Ebony "Interstellar Introvert"

“By the end of our third year of marriage, I understood that the secret to everlasting love was fear. Fear tethered love in place. Without the terror that came from imagining a life without your beloved, there was no urgency in loving them. I tried to love Indigo as she wished.”
― Roshani Chokshi, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

“When I looked at Indigo then, her eyes were soft and wet, and for a single moment I knew the very texture of her soul. “I wish I could win your hand like in the stories,” I said. “I’d fetch you the feather from the tail of a firebird. I’d fit the ocean in a walnut shell. Or find you Cinderella’s glass slippers.” Indigo laughed. “What would I do with glass slippers?” “Dance in them, of course.”
― Roshani Chokshi, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

“What’s going on there?” THAT’S JUST SOME REAL ESTATE DEALS I’M WORKING ON. “Real estate?” I HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF THIS COMPANY, YOU KNOW. “More than I do,” I said. “Is … that legal? Owning real estate?” YOU MEAN, BECAUSE I’M A CAT? “Well, yes.” I HAVE A TRUST SET UP FOR MY BENEFIT AND A HUMAN LAWYER THAT ACTS AS THE EXECUTOR. I TELL HIM WHAT TO DO, HE DOES IT. “Does he know you’re a cat?” YOU KNOW, IT’S NEVER COME UP. “So, you’re a real estate maven.” I HAVE A DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO, Hera wrote. MOSTLY BORING BUT SOME EXCITING PARTS. I DO A LOT OF INVESTING IN EMERGING MARKETS. “Sounds risky.” I’M A CAT, I CAN HANDLE RISK. WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS I LOSE EVERYTHING AND I STILL GET FED AND HAVE A PLACE TO NAP. “That’s … a surprisingly chill way of thinking about things.” SOMETIMES IT’S BETTER NOT TO BE A HUMAN, CHARLIE.”
― John Scalzi, Starter Villain

“The woman, still grinning, lifted her fingers as if she might pluck out the jewel. The old man beside her grabbed her wrist— “I said the diamond was yours. I didn’t say you could take it out of the fucking glass.” The woman appeared stung. She looked from the glass to the man, her eyes narrowing. “I’m fucking serious,” he said, even as he laughed. “If you want it so badly, you can find it in tomorrow’s filth.”
― Roshani Chokshi, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride