PSL

[speakssoftly]

MAY CONTAIN (DEEPLY) OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL, WE JUST DON'T KNOW!

Comments

[awakenerd]

Thanks Joshua.

[And he'll head out.

It is. Two hours later when he comes back looking frazzled but with a caged target.]

[speakssoftly]

[The guild smells quite nice when Rean comes back, like a nice risotto, the scent wafting into the front room through that kitchen door. Joshua's behind the desk, looking up from some paperwork to grace Rean with another impenetrable smile.]

Ah, it looks like you succeeded. Good work. Here's the client's address for you to copy into your notebook.

[slides the assignment posting across the desk, then looks back to his own work.]

[awakenerd]

[Wow it smells amazing in here. He sets the bird on the counter and dutifully copies the address into his notebook.]

Thanks! I'll be back after I get this guy home.

[speakssoftly]

I'll have food finished by the time you're back. Come back before it's cold.

[but he has an air of gently teasing Rean]

[awakenerd]

I'll try.

[At least this Joshua guy seems friendly, if inscrutable. And Rean is quick about delivering the bird and returning.]

[speakssoftly]

Welcome back. Congratulations on completing your first job with our branch of the Bracer Guild. [Joshua goes through the process of paying Rean, then lets himself out from behind the desk and leads him out to the kitchen, where a piping hot plate of nice pasta awaits each of them.]

[awakenerd]

Ha, if all my jobs get this kind of reward, I'll definitely not want to leave.

[speakssoftly]

Think of it as a warm welcome. Toval and the others will start circling like hammerheads if we don't eat soon, and I can't afford to feed every bracer in town on my pay, so don't count on this as a habitual thing.

[awakenerd]

You're a pretty nice guy, huh? You don't have to tell me twice.

[He's going to dig right in.]

[speakssoftly]

You say that, but if Toval pokes his head in here begging for food, I'll tell him that those who don't work don't eat. [settles in to eat his meal as well.]

[awakenerd]

Harsh. Remind me to stay on your good side.

[speakssoftly]

My good side is generally the preferred one, yes.

[awakenerd]

The way you say that isn't ominous at all.

...This is really good, though. I'd love your recipe.

[speakssoftly]

[juuust smiles]

I'll be sure to write it down for you.

[awakenerd]

[God you're as unnerving as Sharon... He actually, laughs a little at the thought.]

[speakssoftly]

Did I miss a joke?

[awakenerd]

Oh no, just... You remind me of someone a little, is all.

[speakssoftly]

Someone you like, I hope.

[awakenerd]

Oh yeah. I doubt you'd know her, but she's a dear... Friend, I guess. A really impressive maid by the name of Sharon. You just... Kind of have that same mysterious but a little dangerous, friendly but scary aura.

[speakssoftly]

[kind of. pauses. for a split second. if it were anything less than comparing him to an ex-colleague of his the reaction would be far less obvious, but. that sure is what Rean just did.

Joshua catches himself and quirks a wry smile.]

She sounds terrifying. I'll consider myself in good company, then.

[awakenerd]

[Rean's oblivious about some things, mostly things to do with himself, but he's unfortunately very sharp about other people have feelings unrelated to him. He arches an eyebrow and finishes a bite of pasta.]

You've met her.

[It's less a question and more a surprised statement.]

[speakssoftly]

[Joshua takes another bite of his pasta, mulling over how to address this as he chews it.

Then leans back, squaring his shoulders.]

We were associates, once.

[awakenerd]

Oh.

[Oh. Well. Well then!]

I guess Bracers have all kinds of backgrounds, huh?

[Does that mean he knows Joshua was Ouroboros by the implication? Yes, but on the other hand it could be taken to mean he thinks Joshua was a butler or something, too.]

[speakssoftly]

[yeah joshua knows that rean knows exactly what he fucking means.]

It takes all sorts, or something like that.

[awakenerd]

It does make this line of work more exciting. Everyone has such an interesting life story. Whether or not they share it, it's nice knowing there's a lot of diverse perspectives.