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‘Perfect.’

Sajahka felt an immediate sense of relief and — almost? — abashment. His skill set was not much, but when put in perspective, he truly wasn’t useless. He had a strong, healthy body for all it had been put through, a mind to listen and take needed instruction, and a strong work ethic, provided sufficient motive. And he knew all that. It was just difficult to feel sometimes when nothing else was going one’s way. But now, for this moment at least, the air seemed to be lighter around him. Leukos had not sent him away. He really was here, speaking with him, on his way to a serious attempt at getting a real job, and it actually sounded as though it might very well work out that way.

And Leukos was smiling.

He could get used to seeing more of that, again.

A tentative bud of renewed hope, and something perhaps even close to excitement, stirred in his chest. At Leukos’ repeated reminder to attempt to come off ‘genuine’ Sajah could only nod. It wasn’t as though he could lie to the man regardless, and he certainly genuinely wanted the work. He supposed he just hoped he didn’t look untrustworthy by default.

It wasn’t perhaps the most encouraging thought, but there wasn’t much to be done about what he already was.

As they arrived, disembarked, and Leukos made his parting comments to the boy with the instrument, Sajahka’s attention trailed briefly there while the boy retreated. «Who is he?» he asked. «And yes.» His eyes moved to the main building, and drew a breath, rolling his shoulders. «Bring on the master.»

Greer.

Sajahka snorted softly, amused as much as anything by the explanation. How kind of you to assist him… And there was earnesty in the thought, despite the oddness of the boy. It was a time consuming thing to teach, and for no real perceivable benefit of Leu’s own, other than perhaps the company or the satisfaction of benevolence. Whatever that was worth.

At Leukos’ wink, though, the corner of his lip edged up in spite of himself. «I am sure he appreciates your efforts. It’s very generous of you.»

And he followed the rest of the way in silence, observing instead as they went. There was no shortage of new information to take in through that alone, and he felt a renewed sense of being distinctly out of place when he was lead through the impressive entryway. He was too dirty to be here. He tucked the thought under the rest, sparing a glance to the floor behind him suspiciously, as though he might be leaving a trail others would find offensive. But it didn’t appear to be that bad. A few scuffs of boot dirt were surely not out of place on a ranch in any case.

Emylia looked busy, and at the mention of ‘with staffing what it is at the moment’ he felt another slight swell of hopeful interest. Leukos had said they were low, and to hear a second mouth confirm it was reassuring.

«You are a flatterer and a flirt.» So long as the positive attention wasn’t unwelcome, though, and it hadn’t seemed to be, Sajah saw no harm in it. It seemed to be a natural state of being for Leukos so far as he could discern, and surely most of his co-workers were familiar with it by now. «She seemed to like it.»

Sajahka took in his surroundings with attentive interest, and appreciated immediately — despite never having been privy in detail to such things himself — the worth of what he passed by, even on the way forward. He had almost exclusively been assigned outdoors, to grunge work, and his masters were not as wealthy as Nyko’s—but he had seen it before, and he found that this was an especially tasteful variant on the display. Especially when he was lead inside, to the room where Leukos’ ‘boss’ — not Master, he reminded himself — waited.

It was oddly rewarding to see a Matorian man of power, and surroundings which all represented that, but in a less grotesque and offensive way than the Obans always seemed to manage. Though perhaps there was no real reason yet for it to, some of Sajah’s tension eased simply to stand in the room.

He was still out of place. He was still filthy.

But he did not feel as he suspected he would have surrounded by a gaudier and more mocking display of wealth. He could respect this. And so his hands folded loosely before him, body assuming on instinct a sort of lax position of attention and readiness. Awaiting instruction.

Leukos’ fingers touched to his lower back, and for a single instant, he forgot everything else about his surroundings, a peculiar focus honing on the touch as a very reactive and unasked for heat threatened to climb his throat.

Leukos removed his fingers.

And he was saying…something. Sajahka turned his attention back on track. The man had just promised he could hear perfectly, so it seemed he should likely be able to demonstrate that if necessary. Where were they?

I apologize for the smell.

Oh.

He shifted his shoulders, setting them back and attempting to posture himself to appear as strong and hard working as Leukos promised. His mind happened to find it easier to flit back to the press of his fingertips, but that really was not the matter on the table, was it?

«I will work for anything,» he signed. Though livable wages would be preferred, anything above nothing was a step up. «Also…for one who insisted I present myself honestly, you lie well, and I-» Don’t think you owe it to me? Of course he didn’t. Wish you didn’t? That wasn’t really the truth, though it might have been easier for everyone if he hadn’t needed to. «Thank you…again.»

Sajahka’s attention moved between the two men, but in the end, the landed focused on the man who would be his ‘boss’ if matters were successful. It was still a strange concept. He had never officially served anyone but a master. But, as his eyes ran over him—he found he was much like the room on first impression.

Serious, not flashy. Professional, dignified. Efficient.

When the man looked his way, Sajah kept his eyes forward, ready to meet the man’s gaze if he did. And he was very familiar with being looked over much like a bred animal. But it wasn’t as insulting under the circumstances. If anything, it was satisfying that the man didn’t look disappointed with what he saw.

Where are his references?

Sajahka made a snort of sound in spite of himself, and before Leukos could even try to lie for him there, he raised his hands to answer for himself and make clear-

But Leukos was more quick. He does not have any…because he was a slave.

And Sajah breathed out, some unspoken tension relaxing from his shoulders. Good.

