"Look," you say as you turn your attention back towards Lucy, breaking your reverie, "this is an awful hard sell you're giving me here."
"Somebody's got to, after what Frankie and Gerri were pulling. I don't think they were expecting you to stand your ground."
"I don't think I was expecting it either, but you three about backed me into a corner here."
"That's how they are. It's how we all are, to some degree. You feel it too, don't you? That by being here, you're in their territory."
"I'd... I'd noticed." Your nostrils flare, the scents you noticed earlier filling them again.
"And since you're new, they weren't going to let you forget that it's theirs. Jockeying for position."
"Well I'm not feeling very submissive right now," you say with a curled lip.
"Which was a surprise. Now, the twins might disagree with me, but I'm not sure it's a bad one."
"Still, I think I need some air. I'm not used to..."
"...to the scents?" She asks, coming out and saying it.
"...yes," you say with a flush coming to your cheeks.
"It's like a whole other language you haven't learned yet, isn't it?"
"Something like that."
"It gets easier, but I don't blame you for wanting to clear your head."
"I might... I might still come back."
"I don't doubt, but if you're going to, you'll want to do so before sunset..."