Incertitude [Liseran/Jack]

Liseran blinked.

She took a deep breath and then sighed.

"Alright, it is far too obvious you can't be left alone at all," she said. "Anyways, we'll figure out what to do about your predicament after we finish all this food."

Liseran looked at the table.

"And it's a lot of food."

Remi had already started digging in and noticed that Jack wasn't eating any of the meat. Remi gestured at a piece of grilled chicken.

"Hey, are you eating that?" Remi asked.

Liseran sighed again.

"Where are you heading anyways to be wandering about all of Aldmerrow?"

Jack smiled and moved the chicken closer to Remi.

"Kids need to eat lots to grow strong. Eat up. I'll take care of the veggies."

Jack stabbed his fork into more sprouts when Liseran questioned him.

"Aw shucks, you don't have to worry bout me. No matter what I come across I can get that treasure," he stated, still oblivious. "Mmm, let's just say I'm out searching for someone."

Jack spooned a heaping of roasted squash and eggplant onto his plate. He was miraculously not slowing down despite downing a tree's weight in produce.

"Oh, yey!" Remi said grabbing at a drumstick.

"That doesn't mean you're not eating vegetables at all," Liseran reminded.

Remi frowned and took a few carrots.

"Says you, you barely touch veggies," Remi said.

Liseran's eyes narrowed and Remi instantly got the message. She went back to eating.

Jack was trying to reassure Liseran about his circumstances, but Liseran wasn't convinced. As she cut into a steak she looked at him worriedly.

"I don't think treasure hunting is the most...stable of careers," Liseran said.

She supposed it wasn't her place to meddle, but she also felt like it'd be homicide to let the man do what he wanted. She sipped her drink, thinking for a moment.

"Well, if you want some extra income and refuse just letting me up and give you money," she said. "Perhaps Remi and I can ask you to escort us to Stahlmin."

Remi stopped, mid-bite, and looked at Liseran surprised. In particular, her facial expression was saying "You're letting the crazy man join us??"

Liseran ignored her.

"I'd be a fool to ignore how impressive your fighting was back at the Sky Garden," she said. "And I feel that where me and Remi are going might need all the help we can get. At least until we reach the the Eisleyn border."

Jack was chewing something at the end of his fork when Liseran proposed something to him. He looked up and stared at her a bit until he slowly slid the fork out of his mouth and asked plainly, "You're not one of those city folk who take advantage of country farm boys are ya?"

He pointed the fork at Liseran accusingly. "Mama taught me not to trust suspiciously weird strangers."

Liseran squinted at him. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and scowling.

"If I wanted to take advantage of you, I'd have done it when you were passed out on the street,"[/color] she said bluntly. "And no offense, but you're so broke the only thing I'd have left to take from you would be your clothes and even that's not rewarding enough for the effort."
"If anything, you'd probably take advantage of Lise," Remi said.

Liseran's eyes widened.

"H-hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, he's big and tall, and you're..."

Liseran's eyes flared. Remi gulped.

"...of...average height! Yeah, that's what I meant!" she said. "Point is, he's scary looking."

Your hero LITERALLY looks like a vampire! Liseran exclaimed mentally.

Remi turned to Jack.

"No offense, but Liseran's been captured before," she said plainly. "I'd rather not risk it. But she's right that we're the more vulnerable ones in this case."

Liseran slumped in her chair.

"When did you become such a smart mouth?"

Remi grinned.

"Granny Claudia."

"That definitely explains it."

"Hmmm, that's true...." Jack mulled over. "Eislyn huh? What business do you have there?"

Liseran's expression turned sullen.

"Remi's mother went missing several montha ago," she said. "And leads suggest she might be there. We want to reach the place before we lose track."

Liseran glanced at Remi, oblivious to the conversation at hand. 

Aside from Remi's mother, though, there were several othee things. But Jack didn't need to worry about that.

"We'll cover your food and lodging the entire duration of the journey," she said. "And I'll pay you more after the fact. Are you fine with that arrangement?"

Jack glanced at Remi for a moment before turning back to Liseran.

"I see, I see," Jack nodded. "Hmmm... Okay."

He said that nonchalantly as he picked at his carrots. He'd agreed so simply and plainly, it's a question whether or not he understood the situation.

"Yeah. Eislyn seems like a fun place to visit. I'll come along," Jack stated while he eyed a brussel sprout with suspicion. "But you don't have to pay me. That money is what you brought along to take care of the two of you right? Don't worry, I can take care of myself. I'm smarter than I look, y'know."

Coming from this man who just used up most of his savings buying magic seeds and a crystal ball, that wasn't reassuring.

Liseran looked at Jack incredulously.

"I suppose there's no point in arguing with you," she said. "But at the very least I can keep an eye out on you while you're with us. I can go ahead and pay for your rooming in tonight as well."

Unlike Liseran, Remi had noticed Jack eyeing a brussel sprout.

"You don't like sprouts either, Mister?" she asked. "Liseran hates them."

"What? No I don't!"

Remi smirked.

"Then eat one."

Liseran stared at the plate before her, frowning. She slowly took one with her fork and sniffed it. She then gently lowered it down.

"O-on second thought, I'm full," she said. "A-anyways, we just need to finish the rest of the vegetables and we can head up."

"N-No, all vegetables are delicious," Jack said with a forced smiling and his hand shaking. "Ya gotta clean everything on your plate. Wasting food's a sin! So...."

Jack shut his eyes and with a pained look, he stabbed all the sprouts at once and shoved them in his mouth.

"Just gotta finish up... ehheheh..."