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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EARLY EVENING
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Fiora walks back down the stairs from her room, having returned from the Doc's and dressed her wounds, she's now wearing a loose shirt that hides the brace. She gets a bottle of hard ale from the town's other doctor, the Barkeep, then finds a seat, intent to drink a few glasses before dragging herself to bed at last. She pours the first glass and toasts it to the barkeep, "What a day..."
Gareth comes stomping into the Minnow probably a little more brusquely than normal and looks around. He's still dressed in his day clothes, and looks as though he just got back from a bit of a walk, judging by the thin layer of dust lining the hem of his outer jacket. He sighs upon spotting the giraffe he's been searching for, then strides over to the table and takes a seat without much fanfare.
Fiora is halfway through her second glass as Gareth stomps in. Setting the glass down, she manages a slight smile as the pirate rather overtly heads straight to her and takes a seat. "All that commotion for me? Heh. You look like hell, Gareth." The bruises across her shoulder and arm make her look far worse for wear then him.
Gareth shakes his head. "Hardly, lass. If I look tired, it's from walkin' out to the farms and back." He looks Fiora up and down for a moment, then nods, "Guessin' ye let Brunilda go, since there's no way she got away without ye landin' a single hit otherwise."
Fiora 's tired smile fades, and she rocks her glass back and forth a little, watching the liquid stir. "...Couldn't much just let her pass. But couldn't exactly fight her when I brought her into this... her words hit hard though, but I couldn't betray either of you. Hope I bought you enough time."
Gareth nods. "She caught up, but I had time fer a bit o' misdirection in case she decided to get stubborn about leavin' it be. We almost came to blows, but she backed down to let me talk to Strix about if he was the target and all."
Fiora sighs, "Well... good, so long as it got you both out without being hurt I suppose." She pauses to take in his words. "...guessing you had that talk?"
Gareth nods again. "After Brunilda left, aye. Turns out, Strix is the Kobold in question on the bounty, so we had the right mark this entire time, but there's a wee snag."
Fiora chuckles, "Well, there's that at least... snag? Wee snag? Isn't that pirate talk for 'huge fucking problem'?"
Gareth chuckles a bit, though his expression is anything but amused. He leans back in his seat a bit, scowling a touch. "Somethin' o' the sort, aye. Turns out, the researchers that issued the bounty lied. Strix developed his things independently. Most likely, the Sarnian researchers just wanted his knowledge."
Fiora crosses her arms and leans back as well, her face making an expression of disgust. "What?! Ugh, hell. ...so... guessing you cut him free? Remind me never to take another bounty out of the Sarn upper crust. This is just like the Goldwing job all over again, but I guess we don't get played the fools after the fact this time."
Gareth hums, working his jaw for a moment at the mention of the Goldwing bounty. "Mmh... I cut Strix loose. He's back in town already, I think, but most likely not goin' to be at the alleyway anymore. I warned him about the other bounty hunters, so I'm hopin' he's holin' up somewhere really secure fer now." He shrugs, "No doubt, Brunilda thinks Strix is probably already on his way out to Sarn."
Fiora hums, then takes her drink and downs the second half. She waves to the barkeep for another glass and pours out a shot to Gareth, then refills her own. "Well, I've pretty well guaranteed she hates me now. So, there's that. If she can manage to speak to me again, I'll let her know. Might be wise to share that little tidbit about the lies with that Captain you've been sparring with too. Else, we can spread rumors that he ditched town entirely, or we had to kill him or something. The bounty was only for a living kobold, right?"
Gareth nods. "Aye, wanted alive by the researchers. Might be better fer everyone if we just tell the people we trust that he's still around, just hidin' away from the other hunters. The others will give up before long, I'm sure, especially if Louma has a reason to kick them out of town."
Fiora nods with a sigh. "What a mess... I know, not every job is taking out a criminal kingpin or hunting some wayward beast that's been killing farmers but... fuck. I hate it when stuff's so gray. Lies and half-truths and innocents... You know I... I like to at least think I'm doing good out there."
Gareth shrugs again as he downs his shot, then sighs. "Ye are, lass. We're the grease that keeps the gears movin', and we make sure others get what's comin' to them."
