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You figured it wouldn't help to try ol' reliable first.
You clicked open your suitcase, the cotton of your backup clothes almost chafing your skin as your eyes remained fixated on the smooth silk cast, your fingers feeling around blindly until they fastened around the ever-softening nutberry you knew you'd left on top for emergencies not unlike this one.
Carefully, slowly, with a trembling hand, you reached--
"Buchanan, now, let's not be hasty!"
Steele's voice was uncertain, almost cracking with anticipation. You returned your face to his, catching sight of a pair of eyebrows furrowing above the signature mustache. "Let's..."
He sighed and got to his feet, walking over to your side. Mary made space for him as he sat down next to you, the bug, and the eagle, with the bug giving him a tilt of its head. Steele promptly ignored the insectoid creature, choosing instead to fidget with his hands while looking between the suitcase and his fingers, eventually settling down and finishing his sentence.
"...not be rash." The businessman fixed his tie. You raised a brow at him.
He motioned to your suitcase. "You've... you have... how many of these left?"
What? "...sev'n includin' this one, Steele. Any partic'lar reason...?"
He put a finger to his chin and mulled it over. "No, not now. I thought you had less, is all! I simply worried that you would not have the means to replace these... berries... should you run out in the near future."
You chuckled. Part of it was amusement, part of it was discomfort. "Ah'll have you know I was farmin' before all this. I know plenty well how t' keep these thingies alive," you lied through your teeth, confidence overtaking certainty, "and I've even prepped some growin' stuff beforehand. Don' worry yourself over it."
Steele's face rose a little. "Oh, you were a farmer?"
Another chuckle from you. "What, you couldn' tell from the accent? Ah thought finer folks like you would've known it well."
You returned your attention to the bug, rolling the berry towards it with a gentle poke... watching as the small critter grabbed it neatly and began nibbling on its edges.
