The moment the little robot hopped upstairs, a transparent barrier shimmered into place around Rita and SmokeTune. It was one of SmokeTune's skills.
SmokeTune said, My Vine reacts to killing intent. It's amazing. Since the moment we met, this is the first time I've ever sensed killing intent from you. And not just once. You wanted to kill it? I thought you were happy to meet it.
What she didn't say aloud was this.
The gentle, caring Rita from earlier had vanished.
In her place was someone cold, measured, testing.
Every word Rita said to Y128, every gesture, had an intentional edge, as if she were feeding the robot carefully chosen signals. The moment Y128 reacted in its clumsy, earnest way, Rita's emotions shifted again. A hint of guilt. A bit of regret. A flash of sadness.
This volatile mix of instinct, suspicion, longing, and doubt felt very Vineborne.
