking and lip trembling, her hand drew back in a dainty fist. She stuck forward at the mirror, wanting to rid herself of the reminder for all her pain. Small knuckles contacted reinforced glass, and Neo was shocked to see it shatter on impact. Shards of the mirror fell out of the frame, scattering across her bed while many landed in her lap.
Bewildered, Neo looked at the knuckles of her hand. A slight pink shimmer traveled across it briefly and was gone, making her wonder if she'd just been seeing things due to the tears in her eyes. Neo wiped them free, then stared down at the shards of glass in her lap.
Slowly, she set the broken mirror aside to instead reach down and pick up one of the larger shards. She stared at it, the sudden shock having released her from her anger. All that remained was the cavernous pit in her chest.
'Maybe her husband was right… All these years he's been gone, when he would have been suffering instead…' Neo's fingers clenched more tightly, body trembling as she started to consider the possibilities.
'Would I have it any better…?'
"Neo!?" Linnet's panicked shout ripped Neo out of her spiral of depression. In her surprise, her fingers tightened further, and a sharp pain shot its way through her hand. Fearfully, Neo hid the shard she was holding right before the door to her room burst open.
Linnet's eyes darted around the room wildly, finally falling on the broken mirror and pieces of glass in Neo's lap. They widened further, and she moved quickly across the room to the young girl's side.
"Are you okay!? I heard the glass break and came as quickly as I could! You're not hurt, are you?" Linnet fussed, rubbing one hand soothingly across Neo's shoulder while the other busied itself picking up the shattered pieces.
Thankful for her consideration and confused by her own whirlwind of emotions, Neo shook her head. Feeling a flash of guilt over what she'd briefly considered, she raised both hands to hide her tears. Instantly, Neo felt a wet heat against her cheek and palm, and felt another twinge of pain shoot up through her hand.
"You're bleeding! Oh my, let me get some bandages and disinfectant for that!" Linnet spoke worriedly. She finished picking up the pieces of glass still on Neo's lap and left her side to deposit them in the trash can. She continued on, heading over towards the cupboards while Neo became distracted.
'What is…?'
The flow of blood had already stopped, the familiar shimmer of pink flowing across her skin and stitching the wound back together. Neo watched in morbid fascination as it closed, the deep gash along her palm and fingers sewing itself back into clear, undamaged flesh. By the time Linnet returned, it was to find an astonished Neo with no injuries, only leftover blood on her hand and some still smeared on her face.
Linnet stared along with her for a moment before a spark of realization ignited in her eyes. She raised a hand to her chest and let out a long sigh of relief, eyes raising towards the ceiling. "Oh, that was a shocker! I'm glad he was right. I was so worried for a minute there!"
Neo could only stare in confusion.
Linnet noticed and gave herself a small shake. She pulled the chair up closer to the bed, and set aside the bandages in favor of the disinfectant. Along with a small washcloth, she set about wiping the blood from Neo's face before moving on to her hands.
"Mr. Arc, the blond man? He's a huntsman, and a damn good one if the rumors are true. Now, I don't know the specifics, but... everyone has a soul, and hunters learned how to harness their souls to manifest aura. When Mr. Arc saved you, he gave up some of his aura so that you could use yours, too. It kept you alive long enough to reach the hospital, and we took it from there."
Neo frowned. Aura, and souls…? This was all news to her. If Nicholas gave her his aura though, wouldn't that mean… she had part of his soul, too?
The question was far too complex for Neo to ask without her notebook. She pulled it into her lap and began writing with her nondominant hand, the other preoccupied while Linnet cleaned it. Though it was barely legible once she was finished, Neo spun the notebook so that she could read her question.
'Do I have part of his soul?'
Linnet's eyebrows furrowed, "Y'know… I didn't consider that. I'm not really well-versed when it comes to Huntsman business. I think he'll be in early tomorrow morning though, if you want to ask him then. I'm sure he'd be happy to answer any questions you have."
After a few moments, Neo nodded acceptance. She closed her notebook and set it off to the side, not wanting to risk any further chances at getting blood on it. Once Linnet finished cleaning and disinfecting her hand, she took a minute to double check for any glass she might have missed.
More embarrassed and emotionally confused than anything, Neo continued to hide the final shard beneath her blanket. She didn't have any current plans on using it, but even so… part of her wanted to keep it. 'As another memento, like the picture of Mrs. Celeste's husband…? As a reminder? Or just in case…?' In case of what exactly, she wasn't sure. Neo couldn't bring herself to finish the thought.
