AUDIENCE FOR: Rupert

[guestservices]

Comments

[agleam]

[he pauses for a moment in turn.]

How do you mean?

[guestservices]

I'm not really a stranger to making deals with the devil.

[ a little shrug. ]

Besides, I can get to know you guys. Talk to you guys. And I've got a couple of healing tricks up my sleeve that help you when you're hurting, even if it's still pretty limited. If it had to be someone, guess I'm glad it's me.

[agleam]

[he pauses for a moment.]

Did it have to be someone, though? You're kind of making it sound like you didn't have a choice.

[guestservices]

...yeah, well. Sometimes, the definition of choice is subjective.

[ there's something sort of somber in the way they say that. ] But, it was my choice, and not one I'd go back on.

[agleam]

[he doubts they'll be able to tell him, but...]

What would the other option have been?

[guestservices]

[ he can probably hear the wry little smile in their tone. ]

's a secret.

[agleam]

[he imagines they won't be able to answer this either, in that case, so it's more wondering aloud when he asks:]

...Did you guys have hostages, too?

[guestservices]

Whoa, wine and dine me first before you get too deep into the personal questions, Rupes! Sheesh.

[agleam]

[he looks concerned, but - he does nod.]

I figured you wouldn't be able to say anything. I guess I just... want to make sure you're okay.

[guestservices]

I'm supposed to be the one asking you about that, y'know!

[ warmer, again. ] 'm alright. Promise. I appreciate you asking, but really.

[agleam]

Hm... If I promise to come to talk about to you about it later - how I'm doing, I mean, will you promise that's definitely true?

[even if it feels a little too raw for him to get into tonight.]

[guestservices]

[ they tilt their head, left to right, thoughtful. ]

Promise. On my honor. [ a pause. ] Well, maybe that's not the best thing to put it on. Iunno. On my... uhhhh. On my coworkers. The ones I like.

[ wow. they're joking, though. maybe? ] I'll hold you to that, Rupert.

[agleam]

Of course.

[after a moment:]

Just two more questions, I think.

[guestservices]

Let's hear em.

[agleam]

Where it mentions additional incentives or rewards... Do you know what it's referring to?

[guestservices]

About you making deals with us, you mean?

[ they tilt their head. ] Well. You guys are pretty creative. We can sometimes cut deals for you doing certain things, but, the deals sort of have to be in the spirit of the hotel. Y'know? Everything has to have a justification.

[agleam]

Can you give me an example, or...?

[guestservices]

[ aquila shakes their head. ]

Sorry, bud. No can do. But, if you come up with something, we can talk about what might work or not.

[agleam]

...Would I be able to get, like, some kind of upgraded version of the first aid kit? Or something that could refill on its own?

[guestservices]

[ they make a thoughtful noise. ]

How would you justify it relating to the contract?

[agleam]

I mean, if someone goes on one of those adventures and dies because they got stabbed somewhere life threatening and we don't have enough to stabilize them before you guys can get here to heal them... They're not going to be able to entertain your boss anymore, right?

[guestservices]

[ they shake their head. ]

Mmmm. That's not gonna work - you gotta think about it from his perspective, not yours. Something like that's way too flimsy.

[agleam]

[pausing for a long moment.]

If it was something that replenished only once a week, or only enough to help one or two people at a time... It'd be funny for him to watch us try to pick out who to help, right?

[guestservices]

Hmm. [ thoughtful. ]

Are you asking for one for yourself? Or upgrades for the ones we sell in the gift shop as a whole?

[agleam]

That depends... How many would be upgraded if I went with the second option?