•The Curse•

ch. 43

No one's POV

The blunt words shock Tweek into jumping slightly. He looks appalled at the idea while Craig's eyes widen. Molly looks rather intrigued by the suggestion, a small smirk on her face.

Craig: "Wait, seriously?"

Tweek: "Hold up what?"

Tweek's bewildered reaction mirrors Craig's own disbelief. The idea of resorting to physical violence, even out of defense, is clearly not something they're comfortable with.

Daniel, perhaps sensing their shock, clarifies.

Daniel: "Look, I'm not saying you have to go around beating up everyone who looks suspicious. But if someone threatens you, you have to defend yourselves."

The trio processes this information, still visibly taken aback by the implications. Craig's frown deepens, his protective instincts kicking in as he glances at Tweek.

Craig: "And you think we can handle this?"

Daniel nods, her expression serious but reassuring.

Daniel: "Yes, I do. But I'm not going to force you to do this. If you're not comfortable with the dangers, it's okay to walk away."

Craig and Tweek both hesitate, clearly torn between the prospect of the job and the unknown dangers Daniel is hinting at.

Tweek looks less convinced, his nervous tics coming out in full force. But Craig, in spite of his worries, nods slowly.

Daniel nods, satisfied with their agreement.

Daniel: "Alright then. But I need to warn you, it won't be an easy job. These people are dangerous and unpredictable."

Craig and Tweek exchange a glance, their nervousness now tinged with determination. Craig's protective instincts are still very much active, and he squeezes Tweek's hand reassuringly.

Craig: "We understand the risks. We'll be careful."

Daniel smiles, her eyes approving.

Daniel: "Alright, first, we don't need to worry about the fighting. We need to see how many plates you can hold."

The trio looks confused, not quite sure where this is going. Craig, always the skeptic, asks the question on everyone's mind.

Craig: "Hold plates? What has that got to do with anything?"

Tweek: "To see how much food you can serve back and forth."

Daniel nods in agreement.

Daniel: "Exactly. It's a part of the job. We need to ensure you all can handle carrying multiple meals at once without dropping anything."

The trio nods in understanding, but the expression on their faces suggest they are less than thrilled with this new aspect of the job. Craig, in particular, looks skeptical about the practicality of the test.

Craig: "And how many plates are we talking here?"

Daniel smiles, clearly anticipating this question.

Daniel: "We usually start with three and see how you manage."

Craig appears slightly more relieved.

Craig: "Okay, that doesn't sound too bad."

Daniel nods, moving towards the kitchen.

Daniel: "Alright, I'll be right back."

Daniel disappears into the kitchen, leaving the trio to murmur amongst themselves. The tension in the air is palpable. Tweek fidgets with his shirt, his eyes darting around the room.