[ah - she'd thought that humans didn't have wings naturally. her expression doesn't change as she begins meting out sugar into her mug, maintaining her careful neutrality]

I can understand that. Trolls are hatched with different blood colors, and where you are on the hemospectrum determines how you rank. If you're really low then you have to be careful about everything you do, beclaws the people higher up are entitled to kill you for any reason at all.

[she stares down piercingly into the contents of her mug, the only indication about her strongly she feels about this topic the tight way she's gripping the spoon]

I hate it.

[it's not smart to get worked up like that, though, and she quickly realizes it. Nepeta untenses slowly and looks up at Jake with a small smile and shrug]

It's probably not as similar as it could be, but it's close enough that I think I get it. People can be pretty dumb sometimes.