Noctisardor Bypass Karma Police

Anselm had a penchant for foot-in-mouth; this was not the first time flapping his trap added nothing positive to the situation.

He shut his jaws with a snap, having caught a glimpse of something in Suzu’s face that was not supportive. He stiffened, standing his full height — which still fell several inches short of the man who now stood in front of them.

Anselm had never wondered what it was to be a bug, but in that moment he felt like a tiny insect under the excruciating study of a giant — magnifying glass and all passing clinically through him, an impossibly large thumb rising from the sky to blot his inconsequential existence into the dirt.

They were told to leave. That was not what Anselm expected. Truthfully, he’d expected way worse — but he knew Suzu would not be happy with this dismissal.

For once, Anselm kept his mouth shut.