#brightwindsbarony

"But don't feel too bad if you don't. For everyone really good at kenning there are like three of us who are meh at best"

"How do I do it? If you don't mind..." The book returned to her pack and securely latched.

"You know all that bullshit about the force in Star Wars movies? Trust your feelings, luke, that kind of thing?"

"Some of us use that. Others feel it in the gut. For a lot of us it feels like a different sort of warmth, never hot, but like slow immersion in a hot tub"

Nessa ponders this for a moment, and nods. "I think I understand. I'll try it!"

"It'll come to you. I'm probably not the best teacher, but it's good to know about. And a lot of us are self taught in it" They approach a plaza with some shops "Keep a look out for one that sells notebooks?"

"I will!" Looking over the shops with interest. "There's the coffee shop Mom used to work at... and that bar, but they were jerks and skimmed tips so I don't recommend it."

"THe coffee shop or the bar? " She asks

"Both, she's picked up shifts anywhere that would offer them. The coffee shop was good, the bar was rude. I bet she'd kick someone if they tried to mess with her now."

"huh" She says "Oh wait, here we go," the Store here says 'Cliff's Notes'. It seems to sell school supplies, office goods, and some hobby material "Let's check it out"

The troll goes in expecting the centaur to follow

She does follow, with just a slight hesitation as the door closes behind her, taking a quick few steps forward so that it doesn't "shut" on her rump, physical or not. Looking around in interest.

Everything she might need is surely here. The place lacks the color of the freehold, then again, the freehold has colors she never knew existed. Yet it's also trying to save space. THe place is almost a maze of supplies and as Nessi walks through the tight paths- she feels vaguely claustrophobic. When she loses sight of the exit, it gets worse

Why does it feel like the rows are SQUEEZING

She tries to focus on the notebooks, the pens - the pens! Gel inks and fine tip and... and why does her chest feel tight? She backs up to find some room, and knocks over a small stand of cards... "Oh, I'm sorry." Nessa gasps and tries to scoop them up.

"Hey, everything okay there?" the guy behnd the counter calls out

She can pick them up, not gracefully but she's getting them.

"I'm fine, it's fine, I'm sorry." She says, almost like a mantra. Standing up with an armful of cards, she looks for a place to set them, and there is that narrow aisleway again. Turning, she seeks a way out, her hooves clattering a bit as she shifts her weight nervously.

And the troll is there, "hey, what's up?" Pepper seems nice she is, but she's taking up so much room.

Her breath coming quickly, hyperventilating. She backs around a corner, and looks desperately in that direction - which way is OUT of here? Left, right, straight through the nice blue wall?

"Nessi?" Pepper says concerned, "I found a notebook like your old one. Well new but.. shit you okay?"

More rows. Wait, sunlight, that way. Must be the front of the store

Her eyes roll a bit as she rears up, front hooves lifting off the ground, and clatters back down - the notepads in her arms dropped and abandoned, she makes a break for the light!

And she almost knocks the guy coming around the counter over, hitting the door and .. thank god, she's okay

SHe's okay.. she's okay. She's on the side walk she's got room she can move.

Taking deep breaths, and trying to recenter...

It comes quickly now... she can focus here.

There's a vending machine with sodas and water options. As her throat is dry she might be tempted

She digs through her pockets and counts out change with a trembling hand, pushing the button for a ginger ale.

And one, ice cold, rolls out

And, rolling out of the store, is Pepper, carrying a bag from it "Hey, I didn't know exactly what you wanted so I picked up some of the things you dropped and this notebook I found and bought them. You okay?"

She turns, pressing the can against her cheek for a moment, letting the coolness spread, even as her face reddens a bit. "I didn't break anything, did I?"

"No, but what the fuck happened in there?" She says "You met a scary chimera?"

"It was... the aisles were so narrow, and it felt like the walls were closing in on me. I felt suffocated, trapped... I'm sorry, Pepper. I can... just give me a minute, and I think I can go in to return those.. and apologize. I can't afford all that."

"Well I already bought, and I can, so no fucking sweat. Did you always feel that way about tight places?" Curious

Biting her lip, she shakes her head. "I've always been okay in shops... book stores, or libraries, the kind where you can just browse for hours..."

Pepper ponders "So this is new." A pondering "Wait, the library, gives me an idea. Come on"

She cracks the soda and takes a long cool drink, and then follows...

And she heads into a library

The Library is across the street a bit. But they're young and healthy so take no time

And.. she sees windows placed high up so they don't fall on the books directly. The spacing is better. She can see exits

It seems to make a lot of difference

"how is this?" She says

Nessa hesitates a long moment on the threshold, before moving in. "It's... it's much better." She admits. "I can.. breath in here? It's still..." She touches her chest. "A little tight, ... but not nearly as awful. Oh, I was so rude to the stationary clerk."

"It's okay. He thinks you were on drugs. I told him that you had a family emergency text," PEpper says "Okay so ...maybe centaurs have a kind of claustrophobia?"

Her head ducks. "I can never go back there." Flaming embarassment. "I'm not sure if I COULD... but now I definitely can't."

"Oh for shit's sake you didn't do anything wrong, you just had a panic attack. No shame. And if he wants money he'll keep his yap shut if you do go back."

She wilts a little before Pepper's scolding, intended as such or not. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to cause any trouble. And I'll find a way to pay you back." I guess a job in a stationary store is right out... She muses.

"That's not what I meant..." Pepper says "And no need to pay me back, really. " The troll says "Just don't beat yourself up. We've all.. all changelings have something." She lowers her voice "Some challenge. Pooka can't help but lie. Eshu get reckless. We don't knwo what hits centaurs, so it's not fair to chew you out for finding out the hard way. I... sorry." Pepper says "I'm blunt at times"

She nods, and gives Pepper a smile. "WEll, Now we know more than we did... I'd better tell mom and Da before they go shopping or anything. They're bigger and stronger than me."