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[suspicious]

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[redlines]

_{[Eel stew...? No, it couldn't be, could it?]}

I might've known her... husband? There was a man down there who took me in for a week when I came down with a cold as a kid and had me eat nothing but that for three days. Ask her if she was married to a man named "Fred" when you get the chance, and if she still makes those banora tarts that everyone talked about up top. This would've been about... God, about twenty years ago? Give or take. I was only about knee high when that happened, but you don't forget meals like that no matter how long it's been.

[suspicious]

I'll ask her. She just got back from market a little while ago.

[ And then like half an hour later: ]

Fred, yes. That was his name. She said he died in the war. It was... a really sweet story she told. She wasn't sure she recognized your name, but she still makes the tarts.

[redlines]

That's a shame. About him and the war, I mean. Not recognizing my name is completely understandable seeing as how I didn't start going by Roche until I weaseled my way into a gang. I wasn't smart enough to come up with fake names back then, so I just let people call me whatever they wanted.

It's good to hear that she's still taking strays in and feeding them, though. Better a sweet woman like her than say, the Coeurls. Five-hundred gil says they'd have either eaten you alive or robbed you blind.

[suspicious]

Ah, that explains it. Perhaps she'll recognize you when you come by? That would be quite the reunion. She speaks very fondly of the children she takes care of. By the sound of it, it's this... city above that has an orphan crisis. Sometimes they come down the elevator trying to leave town.

I wouldn't underestimate me on that one, though. I know my way around bands of thugs, let me tell you. More than likely I would have had them lining up to eat out of my hand, uh, some way or another.

[redlines]

Ah, she wouldn't want to see a dirty old mutt like me. I guarantee you the only thing I kept from my childhood was the pout and the ability to pull off the kicked puppy look. She'd... Ah, nevermind all that. I'm more curious about how you'd get a gang of miscreants like them to eat out of your hand. I'm sure you could pull it off with my old one, but I want to know anyway.

[suspicious]

I'd love to be able to answer that, but the truth is I really don't know. Trouble has a way of becoming my friend through a series of strange and oddly specific circumstances. I never can predict whether I'll survive half the situations I find myself in, and yet somehow...

Well, for example, I once traveled aboard a spice ship that was overtaken by pirates. I wound up being spared and actually joined their crew once they found out I was a physician, on account of a few of them needing medical attention. Journeyed with them for quite awhile after that, in fact. One of my better adventure stories. But not the most unlikely to have happened.

[redlines]

That settles it: as the ex-leader of the Gnoles, I'm calling dibs. If I wasn't already on my way, I'd be packing my bags to do so now. Can I keep you? I'm keeping you until you need to head back to wherever you came from.

Especially considering your line of work. I can think of at least three gangs who'd fight to the death for their own personal doctor, and I think you're a little too pretty to be taken in by them 😉

[suspicious]

Keep me? Haha, if that's what you want to call giving me a place to stay and a warm meal, then sure, you can keep me. But there, you see? It happens exactly like this. Not that I'd call you "trouble."

Do you happen to need your own, personal doctor? Maybe I can give you a checkup. To earn my keep, of course.

[redlines]

I'd be insulted if you didn't call me trouble, sweetheart.

Though you're offering, it'd be rude to say no, wouldn't it? So long as we keep any thin, sharp instruments out of the equation, I'll behave myself if you want to take a closer look.

[suspicious]

Hmmm. Do leech teeth count as "thin, sharp instruments"?

I'm kidding! You're out of luck, anyway; I haven't any with me. I'll be needing to visit an apothecary if I want to be of any real use to anyone here, but we can keep our examination strictly bloodless for now. I'll just test your reflexes, instead.

[redlines]

Leeches? Good god, man. If you want to see me bleed, just use a knife like everyone else.

That, and.... I'm not sure how well using an actual leech would go. Someone in Wall Market probably has some for sale, but where would you even keep them?

[suspicious]

In jars, of course! Haven't you ever been treated with them before?

[ modern medicine is about to blow his FUCKING mind ]

At any rate, if they're sold where we're already going, that works out perfectly.

[redlines]

I can't say I have. I've almost had one latch onto my face when I first joined the military, though.

_{[They're so much cuter than their tinier, pond-dwelling cousins, yet so much scarier. He hates it :(]}

Considering the sort of shit people are into down there, it wouldn't surprise me if they had them to be completely honest... Speaking of which, you're going to want to get on that elevator and come topside in about ten.

[suspicious]

How did it get
Oh
Up we go, eh? Alright, I'll... be up there shortly. I don't much like elevators.

[redlines]

You wouldn't be the first to say that. It'll be fine, I promise. The only thing you need to be worried about is how loud that thing is, but... You have my word that nothing will happen. For as bad as people talk about Shinra here, they do know how to build some things to last.

I'll swear it on my girl if I've got to.

[suspicious]

On your

Roche, are you married?! You absolute cad. You should have told me!

[redlines]

wHAT NOooonononononono onon
n
o

no
don't be

That's absurd

[suspicious]

Uh, is it? Betrothed, then? You said...

[redlines]

No! Heavens, no. God no. I know I'm a catch, but I'm not... that. I'm barely suited to be somebody's beau, let alone something like that.

[suspicious]

What? Sure you are. You've got plenty going for you! And you're still young, besides. It's way too soon to throw in the towel on your blissful future with some lucky person.

[redlines]

I've never been a fan of being tied down by anyone, I'm afraid. Er... tied down in that way, I mean.

[suspicious]

Fair enough. It's not for everyone, that's for sure. I imagine the sort of person you'd want to be with would make you feel free regardless of whether you wear a bit of jewelry or not, rather than tied down.

Is that this mystery girl, then...?

[redlines]

Who says I'd settle down with a girl, anyway? As far as preferences like that go, I'm all over the road 😉

You'll see her, though. Soon. Once you're off the elevator, I want you to head... I think left? Assuming things haven't changed too terribly much since I was last here, there ought to be a sandwich shop with a yellow bird on the sign. Just keep heading down the street from there until you see me.

[suspicious]

Also very fair. But you said, uh
Well.
I can't wait to meet her. I'm on my way up. It's not my safety I'm worried about in this thing, I just... god, it's loud, isn't it? What a ruckus. I don't know how anyone can sleep through that noise.

[redlines]

You're not from a very big city, are you? If it helps, Midgar is a little... quieter in some places compared to here. Topside, anyway. It'll be noisy down below where we'll be going, but it's more the people who're noisy than anything else.