[Qrow Branwen]
The bullhead to Vale is silent. Mercifully so. For all her bravado and... ego-driven dumbassery, Raven is smart enough to know when talking is a mistake. Not that she does it much to begin with, anyways.
Truth be told, we haven't spoken much since Father gave us this assignment a few days ago. There hasn't been much to say between us. There never really is. Feels like it's been years since we spoke like... actual people, or even just like genuine siblings.
We still haven't had a proper conversation yet about what happened to our...
Don't you fucking dare, Qrow. Don't even think about it. Just stop.
...These days, we do as Father says, lest we face the consequences.
If he wants us to invade a school full of idealistic, naive, hopeful Huntsmen and Huntresses in the making, then we'll do it without hesitating. After all, what better way to get around them in the wilds than to think like them? What better way to kill them, than to become one of them?
We've got premier endorsement from the big man himself to go manipulate a bunch of good people, to take advantage of their kindness and learn how best to kill them.
I'd make a joke about how fucking disgusting of an idea it is, if we hadn't already done worse things with his blessing in the past.
...I don't care how long it takes. I don't care if it's years, decades, or even if I've gotta wait until the last seconds of my miserable life on this world. I'm going to kill that son of a bitch, gonna slit his throat with that fucking sword of his just like he did to-
"You've got that look on your face again."
I blink, confused, but quickly remember where I am and shake away the thought.
Raven initiating a conversation is pretty bizarre these days, but... well, we're already going through strange enough circumstances as is.
"That look? Please, enlighten me, oh sweet sister of mine. Just what the hell could that possibly mean?" I ask, hands held behind my head.
I open one eye for a moment to glance at her as I speak, going back to laying down along one of the benches on either side of the bullhead just a moment later.
Raven scoffs, sitting across from me with her arms folded and an ankle over her knee.
"You know what I mean, Qrow. You look like you're thinking about killing someone."
I give a short, humourless chuckle in response, both at our shitty circumstances, and Raven's blissful ignorance.
"Someone, she says. Don't kid yourself. You know exactly who I'm thinking of Killing, Rae. I'm just wondering how long it'll be until you start thinking the same way."
She sighs in response, as if that's some kind of natural response, as if I'm the one in the wrong for wanting to murder that sick son of a bitch for what he did to us.
"...You can't kill him, Qrow. You should know that already. Not only is he stronger than you, but he's the leader of our tribe. Killing him would destabilise our people."
I give another rueful snort, one of my eyes opened once again to glower at her from the corner of my vision.
"Our people? What, you mean the ones we forced into joining after burning and pillaging our way across half of Mistral? The ones who shit their pants every time Dad so much as speaks? Those aren't our people, Rae. They're fucking slaves."
She scowls at me, her fingers tightening over her biceps.
"...don't say that, Qrow. We all have to fight for our place in the world. You either burn, or you get burned. They chose to earn their survival. They chose to be strong."
I roll my eyes, having heard this same damn argument from her for the last six months, night after night.
"They chose to keep living, after being given the flattering options of death or servitude. It's not a very difficult choice to make, all things considered."
Raven opens her mouth again, pausing for a moment and tensing her jaw as she realises that, yes, I am in fact correct.
How utterly surprising.
"...wipe that smug grin off your face, Qrow. If you put half as much effort into your training as you did being a snide prick, maybe you'd be strong enough to actually put up a fight against Father."
I scoff, not bothering to even look at her this time around.
"Oh, no, I'd never. Wouldn't wanna take your spot as Dad's favourite little psychopath, after all. I don't need to be strong enough to beat him, anyways. I just need to stick around long enough for my Semblance to make him slip and snap his neck, or stab himself on his own sword. Been praying for it every single day for months now."
Her foot taps against the cabin floor, the scowl on her lips probably growing by the moment. She doesn't snap at me, or lash out in some way, though.
She's calm. Composed. Like she always is.
"Father is not nearly weak enough to die at the hands of mere Bad Luck, Qrow. Nor would he let you spend a long enough time in his presence to have it affect him. You should know better than this by now."
My eyes roll again.
"Unfortunately for us... yeah, you're right. A man can dream, though. Maybe if I pray hard enough, he'll get eaten by an Ursa the next time he's wiping his ass."
Raven doesn't respond for a long moment. She's either thinking of another dull way to defend Father's honour,or she's gotten bored of making conversation with me.
