Stone's Throw

[Charon Tethras]

"You know. Arms in a cow's guts up to the elbow?" 

[NPCs]

Now Deckens is staring at Charon with mild disgust. "Wotcha want to do that fer? You sum kinda gore kinker?" Charon is starting to get the impression that Deckens doesn't know much about cows or farming in general.

[Charon Tethras]

"'cause the calf's breech. You gotta turn it so it can be born."

[NPCs]

"Well, mebbe yah shou'n't put your damn fool leg in'er ta start with, fancy pants or no fancy pants," Deckie says with an exaggerated eyeroll, clearly thinking himself rather brilliant for the thought.

[Charon Tethras]

Charon's tail lashes with annoyance. "Regardless. I don't get sick easy."

[NPCs]

"Suspec' not, given yah preferences," Deckens agreed. Right handy that. If 'es like that sort, I cans set'em on the worst of tha' messes. "Alrighty, so we gots a room as needs cleaning now. You get it up ta using in ah hour and yous got tha' job, ken?"

[Charon Tethras]

"Sure, of course. I'll do my best." Easy peasy. I finally found a job I can do! 

[NPCs]

The bed is coated in shit. 

Actual shit. Still wet and loose but starting to crust over, especially on the 'blanket' on the ground. Almost as strong as the horrendous reek is the drone of hundreds, maybe even thousand of flies. Someone left the window open, which might have helped with the stench, a little, but also allowed for the invasion. 

[Charon Tethras]

Charon stares at the bed for a moment. He thinks about leaving. About just... walking away. But... The money... 

He takes a deep breath (sticking his head into the hallway first) and steels himself. Just think of it as manure, he tells himself. It's just fresh manure. 

[NPCs]

Amazingly, he's supplied with decent tools for the job. A good mop, plenty of lukewarm water, tons of worn, stained rags and some kind of chemical powder to mix with water he was told not to eat or snort. Or touch really, which is rather hard given the lack of gloves. Oh. And a flyswatter.

[Charon Tethras]

He's just using the flyswatter to scrape up the last bit of caked-on grime when his hour is up. The flies have concentrated on the bucket where he's been dumping the crust, full as it is with filthy water from the mop. 

[NPCs]

Deckins, beacon of professionalism that he is, shows up a good five minutes later. Stopping in the doorway, he peers into the room, then bobs his head. "Not bad," he declares. "Not good rally, but not bad neithers. Bed looks good, gots the floor, blankets off... but yous need to larn to look up." To Charon's horror, a glance upwards reveals shitty footprints on the ceiling. Somehow.

[Charon Tethras]

He flinches. So that might have been dripping on me the whole time!

[NPCs]

"She's a real a-jill-y one, that's fah sure," Deckins says, head bobbing a little. "Eats good too. Lossa grains."

[Charon Tethras]

He gives a deep, bone-weary sigh. "So I failed?" At least I won't have to do this again.