Fiora sighs, "And sometimes, make sure folks who don't get what they don't deserve. I... I dunno. Maybe it's just a mistake to crap where you eat, you know? Doing jobs in Respite itself, if we... or at least if I, plan to make some kind of a home here. Part of me just worries... I used to have a code, Gareth. You know that. But I keep wondering if I've strayed too far from it?"
Gareth waves down the barkeep for another drink. "Well, that's why we started interrogatin' our targets before handin' them in, right? Make sure they were the actual targets on whatever job we're doin'. As fer strayin'... only ye can figure that one out, lass." He shoots the giraffe a bit of a look, "Ye know I've no qualms about the jobs we do. Money's money, to me."
Fiora nods slowly. "I... still appreciate you bending to meet me with my stupid honor, if that's even what it is anymore. I like the fighting. And I like the money. And it made a hell of a lot more sense in Vamas... but here?" She shrugs. "Maybe it's just Brunilda, or maybe it was this job, or maybe a bit of all of it... just... this one hurt. And I don't just mean the cracked rib."
Gareth nods a bit. "New places, new faces, completely different in a frontier town than the more established cities. I don't know, lass, but I think I get what yer feelin' to a degree. It was just the one job, and we're still going to get paid from deliverin' the spear to Louma, too, so we've got that to tide us over fer a bit longer."
Fiora smirks a little. "At least I don't feel so bad about the spear... so yeah, not all bad. I dunno. I'll just have to be more careful about local jobs... and... more cautious about jobs in general. Maybe just a tiny bit more, at least."
Gareth hums softly. "No harm in that. Though, we might be a little short on money fer a little bit, unless we go sailin' out to the other continents fer jobs on occasion."
Fiora nods. "Guess that'd be a must. I uh... I was also working with that badger blacksmith a little. Maybe I could... get a job here?" She says that last part like a question that almost hurts to ask. "I don't want to stop you from doing whatever you gotta do though. And if you've got a job, you know I'm up for it... so long as you think it's legit."
Gareth chuckles a little. "Well, that's entirely up to ye, lass. I know ye didn't want to really have to hang up yer axe at all, but ye do what ye think ye want to do." He shrugs again after a moment, "I seem to be makin' some friends and enemies here, as always, so travelin' might be fer the best fer me."
Fiora: "Friends and enemies, eh?" She glances down at the table, then extends her arm across the table, "Well, I know I don't say it much, Gareth, but you can always count me in amongst the former, whether you stay... or go. I think... for now at least... I gotta figure out what I'm doing here. I got nowhere else to go anymore. If I screw things up here..."
Gareth nods, smiling softly. "Well, I'll be sure to let ye know what I decide to do, and if I come across any jobs ye might be interested in, lass. And aye, friends, like Sammi, and enemies, because I'm pretty sure Strix and Brunilda both don't appreciate me bein' around town, right about now." He sighs and reaches a hand over and rests it on Fiora's shoulder, "And, well... we'll still be able to travel, even if we can't call a place home, aye?"
Fiora nods. "If I can't... I'll be a free agent. And you'll be the first companion I'd ask for."
Gareth chuckles. "Well, I'd hope so. We know best how to watch fer each other, after all."
Fiora smirks. "Just think. Somehow an old pirate dog like you ended up being the best partner I could have asked for..." she grows a little more sober in the moment, or perhaps this is the booze talking, "And my best friend too. You're basically like a brother to me."
Gareth chuckles a bit more heartily. "Could say the same about ye, lass." He pauses, "Well, like a sister, I guess, not a brother. Kind o' funny how life works sometimes, isn't it? Yer partner bein' a former pirate and all that."
Fiora shrugs, "And your parterner being a former guard? Yeah, guess it's pretty funny." She looks away a moment, then smiles back at Gareth, "I got a lot of regrets. Telling an elephant to hit me as hard as she can being foremost right now. But... agreeing to work with you ain't one of them."
Gareth smiles. "Well, thank ye kindly, lass. Fer meself, I don't have a lot o' regrets at all, but I'm still... workin' me way up the hill, so to speak, so that could always change down the line some day." He laughs a bit and shakes his head, "Guess we both have to figure somethin' out with this town, eh?"
Fiora chuckles, staring into her drink. "Guess so, yeah."
Gareth pats Fiora's shoulder and turns back to his drink. "Out o' our element, fer sure. Not much to it but to just work at it, I guess."
