love set you going like a fat gold watch (open)

[higginbottom]

Esther is being entrepreneurial. In fact, she has set up a small booth in the Mansion foyer with a sign that reads:

Let Me Write You a Poem (Or Equivalent Prose)

Of course, she hasn't had any takers yet, so she's feeling a little discouraged. But no matter! The point is, she's there, sitting and looking very prim and proper.




Looks can be deceiving, though she herself may not realize that yet.

Comments

[thepurpledanger]

"He isn't," Gu Xiang agrees readily. "He goes all red and starts leaking from his whole face when he eats anything spicier than garlic. It's very pathetic."

[higginbottom]

Esther can't help but laugh a little.

"Well, I can't really blame him - I can't eat much spicy food either," she replies, amused.

[thepurpledanger]

"Well, no wonder you're so feminine!" says Gu Xiang. "But you have to keep in balance! Even a pretty feminine girl like you needs to have some yang energy, or you'll waste away!"

[higginbottom]

"So I should eat spicier foods?" Esther asks.

[thepurpledanger]

"Or at least onions, garlic, and kidneys," says Gu Xiang. "And vinegar, too! I can stir-fry some mustard greens and kidneys in vinegar for you!"

[higginbottom]

That doesn't sound particularly appetizing to Esther.

"What about cake? Can I eat cake and get better?"

[thepurpledanger]

Gu Xiang considers. A cake is cooked, so that's good, and it's sweet, which will help; however, a bean cake would be no good at all. But Esther probably means the kind of cakes that Gu Xiang's seen in the cafe, not the kind that Gu Xiang is used to. Gu Xiang's on weaker territory there. "Maybe a spiced nut cake," she allows grudgingly. "But not very much unless it has a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger."

[higginbottom]

"Hm." Esther considers this. "I like cinnamon and nutmeg, so I think I could do that."

She pauses a moment.

"Do you think fresh air could help, too? I'm asking because I tend to stay indoors writing."

[thepurpledanger]

"In summer--but in winter, it might make you worse. You need to stay warm, especially because you get cold easily." Gu Xiang tilts her head, then abruptly ducks a bow. "My name's Gu Xiang. What's yours?"

[higginbottom]

"I'm Esther Greenwood," she replies. "It's nice to meet you."