She grinned down at him and extended a hand. "I guess we're just a good looking pair," she said sarcastically.
He grinned, brushing back his hair. "Yeah. Also, is it true that you like when I hug you while you sleep?"
"Did I say that?" she asked curiously. She considered it with a slight flush on her cheeks, but she tried to play it off casually. "I mean... Yeah. I suppose I really like that. I love to wake up in your arms." She shrugged, obviously a little embarrassed. They started down the hallway, and she squeezed his hand. "Is that a bad thing?"
"Ah," she said, nodding. They entered the lobby where the overseers waited for them. "Good. I'm glad." The overseers followed them as they walked down the ramp. The world outside was quiet. The streets were strange panels under their feet, and the buildings towered above them. Almost no one walked on the sidewalks, and their car was waiting for them, the lone vehicle on the bare streets. Poppy squinted at the ground with her head cocked. "I think..." she said thoughtfully. "I think these are solar panels. Solar roadways." Spoiler: They're a real thing!
She squeezed his hand as they got in the car and they drove off. The road was smooth, and the buildings seemed to be made of a smooth glass. If they squinted, they would be able to see the people inside, all working furiously. "It's a little... robotic," Poppy said hesitantly.
"I don't like it. It seems too dead. There's no life in those people." He shook his head, looking at her, rather than out the window.
She bit her lip and turned to look at him, her brows furrowed in concern. "It'll all be fine," she said as they pulled up to a large, stately building. "Right?"
The car stopped in front of the steps, and Poppy took a deep breath. "Okay. Here we go. Miss Burgendy, right?"
She joined him, coming around the car and squeezing his hand tightly. The overseers gathered behind them, and they began to walk up the steps, and Poppy took a deep breath before knocking three times. The door opened immediately to reveal a wide eyed woman. She frowned at them as if they had already done something wrong. "Can I help you?"
She watched them for a moment, before opening the door wider. "I see. Please, come in. Miss Burgendy will be with you soon."
Poppy followed him in, and the woman disappeared, presumably to go alert Miss Burgendy. Poppy turned her hands nervously before the woman reappeared, this time bringing with her another. The lady was quite beautiful, with hair as black as a raven's wing and piercing blue eyes. Her features were catlike, and she watched them with interest, her lips slightly pursed. She wore a loose white blouse and black jeans, and she was taller than Poppy, maybe 5 foot 8. "Hello," she said in a stern, lilting voice. "You must be the Averlin ambassadors?"
