Stone's Throw

[NPCs]

Deckins rubs at his chin, looking thoughtful. "Naw, like I says, yous weren't bad. Lessa say you gets the work for a week, and iffen you get up from not bad to okay, then yous can keeps it."

[Charon Tethras]

"What, really?!" For a moment he's elated --  A job! -- but then he remembers the hard work, the low pay. "Thank you," he manages, despite his falling spirits. It'll keep Dil and me alive, taht's the important thing. 

[NPCs]

"Ah-yup," Deckins says grandly, the generous monarch of bodily filth granting his new subject a boon. "Annnd, a nice little something I leave outs of the notice? Yous can use the bucket room to wash up afta yah shift, hot water too. But none of tah soap now, hear?"

[Charon Tethras]

Bite me. I'm using the soap. "Thank you," he says again. 

[NPCs]

"Yah, yah. Anywhos..." Deckins rubs his chin again, then asks abruptly, "tah be clear, you ken that iffen yous touch one of dah workers, you gonna pay full price, yah? One way or another?"

[Charon Tethras]

Charon can't help the disgusted face he makes. "No thank you."

[NPCs]

"Like dat kind of half-cat, eh?" Deckins bobs his head again. "Good. Yous just keeps it that way, ken it? Boss don't like dems that steal. Don't like dem at all."

[Charon Tethras]

"I would never," he growls. "When do I start?"

[NPCs]

Squinting at Charon, Deckins looks faintly puzzled. "Yous already is," he informs his new minion with patronizing patience. "Needs ta finish des room, dens I got fouh more to gets done." He laughs a little. "And like as no more by thens! Always more fucking being done, ken it?"

[Charon Tethras]

"Yeah, I ken," he sighs. Alright. Knuckle down and get to work. 

By the time he drags himself home to Dil, he feels utterly, utterly filthy. But he's got a few shiny new coins in his pouch. Unable to resist, he stops off at a catfolk bath house on the way home. Now clean, if damp (the expensive magical dryers are too much, even for him,) he straggles home, later than ever. 

[Dog]

Pushing open the side door to the temple, he finds himself staring at the massive canine beast that protects the grounds and cares for the smallest of the children. The canine studies Charon for a brief moment, then gets to his feet with a soft huff. Without a word, Charon feels like he was just gently chided for coming home so late, given a fussing look over and then 'suggested' that he follow... towards the kitchen?

[Charon Tethras]

Charon winces, following the dog with a guilty expression on his face. 

[NPCs]

The kitchen lights have all been dimmed or covered; the main fire is still smoldering but carefully banked, the candles are snuffed and the singular light crystal is shuttered. Thanks to his heritage however, that's still enough light, combined with the gentle illumination coming in from the window, to reveal a small reptilian figure curled up on a bench just in front of a plate wrapped in a towel.

[Charon Tethras]

"Hey Dil," he says quietly, keeping his voice soft enough not to make any headache Dil might have worse. "I got great news."

[Diligence]

"..."

"..."

"...necrotizing fasciitis."

*snort*