You mentioned Shayde’s much-debated status as “human” among the denizens of Amalgam. So I’m guessing that as well as all the “human status confirmed” moments there had to be a few cogniscients that just bluntly asked her what she was. And I’ll bet after the first twelve she started coming up with more creative answers/responses….
[AN: I doubt she made it as far as twelve]
There were drawbacks to being in the company of someone who was only technically human.
“Your -er- tall friend, over there,” began a random passerby.
“Yes, she’s human in everything but the physical resemblance. I stood with her in the ruins of Daffadd Gwedyl ar Afon[1] as she gave a historically accurate recounting of what was no longer there. Including details that were discovered later. She originated in pre-shattering Earth and has… been… through quite a lot.”
“She’s really five hundred years old?”
“Another technicality,” Rael allowed. “Chronologically, subjectively, she’s twenty-seven. It’s only when you measure her age in this universe that she’s five hundred and change.”
Over at the counter, Shayde was dealing with another curious cogniscent in a far less civil manner. “Noooooo… I’m a meat popsicle. And I’m only two! Awa’ wi’ ye! Shoo!”
People should really learn to pay attention to the pins she wore.
[1] I once translated “sheep crossing on the river” to Welsh and this is what I got.
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