The trainee let out a grunt.

WHAT?

You said something?

The hell is wrong with you?

I... oh.
He looked down to see that the milk he was pouring was now overflowing from the cup.

I don't need to tell you anything. I'm just tired.

Why are you even asking? You can read my mind, can't you?

What do you WANT me to do?

Yeah, 'cuz that'll work over great.


Jake sighed and rubbed his temples. It was too early in the morning to be having a shouting match inside his head. Because he was a dumbass, he kept getting Sherry involved, over and over again. He didn't need her crying over his lifeless body, or weeping about every new scar he obtained. So, he was stupid and gotten himself into a spar with Ofelia, was stupid and allowed his cockiness to get the better of him, nearly costing him his life at his last HH mission. He was reckless and stupid. Rather than pushing her away, his actions only made her worry about him more, making it all the more difficult to make her stay away. He was such an idiot.


Why are you so mad? This doesn't even concern you.

Gee, if you're so concerned, why don't YOU go console her instead?

What?

Jake let out another heavy sigh, rubbing his head.
That's impossible. I'm not going to stand in front of her dictating what you say. That defeats the purpose.

...What?
This time, it was Chester's turn to let out an exasperated sigh.

How...

...How do you even know all this?

Are you sure you're not just pulling me l-"

OK, OK.
Wow, he had never seen... or heard Chester so mad. He guessed... the pay and peace and quiet would be kind of nice. But the idea of having the nergal running amok worried him.

...
<... Wait, are you... worried about me? Aww Jake, I->
SHUT IT, or I'll leave you in a golem forever.


After filling out a few papers and undergoing a long strenuous information process of what to do, what not to do (most of which Jake hadn't been paying attention to, as usual), he finally had Chester logged into a golem.
At first, he wasn't sure what to expect, but when the pod hissed and the door popped open, a humanoid creature stepped out, he was... surprised.
Well, as humanoid as one could get. The black sclera, glowing pupils and claws, and that TAIL was kind of hard to miss.

"So... what do you think?"
"The hell am I supposed to think?"
He paused. Did he just... talk out loud?
A moment went by as he listened for the familiar voice in his head, but it was completely empty.
"Neat, huh?"
"This is going to take some time getting used to." he muttered.
"Miss me already?"
"YOU WISH."

The lab techs ushered the two out, muttering something about taking up room, no scuffles and a 2-hour limit.
"Well, I guess I'll-"
"Wait."
Jake reached out, grabbing Chester's hood and pulled it over his head, and then proceeded to shed his coat and plop it into the nergal's hands.
"Don't let others see your face... or hands... or tail. And don't say anything unnecessary. Just keep her off my back."
Chester grinned and donned the coat, raising his hand to do a mock salute.
"Aye-aye sir!"
He wrapped his tail around his waist and stuck his hands into his sweater pocket.
"I'll see you after an hour then."
"Whatever."

With that, the two went their separate ways.