Quoted By:
"...Yeah." Gil staggers to his feet. "I-I-I don't have god juice, but yeah. Sorry, Garvin, I-I guess I'll, um... I-I-I don't know when I'll be back, but..."
"Don't worry a bit. You have obligations!" You hate the way Horse Face says 'obligations.' "I'll clean up."
"Ace."
-
When the two of you emerge into the sunlight, Gil's tone is odd. "So what's the emergency?"
Damnit. "Um, it's— it's classified, you know. It's <span class="mu-i">that</span> bad. I of course know about it, being... important, but I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to inform others. Which I <span class="mu-i">did</span> try to, um, fight— you know, I told the emergency people that you were my retainer, that you were trustworthy, and everything, but they put their foot down, and I just couldn't—"
"The emergency people?"
Double-damnit. (And of course Richard's being useless when you need him.) "Um... yes. They're, um— you know what they are. They're in charge of the emergency... situation, and they..."
"Oh, them." Gil scratches his nose. "I-I get it now."
He does? "Of course you do. Um, also, the emergency is taking place in the general store. In town."
"You know, um, that makes sense. Sorry."
Something's off, here, but you can't pin down what. Whatever it is, it's surely Horse Face's fault. "Well, naturally."
-
The door to the general store jingles a little when you push it open, and the shopkeep glances up at the noise. "Back already? What, did the voices tell you I was gonna—"
"No," you say defensively. "I just— well, it <span class="mu-i">is</span> an emergency, so I'm expressing appropriate haste. That's all. And..."
"Oh! Hi, Madrigal." Gil has slunk in behind you. "Uh, the next shipment won't be in for another week, so..."
You can feel Gil's gaze on your neck. "Ignore her," you say loudly. "<span class="mu-i">I</span> got in here first, and like I said it's an emergency, so you really ought to—"
"What's the problem? Got a ransom note, price is new clothes?" The shopkeep snorts. "Well, if you're paying, you're paying. Come on over."
You do, and fish out your chit, and pay using the little silver scale. (The shopkeep is apparently less comfortable with eyeballing prices than Jacques.) You stuff both outfits into the little rucksack, which holds more than it seems like it ought to, and turn around to find Gil directly behind you. His demeanor is as odd as ever. "You bought clothes?"
"Emergency clothes." You grasp the rucksack's straps tightly. "Which are a regular thing that people have out here, by the way, I know you're new to the..."
"Um, that's cool. I-I-I liked your old outfit, but I guess it's good to have variety. It sucks to be stuck in one thing all the time."
You're unsure what to make of this: he sounds sincere, but <span class="mu-i">why?</span> Is it a particularly awkward brand of small talk? His hands are fidgeting in his pockets. "It does," you say cautiously.
(2/3)
