‘I’m unemployed at the moment, actually.’ Magnus shrugged, yet his eyes downcast to the ground with a drawn brow for a fleeting second before it smoothed once more. He supposed lying was the easiest option to go for if he wanted to avoid the continuation on such a sensitive topic. ‘Detective work was too taxing. I found myself aging, and never had any decent amount fo time to myself, so I decided to let it up.’ The human felt disconcerted about lying through his teeth, so instead, he responded on a truthful subject. ‘I’m not that great a flyer…I get motion sickness, and can be quite nervous on going on jets. I’ve never been out of the country. I do however, take trips to see my cousins up North with every chance I get. I drive there, of course.’
Smiling, the human dropped his eyes to hers again, tone light and a little teasing. ‘Ah, you see? You’ve caught me rambling too. Now tell me, do you have any favourite pastimes when you’re not actively involved in literary studies? I’ve still got my ‘twenty questions’ that need to be answered.’
“Oh, lots. I love to read. I tear through books like you would not believe. I was so happy when ereaders finally became reasonably priced. I also study martial arts, and actually spend a lot of time researching my family history.” Summer chuckled. “I do a lot of things for fun that I’m probably not actually very good at, like singing and dancing, and I write a little too.” Twining her hands before her, she smiled up at Magnus, shaking her hair back. “Next?”
‘You’re quite the voyager,’ Magnus responded, impressed, ‘And above all that, you travel too. Quite a good life you have there.’
Brow perking at her list, the human continued. ‘Martial arts, ey? Funny, I wouldn’t pick you as the one with a few tricks of the trade under your belt – though then again, looks can be deceiving.’
“A girl’s got to protect herself somehow, and carrying weaponry is such a hassle. Much better if I can defend myself with just myself.” Tucking her hands in her back pockets, Summer went on, “Plus, it’s a good place to take my frustrations. I get so /angry/ sometimes, at the world and the way it is.” She took a few quick, running steps forward, flashing a jumping front kick into the air.
“Not that I’ve ever needed to use it that way. I mean, who would bother me? I don’t look like a threat or a good target.” She shrugged. “Not pretty enough to try to rape, not flashy enough to shake down for cash, not tall or built enough to be a challenge.”