As it turns out... the answer is neither.
"...how are we going to go about this, Qrow? I don't think either of us are going to be able to believably blend in with... normal people. Especially not so many of them in one place. Shouldn't we be rehearsing a cover story?"
I sigh, the tension damn near deflating from my body along with it while I think.
"We don't need one. Dad's a prick, but he's got a reputation for a reason. Like he said, we'll just need to say we're the bastard children of Branwen and everyone will accept both it, and our... flaws. That abnormality is our benefit. After all, who wouldn't be a little fucked up after getting raised by Corvus Branwen himself?"
She hums.
"I suppose so. It'll explain why we'll be so far above the rest of our peers as well... what if the Huntsmen ask us about him? Father, I mean. The Headmaster might see us as an opportunity to finally kill the Chieftain."
Another deep sigh, this one far longer. I've kinda been dreading this question.
"...I want to say I'll go along with it, give them all the information they want, and hope to Dust they come back with his corpse, but... I'd only be signing my own death warrant. He'd carve through half of Vale to get back at us. We'll just have to give them false information. Believable, but false."
Raven's brows furrow, her fingers now tapping rhythmically against her arms as she follows along from my thoughts.
"If Father's smart, he'll know that we're having this conversation. He'll have already packed up the camp and set it up in a new location, or started on the journey there at least. Ideally then, we can just tell them where our old camp was if they ask. Provable, believable, and there's nothing the Huntsmen will be able to gleam from it."
One of her hands fall from her arm down to Omen's hilt. A nervous habit, one she's never gotten over since we were kids. Clearly, the thought of being put under pressure makes her a little nervous.
"Right, makes sense. Good thinking, Rae. If they ask for anything else, well... all of our information would be out of date anyways. Maybe if we're really desperate, we can tell them about Calamity, or make a guess. Come to think of it... what was it Dad said he'd be doing while we made our way to Vale?"
She glowers at me after I finish speaking, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Forgotten already? You must be a goldfish Faunus, little brother. Your memory is growing concerningly dull." She starts, smirking at her own jab before leaning back in her seat and sighing softly.
"...he said he was off to find Gepetto. Or more accurately, find his corpse, and the detachment of men he took with him. Chances are he's trudging through the thick forests of Eastern Mistral right now."
Gepetto, huh? I'd finally almost forgotten about that sick bastard. What a shame.
"Always wondered what did him in. You think there'll be anything left of Gepetto to find, or do you think the Grimm had their fill?"
Raven scoffs, sneering at the thought of that old bastard while I finally sit up properly.
"Something clearly found him. Be it a powerful Grimm, or a Huntsman. Gepetto was a coward, but he loved the power that came with Father's protection. He wouldn't leave on a whim. Something killed him."
Another hum, her head tilting briefly as she continues speaking.
"I'd wager he barked up the wrong tree, and paid the price for it. Maybe he was mauled to death by some Grimm. If it was a Huntsman that killed him though, then... no. It's no use feeling sorry for them. That won't change what Father does in response."
...yeah. It really won't.
Tribe mantras, blood for blood, an eye for an eye... it's all bullshit, the whole lot of it. Truth is, Dad's just a fucking psychopath, and he's itching for a reason to let loose.
"Let's just hope that Gepetto was eaten alive by a pair of hungry Ursai, then."
Raven huffs, taking some small amusement in the mental image at least. Never a smile, though. She doesn't smile often anymore.
"Gepetto had an ego the size of that unwieldy Dealmaker he fought with. I don't doubt for a second that he tried picking a fight with a Beringel, and wound up becoming a floor decoration afterwards."
This time, I'm the one who's left laughing at the mental image, huffing out a short chuckle at the idea of Gepetto being tossed around like a chew toy.
I'm not a sadistic guy, I don't enjoy hurting people... but I can make an exception or two. At the end of the day, some folks just deserve it more than others.
"You know what? I can see that happening." I say, smirking softly as the conversation falls to another lull.
There's nothing but silence, now.
It's always difficult talking with Raven. I'm sure she'd feel the same way, if she actually cared to try talking with me once in a while. We've both got... more than our own share of trauma, these days. Feels like walking on eggshells with every word we say.
I won't pretend that I've got it any worse than her, though. Me? I'm just a runt with a shitty Semblance. Rae? She's the golden child. The competent one. Dad's favourite.
...That's not a title you want to have, either.
