Ouroboros Spine kuli ⧫

Zane spoke up, simultaneously introducing himself and revealing Kukutux's intention in calling them together.  Zane's overly-casual introduction stood in such sharp contrast to Kukutux's usual formal and flowery speech that Lane couldn't help it; a chuff of laughter escaped. She wasn't sure how Kukutux normally conducted these meetings, but there was no way that was scripted. 

"Did you really?" Lane answered, injecting a note of surprise in her voice despite the humor pulling at the corners of her mouth. Her gaze lingered on the man as Kukutux described him aloud. Hearing his bio dictated in such a way, Lane had to wonder what information Kukutux had provided to him about her, before it was decided that she should be called. What was it that had piqued his interest? 

Kukutux reassured Lane with a whisper that it was only a meeting. Lane blinked, wondering why Kukutux had felt a disclaimer was necessary. Was it because Zane seemed to lack Kukutux's sense of decorum and dignity about all of this? Lane didn't mind at all. She would even go so far as to say she appreciated the casual approach-- it made the whole thing less awkward and stilited. Lane wasn't much of a joke-cracker herself, but it was a quality she appreciated in others. 

Kukutux went on to describe how the meeting would go.

"Sure, Kukutux." Lane agreed. "And.. thanks. For keeping me in mind." Lane was not a member of Moonglow, and the moonwoman owed her absolutely nothing. Truly, it was Lane who was in debt to Kukutux, for sheltering the Glen refugees and now for honoring their previous conversation and making this meeting. Lane would find a way to pay this debt back to Kukutux, just as she had repaid the Glen for their hospitality. 

Lane tilted her head toward one of the boulders at the water's edge, indicating to Zane that they should move off a ways. "I'm Lane," she said, beginning to move toward the shoreline. She couldn't remember if Kukutux had mentioned her name. It did not escape her that their names rhymed, and Lane dearly hoped that odd detail was not the basis of this match. Surely Kukutux had a more complex algorithm that that. Surely..

"So, uh, what did she tell you about me exactly?" Lane asked the very millisecond they were out of earshot.