Aranince and Medea
"But look at me," Alexa was saying, "I'm huge!"
"You are pregnant, my dear," Medea replied.
"Yes but... I didn't think I'd be this big."
"Maybe you're having multiples," Medea suggested, knowing full well this was the case.
Alexa's eyes widened at the thought, as the door chime for the shop door went off.
"Don't worry, dear," Medea went on. "It's progressing nicely. You can last just a few more months."
Alexa's expression was pained, but she thanked her for all her help and left, giving the new arrival a curious glance on the way. As soon as Alexa was out, Medea sniffed at the air slightly.
"Can I help you?" she asked coldly.
The woman tucked her hair back to reveal two pointed ears.
"I hope so," Aranince replied.
"Elf," Medea said in an almost snarl.
"Only by half."
"I thought the scent was slightly diluted. What do you want?"
"Do you understand the difficulities for a half-elf to get into magic?" Aranince asked. "I don't know what it's like in other communities, but in the one I come from, they won't teach anything more than advanced Elven magic to anyone who's any less than a full blooded elf. They seem to be under the delusion that we're not capable of being able to perform it properly or some such rot."
"Rather prejudious of them," Medea responded sardonically, glaring at her in her subtle way.
"It's ironic, you know," Aranince went on. "My all-so-goody-two-shoes younger sister is the one who got shunned. But not me. Not the daughter who has a far more human attitude to life."
She pounded her delicate fist on the counter.
"Elves everywhere consider you to be trouble. None trust you. It's forbidden to associate with you. Just from being in your shop, your magical scent will be on me for days."
"So why are you here?"
"Because I want to learn magic. I'm sick and tired of things being forbidden to me."
"I see. Rebellious, are we?"
"Something like that. Will you teach me?"
Medea considered for a moment. The idea of having an elf (even a hybrid) for an assistant appealed to her sense of humour, in a spiteful way.
"Give me a strand of your hair," she said.
Aranince hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a stand of her fine hair. Medea took it and disappeared out the back. A few minutes later, she returned.
"My magic had decided you are worthy of being my assistant."
"Thank you."
"Where are you currently living?"
"New York. That's where my sister is at school. And... my job."
"You have a job?"
"Comic book artist."
"Ahh," Medea nodded. "Well, you'll have to quit that job, you know."
"I can deal."
"As for your sister, you may have the weekends off to visit her. I will need you here."
Aranince nodded.