He's grooming her to be the Chieftain after he's gone, however long that'll take. Next in line to lead our merry band of misfits and degenerates. Next in line to pillage and burn anyone who looks at you funny, to ruin the lives of any poor bastard you see fit.
I've lost sleep just thinking about all the horrible things he's made her do to other people, in order to be his ideal successor.
Gotta leave behind a good legacy, after all. It's not enough to be one of the most reviled men on the planet, no. You need to keep the family business alive. Gotta keep the world afraid, 'make sure they never forget us'.
...yet another reason why I'm counting down the days until I can strangle him to death. Makes me sick to my stomach knowing I used to worship that bastard, before he...
Enough about that.
Patricide isn't exactly a good look on a prospective student, and getting through the years at Beacon is gonna be a nightmare if my every second thought is about him.
If anything... this little mission is a good thing for us. A chance to live like normal people for once. Live a life where we don't have to worry about Father's training every damn day, a life where we can just exist freely.
It's starting to sound like a blessing in disguise, actually.
Only downside I can think of is gonna be wearing an actual uniform. I look prettydamn good as I am already, I don't need a suit and tie to make that apparent.
Speaking of, though...
"How long do you think it'll take until you get sick of the Beacon uniforms? I give it a week before you get tired of wearing it and start wearing your amour to class as well."
Raven blinks, caught off guard by my sudden question, but quickly starts to scowl.
"Unlike you, mutt, I'm actually capable of changing my wardrobe once a year. You've been wearing the same shoddy cape since we were twelve. Please don't tell me you plan on wearing it along with the-"
"The uniform?" I cut in, grinning widely.
"Oh, Rae... sweet, naive Rae... I'm absolutely gonna wear the cape. Matter of fact, I'm gonna make sure to wear it every chance I get now because of that. Especially over the uniform. Just you wait, I'll have half the women on campus swooning over me."
She raises a brow, thoroughly unimpressed.
"...I've seen you with all of three women in our miserable lives together, Qrow. Each one of them left you within the span of a few days. If you think yourself some charming womaniser... then I have terrible news for you, little brother."
Now it's my turn to look incredulous, my eyes rolling as I pointedly glance away.
"Ha! Please. Sure, a couple of them got sick and tired of my Semblance, but... at least Sapphire was head over heels for me. You can't deny that. Face it, Raven... I've got charm spilling out the ass. I'm the closest thing Beacon's gonna have to a heartthrob."
Raven snorts, looking every bit the part of a smug asshole now.
"The only time I'd ever consider you a heartthrob is when your Semblance kicks in while you're on campus and gives one of the nearby students a heart attack."
...low blow.
"Well, Raven, it just sounds to me like you still don't realise how terrifyingly attractive your bigger brother-"
She scoffs, cutting me off prematurely.
"Keep dreaming, dumbass. The only big thing about you is your misplaced ego. Tell yourself whatever you want, but you'll always be the pissy little brother to me."
Once again, I roll my eyes. The action is damn near second nature to me.
"Pissy? Oh, how flattering, Rae... fine, then. You're gonna be in for one hell of a shock when we get there and I'm up to my neck in the ladies. It's okay to be jealous. We both know you'll never have any luck with men in your lifetime, not with an attitude like that."
I was expecting her to flush, or maybe even scoff at my words. I definitely wasn't expecting Raven to start sneering, though.
"Good. You can enjoy your time as a prospective manwhore, brother. I'll be more than happy to avoid the constant fawning and attention of our lesser peers. I'm already sick and tired of being leered at every time we walk through the camp."
...hold on, what?
"You're getting leered at in the camp? By who? Gimme some names Rae, I've got the sudden urge to crack open a few skulls."
She snorts, shaking her head.
"You're gonna be out of luck, then. We're a few hundred miles away from camp by now, so unless you want to make a return trip then you'll have to wait. Besides, I made sure they never make that mistake again."
...still gonna find out who it was and break their jaws once we're done here. Not gonna let some drooling prick get away with that.
"Fine. I guess it wouldn't be worth going all the way back again, anyways. They're probably long gone by now... come to think of it, how the hell are we supposed to find the tribe again when we're done with this? It ain't like Dad's gonna be able to show up to our graduation and take us back."
Raven sighs, thumping her head back against the cabin.
"That's four years away, dumbass. It's pointless to think about it now, he'll probably just get in contact after we finish up here. All we'll need to do is just head back to Mistral once we graduate, and he'll find us himself."
