[cautiously alert, rin spends her time examining the snake once she judges she's suitably cut off from the pair of freak show and her reptile friend, pulling her withdrawal to a halt.

of course, as caren continues jabbering on like a daft idiot, the tension naturally ebbs out of her. when rin glares at caren again, she's wearing that usual regal, almost irritatingly queenlike expression.]

That sounds like a whole bunch of lies you just made up on the spot. I'm not some complete pushover, and people will realize that when they meet me.

[rin tilts her head.]

Could it be that you're jealous of me? I wonder.