I like that you're not nice to me, I love your heart of ice.

She squinted at him as he feigned surprise and tossed a look over his shoulder. She had brothers, she knew he was pulling her tail. He settled down on his rump, and she did the same. Seated on the forest floor as the very last hints of sunlight faded into shadows. She was just glad the sun was finally setting. Daylight was never going to agree with her.

“Really, that’s so strange!” She said as he admitted to more of his family having the affliction. “Do they hurt? My brother has a cluster of crystals around his leg joint and he struggles to move it.” She said, it was easier to speak of the pain of a boy this stranger would never meet then admit outloud how much her eyes cost her. At least he looked at them with surprise and maybe a touch of admiration. He didn’t flinch away.

Her expression grew a little smug, and she lifted her chin a smidge. “You didn’t believe me, did you?” She said. Pretending, for just a little bit longer that there was something magical instead of awful about her eyes.

"Speech"