REFURBISHED [Morbitia Renovarse]

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

The truck tips over with a unceremonious thud. Your deflection managed to kill the lethal amount of momentum, the driver visibly in shock.

Nobody had to die today, you look over at today's rescue.

Romero: You okay?

The donkey started looking around in a slightly delirious state, the shock from nearly getting flattened does that to anyone.

???: Oh wow, quite the stir today. Now how did I end up here..

Romero: Uh...

He started going off, facing the wrong way.

???: You really put a show there, yes-yes.

Romero: Hey, right here.

He turned around.

???: Tall...

Romero: Yeah uh, don't walk into traffic would you? Could've gone pretty bad just there..

It wasn't exactly great as is...  police will zoom in any minute from now.

You were way too loud.

???: But did it?

Romero: I mean you almost got flattened.

???: And I'm still here thanks to you. Must be my lucky day..

He approached you, nose raised up

???: You're really something special, my guardian angel..

Romero: Um-

???: I have you reward you after that-

Romero: We need to get off the streets first dude.

You grab his hand, he immediately gets flustered.

???: Well this is all so sudden now, I don't even know your name...

You've got a suspicion, you start hauling him onto the sidewalk.

Romero: You really wanna know?

???:  I absolutely do, after all....

Despina: Is everyone okay? What happened?!

Romero: Uh...

???: Don't yell at him, he just saved my life...

Romero: Hey, this guy walked into the streets so I uh... did what I had to...

You give the sorceress a look.

Romero: Hey, what happened to the other mask?

Despina: Giving it a break, sometimes you mix things up.

Romero: Shame, hell of a sleek look. Should wear it around more-

The Donkey immediately clings around your arm immediately.

???: You have a friend with you I see? A very unusual one..

Romero: Yeah uh.. introduce yourself, would you?

???: Roost, at your service. I'm a man of many talents..

Despina gives him a sudden cold shift.

Despina: I see..

Their gaze shifts back to you.

Romero: Just met.

Roost: And quite the first impression indeed! You should give him a raise.

Despina: A raise? That's a lot of assumptions.

Roost: I know a employer when I see one, you've got a great one on your hands. Makes me jealous-

Despina ignores him and focuses on you.

Romero: Look I don't really-

Despina: Go to Bread Box, stay there until we can safely meet up again. Going to take Savvy and the other entity to safety..  we need to keep this from escalating.

Romero: And this guy uh-

Despina: Under our protection, you take him too. I've a gut feeling.

Roost: Oh good, you approve then?

Romero: Approve of what-

Despina: For now, keep it clean.

They give you a signal to start going.

Romero: I don't know how to travel with another person like this-

Despina:  I'm fully confident in you to make it work.. Go forth and..

There was a sudden head tilt, followed by a shift in tone.

Despina: I'll consider your advice...

And just as quick they zoomed back into the diner...

Romero: You heard them, lets get moving...

You scurried off with him clutching you tight.

Roost: You have a type..

Romero: Sometimes yeah.

Roost: Sometimes?

Romero: Don't really know exactly but well...

Roost: You're flexible.

Romero: Guess that's a way to put it..

Roost: Ferryman archetype.

Romero: Me?

Roost: Both of you, there's a natural solidarity that comes with it.

Romero: I mean when you're around someone pretty regularly I guess...

Roost:  You're both so day and night though, they're fairly distant from others..

Romero: Spina likes their privacy you know? Can't blame anyone for that...

Roost: And you've got your heart on your sleeve. A good man, very dangerous one..

Romero: I'm nothing too special...

Roost: And so humble too...

Romero: I mean I just don't like to brag like that. Begs for bad things to happen, you know?

Roost: Mm... I hate to be this forward but who's your entity?

Your heart spikes.

Roost: Ah, then you do have one...

Romero: No-

Roost: If only there were room for another...

Romero: ...Then you really are-

Roost: Mmhmm! And a envious one.. though I get the sense it's strictly professional.

Romero: Mostly yeah, we have a few nice talks but-

Roost: But that means there's room for someone in your heart if not in pen.

Romero: I mean...

Roost: It's bizarre to me that someone like you hasn't anyone.. did you know what I was when you saved me?

