You never really know what you're gonna get when you meet a new person. Like, let's say, a friend is introducing you to one of their friends. You don't know them, or, at best, you barely know them, and they know you just as much. That's always awkward, right? I guess, in that example, you've got that mutual friend to, like, translate and mediate things.

This is more like that bit where the mutual friend goes to the bathroom, or something, so you and the other guy just sit there and look at each other like... Well, y'know the feeling.

But! I wouldn't have accepted something like this if I didn't think I was capable of doing it. This shouldn't be that bad. I'm a sociable guy, I can, like, talk to people, and stuff. I think. Hopefully. 

Anyways, she's currently standing in a pile of garbage, and I'm just getting out of bed. Kind of an awkward first impression, I'd wager. 

"Yo." I said.

"Yo." They returned. 

The girl was short, and looked young, at least a few years younger than me, anyways. Strangely, she was decked out head to toe in fishing attire, which I found a little odd. I guess wearing weird clothing at random times runs in the family, huh. She even had one of those fishing hats, complete with the stringy thing, covering her kinda short, messy-ish blonde hair. She also had a short sword, sheathed at her side. Her eyes were a deep brown, not unlike my own.  

She also looked very bored, despite the current situation. Which was one part discouraging, and another part reassuring that she didn't seem to mind standing in a pile of garbage. 

"So... Anything you wanna do?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Dunno. I guess I could help you with a job, or somethin'. Pops mentioned you were short on cash."

"Oh, uh, yeah. That's true." I said. I mean, I'd appreciate the help, but I'm apprehensive about taking a kid out hunting. "But, uh, do you know, like, what I do on those jobs?" 

"Yeah, of course." She said.  

'Of course?'

"Oh, yeah, I should probably mention, I've been watching your travels every now and then. I basically know how you do things." She elaborated. 

"Oh. I see."

That probably would have been creepy, but I was already pretty sure that DYN2 was keeping tabs on me, anyways. Feels more or less like a performance than a stalking situation, honestly. 

"Anyways, I'm an immortal, so, I'll be fine."

"Oh yeah, they did mention that... What's that like, anyways?" Is he more like, an undead, lich or vampire kind of immortal, or, like, something more angelic, like an... Angel. Or a demigod. Wait, if they're a god's kid, wouldn't that make them a demigod? I guess it would depend on the mother...

"Eh, it's not so different from mortals. Not like I got special powers, or anything."

Oh. That's kinda disappointing...

Until she continued, "Well, except for the fact that I don't eat, drink, sleep, feel pain, uh, I can't die, age is of no concern, and I get to basically watch everything ever happen from Up There."

Oh. That's less disappointing. Why not open with that?

"Woah, you don't age? Does that mean you're, like, thousands of years old, with a timeless and unique perspective on the nature of life itself?"

"Nah, I'm still, like, 8 years old." They said, simply. 

"Oh." 

"Ah, actually, come to think of it, I might have..." They continued again, before pausing. Then, with whisper and a flick of their wrist, and created what looked like a small fireworks show in her hand. "Yep. I guess I can use light magic while I'm in this place."

Ooh, pretty. "Cool." I wonder how that'll work with my dark magic?

"Should be pretty useful, given your track record." She said with a smirk. 

Rude. 

"A-anyways," I said. "Should we go get breakfast?" It'd probably be a good idea to get us out this rather cramped room. And her out of the pile of garbage. I'll have to ask the innkeeper guy about what to do with all this garbage.

"Eh, you can."

"Right, you don't eat..." Well, I don't just want us both to sit there while I'm the only one eating. That'd be weird. "I wonder if this place offers take out?" 

"I wouldn't be surprised." She said, carefully stepping over some empty cans of stuff, heading to the door. 

Oh, crap, speaking of stuff, that was the last night I purchased the room for, right? But I can't carry all the crap I left in here... Guess I gotta buy another night here. Ah well. I've still got a handful of coin, I should be able to pay.

Anyways, I got out of bed, and, also being careful not to step on any garbage, followed her into the inn proper.

The innkeeper was sitting at their desk, seemed to be reading some old book or something, and looked up at us as we came out. 

To be honest, I kinda forgot that all this guy seems to wear is a black, hooded cloak that somehow completely covers his face in total darkness. How does that hood block out all that light, actually? Like, the opening isn't any smaller than any other hoodie.

"Oh, howdy! G'mornin'!" He said. "And who might you be, little lady?" He said, gesturing towards the girl. 

"Oh, I'm..." Oh, crap, I didn't think about that! Quick, think of a cover story! Uh, uh, uh... "His sister." The girl said naturally, barely skipping a beat.

Oh. Yeah, that works. 

"Just came back from a fishing trip, figured I'd visit him while I'm in the area." She added.

Dang. She's pretty good at this. Fits both the region, and her current attire. Did she plan for this?

"Oh, sounds fun. Catch anything?" The innkeeper asked.

"A bit, but they weren't really biting much, unfortunately. Enough to grill up for breakfast, though."

A believable cover story AND an excuse for me being the only one eating!? 

"Well, hard to complain about that. Anyways, it's good to see young people taking up the hobby. Not many are, these days."

"Ain't that the truth."

"Ain't it... Well, I wont take up any more of yall's time. What can I do for ya?" The innkeeper asked us.

"Oh, uh, could I get another night in that room? Also, do you do take out?" I asked.

"Of course. Not like we get many reservations 'round here. As for take out... I guess I could make you a wrap sandwich or somethin'. That should be portable enough."

"Yeah, that works." 

"What'll you like on it?"

"Uh... Whatever's cheapest, I guess." I'm not too picky about sandwiches, to be honest, so long as they don't have mayonnaise on them. I hate mayonnaise. Garbage condiment. Blech. Anyways, 'cheapest' should be easy on my wallet, and ensure there's no mayonnaise.

"Alright, comin' right up." He turned to head downstairs, but then stopped. "Ah, wait, if yer takin' this out, you probably wanna pay first, dontcha? Lets see, with the room, that'll be about... 6 silvers."

Huh. A room costs 5 silver, if I remember correctly. That's one cheap sandwich. I fiddled around in my coin bag. "Uh... Can you break a coin?" I said, pulling out a golden coin.

"Ah, yeah. Hold on." He fished around in a coin box for what I assume is gonna be 4 silvers.

"Oh, yeah, one more question. Is there a recycling bin around here?"

"Ah, yeah, got some stuff ya wanna throw away?"

Noooooooooooooooooo, I just REALLY curious about recycling bins. What kinda question is that? "Yeah. I left a bunch of crap in the room yesterday, figured I'd-"

"Ah, if it's in the room, I'll take care of it." They said, handing me 4 silver coins.

"No, it's fi-" 

"Bah, don't worry about it. It is my job after all!" 

"A-alright." I conceded. 

The innkeeper went down stairs behind the counter, and the girl and I sat down on a nearby bench.

And we waited for a sandwich, for a short while. 

It wasn't particularly interesting. Which was surprisingly refreshing, to be honest.