Just Ask Trixie

An interactive interview, you choose the question.

Begin

Instructions

Hello, welcome to the interactive interview. I decided to combine my story with my extra. The number of words in the actual story, including your prompt questions add up to exactly 900 words.

• Read the text, and click the button beside the response you’d like to choose.• Click on buttons, and buttons only. Doing otherwise with muddle the order of the

slides.• If a continue button is shown, click it to do so.• Continue until the ‘Finish’ button is shown, and click it to do so.• Feel free to go back and try different responses- they’re mostly similar, but if you

want to ask about both aspects of her appearance (later), be my guest.• Enjoy.

Continue

"Right this way."Nodding in silence, you follow the uniformed figure along the murky hall. The stone walls radiate

cold, and the muffled thud of your own feet against the floor is loud. You feel it should echo- but it doesn't. The figure halts, standing aside, and a dim light drifts from within an open door.There, in the centre of the room, is a table. At one end, a gruff looking human, also uniformed. At the other end, a female Kiamara sits slouched in her seat; she is surprisingly brightly coloured, clad with garments of grey, and hair of thick black hangs over her shoulder. You can't help but wonder why such a pretty young Kia is sitting in an Interrogation Room. She acknowledges your presence with a swift glance."Alright, Miss Starling," the uniformed woman stands, speaking slowly and gesturing towards you, "Speak."The Kia's gaze follows blankly.

"Speak," she repeats, "We leave. You talk. Yes? Good."With that, the two figures leave, the woman whispering in your ear as she passes.

"If she's difficult, just give us a signal, alright? We'll be watching."Nodding silently again and take a seat. Swivelling into position, she catches you off guard with

her stare; pale silver eyes glistening brightly, stained yellow by the light overhead. Regathering yourself, you lean your elbows casually against the table. She watches you for a moment, pursing her lips.

"Parli Italiano?"You pause, panicked. Recognise the word 'Italiano' as Italian, so you shake your head based on

that."Good." she slouches across the table, "A decent response."You're surprised at how quickly her accent evaporates. She suddenly sounds completely English.

- So you do speak English?

- Are you English? Or Italian?

Is that not clear?" she rolls her eyes, "Not that they need to know that. And not that I'll oblige if you tell them.”

- Why will you speak to me, but not them?

- Why not just speak to them and get it over with?

"Italian," she shrugs, "But I'm practised in English. Not that they need to know that. And not that I'll oblige if you tell them.”

- Why will you speak to me, but not them?

- Why not just speak to them and get it over with?

"Because you have no influence in here, and they do. You're only here so that they can get information from you, then assert their influence."

- You do realise that I have to tell them this information?

- I'll only tell them what they need to know.

"Eh," she shrugs, "It's no fun to just outright tell them what they want to hear. Knowing that I'm speaking to you now will irritate them for sure."

Her expression sways blank, lips curving into a smirk.

"They'll find out, but not the way they wanted to.”

- You do realise that I have to tell them this information?

- I'll only tell them what they need to know.

"Completely. But still, they'll never hear it from my lips.”

- Why are you in here, anyway?

She frowns slightly.

"And just how much do they need to know? I think it's more about what they want to know. And in that case, everything.”

- Why are you in here, anyway?

"Stole a few things here and there. Normally I'd get away with it, but today's been a rough day."She crosses her legs on the table.

"Don't get me wrong, though. I'm no leisure thief. I only take what I need to get by. I don't bother with electronics or any of that 'valuable' stuff. It's no value to me.”

- You don't ever take money?

- What have you done with your stolen items?

"Nah. I've considered it. But all would mean is that I wouldn't have to take food for a day. Besides, knowing people, they'd miss their hard earned money more than their actual goods.”

- I don't all that grey you're wearing proves as much of a disguise.

- You've certainly prettied yourself up for the occasion, Miss Starling. (mascara)

"Take a guess." she pats her stomach with a grin, "Like I said. I take the essentials. Especially the ones I don't have to hide.”

- I don't all that grey you're wearing proves as much of a disguise.

- You've certainly prettied yourself up for the occasion, Miss Starling. (mascara)

"These? They were white once. Fabric whitener is one thing I've never bothered with." Her amused expression is light, though it's tinged with something else.

"It's only fair, though. I've left my mark on the streets, and the streets have left their mark on me."

She gazes down at her leg warmers fondly."They're all the way from Italy. Just like me.”

The guard returns at that moment, about to lead you from the room. The Kia's eyes flick towards him, and back, and she whispers to you with a wink."The name's Trixie, by the way."

She watches as you're the guard escorts you out, nodding with a grin. You catch her lips moving. Ciao, she mouths.

Finish

"Can't a girl feel good about herself?" she snaps, perhaps a little too quickly, "I may not be the diamond in the rough, but does that mean I have to feel like that?"

Her fingers clasp a tuft of her hair, clinging.You jolt at her tone, and the guard returns at once.The Kia's eyes flick towards him and back, and she winks at you.

"The name's Trixie, by the way." she whispers.Suddenly, she stands, her stance furious."Cosa fare a voi tutti voglio con me? Lasciami stare!"She spits her words, and the guard swiftly pulls you from the room. Looking back as you're led

away, she catches your gaze, nodding with a grin.

Finish

Thank You

Thank you for reading my interactive interview. It was short, yes, but I’d gladly make a longer version without word limit. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

In case your curious about the Italian in the story, here are translations of the phrases used.

‘Parli Italiano?’ translates to ‘Do you speak Italian?’.

‘Cosa fare a voi tutti voglio con me? Lasciami stare!’ translates to ‘What do you all want with me? Leave me alone!’

And ‘Ciao’ is the informal phrase for both ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Italian.