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 Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:07 pm
"Interesting." She considered the menu for another moment, then ordered as well. While she mused over how to broach the topic of her former employment, a glass of water made its way to her lips.
"I was part of the crew," she said simply, meeting his eyes and smiling a little. "And you? What kind of work is it that you need me for, exactly?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:13 pm
Jericho's face reddened slighly. "Eh, how to explain ..." His fingertips played with the silverware (pure silver!) for a moment, before he finally started explaining.
"I'm ... a bit of an outsider." He started. "Cam from far. Far away" His hand simply waved off at the ocean, and he kept going. "And ... well, I'll admit I'm a little new to the whole ... society thing. I need a bit of help with it. Basically, I need someone who can show me how to act perfectly normal in any social setting. I need to learn to blend in, right? Part of my job." He took a pause wondering if he had said enough. Wondering if he had said too much.
He nodded. "Since you're traveling, I figured ... I can get you food and lodging, and even money! In exchange ... I need either that you stick around, or that you let me tag along."
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:39 pm
She raised an eyebrow at him. Dozens of questions raced through her mind, the biggest of which was Are you crazy? However, he seemed like he meant it.
"You seem to be doing pretty well already. The people know you, apparently respect you enough to skip the formalities of reservations. For a newcomer, you seem well known."
She took another sip of water.
"I don't really need for you to pay for me, but I appreciate the offer."
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:48 pm
He instantly grimaced at the mention of respect. With a sigh, he let himself slump down onto the table, forgoing any formalities this kind of place called for.
"They don't respect me, or even less know me." His finger traced a small circles in the tablecloth. "They know of my name, sure, but that's only because I pay a hefty sum in cold hard gold. I don't skip reservation, it's simply already reserved."
Jericho straightened, and coughed softly. "But I do need help. I'm good enough that I can speak fine with locals, but it's on the ... details that I have a hard time. Have you noticed I haven't blinked a single time since we started talking? if I don't think about it, I don't blink. Inversely, if I think about it, I blink too much. It's irritating to get the right tempo."
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:02 pm
Composure kept to the finest detail, she politely looked away as he slumped and confessed himself. It made her wish she had some liquor in her cup instead of water. What have I gotten myself into?
"I... see. If you don't mind me asking, where exactly are you from?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:07 pm
"Far."
It simply meant she shouldn't insist further. Jericho wasn't allowed to tell her, and if he did? Well ... chances are she wouldn't believe anyway and just write him off as crazy.
"I just need to learn habits, kinks of a normal person. I gotta become someone that doesn't stand out at all no matter how you look at it. I know it's ... a weird task, to say the least, but I really need this, and I have reasons to think you'd be perfect for it. On my side, I'm at ease to give you a lot. Things even money and time cannot buy."
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:13 pm
The brush-off annoyed her a little; she took the napkin beside her plate and neatly folded it in her lap to buy herself a few seconds of thinking room.
"I would suggest not wearing shorts in the cold, for starters."
Her eyes were trained on her plate, but her mind wandered. What could he possibly give her that she couldn't already buy? Merdice's world was centered around the physical, so unless he was trying to peddle something religious or other-worldly upon her, she couldn't fathom what exactly he was offering. Having no imagination for it meant she didn't crave it.
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:38 pm
"Oh? I noticed everyone else was wearing pan ... see?" He beamed and leaned back up upon his chair. "That's exactly what I need!"
Jericho still hadn't touched his plate yet. For a moment, he seemed lost in thoughts, his smile turning to a frown as he gazed out the window at the waves, rolling in and out, crashing onto the sand. It allowed Merdice time enough to eat a bit without interruption. Finally, when he spoke again, it was much more softly, with an understanding quietness in his voice.
"You don't have to help me, of course, but ... I need it. I have a duty, and it will eventually become too dangerous if I can't fit in."
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:23 am
There it was, that little niggling feeling of a conscience at the back of her mind, telling her that something big (and probably bad) would happen if she helped. Silently, she asked the fish she had ordered what to do as she delicately sliced a couple of bite-sized pieces off. Kind of a pointless effort, considering its head was no longer attached.
Merdice sighed a little into a mouthful of the seasoned fish, chewing over the food and the offer.
"If you won't tell me where you're from, will you at least tell me what you are? I don't mean to be rude, but if blinking is a conscious task for you, I'd be hard pressed to believe that you're... a native." She waved a small hand at the patrons of the restaurant, whom were of a multitude of species.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:33 am
"I'm ..." His fingers weaved together while he bit his lip, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry." He really was sorry. Jericho highly disliked lies and secrets, but he had to keep them. He truely wanted to tell the lady, as he saw nothing bad in it, but his lips were sealed. Quite literally.
"If it can help any, see me as a construct. I was given a shape and a will for a purpose. I kinda have a free will, I just gotta do my job, right?" Again, he was embarrassed, and reached to scratch the back of his neck. "I hope you're not ... uncomfortable with that?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:51 am
"I understand," she frowned at him. She wasn't one of those 'THE END IS NEAR' conspiracy types, but the whole deal was a bit too cloak and dagger for her likes. It just meant she had to be on guard at all times.
"I don't really like it, but I'm not in any position to force information out of you, either." Her attention turned back to her plate. A few quick motions with the knife and Merdice had more bits of fish to mull over. She followed them with a couple sips of water, then sat back a little.
"What is it exactly that you want me to do? Train you? Educate you? Be a nanny, as if you were a child in need of manners?" Her eyes moved quickly across him-- it? him? whatever --studying intently, as if she were trying to see into his mind.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:00 am
"Aww, don't be rude, I'm not a kid." He grimaced again, although this time it was an amused one. "I ust need someone I can trust around. Hang out, that's all. If you see me do something unordinary, tell me right away. If I have questions, you're there for me to ask. By the way, can you defend yourself against monsters and th likes?"
He looked at his water, tempted to take a sip, but decided otherwise. He was glad she seemed to enjoy her food, at least.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:12 am
She frowned at him again; the lines in her forehead were considering making a permanent residence there at that point.
"How big of a monster are you talking about?" Though a fighter by nature, she wasn't by any means a heavy-hitter. That much should have been apparent by her stature at the very least, she thought.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:56 am
"Oh, we won't go dragon-hunting, nothing like that!" Jericho instantly shook his head. He was strong himself, very strong, but ... not -that- strong. "Just ... regular road beasts. Aggressive wolves, the occasional giant toad, stuff like that. I might have to travel, and it would be nice to have some help defending from brigands and the likes. Do you have weapons? Can you use magic?"
He had noticed her having trouble getting in the cab earlier, and had een eager to ask, out of curiosity.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:54 pm
Her fingers fiddled with the napkin in her lap for a moment, then she picked it up in a neat fashion to wipe her mouth. Her eyes had gone back to being glued to her plate.
"I do and I can," she replied softly. "However, I have had little to no formal training."
It annoyed her to lie, but she needed to protect herself first and foremost. This situation was quickly turning into what she had been running from in the first place. No, she told herself with a mental headshake, this one isn't like them. He just wants help. The paranoid part of her mind rolled its metaphorical eyes.
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