Romero: I mean I had a feeling I guess but I would've done that for anyone..

Roost: There was a good chance I could've handled it myself..

Romero: Not up for taking risks like that.

Roost: What if you missed?

Romero: Don't think about that, can't afford to you know?

Roost: Mm...

You reach a ladder.

Romero: Hey, you know you're gonna have to let me go...

You look over, his face was red...

Romero: Um...

Roost: I don't really want to, even if it's the correct move right now.. plus I'm not a fan of heights..

Romero: You can go ahead, I'll catch you if you fall.

Roost: ...Promise?

Romero: Yeah... promise.

He started ahead, you followed behind quickly as soon as there was room.

Roost: You people need to stop building saferooms on the 5th floor of a local hospitals...

Romero: Folks don't look up and it's hard to reach when you pull away the ladder. Kind of perfect for that.

Roost: But it also corners you, no?

Romero: I guess, yeah..

Roost: I've seen what the local witch groups are like, they're struggling to maintain their ground.

Romero: We're doing what we can.

Roost: I have to wonder if it's really enough.. I have plenty of stake in your people making it though this myself you know.

Romero: Oh?

Roost: A entity relies on people to anchor them. Were the culture to fall off the planet, we'd vanish with it.

Romero: I mean yeah, that's why Spina-

Roost: Told you to protect me, regardless of the fact that they know nothing of me. Counter-intuitive to self preservation.

Fuck it.

Romero: Wanna make a small bargain with you.

Roost: Oh? Do tell..

You could hear the grin on his voice.

Romero: Three questions for three questions. Honest answers.

Roost: You're testing grounds, cute and smart..

Romero: Mm..

Roost: I'll do it. Who gets initiative?

Romero: You.

Roost: Mm.. Tell me about your entity.

Romero: He's a bit of a odd one, folks say he's dangerous but I can't really see it some days.. others I can. Lots of stories and rumors, dude's apparently a expert in killing kings or something.

Roost: I think I have a good idea who he is... you seem too soft for a boss like that.

Romero: It's been good honestly, think he wants to avoid the same mistakes this time.

Roost: Mm, we'll see but... someone like you is evidence of his philosophy. A dangerous fool has room to grow it seems.. your turn.

Romero: What do you want out of me?

Roost: I'm interested, less so as a potential contract at the moment and more as a person. Admittedly you're a bit of a prime cut from what I can tell though, I can't help but wish I met you first. Sweet, attractive, filed with mystery... too good I think for myself really.

You can feel your body warm up a little.

Romero: Maybe in another life...

Roost: Don't give me temptation...

Romero: Well.. your turn.

Roost: Tell me about yourself some...

Romero: I mean I kinda just live free, no long term spot or anything like that.

Roost: Homeless..

Romero: A couch surfer I guess..

Roost: Is housing not provided?

Romero: I got options just don't really like anything for more than a week right now.

Roost: Ah.. funds?

Romero: Do a lot of freelance work. Courier jobs, Spina in general, maybe someone just needs a night of company or two.

Roost: Ah... does your entity not cover you?

Romero: He offers me his spot but uh... gonna be honest, the way time works in those weird entity voids freaks me out. A week turns out to be a hour of our time and I end up jetlagged. There's a few spots overseas but I don't wanna leave this city, too many things I care about.

Roost: So it's complicated..

Romero: Mm...

Roost: Your turn.

Romero: You got anyone working with you right now?

Roost: No, have to resort to quite a few short term pacts to maintain my presence in this world. This body is also incredibly difficult to maintain some days.. I do fear fading from reality in recent months.

Romero: I mean there's a saying about entities that can't get gigs-

Roost: I'm very aware of it.... and I'm appreciative of this game we're playing, it's sustenance even if small...

Romero: Aye... your turn..

Roost: Hmm...

He finally reaches the top, taking a look around before making room for you.

He offers you a hand, helping you comfortably make it to the spot. There was a door behind a coded wall.  You started getting to work on things.

Romero: Give me just a sec..

Roost: That's fine, if I'm frank I'd like to put a pin in this..

Romero: Yeah?

Roost: I want to get fully settled before our last two questions. Might be a hard one to ask..

You give him a nod. The door is unlocked.

Romero: After you.