He reaches the dining table. "That was good" he says. "Can you buy another sha... nah, don't bother. That bottle would last next three days."
You see the lady massaging the slumped man's shoulders. 'Perfect good cop, bad cop situation!'.
"So here I am. Let's break down my situation, shall we? I am malnourished, underweight, weak, i don't know the weakness of nightmare creatures. I don't know how to conserve stamina. I cant hold a sword for shit if my life depends on it. I'd probably die if a nightmare creature as much as breathes in my general direction and you know it. Can you ask the maid to bring two more cups of coffee. On second thought, make it three" The maid looks flustered at being singled out like this. The man audibly pops a vein. 'I almost pushed too far'. 'Now he just has to bang the table or something and I'll recoil in horror. Yes, perfect "Victim of child abuse" strategy. That should garner some sympathy. '
He calms down. The universe must hate me. He just sighs looking at me in pity. 'Aigoo. I feel ya man. I mean, how was I supposed to know that there would be a day i have to rely on my brawns rather than looks to survive.'
The woman starts "Ok lets start with basics. We'll teach you about basic combat weapon handling". Sharp and as useful as a marble in a tool shed, isn't she?
i looked at her incredously, pointed at my arms and said "There is no point. If there is a way to help me, teach me ways to identify poisonous plants, weakness of nightmare creatures, how to create fire, dig trenches, and if possible, redirecting a river to a different location. I f i am lucky, who
knows? I might just drown a pitiful nightmare creature or two in the river. I heard that there is a way to attract lightning. I can have fried fish my electrocuting a river right?"
The woman, to her credit looks embarrassed, while the man looks at me thoughtfully, considering my words. He replies "It takes too long to drown nightmare creatures in water". "It will make enough noise to attract a creature or two that don't consider me as neither a threat nor food, right? I can escape then."
The man looks at you strangely. You add "Yes, I need to learn to handle blades and daggers. A light armor made of wool or skin of a nightmare creature would lower the rate of stamina consumption, right?"
The man nods. The woman gives a look of understanding.
Sunless says "I'd rather you teach me to balance on uneven terrain, and also teach me to track footprints."
Now the man looks satisfied. The woman just nods and smiles at me, gently? mockingly? Nah, its definitely gently. She isn't forcing her smile. Her hand on her husband's shoulder isn't digging into him, or is she just such a good actor? Ah, nevermind!
The man says "Alright, we'll start tomorrow. You need good rest tonight. We cant have you tired."
You just nod and start moving to the bedroom. "Sunless" the woman calls you. You look at her. She looks a bit flustered but stretches her arms out .
What is she trying now? She walks towards me slowly. Fuck, is she that angry because of that shampoo bottle. Wait, is she an awakened or ascended? Did she read my mind? Did she hear that comment? Your body is already in flight mode, you are just searching for a gap to run. She must have seen your eyes dart around in panic, who am I kidding? Yep, definitely read my mind. Maybe because she doesn't like me? She will just stop at just asking me to go back and never come here again, right? Lady, please don't harm my face. It's my source of income. You just close your eyes in resignation. Maybe she wont hurt you much, right? RIGHT? People like to see others with their heads hanging down. You do just that. You physically recoil when you feel her hands close around your shoulders and back, blocking every route of escape. You try to stop trembling only after realizing that she was merely hugging you. Oh. What a rookie mistake. What do people do in this situation, hug back? No, too personal. I'll close the distance, right, i am nearly weightless. It will look natural.
You lean in, looking at her husband in bewilderment. Wait, isn't it better to act like a "tsundere" in this situation? Before you make a decision, she pulls away, and just pats your hair. Oh that kind of incident. Predictably, she brings her head towards me and plants a kiss on my forehead and wishes me goodnight.
You just shrug. 'Ah, i suppose I missed this, after all it's been months since that cashcow of a widow who mistook me for her daughter died' You just grumble internally. 'She literally mistook you for a girl, and you miss her? tsktsk. Well, I suppose if not for her money, I couldn't have hired a PI to find my sister. So her death is for the greater good. You will be remembered, old lady' You felt as if you were stabbed through your heart and the blade is twisted in you. You just decide to be truthful to yourself, for once, just this once. 'Thank you Grandma. I am sorry that you had to spend your last days with someone as miserly, selfish and manipulative as me. You could have chosen anyone to replace your daughter, but you chose me of all people.' Welp, time to do what I can here.
"Thanks", you smile brightly(Man, I'd give models a run for their money!)
You go to your room, with the thermo-steel bottle of coffee. For the night. Sweet enough, i guess.
You just tsk. How boring! You look at the phone the woman gave you. Well, atleast this might be good.
You play some games on it. Man, I really need my beauty sleep, don't I?