Memory Blooms

Reconsider?

He couldn't believe this.

Snatcher looked you over. Your bruised and battered form swaying back and forth slightly as you stared tiredly at the ground. The bandage on your leg heavily splotched, allowing small drops of blood to slowly drip down onto the floor.

He looked down again at your contract. The terms of which were highlighted in yellow and stamped, as it was automatically set to do upon completion. They had no reason to doubt, none at all, and even if he did. It was already said and done, if not a bit quicker than he was expecting.

Snatcher raised an eyebrow, glaring you down in suspicion. They could question you on the honesty of your work ethic, but in the end, did he really care? It was a relatively simple contract, not too difficult, but certainly not easy.

A weak cough drew his attention away from the contract, to which he responded with a more awkward one.

"So..." He snapped away the paper, leaning back in his chair to watch you intently. Twirling a quill pen around in his claws.

"How did you find the contract?"

You blinked, and for a second, he wasn't sure if you had heard him.

"s'fine I guess." You shrugged, looking around aimlessly, but still clutching your bruised arm.

The claw that rested on the arm of the chair tightened. "Fine? You didn't find it difficult? Terrifying? You weren't scared out of your wits?"

"That's a couple ways of putting it." You chuckled, a brief sound.

He rubbed his face in exasperation. The bluntness of your responses made his attempts at light conversation annoying. Not that he needed to, it was just politeness, because even if you were his servant. They had not forgotten his manners in the time since his...you know...

"Tell you what–" he leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands.

"Go dress your wounds, take a break, eat, do whatever it is you mortals do, and meet me back here in two hours for your next job."

"Break...?" You mumbled, still staring off into space.

"Hey hey!" The snaps of his claws in your face grabbed your attention from wherever it was wondering off to. "Pay attention! You're not allowed to check out till I don't need you anymore!"

"Right, right..." You mumbled, completely and obviously out of it.

Stupid humans and their stupid fragility. Was it even worth it to keep you around to do the menial tasks if you required this much effort? Defeated the purpose of a servant if you asked him.

He snapped his fingers, two red orbs with hearts in them appeared in front of you, landing in his palm which he held out expectantly.

"Here, these should at least keep you from passing out on my floor. Now take them and go."

You stared for a moment, testing his already thin patience. He gestured at the pons with a tilt of his head, finally convincing you to reach out, only to hesitate centimeters from making contact with them.

Really? Talk about paranoid. (Though he was one to talk.)

They scowled, opening his mouth to scold you. Instead, the words died on his tongue, halted by the hesitant, fearful eyes you met him with.

"I...can take these? You're not...being sarcastic? Or testing me?" Your outstretched hand fell to fidget with your nails as you stared at him like a deer in the headlights. As if asking such a simply stupid question would make him furious.