The three of them stood in silence for some time, even after that obviously leading line the younger, thinner one had delivered.

  The men at the table looked the boy up and down, scanning him with quiet, intense curiosity. And the boy did the same with them.

  "... I dunno what I was expecting." The burly man piped up first.

  He didn't have anything else to say. That was the end of that thought.

  "I do." The younger man dealt the killing blow to the silence with a smug look on his face. "I was expecting to be surprised, and lo and behold I was correct."

  "Correct' my foot. That's a cop-out and you know it." The burly one gave a ft retort. "I ain't impressed."

  "Yes, well... I don't care." The younger one smiled and nodded to himself.

  The burly man shrugged, and turned his attention back to the boy. "Same goes for you, boy. In terms of the 'impressing me' department. Frankly, ya look small and pathetic and easily throwable, if it ever were to come to that."

  "a fair assumption." The boy nods.

  "Ah, again we disagree, old friend!" The younger one pipes up, leaning down closer towards the boy, squinting for an even closer inspection. "I find myself exceedingly impressed by this creature before us."

  "Oh boy..." The burly one lets out a small groan, and makes the conscious decision to stop listening for a while.

  "There's a real sense of smallness upon looking at him, which is only enhanced by those strange, comically rge and ever-widened eyes of his. The whole picture comes together to create a feeling of delicateness, as though it would take little more than a gentle breeze to shatter him to pieces." The younger man drones on. "And, of course, this is all tied together by those clothes. Obviously, we recognize them from our exceedingly violent mutual associate- but whereas on her their foreign nature and full comfortable cover combine with her inherent strength and the aura of terror she exudes synthesizes into further confidence and danger, on him it just looks more like a newborn trying to conceal itself while its herd is sin and harvested in front of him. Just looking at him makes one feel more powerful by comparison. And through all that he still manages to exude an air of boyish masculinity. He's a joy to look at, I can see why that girl would take him on as her companion."

  The boy blinked a few times, as the man finally stopped and caught his breath. "i was unable to note a majority of that."

  "Never mind that." The younger man pulls back and sits upright on his chair once more. "Introductions are in order. You may refer to me as Mouse Rattington. Warrior, poet, schor, musician, master thief, and lover of all the world's pleasures." He holds his head high and tugs on his robes. "And my friend here..." He leans towards the burly man with a smile, extending his hand leadingly.

  The burly man stared off at nothing, blinking silently.

  The younger man punches him in the arm.

  "Ah, you done?" He blinks and turns his attention back to the boy. "Jok. My name's Jok." He spoke before Mouse could say anything more, correctly assuming that he'd immediately move to names after finishing his stupid monologue.

  "noted." The boy nods. "i am called bug, i think."

  "Ah, fitting." Mouse nods with a smile, looking at the parchment stuck to the boy's hat. "Yes, I believe I recall her calling you that in our conversation earlier... Or maybe I don't. Hm. Well, it sounds like something she'd decide. But never mind that! We have a job to do, do we not? And that job is..!"

  Mouse thought for a moment, before looking pleadingly at Jok.

  "We have to get food." Jok expined, his voice low and unamused. "And then he's gonna run back to wherever-the-hell and bring it back to the girl. And *then* she'll be down to do the crap we actually came here for."

  "i recall that she also instructed one of you to carry me." The boy helpfully reminded.

  Jok physically cringed. "... It's not like she's gonna know if we don't, right..?"

  "i do not have any intention of lying to her." The boy shakes his head.

  This was rewarded with an incredibly loud, guttural groan.

  "OOH!" Shouts Mouse, his eyes wide, bright, and excited. "Well, if you're not willing to carry him, I would most certainly not mind-"

  "If you manage to carry him from here to the nearest restaurant, I will eat my helmet." Unbelief coursed through Jok's voice.

  "Come now, don't be ridiculous!" Said Mouse, his voice high and excited. "Look at him! He's the picture of smallness and vulnerability! I admit that my physical acumen may not be up to your typical standard, but a boy such as this ought to be a cinch to carry!"

  "... Yeah, he's clearly weak, but he's not a baby." Jok said. "He's a whole guy. An entire dude. A young man. He's still gonna weigh more than you can handle."

  "Nonsense!" Mouse puffs out his chest. "Lithe, gentle, elegant and beautiful as I am, I still be a man, myself. A warrior- Better yet, a conqueror. How could I call myself such if I didn't hold dominance over a creature one as pathetic as the boy before us?"

  "... You're an idiot." Jok ftly states. "A moron, is what you are."

  "Hmmph!" Mouse huffs. "Old friend, stand ready to reach for your helmet!" He turned his attention back toward the boy, who had been standing still, quietly listening to the whole conversation. Mouse reached his arms out towards him. "Boy! Enter my arms at once!"

  "okay." Said the boy, allowing himself to be lifted.

  "AhaAA- S-See? Look upon me, friend! It's as simple- Uh, e-easy as..."

  A few moments ter, the boy was on the floor again. Mouse's face was red, his breath heavy, and his muscles strained to their limits.