Satisfied with her search, Linnet disposed of her cleaning supplies and checked the time. She glanced back to Neo, smiling dotingly, "Is there anything special you wanted for dinner? Today was a big day, after all. You must have worked up an appetite."
Neo averted her gaze, guiltily looking over at her previous meal. A half eaten bowl of soup, which she'd been incapable of completing. Neo didn't eat much anymore. Once she stopped feeling like she was starving, anything further tended to make her nauseous.
She owed Linnet for taking care of her, though. Even with Neo's own misgivings, the nurse did seem as if she cared. Considering how excited she'd been when Neo simply asked for something to do, how excited they'd all been when she showed even the slightest improvement… maybe making another minor stride would brighten up her night.
Gulping timidly, Neo pulled her notebook back onto her lap. She wrote in it slowly, considering the options. If she was going to get anything, she'd want to share whatever she couldn't eat herself. Once Neo finished writing, she hesitantly showed Linnet her request.
"Mistralean ham and pineapple pizza?" Linnet read it off. She beamed widely in excitement, words coming out in a rush. "Do you want anything else? How about some breadsticks, and some soda to wash it down?"
Neo faltered upon seeing how ecstatic she'd become, but gave a small shrug all the same. Linnet pulled out her scroll and began to swipe down through different listings. "Oooh! Mac's is still open, so we can order from them! They're the best place in town!" she gushed.
Linnet stepped out the door, loudly proclaiming to the rest of the staff, "We're ordering pizza, girls! Cancel your plans!"
A muffled cheer erupted, causing Neo to shrink in on herself. Even so, hearing how excited they all were managed to raise her spirits. She felt a brief flutter in her chest, a glimmer of hope revived by the compassion shown. For the first time, she had to wonder if she'd been wrong. Did they… really care? Was she not just a nuisance?
Neo carefully pulled the shard out from under her blanket and leaned over to tuck it beneath her mattress.
She wouldn't be needing it any time soon.
Neo was busy munching on leftovers the next morning when there was a knock at her door. She quickly set aside the plate and drew her blanket up, hiding partially beneath the covers like always before ringing her bell.
The door opened to admit Nicholas, the blond man sporting a wide smile across his face. His eyes went to the pizza she'd been eating, and Neo could see that smile suddenly reach his eyes as well. A glimmer of light sparkled within the deep blue. It was the happiest she'd seen him during any of his previous visits.
"The nurses told me about the improvements you've been making. I'm really glad to hear it!" Nicholas's deep voice rumbled out with a gentle excitement.
Neo smiled back timidly, then gestured for him to come sit down.
Nicholas's eyes twitched the barest hint wider at the gesture. During the last few weeks, Neo had typically only tolerated his presence, too shy, too somber to attempt much communication in return. That she would actively encourage him to sit with her was a massive step in the right direction, a sign that not all hope was lost for the small child.
Recovering from his brief surprise, Nicholas happily accepted and moved closer to sit on the chair near her bedside.
Already prepared, Neo only needed to clean her fingers off before grabbing her notebook and opening it to the right page. It already held the questions she'd wanted to ask, that Linnet had been incapable of answering. She'd rewritten them of course, more legible and now posed to him instead of the nurse. She turned them to face Nicholas.
'Did you give me your aura? Does that mean I have part of your soul?' Neo had made sure to put extra emphasis on the last word. She'd circled it several times over, wanting to know the truth of the matter.
"Ah, I was wondering when that might come up," Nicholas chuckled nervously. "In short... Yes. Yes, I did." He raised an eyebrow, "Is that enough, or do you want the long explanation?"
Neo stared at him in bewilderment. 'Obviously I want the long explanation!' She held up two fingers for the second option.
Nicholas sighed, "Alright then. If you get confused by anything, just raise your hand to stop me and I'll try to elaborate. Sound good?"
Neo nodded.
Nicholas shifted in his chair, gaining a modicum of comfort before beginning to speak. "All living things have a soul. You, me, even plants and animals. It's what makes you… well, you. While everyone has one, though, not everyone is capable of using their soul. Hunters train for years to unlock their aura, which is a manifestation of their inner self. It's what gives us the strength to fight grimm, and to protect the people that need protecting."
Neo was suddenly reminded of the mirror she'd punched. She hadn't really expected her dainty fists to do anything to it, but instead it had shattered on impact. Was that the result of her aura now being unlocked?
