THE JARS THAT BLEED BEFORE THEY BREAK.

[glassjar]

Congrats! You've somehow stumbled upon the pocket dimension where five people with questionable morals (some more questionable than others) live and operate. Are you here on business? Do you have an appointment? Or are you here to see a friend? (Come on, don't make us laugh.)

Maybe you're here on accident due to some multiversal, magical, or otherwise supernatural nonsense? It's happened before, it was bound to happen again.

You can wander towards the house, see if anyone's home. Or you can explore the lush grounds, and maybe run across the wolfman groundskeeper who might try to usher you out towards the nearest portal, anyway. The world is your oyster, just try to be a good guest.

Comments

[glassjar]

Thomas. One of the two you didn’t meet. He’s a real firecracker.

[Morgan smiles, but offers nothing more. If Oren wonders, and wants answers, he has to ask — for instance, they age so, so slowly these days, but far be it from him to explain how or why. He’s not a mind-reader, after all.]

That’s it, then? If you ever have something on the table, I suppose you know where to find us.

[Because, yes, greed does drive them, to a certain degree. Greed for different things among each person, or a means to an end to fill some kind of void all the others but himself seem to feel. But that, of course, is definitely not offered freely.]

But you don’t have to leave so soon. Make yourself at home. Today’s a day off for everybody, and they’re sure to be taking advantage of it.

[oren]

[Oren shakes his head.]

No, thank you. Drink is enough.

I have work.

[Not cafe-related actually... He needs to clean the apartment, Iona made a mess in the kitchen again :(]

[glassjar]

[Morgan shrugs, and downs the rest of his glass in one go.]

I see. Next time then.

[He places his glass on the counter with clack! that resounds a little too loudly.]

Speaking of. Before you go running off, I have a question of my own.

[oren]

Yes? Ask.

[Oren stands up in the meanwhile. It's as slow and methodical as ever. He looks at Morgan expectantly.]

May not have satisfactory answers.

[glassjar]

Just answer what you can. I don't think my curiosity is unfounded.

[But he nearly shrugs his shoulders.]

Why would someone like you need someone like us? "Just" workers at a cafe.

[Morgan has a good memory, you know. He remembers what Iona said about her grandmother; and though one could have taken it for a joke back then, he knows better.]

[oren]

[His answer is almost immediate.]

Collecting resources.

[Partially true. He is kind of fishing. There's also that saying about keeping your enemies close.]

Never know when needed.

[glassjar]

[Fair enough. Though a part of Morgan remains skeptical that he'll see him here again any time soon. Not to say he wouldn't be pleasantly surprised if that weren't the case.]

Of course. But why do I get the feeling that we'd be a last-ditch choice only, if things really got bad?

[It wouldn't be the first they'd have entertained particularly desperate clients, though.]

[oren]

By design. Probably.

No practical use yet.

[Oren turns to face towards where he entered with Morgan.]

Better to establish business ties now than later.

[glassjar]

[He laughs, dry and without any real life to it.]

For practical use later. You're pragmatic, I'll give you that.

[Well, he won't stop him from leaving.]

In that case, thanks for the gifts. And tell the others "hello" for me.