I can't help but sigh myself a moment later.
"You say that like it's easy. I'm betting 50 Lien one of us gets expelled before the first semester ends."
Raven smirks, a single brow raised.
"One of us? Funny. It just sounds to me like you're afraid... afraid to admit that you'll be the one getting expelled, little brother."
Just as quickly as the civil conversation started, it ends, leaving us bickering about who would be the worse student, and who would end up getting kicked out sooner.
The bullhead to Vale passes in a cacophony of noise and complaints, but through it all, a single thought lingers in my mind.
...I am probably gonna get expelled one day.
------------------------------------
[Anaxagoras]
A week of travelling passes in the blink of an eye. Going from road to road, walking across shallow, forgotten paths and thick forestry, chatting softly beside firelight and letting the hours pass by each night... it's surprisingly peaceful.
...Even if the food sucks. Sorry, Summer.
We've not encountered much in the form of Grimm. Beyond the Lepors a few days ago, and the usual entourage of Beowulves and Ursai, we've had quite the calm journey.
That is, of course, to my great misfortune. I need there to be a lot more Grimm so I can close the distance between Summer and I in terms of Levels, and stand a chance in the Beacon exams to begin with.
Summer and I still have our secrets, obviously.
I've not yet told her just how much my Eye is capable of, and she's not yet told me what the Light that my Eye sees in her is. I'm not expecting her to, either. After all, I'd be quite the hypocrite if I expected such openness from her while being so secretive myself.
In spite of that, though... I'd think we're getting along quite nicely so far.
She's even told me a fair bit about things I've not been made aware of yet, things I can thankfully explain under the veil of amnesia. One of them was called a Scroll, which... while it's definitely a strange counterpart to a phone, they sound much cooler on paper. Holographic technology in general sounds absurd to even think about.
Apparently they can also tell you your Aura levels... somehow. I can't help but feel like that would have been nice to know, even if I don't need it thanks to my Status page. I'm starting to think Artak gave me the bare minimum with his 'training'. Mind you, it only lasted a month, so I can't hold a grudge.
I'm getting sidetracked.
Right now, we're just a few minutes out from a nearby town, Halimuri, a pretty small village that I'm going to assume lives off of fishing in a nearby lake.
Small enough that it's absolutely not going to have an inn for us to sleep in-
"That's what you think, Anaxa! If you're so sure of it, though... wanna make a bet?" Summer says to my side, my last thoughts having been spoken aloud in response to her request that we spend the night there.
The reason? We're ahead of schedule, surprisingly. Instead of focusing on the long journey, and what is currently the halfway point, Summer believes us in need of a proper rest, and figures we may as well enjoy one if we're ahead of time.
She wants more than just bedrolls and birch fires, no. She wants a bed. I don't blame her.
Truth be told... if the opportunity is available, I would struggle to say no. I'm more so just doubting that the town will even have an inn than questioning the idea.
"Fine. A bet. What will the stakes be?"
Her grin widens, eyes damn near shining as she hurries a few steps forward, only to turn around and walk backwards, arms behind her head as she faces my direction.
"Same as always, Patchy. Five Lien, a delicious ham sandwich... unless you wanna up the stakes a little bit, huh?"
There was something predatory in her eyes, now. Something I'd call blistering confidence. If I was a gambling man, I'd wager she's already been to this quaint town before, and that she wants me to up the bet because she knows I'll lose.
...I am, however, very interested in what exactly she's expecting me to offer.
"Up the stakes? How do you even expect me to do that? We're already pushing dangerous territory for our finances by spending the night at an inn. If you're asking for more Lien, I'm afraid I'll have to be the buzzkill between the two of us."
She scoffs, rolling her eyes, though her smile widens ever so slightly.
"If I wanted Lien that badly, I'd have just become some Vacuan bounty hunter years ago. As a child. Which, I guess would be a little illegal, so- ahem! The point I'm making is that not all bets have to be financial."
I raise a brow, thoroughly unimpressed, yet still smiling in spite of myself.
"Oh? Have we already reached the point in our tentative friendship where we start offering ambiguous 'favours' that we can call upon years from now? Or maybe you're a fan of a different cliché, maybe you'll make the bet be a kiss on the cheek to the winner."
She snorts in amusement, shifting her arms from behind her head to now fold over her chest. I'm... actually quite impressed with her spatial awareness, to have been walking backwards for so long now.
