"No. Thank you, but no. If the only thing in there, is the truth, it won't hurt me any, and if they lied, I'll sue them and maybe own a magazine when it's done."
She looked at the magazine. "I guess we might as well look at it. And eat. I'm starving."
Kruger put his hand under her chin and kissed her. "If it helps, I love you, what hurts you hurts me." It was those eyes that had him trapped. She was probably lucky that there were burritos to occupy them. He grabbed the bag from where she'd laid it on the table and started toward the dining room. "All right Miss Caldwell, let's see exactly how much pain there is to be involved."
He honestly didn't see too much of an issue, he'd been born here, lived here most of his life. He'd seen things that seemed impossible. Reaching into the bag he separated their orders before finding a seat across from her, so she'd be safe.
She grabbed her burrito unwrapped it, and dug into it, as she opened the magazine to the article and skimmed it quickly, then she laughed tossed it down on the table, and snorted. "Old news."
He took the magazine, skimming the article. There were a lot of hints to possible connections, but nothing solid given. The only name he saw that had him nodding was Dorothea, but that was, as Annabeth had said, old news to him. "There's no real story there. No substance, just a headline designed to sell the magazine." He'd still be happy to make a trip down to the place and give them a real story. Anvil goes ballistic destroys building.
She nods. "Exactly. And any real outlet will see that the connection is very old. Okay, I know that I'm descended from more of Dorothea and Jesse's kids than anyone living in my family has been for a very long time. But as it was over 100 years before they started mixing again, it's hardly anything to worry about.
She paused for a moment and smiled. "My dad didn't even know. We didn't find out my mom was descended from two of the Caldwell daughters until after I was born."
"Okay, I won't sue them, they've covered themselves a bit well for that. And we won't go beat them up -- as tempting as that is -- 'cause most of the people that would believe this horse manure, I don't care about their opinions anyway."
One more deep breath and it's obvious she's calmed down enough not to throw things anymore. "Well, as far as I'm aware, that's all the secrets in my family tree. Several of my branches all come back together in me. What about you? Anything in your heritage I should know about?"
He wasn't disappointed, or at least not much. He took her hand, and kissed her palm. "Skeletons you mean? I was born here, and you've been here long enough to know that some odd pairing can take place." Maybe that sounded worse than he intended.
"I am of mixed races. My Paternal grandfather was a dwarf, and his wife an elf." Kruger took a bite of his burrito, and let that sink in before continuing. "My mother's side was no less convoluted. Her father was a full human, but her mother was... is a Selkie. There's an island not far from here..." He stopped, a look of sadness crossing his face for just a moment. "She's still there with all of them."
Kruger gave a faint shrug, and frowned. "I'm part of all of them, but really accepted by none of them. It's simpler to just pretend to be fully human. Shorter than most, that's true." Proportionally wider too, but he wasn't going to list out those details unless she really wanted them.
They weren't skeletons as far as she was concerned, but it did explain a few things. And like he said, this is Rhydin, where a hybrids of every race or species imaginable, and probably a few unimaginable ones, walk the street everyday. "You're just fine as far as I'm concerned. And I accept you. Just as you are." She rose and walked to the mini-fridge hidden in the bottom of the china cabinet. "I'm going to have a coke, I'd get something stronger, but we do have a performance tonight. Want anything?"
"Water will be fine actually. Probably best considering the performance. I've got to speak like that... what are you going to call me again? A wretched creature?" He grinned at her, hoping to get a laugh. "Still I do think it would be best to be hydrated instead of caffeinated."
Kruger crumpled the trash from his meal up and put it into the bag. Later that would go to the bin. "How long have we got before curtain? I'm no good with that unless I have some stage director yelling Five Minutes Kruger!" That was probably true too.
She did laugh, but then nodded and pulled out a coke and two waters. She crossed over to him and handed him his water bottle before sitting down again. She glanced at her watch. "Curtain is in two hours, which gives us about an hour to get there so costuming and makeup can get us done. Well, an hour for you, but there's no need in both of us walking alone.?
She paused for a moment after taking a drink, thoughtful. ?Well now you've seen me angry. One more mask thrown away."
The water wouldn't last long, they never did. Try as he might he always ended up taking long drinks and not really being able to save any. It wasn't really a problem in the city. Probably a good thing that he wasn't living in the desert though.
"Are you kidding? I wouldn't let you walk alone. I mean not unless I wasn't there to walk with you. And that has less to do with safety and everything to do with wanting to spend time with you. I'm not sure you noticed, but I'm kind of smitten with you."
And there went the first drink, if he needed the energy later he'd pick up an energy drink.
"Besides, I think you do an excellent job of holding my hand so I don't wander out into traffic." Did that mean she wanted to start heading that way now?
She laughed long and hearty at that and handed him the second water. She sipped her coke and before long her right hand had snagged a pad and pencil. The doodling commenced while she watched him.
?I think I did notice that. You might have noticed it's mutual. Aww, you figured out why I hold your hand? Now I don't have an excuse." She winked then and it was clear that there was no hurry. It was only a ten minute walk to the theater from here.