Nicholas continued, "There are a lot of benefits that come with unlocking your aura. I won't get into all of them now, but… if you train with it, you'll learn how to create a shield around yourself that can protect you from harm. Also, any injury you sustain will be healed by your aura, as long as you have enough left."
Neo's eyes widened in understanding. 'So that's what the pink glow was from.' She frowned the next moment, then held up a hand for Nicholas to stop. She wrote on her notepad once again, and spun it to pose another question.
'If my aura was unlocked, then why didn't my throat heal all the way?'
Nicholas read it, his expression saddening slightly, "We were a little too late, and the damage done was worse than you might realize. To answer your other previous question as well..." he scratched his chin awkwardly, "I did give you part of my soul. Most of it, in fact. You have more of it than even I do at this point. That's just how badly you were injured. I had to give you nearly everything in order to keep you alive."
Neo stared at Nicholas in worry, then furiously scribbled another question on her notepad. 'But wouldn't that be bad for you!?'
Nicholas read it and chuckled, still scratching his chin. "I'm an Arc. My family line is blessed with massive aura reserves, much higher than most. Even after giving you so much, I still have more than enough to get by. I just… won't be able to live the life of a huntsman anymore."
Neo's shoulders slumped sadly, body drawing into itself. 'He really gave so much, just for me? Why would he do that?' Another question came to mind, and Neo's hand shook slightly as she wrote it.
'If I died, would you get it back?'
Nicholas's eyes narrowed, the smile vanishing from his face in an instant. "No, and I don't want to hear that kind of talk ever again."
Neo flinched back, shoulders shaking and knees drawing up protectively at the anger in his voice. Nicholas realized what he'd done. His eyes widened, lip twitching into an apologetic frown.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sound so forceful, it's just…" he sighed, "Even if it would, I don't need it back. Leaving the life of a huntsman… It just means I'll be able to spend more time with my family. I've missed a lot of my childrens' lives while away on missions. Now that I'm out… I can finally be the father they deserve."
Nicholas's expression softened, back into a reassuring smile, "My offer still stands. If you want to leave this place and become an Arc… I would be more than happy to take you in. My daughters can be a pain sometimes, but they all get along and help each other whenever someone needs it. My son is a bit of a goof, but his heart is in the right place. You're actually the same age as him, now that I think about it. Not too surprising, considering I have eight."
Neo glanced down into her lap, hands fidgeting together. He'd admitted his own sacrifice only moments before, and still he was offering more. Could it… could it really be true? Even with all of the terrible things that happened, was there someone out there that would truly take her in, and consider her one of their own? Could this man and his family… be her new family?
Neo wasn't sure yet, but… considering the minor strides of the previous day, she was willing to try. She flipped the page on her notebook, ready to ask another question. Her hand was still shaky, but now from nerves instead of anxiety. She'd only allowed a few people into her room for the past few weeks. Now she was inviting so many...
'Can I meet your children?'
Nicholas read the question and laughed, deep bellows that echoed in the medium sized room. "Of course! I'd be more than happy to bring them by, perhaps just a few at a time so that you aren't too overwhelmed?"
Neo nodded readily at that suggestion. She didn't want nine or more people all flooding into her room at the same time. A few at once sounded more than fair.
Nicholas stood. "Well, I'd better get to wrangling them, then. Let's say we start tomorrow? You can meet them all a few at a time, maybe play some of the board games you've got? I'm sure you'll get along really well!"
Neo glanced over to the games in question. She didn't really know how to play any of them. Maybe… maybe they could help her? Or if the other girls didn't know, even learn them together?
Feeling both incredibly anxious and hesitantly excited, Neo accepted the proposal. Nicholas grinned from ear to ear, and pulled out his scroll to begin making a call. He stepped out as he did so, not wanting to bother Neo with the particulars. She could still dimly hear his muffled half of the conversation.
"Honey, see what plans the kids have. I want a few of them to come with me to the hospital tomorrow."
An indistinct voice responded before Nicholas spoke again.
"Yes, she finally agreed to meet them!"
Neo grabbed her notebook and turned the page, shyly staring blankly at it. If she was going to have visitors, then she wanted to be ready. It would be a pain for them to wait for her to write everything down every time. Despite her own reservations, she still wanted to make a good first impression.
Pen tapping against her chin, she started thinking of what to write down ahead of time.
'My name is Neo. What's yours?'
'...'
'My favorite color is pink.'
'...'
'I'm nine. How old are you?'
'...'
Coming up with the responses to a conversation she wasn't having yet was tough.