...can she see in the same way I can?
"Ha! If only you could be so lucky, Mister! The only way you're ever gonna get a kiss out of me is after a romantic candlelit dinner... and that's if you're lucky!" Summer says, smirking at me for a moment, before continuing on.
"No, my stakes are much simpler. Since we're in the business of pinching our pennies for the trip to Vale, why not take it a step further? If there's an inn, we'll order one bed... and you'll sleep on the floor."
My brow somehow raises even further, the small curl of my lips quickly becoming a flat line upon hearing her words.
"...really? That's your big gambit? I sleep on the floor, you get the bed. That's quite a tragic bet, Summer... but fine, I'll bite. What happens if you're wrong and there's no inn?"
She pauses, having either not expected me to take the bait, or having not actually thought this far ahead. Knowing her... it's almost definitely the latter.
"W-well... uh... damn. If there's no inn, then... I'll sleep on the floor when we reach Vale?"
I scoff, huffing a short laugh and clasping my hands behind my back
"Before the Beacon exams? Putting yourself at a disadvantage, for the sake of a simple bet? I may dislike the blatant nepotism on display with your entry, Summer... but I'm not a prick. Forget the bet, we should have more than enough Lien for a night's stay here if they do end up having an inn."
She blinks in surprise, tilting her head at me.
"...is that a yes?"
I can't help but snort once again at the strange hopefulness in her voice, my eye rolling as we approach the walls of Halimuri.
"It was always a yes, Summer. The question was never of if I'd allow it, the question was if they'd even have an inn for us to stay in." I say, unable to stop myself from smiling now at the way her eyes light up.
With a newly found spring in her step, Summer starts moving faster towards the walls of Halimuri, only sparing a single glance back at me - smirking softly.
"That's a promise, Anaxa! I'll hold you to those words. You have no idea how much I've missed having a bed to sleep in!"
I raise a brow, a small laugh on my lips and my eyes trailing over the scenery as I speak.
"You say that like you've not slept in one for years, Summer. Hasn't it only been a few weeks of travel for you?"
Summer huffs in response, before turning back to Halimuri. If I didn't know any better, I'd almost say she were pouting.
"Hmph! Anything more than just a few days is torture enough! A bedroll doesn't come close to the majesty of an actual bed. Oh, and for your information, it's been a week. After all, I slept in your home, didn't I?" She says, tilting her head back to smirk at me after she finishes.
...touché. Even if she was passed out from exhaustion, I suppose that still counts.
"Fine." I say, sighing. "Just the one week... since we're in the business of being so pedantic today, it seems."
Summer makes a noise that I can only describe as bleugh in response.
"Pedantic... who even says that anymore?"
I roll my eye, though don't have much of an opportunity to come up with a witty remark before we're stopped in our tracks by the guards standing at the gates to Halimuri.
"Halt! State your business!"
I open my mouth to make some sort of response, but once again I find myself being cut off as Summer comes to a stop, gesturing for me to stand beside her.
"We're travellers! Just here to find a place to stay for the night, that's all! We'll be out of your hair by the sunrise, promise!"
The guard raises a brow at her words, but shrugs his shoulders and gestures for the gates to be opened. Either this town is accustomed to calm and orderly visitors, or Summer's earnest words are impossible to deny for this man as well.
Summer turns to me when the gate opens, grinning smugly, as if expecting praise.
I don't bother sating her overgrown ego, drawing her hood over her head instead and leaving her sputtering in indignation as I walk forward without her. It takes less than a few seconds for her to catch up to me, but the pout on her lips makes it all worthwhile.
"You better hope there's two rooms available at the inn, jackass. If not, then you're sleeping on the floor. Without a blanket."
I can't help but laugh openly as we enter Halimuri proper, the village surprisingly quaint and appealing behind the thick concrete walls surrounding it.
"Truly? And to think, I was so kind as to take back my own stipulation from our bet. How cruel of you, Summer. Besides, a place like this no doubt isn't swimming in visitors. We should be more than fine with the rooms."
She huffs again, now pointedly looking away from me. I would think she were angry, but the small tilt on the corner of her lip betrays her amusement.
"Well, don't keep your fingers crossed, Anaxa. I know what I'm hoping for."
I don't bother responding, settling instead for just shaking my head and taking in the scenery once more, the village being far different from anything I've become accustomed to- bigger than Akarele was, that much is for sure.
