Lunar Doldrums - 1

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I’m awake again. I guess nobody tried to kill me in my sleep. How nice.

I guess I should get up...

This is a really nice futon. It was worth fighting the Flower Prince for the last one.

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Okay, fine, getting up now.

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I really should cut my hair. It takes forever to comb it out every morning.

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I guess I wouldn’t be the Hair Princess anymore if I did that. Not that I mind. It’s a dumb title. Just because I have the longest hair...

I just don’t feel like cutting it, is all. It’s only, what, six feet long? Seven? It’s not that bad. I’ll cut it latter.

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It might be closer to eight feet.

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Good job, Naime. You’ve sat up. What an accomplishment. I can hear the servants crying tears of joy.

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It can’t be longer than eight feet, right?

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Maybe I’ll have breakfast in bed today.

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Apparently it’s longer than eight feet. That’s what the servants say. Sorry for always making you comb it out.

Oh, today’s breakfast is white ration soup. What a shock. Cubed white rations in a thin white ration broth. Yum. Completely and utterly tasteless. The texture isn’t bad, though. Kind of like tofu.

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Can you fry white rations?

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Maybe I’ll go shopping today.

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Of course, I’d have to get up for that.

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It’s a miracle. I’m actually standing up. Never thought I’d see the day.

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You don’t have to cry, you know. It hasn’t been that long. I went to the Pearl Princess’s poetry competition two months ago.

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I’m not sure why you’re so excited. All those kimono look the same.

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Just leave my hair straight. I’d rather not spend all day sitting while you style it.

There’s a big difference.

And it’s not like I sit around all day.

Usually I’m lying down.

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The market looks the same as always. The same houses selling the same wares. Who sold black seeds again? The Ground Prince?

Ahh, there’s his pavilion. Let’s see. I’ll take some black seed oil and... I guess I’ll buy some ground black seeds too.

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I wish black seeds were spicier.

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I bet I could kill the Flower Prince with a chili pepper.

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He might be a Dreamer, though.

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I think I’ll get some Mexican food when I go back to bed.

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Shopping’s so much easier when you have servants to carry everything.

It’s totally worth the occasional assassination attempt.

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Speaking of attempts, I need a new kimono. This one’s too bloody.

It’s gauche, you know? Walking around in a bloody kimono.

The Flower Prince can pull it off, but that’s only because he gets the splatters to look like flower petals. I really need to ask him how he does that.

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Doesn’t he have a pavilion around here? Maybe he has some kimono he hasn’t dyed yet that I could buy for cheap.

If I throw in my “failed to kill each other” discount, I might be able to afford it.

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I forgot. I hate boutiques. All the judgemental glares...

No one’s actually glaring at me. Not here. Not at the Hair Princess.

But they’re glaring at *me*. At Naime. What are you doing here? You don’t belong here. You couldn’t even get hired to work here. Garbage. Trash-

Calm down. You aren’t dreaming. Not yet. You’re still *here*. You’re fine here. You’re safe here.

Isn’t that ironic? You feel safer here, where you could be assassinated at any time.

Ugh. Let’s just stop thinking about it and go home. It’s not like I’m short on clothing.

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What an unpleasant day. This is why I don’t go anywhere. The Pearl Princess will just have to hold her next competition at my place.

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I wonder if the Flower Prince will drop by?

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I’m awake again. On this side, this time. I hate it here.

At least the food’s good.