EXTERIOR - The streets of Ruttford, a retively rge mining town situated just beside a rge and resource rich ravine. The dangerous and unpredictable nature of the mines make this town a great hub for adventurers and mercenaries looking to make a quick buck. The buildings are stout and thick, and commonly painted in darker shades of brown. This serves no practical purpose, but it gives the town a gruffer vibe, which appeals to the previously mentioned mercenaries and adventurers.
PRESENT - THE BOY (cospying as the girl, but the hat says “BUG” on it), MOUSE RATTINGTON (Tall, lithe, very elegant man with blond hair, green eyes, and a green/gold robe), JOK (rge, burly, retively older man with tasteful facial hair, and less tasteful artificially greased and bckened hair.) ALSO A SIZEABLE HELPING OF RANDOM PASSERBY, MINERS, TOWNSOLK AND MAYBE SOME COLORFUL, IF UNMPORTANT ADVENTURERS
TIME - Approaching dinner time, but still mostly a good while away from it. But less away from it than earlier, because that's how time works.
The trio of men left the moderate restaurant with decidedly bored and displeased looks on their faces. Save for the boy, who maintained his perpetual wide-eyed stare and ft expression.
Once more, the boy was thrown over Jok's shoulder like a bag of flour, which garnered mild confusion and concern from passers by, but little more than that. This time, though, the boy was carrying two moderately-sized boxes of food, using both hands to make sure neither of them fell.
The boxes both contain identical, moderately-sized and priced wrap sandwiches, full of crunchy-leafy stuff, something yam-adjacent, and a lot of cheap monster meat, which predictably tastes simir to chicken.
The entre was paired with thinly sliced pieces of preserved, salted and dried fruit, a popur side dish in The Windnds.
Although monster meat may sound unappetizing, it's inexpensive and plentiful, and virtually harmless if prepared properly, even in rge quantities. It's a great source of protein, although it often doesn't feel great coming out the other end. In addition, most monster meat in Ruttford is harvested straight from the stuff sin in the mines, making it fresh and locally sourced, and the accidental consumption of human meat is almost never a concern!
The boy was very curious about the nature of the food in his hands. Later, he would go to a library or something and learn everything we just expined.
"Well, that was dumb as hell." Jok loudly announced, a short while after they left the restaurant and began walking towards the edge of town.
Nobody else particurly cared about the selected meal. It's just what they nded on. There is nothing exciting about a wrap sandwich.
"Yes, old friend, I'm inclined to agree." Mouse nodded, his eyes closing as he did. He's the kind of person who sometimes closes his eyes when he nods. He thinks it's elegant. He might be right. Who are we to say.
Wow. Incredible stuff.
"I won't lie," Mouse continued, not pausing between this and his earlier thought because he had no reason to. "I was hoping some kind of entertaining misadventure would befall us. Like a celebrity visit or a sudden attack, or something."
"Yeah, that'd have been nice."Jok let out a disappointed sigh.
"that happened when hat and i ate out that first time." The boy said as he hung.
"She took you out to eat?" Jok said with faint surprise. "What, did she threaten the cooks, make 'em poison it first?"
"not to my knowledge."
"She poured something in the drink, then." Mouse helpfully added.
"i did not ingest any unexpected substances. to my knowledge."
"Shocking." Mouse said, with retively little shock in his voice, honestly.
"Did he poison you after, or..?" Jok tilted his head towards the boy.
"i have no reason to believe she's ever poisoned me." The boy said. "she seems to prefer more direct bodily harm. like stabbing."
"Aaah, there it is." Jok said, and both men nodded together.
"Now, that much I understand." Mouse said. "You have an immensely stabbable face and body. I would love to partake, myself."
"Keep it in your pants, bud." Says Jok, with a bit of a sly smirk.
Mouse scoffs, though with a mild smirk of his own. "Don't be crass."
. . .
"So, you were attacked while eating. Fun." Jok prefers mundane conversation to silence. "Wazzup with that?"
"guy with a wand and a mask threatened the passengers. he also pulled a big cage with a strange person in it - i think it was a bandit - out of a little bag. hat wanted the bag but it disappeared after she killed him."
"Passengers..?" Mouse raised an eyebrow. "Ah, the train pce. Yeah, she likes that pce, doesn't she?"
"Dunno why. Food tastes like dung." Jok said.
"It's got an entertaining aesthetic, though." Mouse points out, continuing the riveting action.
"Eh." Jok shrugged. "So, wand guy do anything fun?"
"bsted some stuff. like my arm. it is very broken." Said the boy.
"Is it? Looks fine to me."
"i could demonstrate if you hold the boxes for a moment."
"Oh, please." Says Mouse, reaching out towards the boxes.
The boy handed over the boxes.
The boy waggled his limp, noodly, wildly broken arm.
"BY THE EVER TRAHSING ONES!" Shouted some entirely random passerby as the boy waggled. The men were still in the middle of a very public street. Most passerby didn't react that much, but this one guy was just, like, REALLY spooked.
"Oh my." Said Mouse.
"Huh." Jok lets out. "I am mildly impressed."
This was a fun distraction, but the entertainment value couldn't st long. Eventually, the peoples would begin walking again.
. . .
"What's impressive about that?" Mouse looked at his friend with a skeptical eyebrow raise.
"I dunno. It just is."
"why? please eborate." The boy added.
"No." Said Jok.
. . .
"Well, this has continued to be dumb as hell." Jok very unhelpfully re-states the phrase that started this whole thing. This time, though, he stopped dead in his tracks, with a more decisive look on his face.
"Friend, you already-"
"Oh, to the abyss with it!" Jok shouts, and the boy's head tilts away a little bit. "Let's just go already!"