People walk in droves through bustling streets, their eyes drawn to Summer and I as the outsiders here. Clad in traditional garb, they shift from place to place, some working, some shopping, others simply enjoying the atmosphere of peace... oh, there's even some of those Faunus folks here, too.
...as we continue our slow walk through cobbled paths, I can't help but wonder how long it will be until this place ends up like Akarele. Under siege, lives put at risk, the peaceful veil torn away forcefully.
It's a harrowing thought, and even worse than that is the fact that it feels... almost normal. Typical, even. As if it's a common thing to be wondering for the people of these lands.
I don't remember being this cynical before my reincarnation. I suppose I'm still slightly jaded about my exile, even if it's been more than long enough since it happened. No use dwelling on those thoughts, though. I'm supposed to be planning for the future, and enjoying a brief night of rest-
"Hellooo? Knock knock? You've gone all quiet on me, Anaxa. Did you hear a single word I just said?" Summer says, patting my shoulder in tune with her words.
I blink, drawn from my own thoughts and only now noticing us standing before the door of a quaint, almost humble building, a shoddily written 'Inn' hanging on a sign above us.
"...sorry, I must've been lost in my head. What was it you said, Summer?"
She huffs, rolling her eyes and drawing her cloak around her shoulders, hiding her body beneath the vibrant white fabric.
"Don't worry about it, Patchy. I was gonna offer to pay for a meal between us, but it seems like you're dead on your feet enough as is. If you were tired, you should've said so." She says, her words softening slightly towards the end.
I sigh, massaging the bridge of my nose and walking forward through the entrance.
"Don't call me that, Summer... and don't put words in my mouth, either. I was just appreciating the scenery. If you're offering an actual, properly cooked meal instead of your Sad Man's Banquet though... then I'm sure as hell not gonna say no."
She grins victoriously at having gotten under my skin once more, ducking under my arm as I hold the door open for her and practically skipping towards the first table she spots. I'm not sure why she's so chipper all of a sudden, but I'm not going to piss all over her good mood.
Pulling myself away from the door, I quickly step through the cramped inn, conversation and chatter endlessly ringing in my ears from several different people across the room, finally reaching the innkeeper stood behind a thick, wooden bar. I've never been a man for small talk.
"Two rooms for the night, and two of the cheapest meals you have available. What will that cost me?"
The innkeeper, an older woman with surprisingly kind eyes, blinks at me in surprise.
"Fourty Lien for the two rooms. Ten for the two meals. Fifty in total."
I let out a sigh of relief at the relatively cheap pricing, not wanting to dip into our 850 Lien budget any more than I'm already allowing. Fumbling for a few cards of Lien lying around in my pocket, I place them on the bar and nod at the innkeeper, pointing behind my back at Summer across the room.
"That's our table. Thanks for the hospitality."
I turn sharply from the innkeeper and make my way back to our table, tensing my jaw at the strange sensation of being watched that seems to follow me lately, my eyes darting across the inn. Ignoring the strange shiver that runs up my spine, I lift my gaze back to Summer and-
My jaw hangs open in shock.
Standing there, fists raised in the air and a wide smile on her lips as she cheers, is none other than Summer herself. On the floor, having sunk down from the seat opposite her in humiliation, is a... surprisingly average man, holding a single card of Lien in his hand - one he places down onto the table.
Her voice rings out like a gunshot.
"Who else wants some!? Five Lien for a round, if you think you have what it takes!" She says, her eyes meeting mine over the crowd as she offers a single wink, before setting her arm up on the table once again to a chorus of cheers from the surrounding patrons.
...what the actual fuck?
She- how did she even end up in a position to be making bets over arm wrestles? I was gone for two minutes, how the hell does this even happen?!
No... you know what, I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.
With a resigned sigh, and an admittedly impressed gleam in my eye at her... unique money-making schemes, I trudge back up to the innkeeper, a single sentence on my lips as I place a few more cards on the bar.
"I changed my mind. Give us your second cheapest meal option instead."
My declaration is seemingly punctuated by another chorus of cheers from the patrons around her, and Summer's shrill voice as she screams: I am Unstoppable!
The innkeeper raises a single brow at me.
I struggle to meet her gaze, shaking my head and offering an extra five Lien as compensation for Summer's... eccentricity.
"...don't ask. Please."