REFURBISHED [Morbitia Renovarse]

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

The entity offers you a ring, just like before.


You hold out your hand.

This... feels familiar.

Savvy: Shouldn't.. there be a audience for this sort of thing?

Lola: Mm?

Savvy: This is a proposal or something, yeah?

Lola: It's a contract, uniquely special in-

Savvy: How do I know you mean it?

Lola: We've got long ties and-

Savvy: Yeah but, like.. I dunno. I've been through this before and like, you say you know me and all, but... it doesn't make all that much sense. Like.. it feels.. I dunno. Too convenient? Can I like, think on this maybe?

Lola: If you need some time, I have room in my domain for you to-

Savvy: Like... out there, in my world. I need a sec-

Lola: If you step out there it may be a long time until you see me next. It's... been a complicated life lately.

Savvy: Same.. that's why I need that. Like.. I dunno, I don't wanna do this and then back out on you cause I couldn't commit. It doesn't even make sense that I could've had a past life either like... I was never born. I just started existing after someone found me in the trash. It's-

Lola: You were always truly special and-

There was a long pause. You felt like you were losing your mind a bit.

She was still, you were not.

She was stuck between syllables.

Savvy: Hey, did you do that, or....

No response, frozen in time.

Savvy: This really isn't funny..

A friendly voice.

Roost: No it isn't, I've kept myself hidden this whole time. You need to get out of there.

You looked around, nothing.

Savvy: R-Roost? You're not really here are you-?

Roost: Not directly near you, but adjacent, my entity pocket latched on directly next to hers. Now.. what you're dealing with- I'm more than sure isn't her, the old Lola, I mean. She doesn't tend to call people into her domain to meet with them, nor does she sign someone on without truly explaining the nature of her work.

Savvy: ...A scam? Like-

Roost: Yes. My kind cannot safely make contracts without fairly transparent on details, lest we wish to incur danger to the client and ourselves of a unpredictable nature.

Savvy: In other words...?

Roost: We cannot lie without consequences, honest mutual contracts keep us stabilized. To pick a form so... we need to discuss this with the others, get moving.

You immediately ran toward the curtains in the room, hauling ass to see what's behind and-

A small house on a hill? A shack really, cute in its own way..

Savvy: Roost?! Is this your place?!

The entity poked his head through the window and wave you on over.

You didn't waste time and made it to the door, watching it creak open on its own for you.

Savvy: Roost! I-

Roost: Just close the door behind yourself and settle in.

Savvy: Okay..

You took his advice, closing the door behind and walking in on him pouring the two of you some hot tea.

He gestured for you to sit. You take the couch and lay down, watching as he settles for a larger chair.

[Image Description: Savvy lays on a couch looking to the side, across from them is Roost who sits in a large chair. The two of them have a coffee table between them, with a pair of oddly shaped teacups.}

Savvy: I fell for that twice, like, why would-

Roost: Don't blame yourself too hard, you're quite new to this and many entities are desperate. It's on me anyway for not spotting her as a fake earlier...

Savvy: I mean, you stayed behind in case she'd hurt me, right?

Roost: I suppose.. you seem quite nice, and Romero is fond of you despite your short time together, so... I choose to take care of you for his sake.


Savvy:.. How do I know you're not pulling another fast one? Like.. already had two entity fuck with me like this back to back. Could all be like this-

Roost: Only those desperate enough or addicted to power. I'm... perhaps close to the latter, but I don't intend to sour things so quickly. A job offer and board aren't something I've had in a long time..

Savvy: Yeah, noticed this place isn't as uh..

Roost: It's feeble compared to her domain, I understand. I've not got much power compared to someone like her but... it's enough to keep you safe and make contact for the others to scoop us out of here.

Savvy: Mmm...

Roost: You have a right to be scared, I'd like to do my part to try and help you feel safe here though. I'll refrain from bargain offers.

Savvy: Like, cold turkey, or-

Roost: For the most part. Though I might have something to ask you later..

Savvy:.. Okay.

Roost: These archives you and Despina come from.. I'd like you to help me reach the books.

Savvy:.. That.. I mean yeah, of course.

Roost: Mmm! Unfortunately my man-made vessel is short to allow me to exist full time in your world continuously. So...

Savvy: I mean.. we can talk about that after, but I don't mind... is that really wall you want or-

Roost: I'm looking at a bed and three hot meals a day, hard to really want much more for now.

Savvy: I guess... you're surprisingly chill...

Roost: Mmm? Don't trick yourself into believing that just yet.. drinks should be quite cool enough now, by the way.

Roost reached over for the tea, you follow suit and take a sip.

It was a sharply sweet initial taste, followed by a bitter aftertaste that feels nicer with time. Like cranberry, perhaps? A little something more, some kind of spice you can feel in your nostrils.

There's a slight earthy texture to the whole thing.

Roost: It's my own brew, my domain provides me with a few wonders to work with. Put quite a bit of time into it since there's hardly anything to do here..  We might be a while, time in a entity's domain is not synced up to the time in your realm.


Savvy: What do you mean?

Roost: Last night I spent about a good week's worth of time in here with Romero, he's already built a strong tolerance to being outside of his own reality. He invited me over to visit his business partner, but I don't think I'm allowed quite yet..

Savvy: So like.. lets say it takes 30 minutes for them to reach us out there, like-

Roost: About half a day in here.

Savvy: Ah..

Roost: Feel free to sleep, I'm.. very aware this place is hardly exciting.

Savvy: I mean if you have anything to do..

Roost: I keep a deck for playing, tarot cards for as those would call proxymancing but they really aren't magical by any means.

Savvy: With the way witches at the archive talk about them I'd never figure that...

Roost: People love the idea, to picture these cards having unique properties that couldn't be done with any other deck you can put meaning into but.. ultimately we pick tarot because the imagery invokes something in a potential client, narrow down what they want without them realizing they're being tricked..

Roost pulled out the deck from the bottom of the coffee table and spread the cards out to shuffle them.

Roost: A few rounds of Blackjack? It'll be awhile.

Savvy: ..Yeah, why not.