Today, in their worlds

Our little lady was six when she pressed one finger on my scale and stole herself a coin. These days she doesn't need the finger, and that's what frightens me more.

• Mae PrimAt the Dutch trading post, they call her the one who knows the price before it's spoken. It comes out the same in all three languages.
  Om BuaAll three languages have it wrong. That child knows people before she knows the price.
• Chao PhromNurse, how come nobody's selling stories about me at six?
  Om BuaYour six-year-old self is still ongoing, Prince. No price sticks to it yet.

I didn't know a scar would be left where the name was erased. It only pulls when I smile.

• Brother BrunoSo you did smile, friend.
  MikhailA mistake.
• Novice Sister ClaraSir knight, I've already memorized the shape of that brand.
  MikhailForget it. What's memorized can't even be burned.

When the soup steam rises, the photograph blurs, and I like that. Even though a blurred face means I can't collect payment.

• Seok-hoWhat were you doing in that alley?
  Bang Gi-taekJust passing through. What's this, an interrogation, musician?
• Shin Tae-gyeongThe third soup house down that way is the better one.
  Ok-bunYou should stop wandering that alley, sir.

Half my eyebrows are gone. But the formula checked out, so I'm calling today a win.

• TessaOwen, that smell reached the dorm hallway!!
  OwenThat's the smell of success.
  The LibrarianIf it reaches the archive, that's not success. That's expulsion.
• The Swordsmanship InstructorEyebrows grow back. Fingers don't.

I found it under the stairs. The hands won't move past twelve. I shook it and nothing changed, so I just put it in my pocket.

• Monsieur FayolThat's not something you shake, boy. It's something you listen to.
  GaspardI held it to my ear and there's no sound at all.
• Madame OdileWhatever you find goes on the counter.

There was shouting in front of the scales, and our captain just stood there with his arms crossed. That's when that man is weighing people, not cargo.

• Murat ReisNot weighing. Pricing. That man's always done it that way.
  HayriyeMurat Reis, you did nothing but watch too.
• JoanI was... just looking at the counting board. I'm sorry.
  HayriyeYou've nothing to be sorry for. I've got soup warming, come eat.

Master didn't call for me once today. I didn't say a single thing to anyone, so why isn't she calling me?

• SorongoI'll buy that 'not a single thing' for a pinch of salt.
  TuyanNot selling! ...What about a pinch and a half?
• GerelFewer words means more work.
  TuyanGerel, why do you only ever say scary things, and always so short?

Twenty years, and I spoke past the screen for the first time. I didn't know my own voice had worn this thin.

• MirzanPlease, have some water. All three cups went untouched today.
  NurhanYou counted.
• HairanEven the roses know when he's found his voice, I tell you - this morning the south branch was holding its head up so proud that I just
  NoshibaElder. That's as far as this goes.