Fiora nods. "Well, I'm too stubborn and stupid to give up."
Gareth laughs. "Stubborn, fer sure. I'm not so sure about stupid, though, lass."
Fiora shrugs. "Well, whatever. Point is... gonna try until they run me out with pitchforks."
Gareth shakes his head in amusement. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but I'll be around fer a good while more, I think. I've got a few more things to do while I'm here, anyway."
Fiora takes one more drink before she pushes back from the table, wobbling a little, more likely from the pain in her chest then the drink. "Right. Your many, many girlfriends. All those admirers. I'd... best go lie down. Been a hell of a day, and the town Doc said to rest and no more shenanigans with my armor until it's healed." She winks at Gareth, "But if you really need me, I'll make an exception."
Gareth sighs and rolls his eyes at Fiora's teasing, but nods. "Aye, ye best get some rest, lass. I'll probably be headin' that way meself soon, after I clean up a bit." He chuckles after a moment, "But don't worry, Fiora, if I need yer help, I'll let ye know. Won't be anythin' strainin', I'm hopin'."
Fiora grins, "I'll... have to try to find Brun again later, I guess. But not tonight. My ribs can't take another hit like that. You sleep well, Gareth." She walks slowly towards the stairs, leaving Gareth with what's left of her bottle of rum.
Gareth tosses Fiora a little salute and a smile, then starts to pour himself another drink. "Ye have yerself a good night, lass. As always, let me know if ye need anythin', alright? Talk to ye in the mornin'."
Fiora grins, giving a lazy salute back in a similar fashion as she heads up the stairs. "Will do. Thanks for the talk, and for... well, everything today. Good and bad, at least I knew you had my back." She takes the stairs slowly, disappearing as she heads into her room.
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DESERTED ISLAND OFF THE VAMESE COAST (?)
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Gareth yawns to himself as he stretches his arms above his head, his fists reaching up high for a few seconds as he relaxes in the gentle breeze wafting off of the ocean. He's currently sitting on a couple of crates loaded down with various materials and food, resting himself for a bit after moving things about. He smiles a bit as he looks over at the ship anchored just off the shoreline, a proud galleon, sails furled, but with the crew's pennant snapping in the wind. The Victory North, terror of the high seas, bane of well-to-do merchants, and a welcoming place of respite for the pirates that call it home.
Narrator: Leaning against the crates was an older fellow, a wolf perhaps. "Ah, finally" He gives a sigh of relief "I was wondering when you'd settle down. You're far too much of a light sleeper you know" He takes a sip from a bottle labelled 'Grog' (Though the label was peeling off a little, showing the picture of an apple beneath). Gareth wouldn't have ever noticed him approaching, but oddly enough, it also seemed quite natural that he was where he was. "But a dread pirate? Really? Surely you aspire to more than that...."
Gareth looks over at his companion, looking confused for perhaps a moment, but taking their presence in stride as he nods. "Heh, sorry, friend. Comes with the trade, ye know... never know when someone might try to sneak up on ye... But... here? Feelin' like I can finally relax a bit, maybe." He sighs a little as he leans back on the crates, then shakes his head, "Haven't been a pirate fer... a while, now, I think. Not since me old crew decided to be dumb and target some much-too-powerful folks."
Forneus: "Fair. Sometimes you need to enjoy the freedom, where you don't need to worry about the follow-up" He takes another gentle swig, before he reaches down, and starts gently flipping through a log-book, labelled 'recent events'. "I really don't think that any of that was your fault. I think that you'll be fine..but that's not what I'm here about" He nods to the side of the ship "I'm actually more interested in talking about your recent catch"
Gareth tilts his head as he shifts his focus back onto his companion, only now just noting their appearance in a little more detail. He raises an eyebrow when he sees the book held in the other wolf's hand. He sits up a little more attentively, and respectfully, though he's not fully certain why yet. "Me most... recent catch? Do ye mean that Kobold, Strix? What about him?"
Forneus: "Huh?" He flips through the book a few more times, breaking character a moment "I mean..uh..no. Not that one. The more aquatic kind. You didn't even catch the kobold. You let him go again" There was a certain..aquatic vibe to his companion. Which makes sense ..right? They're at sea after all!
