Oh, an invitation for a jog? While she tended to do some sort of working out or skill training every day, she hadnโt had a partner to do so with (or at least, not as long as sheโd been on Earth), so even if she had to start earlier to get some weights or some weapons practice in, thatโd be a more than welcome change. Early rising shouldnโt be a problem, either, since it was only now and then that she really allowed herself to sleep in.. usually after an injury forced her to take it easy. Or easier.ย Rather than interrupt, she takes the opportunity to listen tentatively while digging into her sandwich.
It sounded mostly like sheโd expected from his initial description: sheโd have to shed a bit of stoic to be friendly with customers, learn her way around a cashierโs post, and now and then peek her head in the kitchen. None of those were out of reach - hell, the first might be easiest, considering she could be quite the actress in the name of survival - but itโd still behoove her not to be cocky. Maybe she could help in finding quality seeds for the garden sometime.. sheโd always had a green thumb, but she wondered if the garden was a personal love rather than just a necessity for the cafe; if it were, she wouldnโt want to intrude.
His description of the townsfolk leaves her reassured; not just because the denizens of the store were unusually untroublesome, but because her own assessment of the citizens had been fairly accurate. Whether the ones that caused trouble or ones content to mind their own business, sheโd found most of those who werenโt passing through had an almost tired look to them, something thatโd somehow made her feel both alienated and included. Or maybe some of them were just tranquil? You could tell a lot from someoneโs eyes, but it was quite a fine line between exhaustion and relaxation, at least in her opinion. Perhaps since for her, the two usually occurred together?ย
While he sips on his drink and since sheโd already finished that whole sandwich, miraculously without making a mess or much noise, sheโs about to speak when he gives that hum, cluing her in to more information forthcoming. And forthcoming it was.. she hadnโt expected to hear much more about the demon he had a bizarre relationship with, much less without prying, so she listens carefully, attention a more rapt now that career details and an empty stomach werenโt plaguing her. Alternate days, alternate sides.. so thatโs it. Some who were possessed by demons were more like a husk, the original person locked screaming in the back of an etherealโs consciousness. Others it was almost like a battle for control, the host constantly battling back impulses or intents of the possessor with nothing but willpower. Personally, she could relate a little more to those in the second category, though not because they were the same. While sheโd heard vaguely of deals with demons that were more like deals and less like forced arrangements, Shinโs case was unique.
As if she needed more excuses for her incessant curiosity to pester, and heโd just given them to her hungry mind in spades. Add to the list of tasks: donโt let your inquisitiveness lead either of you to ruin.ย
Heavy as the last revelations mightโve been, she decides to answer most of what heโs said in order, wanting to get the easier responses off of her chest first. Maybe buy herself some time to find the right words to address the latter with the proper care.ย โNo questions, at least not yet. I am sure I will have plenty to ask about once I get a look at this wholeย โcashierโ thing, but you explained everything well. And it is a relief to know that even the supernatural customers tend to be good-natured, or at least relaxed.. I have known some types in other cities who are quite territorial about new inhumans in the neighborhood.โ That was putting it mildly.ย โI will likely take you up on offers to jog, since without all the walking and running I do just by traveling I could use the conditioning. And I do wonder if I could help in some ways with the kitchen..ย I am no chef, certainly, but given I can eat a vast many things humans cannot, should you ever wish to incorporate more options for the less-than-human folks who come here, perhaps I could be of assistance?โ There were venomous fish she knew how to gut just right for consumption, or even strange hybrid vegetables that were a bit bitter for the human stomach but were strangely fragrant when cooked for a less-limited and not bothered by plant-based toxins sort of palate. But sheโd only volunteer that if she could first prove herself with.. well, anything else, much less this extra offer.
Even with time going over the less-severe notes of interest, she apparently hasnโt mulled over how to best approach the topic of demons, and buys another moment or two by taking a long sip of her tea. Sheโd eaten so quickly, it was still warm.ย โI would just like to preface anything I ask by saying, I hope I do not ask anything that offends you.. or sounds silly. And if I ever overstep a boundary, please let me know.โ Her fingernails run over the ceramic of the teacup, one thumb fiddling with the rim.ย โNone of what you said should be a problem, provided I can still leave or return to my room on days off and any preparations I should be doing in the meantime are made clear, of course. But I have no clue what aย โfallenโ is.โ In spite of herself, she gives a wry smile, her eyes not having met his properly since theย โprefaceโ comment.ย โDespite meeting many, many varieties of humanoids in this world, various demons included, I am not familiar with their.. nomenclature.โย
It was probably obvious what she was asking - not just what โfallenโ meant, but what she should be expecting, if she should be prepared for anything beyond the shop, if she should be concerned. Not afraid - she had only met one or two beings in her life thatโd made her truly afraid, and one of them died with her dead planet. Or, died on the planet. Though, if her nervousness wasnโt from fear, it was worth wondering if she was actually worried about offending him, as in being impolite rather than the cruel route most would think of with such a topic. It wasnโt that odd, since she was familiar with the phrase โfighting your demons,โ and perhaps thought of both the literal and figurative meaning with the same emotional significance.
Shouldnโt you be familiar with pacts offering yourself up for the aid of a powerful ethereal by now? The thought is sudden and unwelcome, and makes her nauseous, but thankfully sheโd long since finished her food - tea was a lot easier to stomach. Terra shakes her head, just once, before sheโs finally looking him in the eye again. โIn any case, you need not worry about me causing trouble with him. From what I hear, I am a fairly โlow-maintenanceโ housemate.โ Perhaps to a fault.
[ โ ] Fallens, huh...? Ironically, theyโre beings that he himself had barely able to understand despite being possessed by one for so long. On top of the difficulty in communicating with Curos, Shin himself had also never pushed him to explain further about his kind. Heโd always assumed the topic to be something that a mere mortal would be better off not knowing.
ย ย ย โย The definition of a fallen is truly a topic that is too broad to be understood in the normal span of a lifetime. All I know is that the fallen that possessed me and his kind are beings who were created by the higher being with a purpose, whether they be small or highly impactful to human lives. But as their name suggests, they have betrayed their creator and hence, became a demon. I havenโt met many of their kind but the one that I know can be fickle and he loves destruction.ย โ
He could only hope that his explanation can give Terra a little bit of understanding about fallens. Though, he does find it to be a little odd to be asked about fallens since a large number of human believes in the higher being and the infamous ruler of the underworld, the devil, who is also a fallen. Though Curos cannot be compare to such an existence since he is more self-indulgent than ambitious. Perhaps in the past, but not in the recent hundreds of years....
Shin lifted his head and noticed that Terra seemed to be shaking her thoughts away. Though he isnโt sure what goes through her mind at the moment, he figured it might have to do with the topic at hand. Was she perhaps nervous about residing with a possessed employer? He could understand that. But he never assumed her behaviour to stem from fear and not out of worry that she might be offending him. After all, he is aware of his own circumstances. As much as he wants to assure his new employee, it would be too cruel to lie and say that the fallen will never hold bad intentions.
ย ย โย But hey--you donโt need to worry too much about that. Weโre living in seclusion. I mean, no one would expect a named demon to reside in a host that makes pastries and teas. Though I have to warn you that if he offers to grant a wish of yours then youโd best refuse it.ย
ย ย ย ย Or else, I might have to bargain with him to revoke his offer.ย โ
Shin chuckled, it was an attempt to lift the mood with the joke. Though the chilling truth of the situation is that no one has ever revoked an agreement made with a demon. At least, not by their own will...