He shouldn’t have to lie on that front. He wouldn't have wanted Leu to. He had nothing to be ashamed of with respect to it.

Sajah held his eyes on the man before him, in his grand room, on his property, where he — a Matorian man in his own right — had made his wealth and set his token. «I carried Oban men’s property, broke their ground, lead their beasts, and cleaned their waste for a dozen years. I would sooner serve a man of my own blood, and I can learn any task you set me to, but if it involves only sweat, I am already capable. I swear on my name you will have no trouble from me.»

My name carries weight.

Sajahka’s gaze, once on the man then, did not budge. He was accustomed to both pride and power, and the myriad ways the two could interact depending upon how much of one or the other one had—and perhaps even more pivotally, the character underneath. It was evident this man had both, but based on the way he spoke of his animals alone, Sajah found himself satisfied that neither had done to him what it had done to some, and given the proper opportunity, he felt he could want to work for him. Not simply for his own reasons, out of necessity or lack of better options, but because he wanted to be worth that stare, and exceed whatever base expectation was there.

Be part of something worth having pride for.

When the man’s gaze met his, he held it unflinchingly, and at the question, he rolled his shoulders, prepared to sign and have Leukos translate—but instead, there came paper. Sajah glanced from it, back up to the man’s eyes. His handwriting was not the best, nor his literacy in general. But it was passable, and under the circumstances, it would have to do.

He strode forward, feeling a renewed quickness to his pulse as his boots closed space between them and brought him before the desk. He should have washed. He pushed the thought from his mind, and picked up the pen. It felt strange to hold. Precise and more refined than any writing instrument he’d been privy to. But highly functional just the same. He settled his hand over the paper:

bet on me

Sajahka scrawled the words with brisk decisiveness, and drew a sharp line under them after before setting the pen down. When he signed, his attention was on the man behind the desk, but he shifted to stand so that Leukos could at least see. «Give me a chance to show you you won’t regret it, and you won’t.»

Can you vauche for the the dependability and honest character of this man?

Sajahka managed to keep his face neutral, but there was a moment where he felt both amused at the irony and anxious in kind at how exactly Leukos would respond. He had been vouching for him this far, but it was probably more of a stretch given the man’s experience with him to say that he was ‘dependable and honest’. But Leukos pleasantly surprised him. And perhaps that part shouldn’t have been a surprise.

When Leukos met his stare, I will take responsibility for him… Sajahka held the gaze, and gave a single nod.

Of course, the final decision was still on the man before them, and when Sajah looked again—Alright, I will take this gamble…—for a moment, he felt suspended in time as his mind processed. That was it. He had said yes. Heat — from relief, gratitude, sheepishness, excitement — warmed his cheeks and earfins as they flicked, and quite of its own regard, Sajahka felt his lips pull into an abashed grin.

He listened as the man gave his initial instructions, and was paying him mind, though there was an undercurrent to it all of giddy disbelief. This was actually happening. It occurred to him to wonder why such a prospect had never seemed plausible before. He hadn’t even considered attempting to find ‘real work’ after attaining his freedom. But the answer to that was also immediately evident: because Nyko had wanted to be a world famous singer.

It hadn’t exactly left time or opportunity for Sajahka to think about what might play on his own strengths or give him any sense of stability. He had planned on being unseen support indefinitely. As much as it still panged him to think about, perhaps this was not merely better for Nyko, but better for him as well.

Reevus extended a hand, and Sajahka’s eyes locked on it with startlement before hopping up to the older man’s gaze as his heart gave a half stammer in his chest. His hands were dirty. But the man had offered, and no matter how far and how well the man had climbed — You are not the only one to have been shaped by the trials of the desert… — they were both men, and Sajahka could certainly appreciate the gesture. He took it, and gave a nod of affirmation.

I look forward to it, too.

He did not know yet where he would be staying or when his next meal would be, but he suspected that in Leu’s company those would at least not need to be immediate concerns. And he felt…good. Anticipative of what was to come. Eager. Ready. It would be the first time he had operated fully of his own devices, and while not all things were answered yet, a good start was well underway.

This independence was probably overdue.

He looks like s**t.

Sajahka’s eyes flit Leu’s way when the man snorted, and—well, perhaps he couldn’t blame him. It was surely true. He felt like it, or certainly had when he had walked in, and there wasn’t much hiding his state from anyone. If anything, he could stand to be relieved that it was now set to be one of the first issues resolved. He didn’t have to be as prim or particular about it as Leu or Nyko to appreciate a thorough wash.

It would feel good to be clean.

And it had been embarrassing enough being taken for a homeless beggar at the outer gate of the establishment. Now that he was actually going to work here, he could appreciate the value in at least trying to make a positive impression out the door.

Then, at the mention of food, his stomach rumbled, and Sajah flushed. When had he last eaten? ‘Too long ago,’ seemed to be the only forthcoming answer, and there wasn’t much excuse for it. Though he had departed from Nyko without taking more than the clothes on his back and his blades, he could have pinched a proper breakfast and supplemented his energy.

He simply hadn’t thought much on it. He had had goals and uncertain resolutions, and little concept of whether there would be much of anything for him in the world if something did not begin to go ‘right.’ Now that that was behind him, however, and all his most immediate concerns were seen to, it left time and thought to truly appreciate his hunger.

Glancing to the man — Reevus, his boss if he managed not to mess up, which he fully intended not to — Sajahka gave a small, stiff bow. «Thank you.» And then, so far as he was concerned when he looked to Leu, he was ready: for an opportunity to clean, to eat, and to begin facing whatever future came after that.