The Market at Scarborough Faire

† — “He’s a pretty prickly guy when he wants to be at times honestly.” Yūichirō laughed. He wasn’t sure how smoothly that meeting would go. Guren wasn’t really the type to trust others all that willingly after all and he was almost certain that there would probably be some headbutting at some point between the two. So perhaps it was for the best that they didn’t meet, at least until he could figure out some kind of way for them to properly get along and not argue like he did with one of his squadmates.

† — “I see,” he gives a small yet slow nod of the head as he listens to his companion speak further. “So we need to clean out your shop as well, that way we can get all of the boxes moved and finally get to all the dust that’s cluttering the area too.” It sounded like something that would end up being a whole lot of work for the two of them. If he had been able to come here with his entire squad everything would surely go by much faster, but sadly that wasn’t going to be the case here since they hadn’t ended up traveling alongside him, so it was just going to be the two of them. Just like it had been originally. Which was totally fine with him. And it wasn’t like anyone else would help. It seemed most people didn’t like him.

† — He made sure to carefully place the backpack onto the floor once inside. Taking a moment to look in the direction Álf pointed, he nodded his head and headed over to pick up one of many said boxes.

† — “You got it, I’ll make sure to bring every single last box outside so we can get started on dusting right away,” Yūichirō cheered happily, letting out a rather loud grunt, finally getting a decent grip on one of the boxes.

“Prickly, huh?”  Maybe he’d be more fun that Álf thought.  If he had something to prickle when poked, then that at least made it a possibility.  “How fun,” he muttered quietly.  Well, he wasn’t about to go out of his way to meet this man.  It’d probably mean more dealings with this one... and others like him.  Arceus, he hoped there weren’t others like this boy around.  It’d be the end of him... or at least the end of his sanity.  He did have so very little of that left, ironically.

☦ || “That’s something that Guren often says,” Yūichirō paused. He was fairly certain that certain situations always had consequences no matter the goal, and that was something one had to live with. If you couldn’t… it’d be endless suffering. “I don’t mind suffering a bit for progress honestly,” he nodded his head, allowing a softer smile to form. “Mm. So long as it helps.”

☦ || “Then I’m glad that they don’t really exist here in the real world, cause I don’t think there’d be too many people left. I mean, if they’re evil spirits, and eat both humans along with their flesh, it’s very likely that everyone would be doing all they can to keep them away so they don’t end up as their next meal. I don’t think we have demons that actually eat anything other than blood and human desires where I’m from?”

☦ || There were many things that someone could say about him. Even to his face. Yet he still wouldn’t understand it. Insults would slide off his back. Even compliments, though those flustered him. This was why most people had a tendency to avoid him. Now poor Álf would be stuck dealing with him.

☦ || “Alright, just show me which boxes! I’ll make sure to get them moved!” He was quite clearly ready to start moving some boxes for the other, even if he didn’t exactly know why he was moving them, or for how long.

“I bet this Guren fellow and I would get along swimmingly,” Álf replied.  He absolutely did not want to meet him ever. He sounded like the exact sort of person who was no fun at all whereas this child was a similar type only in the complete opposite way.  Gosh what he wouldn’t give for a good sap, one who actually had common sense and was just a little bit stupid but not a complete drop off the apple tree.

“Of course,” the immortal replied with an almost uncharacteristically serene smile.  “I really need to do some cleaning of that shop too, so now would be a good chance to move everything out of it so I can get to all the dust.”  And you better bet he was going to try and rope this kid into that too.  It was yet another easy but tedious thing he would have been able to handle with his powers, but if it meant he could make even a mild inconvenience for someone else, then why not?  It wasn’t like Álf had anything but time.  He had all the time in the world.  Right up until the universe ended.  And maybe even after that.

Fortunately all their chatting had put them right in front of the shop.  Álf unlocked the door and led the boy to the back so they could set down the backpacks of herbs they were carrying.

It had been quite a while Nix ran in such a panic but there was no time to lose when it came to why she entered that shop. She noticed quite a few people at the Center and so came to this shop in the hopes of acquiring the urgent help needed. “I.. I’m sorry, Sir but can you sell me an herb to treat poison!? I’ll pay.. whatever you demand but it’s urgent!” The source of the urgency could be seen in the woman’s arms. It was a pachirisu, suffering from some manner of poisoning. “I was heading into the town to restock on supplies when I saw him. A trainer attacked and just.. left him there, that’s what he told me! I ran out of antidotes the other day so I came here as fast as I could.” Enough so that the silverette was nearly out of breath but made especially sure to not drop the injured pokemon held protectively in her arms. Sadly Nix wasn’t able to locate the reckless trainer but treating the creature came first and foremost. 

Álf glanced over at the Pokémon in her arms.  Yeah, he couldn’t very well ignore that.  It’d go against his Oath not to mention the conscience that he was surprised he still had.

Alf thought he was a Fungi with that joke. XD

Álf clicked his tongue when he heard the door to the shop open.  He’d soooo been hoping to pass his one day a week in the store quietly and without human visitors.  He considered, briefly, just hiding in the back, but the idea of the ‘customer’ potentially breaking something was enough to draw him out.  At the very least he’d try to get them out quickly.

☦ || “Doesn’t everything end up backfiring at some point in the end though?” Yūichirō was curious. “Well they aren’t exactly obedient with their master at first and some never do but others become kinder.” For example, Byakkomaru, he was very obedient, and never dreamed of laying a hand on Shinya despite being a demon. Then there were demons like Guren’s. Ones that always tried to control anything and everything, always had some kind of devious plan tucked away under their sleeve. It all depended on the type of bond created he supposed. “Wendigo, is that something that’s close to a demon or something? Though… it’s probably not friendly since you mentioned your flesh.”

☦ || “Oh great, then go ahead and tell me what to do!” Usually he wasn’t the type to do work so willingly whether it was for himself or others in truth. “Do you need more boxes to be moved around?” He remembered that’s what he did last time. Oh, and he remembered when he went with Álf to collect herbs too, that was both an interesting and very educational situation he’d been in.

“Few good results have no consequences,” Álf muttered.  He felt some strong and negative emotion try to bubble to the surface, but it fizzled out midway.  Another demerit of his... condition.  “But I suppose that’s the price of progress,” he added, regaining his carefree demeanor.  Yup!  You’re exactly right!”

“Wendigo are cannibalistic spirits that prey on the flesh of the living, hence the term ‘flesh-eater’.  Of course, I’ve never met one, so I’m not sure if they actually eat anything besides humans, but even to my people they were just scary stories to tell children so that they behaved.  It’s nothing like the demons you’re probably familiar with.”

Did this child have even an ounce of suspicion?  An inch of awareness?  This was bad.  He’d found an idiot.  A complete, irredeemable moron.  Insulting and abusing these people didn’t work.  They were quite literally the immortal’s worst match. 

"I sea what you're doing, but it won't work."