Gareth takes a few moments to think, though he nods at the comment his companion makes about Strix. "Well, true enough, I did let him go again..." He raises an eyebrow as he senses that 'vibe' from the other wolf, even if he doesn't necessarily consciously acknowledge it, "Aquatic, hm...? Ye mean Sammi? Heh... well, I've not caught her, far as I can tell. Haven't had a bounty on her or anythin', and it'd be a damn shame if there was one. She's too sweet to have that sort o' thing put on her."
Forneus: "Indeed, Sammi. That's the lady" He stretches liquidily "We should have a talk with her, you and I. I believe that she's rather fond of you, and she's somewhat ensnared by your nets" Okay, that analogy was something of a stretch for him, but he's forging on. He's still holding a log book, but now its labelled 'Exposition' "There are some things you should know" He steps over, towards a table and chairs that he hopes he can convince to be there.
Gareth furrows his brow a little, more out of confusion than anything. He does stand up and make his way over to the table - still clearly somewhat non-lucid considering his acceptance of objects (and a person) appearing out of nowhere - and takes a seat. "Well, I'm pretty fond o' her, too. Not sure what to make o' things yet, but, er..." He trails off, shrugging a little, "Her cheerfulness is refreshin' fer someone like me."
Forneus was taking all this in stride in contrast "That makes sense. She is the happy sort" The wolf knits his fingers together "Okay, this is the bit where we want to ease you gently into some odd ideas" He takes a breath, and holds out a hand "Greetings to you Gareth. My name is Forneus. I'm the person that Sammi is talking about when she refers to her 'Papa'"
Gareth blinks, his gaze shifting to something a bit more sharp at that last statement. At the same moment, his dream goes from a rather pleasantly hazy sort of deal to crystal clear as he becomes lucid. After a few moments, he extends a hand and gives Forneus a firm, friendly shake. "Ah... right, Sammi did mention that whole dream thing... It's good to meet ye, er... should I go with Mister Forneus, or just Forneus?"
Forneus: "Just Forneus will be fine" He seems relieved that he's gotten over the main hurdle without Gareth waking up, and shakes back with the exact amount of firmness Gareth would see as 'appropriate' "Indeed, I'm glad she did. It makes this sort of thing much easier" He stretches a little, before yawning "I'll stay like this though. Easier for everyone rather than trying to pull together whatever you imagine her Papa would look like. It's all dream logic anyway" He claps his hands together "So. We've a good bit to get through. Where would you like to start?"
Gareth scratches the back of his head for a moment, thinking. "Uh... I'm not sure, exactly. She told me that ye'd probably be payin' me a visit some time, but didn't really say much else about what the visit would really, ye know... cover." He looks around for a moment, noticing how crisp the details of their surroundings are now, "I guess... first, I'm dreamin', then? Like... fer certain, this is a dream?"
Forneus: "Uh, I think some of the mortal arcanists would quibble about the details, but just..think of this as me dropping into your dream. I can play with your toybox, but in the end. I'm the guest here" He gives a little smile that was just a liiiittle bit too wide for his face "Although, just because this is a dream, doesn't mean this isn't also quite real" He coughs, embarrassed. 'Creepy smiles' appear to be a bad habit of his
Forneus: "I'm here to let you know about my dear..daughter, so that you're going forward fully informed" He gestures to a door (There's a door?) labelled 'Exit' "Of course, you can always leave. If you want to go into this blind"
Gareth leans against the table a bit, an elbow resting against the surface as he brings a hand up to his chin in thought. His eyes only track towards the exit door for a moment as Forneus points it out, but his gaze turns back to the 'wolf' after a short moment. He also doesn't seem all that perturbed by the wider-than-normal grin, since he's likely seen creepier grins in his life up until now from far less reputable folks. "Well... whatever ye've got to say, I'm sure it's somethin' worth hearin', since yer Sammi's papa and all." He grins in turn after a moment, "Though, maybe we should avoid anythin' that'd get Sammi upset at ye. I don't want to cause any family problems."
Forneus: "It was her idea for us to meet, and..well, it's important that you know some things" He sighs softly "Any issues will be my problem" After a moment's thought "Lets work from a shared base. Tell me what you believe Sammi is"
Gareth tilts his head again, but answers quite promptly. "Well, havin' heard o' her in passin' from a friend o' mine that met her some time back, I know she's one o' the folks we land-dwellers call "Deep Ones" or "Old Ones"." He shrugs a little self-consciously, "The sort o' bein' that seafarin' surface folk tend to fear out o' rumors."
