:3

[discomfort]

Comments

[discomfort]

[ ah, the jumpscare.

but owner will now move to step away. give him his hands, please. ]

Is there anything in particular you would like to do here? [ ... ] Besides see my inn.

[verminous]

Well... mostly, I came here to see you again, so I guess I wanna see whatever you want to show me.

Said I wanted to know more about where it is you come from, but I don't know the best place to start for that.

[discomfort]

[ he goes quiet at that, thinking... thinking...

before gesturing for gregor to follow him. ]

Tell me how you have been, Gregor.

[verminous]

Ah, y'know, same old, same old. Died a few more times on the last mission, but we made out pretty well in the end despite all that mess...

[...]

It was... a little harder than I expected. Being in the City again. Used to be all I knew, but now that I know about different places, it's... kinda rough.

[discomfort]

... knowing that you could be elsewhere and not dealing with all of it?

[ that's understandable. growing up thinking that this is how everything is, only to find out that no, everything is much more vast than you imagined. something happier might be out there if you reached out far enough. ]

Rodya-sama is with you?

[verminous]

She is. Makes it easier.

[he's keeping pace with owner, wherever they're going-- following, but not wanting to trail behind him.]

Once our contract's up... think I'm gonna be done there.

[discomfort]

[ right now it is just walking along the river, at least, so they have a nice view of nature. ]

I see. Where will you go?

[ owner thinks he can guess at an answer, but he will ask, to be sure. ]

[verminous]

Well... that depends. Figure I'll have to find someplace that'll take me, first-- and I'll have to live to make it there, second of all.

[not that he doesn't want to say "here", but he did just get here for a first visit, and now that they're not all stuck together he does actually have to worry a little about scaring owner off or something.

the week's long since over.]

[discomfort]

At least you do not have to worry about the... blending in.

[ he remembers that the arm sticking out was a concern from before.

he points out another path coming up-- this one is a proper road instead of just a dirt path through the forest. ]

You will need to get a job!

[verminous]

Oh-- shoot, I didn't think about that part...

[shit. owner is right, he really will have to find work... and he won't have any verifiable history. he's largely got a military background anyway, and his current job isn't anything he wants to do again, so...

uh oh.

he's quiet as they come to that path, probably trying to think about his future career options. things you don't expect to have to contemplate at 35.]

[discomfort]

[ help. these are the things people need to consider when it comes to worldhop. you don't have a fucking birth certificate!!! all the fake documents!!

as they go down it, in the distance they can see some taller buildings. city! ]

Perhaps you can be a host.

[verminous]

What, like, the guys people pay to spend time with 'em? Owner, I don't think that kinda thing is really my strong suit.

[you've seen how awkward he is there's no way he'd make money.

or so he assumes. if he worked in the right place he could maybe do okay with customers who like an easily bullied man i guess.]

[discomfort]

I think there would be a market.

[ for easily bulliable men, yeah. ]

... would you want something more mundane, or exciting?

[verminous]

I think... well, I'd want something more mundane for a change of pace, but I don't know that I'd be any good at it if it was too mundane, you know? So I guess-- something where I don't need to fight all the time, but something with a little more excitement to it than, say, makin' coffee.

[discomfort]

[ he nods his head at that. ]

I think that is doable. It may depend on where exactly you settle, but there are plenty of jobs that aren't just behind a desk.

... I think you will manage.

[verminous]

I think I will, probably. I've survived worse. Just gonna be an adjustment that I'll need to think about.

[he's hesitated to bring it up, but:]

And I won't ask you yet, since I can't leave yet to begin with, but... well, you know I've obviously got my eye on maybe coming here.

[discomfort]

... I know.

[ he goes quiet after that, until he finally stops walking. ]

I might as well be upfront about it, since you will find out eventually since you are here. I no longer have my inn.

[verminous]

Oh-- right, you said you needed to close it down for a while...

[and that it had been On Fucking Fire, which was the more concerning part!!

gregor pauses with him.]

So did you decide against trying to open it back up-? What're you doing, if you don't have it?

[discomfort]

It is extremely destroyed! The time it would take to reopen would be, hm... a while?

[ so like, still possible, but. it will not be any time remotely soon. ]

... ah, well. Things.

[verminous]

Owner...

[this is about what he expected but come on. c'mon.]

I know you don't eat and sleep, and all, but surely you're at least living somewhere, 'ne?

[discomfort]

Not particularly, no.

[ he'll be honest about it. ]

But I am able to manage fine.

[verminous]

-wait, have you just been out here alone?

[discomfort]

Butterfly is around, but I am trying to get him to have more experiences away from me.

[ he needs to leave the nest... ]

[verminous]

Just two of you? I thought you mentioned having more staff than that... I mean, I guess they don't work for you if there's no workplace, but I'd have figured...

[that more than one person might be around.]

[discomfort]

A lot happened after I left the ship. All one can do is adjust and keep going, even when things are less familiar.

[ he starts walking again. ]

In any case, I had a feeling things would end up like this. It is one reason why I was hesitant in agreeing to let you come with me, if you could only go to one place.