while wuk lamat tells the clerk her order, sphene looks away from the shop front of the mosaic to steal a glance back to the man behind her. he spots it—as she expected—and acknowledges her with a brief nod.
the man named c'orhtus—sphene notices that he has kept an eye on her at all times.
it scared her, at first, when she'd just woken up. he had been present when sphene opened her eyes in the backrooms' bedchambers. though he kept his distance, taking care to be somewhat hidden from her sight, c'orhtus never let up his watch. sphene can feel the eyes on her, still. she worried if the scrutiny may be caused by something she—her other self, the endless queen, had done; or perhaps the simulant that now wears her face, who is causing trouble somewhere within the city. but after some time, she can feel the lack of malice in his gaze, and finds herself settling into ease.
he doesn't speak much when not spoken to, sphene guesses. the constant vigil mixed with his reticence was intimidating, but now in exploring the city, she finds that when gulool ja or herself speaks to him, c'orhtus always replies amiably. at times he chimes in with short remarks about how some parts of the city haven't changed from sphene's day, and when she questions him further, c'orhtus would pause and explain to her satisfaction. and beyond that, often he would take a moment to pause, watching after how well she keeps up with her new reality. asking without words, 'what's on your mind?'
she hears it again now, and sphene thinks to herself, what a familiar feeling. despite being stranded in this new age, having her own kingdom feel like a strange land, she would have those who show her care and provide help, still. despite being a stranger, c'orhtus reminds her of a friend. so to his unspoken prompting, sphene leans closer to speak.
"i've just been thinking of this café," she tells him. "the proprietor mentioned that it was named for the different races, who appear as a mosaic of colors when they gather here. what an inspired idea," she smiles. for all the overwhelming amount of new information and sights in the modern alexandria, sphene would name this fact as her favorite.
c'orhtus eyes her curiously. "inspired," he echoes. "agreed, but to think you'd compliment yourself for that. her majesty can be conceited too, huh?"
"huh?!" sphene clutches a hand to her chest, taken aback. too late does she spot the mischievous smile on his face, but the intent is clear when he breaks into laughter.
"heh, just knew you'd make that face! sorry, i didn't mean it." c'orhtus averts his face, still grinning, to let sphene compose herself. she heaves a pleased sigh.
he really does remind sphene of the people at her side. it's been a while since she was last teased for her conduct—vonny always liked to poke fun at her the same way. there were zelenia and otis too, who always watched over her. they were gone, but some things still feel so familiar all the same.
she shakes her head at her new companion. "i already said there's no need to address me so," sphene says reproachfully.
c'orhtus nods at her, "only 'til you take your rightful place at the front of the line. go on," he gestures at the now-clear queue to the counter. being comfortable enough to speak to her also means comfortable enough to tease her, it seems. c'orhtus certainly looks pleased with himself. sphene makes a show of pouting before going to order, though on her own, she can't help but smile. the thought of having her favorite coffee with friends, new or old, is a joyous one no matter the circumstance.