Forneus: "That is usually what she says" He says with a nod "But no, it's not quite true. Although we live at the bottom of the ocean, and the Old Ones are quite real, that's not what Sammi, or even myself are" He knits his fingers together a bit further "We're..well, I like to style it as 'Guards'..but a more accurate way is..a lock. There's a crack in the world way, way down there, and something is trying to get In, and so we were, and understand this is very much a metaphor, stuffed into that hole to plug it"
Gareth hums quietly, lacing his fingers together a bit in mirror to Forneus as he takes in the details. "So... what yer sayin' is that ye and Sammi... or yer kind at large, anyway, are keepin' whatever is tryin' to escape at bay." He gives Forneus a bit of an odd look, "If that's the case... why's Sammi way up here at the surface, if she's supposed to be a guard against whatever's tryin' to come through that crack?"
Forneus: "Metaphor, remember? It doesn't matter where any of us actually are physically. What's important is that our souls are the ones taking the influence from Otiax, rather than the world at large. It used to be that there was more of us, but ..we've lost many, and we're not getting any more..donations" He holds up a hand in a 'I'll explain later' motion "So, I let Sammi come up, hoping that maybe if she was able to experience normal reality, it would be a way to stop that loss from happening, and maybe hold things down with less people"
Gareth nods slowly in understanding, dipping his head a second time in acknowledgment to Forneus forestalling the obvious question. "Ahh, right... so it's not like the guards I usually tangle with, then... More, uh... on the magic side o' things." He tilts his head again, "...And 'normal' reality, ye say? I'm guessin' things get more than a bit strange closer to that crack in the world?"
Forneus nods "Reality as you know it, well, it works on logic for the most part, cause comes before effect. Things happen because the rules of the world say they do. Magic can use energy to bend some of those rules. However, as you say, closer to that rift...things start to break down. Everything becomes more subjective. Reality is whatever has the strongest will wants it to be. You've seen Sammi's influence. Around her reality is a bit softer, more open to interpretation. If that crack would be opened fully? Everywhere would be like that, and Otiax is extraordinarily strong willed..but for now, he's occupied. He has to work His way through Us first" He sighs again. He can't forestall it any longer "On that note. You may have guessed this already. Myself, and Sammi for that matter..or any of Us that are left down there..we..we're not born aquatic. None of us were. We were all given to the Deeps by those on the shore who understood maybe a little of what was happening"
Gareth nods, listening intently as he recalls some of the odd things that have happened around Sammi, as well as some of her explanations for how or why they happened. As Forneus finishes talking, however, he blinks and gazes at the 'wolf' a bit more intensely. "So... that's what ye were meanin' by donations, then? Folks given to ye in order to help bolster yer numbers?" He leans back in his seat a bit, now gazing down at the table's surface in thought, "And... as the continents got more and more interconnected... less and less people were willin' to... well, 'sacrifice' themselves fer that purpose."
Forneus knits his fingers together again "Not quite. You're idea is correct in the general, but people didn't ever sacrifice themselves. Anyone who was dedicated enough to the cause to cast themselves into the ocean..well, their souls would be too rigid. They'd snap in no time" He shakes his head "No, for a soul to be any good, it needed to be one with a lot of potential, as much as possible to give, to be able to mould and shape and toy with by Him" He wasn't going to chicken out of this one, and leave it to implication "There was never any consent, and if there was, it would be a joke anyway. Nobody that young would ever be able to give informed consent in the first place"
Gareth shuts his eyes for a few moments, nodding as he understands, before he opens them again and continues to gaze at Forneus. His expression is neutral, understanding but not judging. "Younger folk, then. Probably younger than I was when I first set foot on a pirate ship fer good." He sighs a bit, "So some o' those rumors are true on the surface o' things, then. But I guess now I know the 'why', which is... probably more than most are willin' to acknowledge."
