From Sea to Shore! [Public/Ulv]

It felt like she was getting a lecture or lesson on power. Technically, she was, but Ania never had anyone talk to her like this about power, and namely how to get any, so she just took it at face value and kept silent. Less than an annoying lecture, this felt actually informational--it was something about power she never actually knew.

Ania continued holding onto Ulv's hand while they walked and nodded in response to the advice. Hobbs followed behind with a bit of a trot, rather excited for the incoming meal and drink. She only spoke up when being spoken to and asked to respond, really.

"I jus' feed de' boy some dog food, usually. Wat de' ya wanna eat, Hobbs?"

The tiger reared its cheeks back to reveal massive fangs, still sharp as ever even if he was somewhat domesticated. Hobbs leaned onto its two back legs and sat straight; he used his frontal paws to gesture like he was tearing away at something. Ania translated to the best of her ability.

"Oh. Meat."

The smells of the food currently out and currently being made had both Hobbs and Ania literally salivating. The salivation from Hobbs was a even frightening for some bystanders who walked a little further from the place than usual, or outright left because of his presence. A hungry, massive beast was fairly scary, after all.

"Huh? Oh. Uh... I dunno. Just power. I wanna be strong--super strong. I wanna be able to beat some people up."

Ania put her hand up to her shirt collar and pulled it up before starting to chew and bite on it. It was a habit of hers when in deep thought.

"Oh, erokeenetiks sounds good. Or, like, if I panched someone and dey exploded."

Ulv wasn't wrong. Ania always saw other people with powers, and she desired them, but she didn't have a clear idea for what she was going for. "Power" was just a nebulous desire of Ania's. No-one's ever asked her, so she never really developed that idea any further.

When the food came along, Ania and Hobbs became ravenous. The bowl of meat was practically swallowed in one whole gulp before the tiger looked up with pleading kitty eyes asking for more. Pretty much the same happened with Ania as she finally let go of Ulv's hand, though she took a bit longer to clean the bowl before looking up with puppy-dog eyes, seeing if she could have anymore. The girl still offered a response, of course; maybe being obedient here was the key to getting more food.

"Everyone else is strong, so I wanna be strong; I wanna be the strongest, and then beat up everyone I don't like and everyone else stronger than me."

There was a bloom of stars and moons in both the eyes of Hobbs and Ania. After all, they were just promised consistent food over the days, and secondarily, perhaps shelter? Not even her bullies would be mean enough to bait her with food and then have her sleep outside, or on her ship. Oh, actually, just sleeping in the ship sounded good too. Familiar circumstances, after all, and if she tethered it to the harbour then this time she wouldn't drift off into the sea without preparing food and water. The two were still hungry, but they'd be willing to stomach the yearning for now.

Then, the lecture came back. Strength for the sake of strength was bad. Sure, Ania didn't quite get it, but she'll take Ulv's words to be the truth. Ania had no idea how to go about vying for strength, or what were the appropriate motivators. But, using strength to beat other people up? Why was that bad? Why was it bad that other people could use their powers to beat her up, but not her? That doesn't sound fair. It's already unfair that everyone else got to have powers at all, and not her. And now Ulv was telling her that she'd keep her away from that goal? A bubbling of anger started rising in the girl, but she didn't say anything about it. Better not to talk about how she's angry and thinks that's unfair; that's also how you get beat up.

And now she was being pressed for her real name. What was happening here? Everything felt like it was going well, she was finally not lost, not as hungry, and stability was finally established. And now, rather than having the good mood continue, she was being lectured and interrogated.

"I dunno what you are tokkin' about. I go by Ayla now."

Well, half true, half lie. She knew what Ulv was talking about. Going by Ayla now, though--that was... well, she made up her mind to go on with it, so it wasn't a lie. She did indeed go by Ayla now.