"Well, shoot, Texas sure does pack a whole heap of goodness into its borders," Fred mused, her attention drifting past Ashley's flirtatious overtures, which sailed right over her head. She might have been sharp as a tack when it came to books, but navigating the subtleties of romantic interaction wasn't exactly her forte. "Sometimes I find myself hankerin' for home, you know? Missin' the little things like a proper chicken-fried steak or them county fairs, or just the wide-open spaces." A wistful sigh escaped her lips, accompanied by a broad smile that spoke volumes.
"But I ain't gonna lie, I took a real shine to Los Angeles too," she continued, her eyes alight with reminiscence. "Somethin' 'bout bein' by the ocean, all sparkly and pretty when the night sets in... reckon every place's got its own kind of magic if you look for it. Even here. Never seen snow 'til now, though it ain't been stickin' to the ground none."
Her enthusiasm bubbled up anew at the mention of the science center. "Oh, they switch up them exhibits so often, who knows what wonders they got in store for us in 2024! But that wind turbine, now that's a keeper. Powers the whole dang computer system, can you believe it?"
Portals. That word hung heavy in the air, impossible for him to just brush aside. Fred's smile faltered just a tad, a shadow crossing her features. "Y-yeah, portals..." she murmured, her hands twisting uncomfortably as memories of past encounters flooded back, chilling her like a sudden plunge into icy waters. "Can't say it's my first rodeo with 'em, truth be told. Seems like I always end up somewhere I ain't supposed to be. Ain't that somethin'? Don't get me wrong, bein' with you is... well, it's nice, but..." Her voice trailed off, uncertainty tainting her words as the specter of Pylea loomed large in her mind once more.
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"But I ain't gonna lie, I took a real shine to Los Angeles too," she continued, her eyes alight with reminiscence. "Somethin' 'bout bein' by the ocean, all sparkly and pretty when the night sets in... reckon every place's got its own kind of magic if you look for it. Even here. Never seen snow 'til now, though it ain't been stickin' to the ground none."
Her enthusiasm bubbled up anew at the mention of the science center. "Oh, they switch up them exhibits so often, who knows what wonders they got in store for us in 2024! But that wind turbine, now that's a keeper. Powers the whole dang computer system, can you believe it?"
Portals. That word hung heavy in the air, impossible for him to just brush aside. Fred's smile faltered just a tad, a shadow crossing her features. "Y-yeah, portals..." she murmured, her hands twisting uncomfortably as memories of past encounters flooded back, chilling her like a sudden plunge into icy waters. "Can't say it's my first rodeo with 'em, truth be told. Seems like I always end up somewhere I ain't supposed to be. Ain't that somethin'? Don't get me wrong, bein' with you is... well, it's nice, but..." Her voice trailed off, uncertainty tainting her words as the specter of Pylea loomed large in her mind once more.