Forneus nods in agreement "Aye, and these days, in more enlightened times, we simply don't have any people holding to the 'old ways'. Those 'hero' types quickly stamp out any movements that try to revive them. I can't blame them, but it has left us with a predicament. It's not your problem of course, but..well, judge us not too harshly I suppose. We still have a lot of time by any mortal understanding, and Sammi seems happier now at least" He muses "Oh, and don't think that you need to worry about any rubbish about 'keeping her happy', any emotion is as good as any other for My purpose. If she's grieving, that's as helpful as happiness, though obviously I want her to be happy" He knows the tropes, and wanted to head that one off "Well, that's my part done. I can now open up the floor to questions"
Gareth laughs a bit and shakes his head. "Ye seem to know what I've done in the past, Forneus. I'm definitely in no position to be passin' judgement on anyone, so ye've nothin' to worry about from me in that regard." He nods a bit, smiling slightly, "And well, sounds like any strong emotion works fer ye, but speakin' fer meself, I like seein' Sammi smilin', so if that works just as well as anythin' else, I'll try to keep that goin' if I can." He sighs again after a moment, "...As fer questions... I guess we'll start with the obvious. Seein' as yer somethin' o' Sammi's parent figure... What should I be doin', if anythin'?"
Forneus shrugs "Do whatever you want. Make her happy, make sure you keep her entertained. Every so often she'll be pulled into a slumber, but..try to wake her up when you can..Honestly, I can't try and take the moral high ground, and..you're a better man than I, so I only ask that whatever you choose to do, do it wholeheartedly, and if you must ever break her heart..just..just do it with style"
Gareth blinks. "She actually told me she'd be takin' one o' her longer naps the last time we ran into each other. I think she's probably sleepin' right now, in fact. Is there some reason she shouldn't be nappin' fer very long?" He clears his throat after a moment and nods, "As fer, uh... whatever I choose to do, I'm still not fully sure, but... wholeheartedly ye said, hm? I think I can do that, aye."
Forneus: "Sometimes Otiax's influence is stronger, and pulls us down deeper into sleep. That's why I can contact you now. The Dreamlands are all connected..uh..metaphor again" He coughs, a wisp of blue smoke emerging "Eventually, that time passes, and we can pull ourselves back to reality..just, a bit harder every time..and..if one of us gets Lost, they try to drag everyone else down with them. I'm hoping that if Sammi can anchor herself in the world above..maybe that can hold her there. It's..again, all just metaphor, but that's as good as reality with what we're dealing with"
Gareth frowns at that. "So, by wakin' Sammi from those longer naps, I keep this... Otiax from hurtin' her? That's a damned sneaky way to go about things..." He shakes his head and looks at Forneus again, "So... normal sleep is fine, like what we do after a long day o' work, but these longer naps are no good?"
Forneus: "In a way. It's a balance, and I don't know the answers. I'm guessing. The old way isn't possible anymore. Just..do what you think is right, and..hopefully that will be enough" He sighs again "I don't want this to be a burden. Whatever you choose to do, don't do it because of some weird Outer God. Do it because you want to"
Gareth nods. "Well, in that case, I'll do what I can to make sure Sammi stays safe, Forneus. Not necessarily because you asked, though that's... kind o' part o' it since yer somethin' of her father figure and all, but also because I want her to stay safe... and happy."
Forneus: "That's all I can really ask" He pauses "I think we're starting to see the dawn" He nods to the horizon "There is a tradition I believe" He reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a gold piece. Rather like one he has in his own pouch "Some luck. If you ever need something to swing your way"
Gareth hums curiously and accepts the coin, examining it with a practiced, interested eye for few seconds. He smiles and nods at Forneus, taking a moment to notice the brightening sky off in the distance. "Then I guess this means I'll probably be wakin' up soon enough. Thank ye kindly, Forneus, fer the talk and the luck." He takes a moment to tuck the coin away safely in a chest pocket, then extends a hand, "I'm hopin' we get a chance to talk again. I don't know what ye really look like, and it's probably fer the best I don't, but, like Sammi, ye strike me as a good sort now, whatever ye might have done in the past."
Forneus: "I am, much more than Sammi, a metaphor, so this is as good a form as any other" He chuckles sadly "But no, I'm not a good person, just trying my best to be the lesser evil" He shakes the hand "It's not a good path. Don't try to be the best bad person possible. You're better than that"
Gareth chuckles a bit as he shakes hands with Forneus. "Well... I get the sense things are changin' in my life, so... if all this marks a turnin' point fer the better, I'll dive into it wholeheartedly."