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[mmquitecontrary]

Mary Lennox was . . . not, perhaps, in the best mood when she headed towards Milliways today.

But then she did enter Milliways.

And it was full of creatures.As far as Mary is concerned, the only thing better would be if the walls and tables had suddenly sprouted flowers. She sits down at a table, very still and quiet so as not to frighten any of

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There is an older girl at a nearby table.

She does not appear so pleased as Mary.

In fact, if Mary saw the girl slip in from the back door and make her way to her current position, she doubtless saw her carefully skirting anything that was not human-sized, shaped, and sturdy looking.

X does not intend to break anyone today.

And at the moment she is studying Mary's expression with some degree of interest.

Delight is not something she sees all that often.

[mmquitecontrary]

X, being person-shaped, is automatically a great deal less interesting than the animals, so it takes a few moments for Mary to notice her presence at all. When she does, though, she frowns a little - usually it's Mary doing the intent studying, not the other way around.

"I do not know you," she says. Clarifying.

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X considers that statement.

Then she considers Mary.

Then she speaks, offering a one-shouldered shrug.

"No."

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"You were looking at me."

If Mary were in a worse mood right now, she would probably point out that it was rude to stare; fortunately, the animals have cheered her up enough that she leaves it alone for now.

"Why?"

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"You were happy."

There is no expression on X's face.

[mmquitecontrary]

"Yes," Mary says, a little startled.

"I like creatures. They are easier than people."

She blinks at the other girl, head tilted. "Do you not see happy people very often? There are people here who are happy much more often than I am."

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"They do not talk."

X nods, still watching Mary.

"I have not met them."

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"They do not know how to talk Human, anyways," Mary corrects. "They can talk to each other. You can understand them if you try."

Her forehead wrinkles, as she thinks, and then shakes her head. "I think you must not have met hardly anyone, then. Everyone smiles more than I do. Except Oats, but he is gone."

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X might look faintly puzzled.

"Oh."

X smiles less than Mary. X smiles less than just about anybody but the Easter Island statues.

"Do you try?"

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary does not have enough experience with X yet to be able to tell this fact!

"No," she says, frankly. "I only smile when I really must. I mean my face does it without me thinking about it."

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This time X does frown.

"It hurts?"

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"No."

Mary reconsiders. "Well - if you do it too long it does. Your muscles get tired. But if you have to try to do it then it is not true; it is only pretending."

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"Oh."

X considers this for a little while.

"My muscles do not get tired."

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary looks a little suspicious of this.

"Not ever?"

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"No."

Beat.

"I heal."

Her muscles do get tired--they just repair themselves quickly. But she'll exhaust herself eventually. It just--has not happened yet.

[mmquitecontrary]

"Everyone heals," Mary says, sagely, "unless they are dead. But they still get tired. Some people are extra strong, though - like werewolves. Do you mean you are like that?""