(8) It's a Deal!

How did it end up like this? Mercy thought to herself with a bemused look, shoeless and sitting with her legs curled under her on the only bed in the room--and not a particularly comfy one at that, with a mattress as accommodating as a steel board and a blanket barely thicker than her own clothing. A small, round window above the splintery headboard revealed a dark landscape that rose and fell in an undulating tide, with lights from a town slowly shrinking away from view. She didn't spare it a glance, rather preoccupied with staring hard at the young man near the opposite wall of the somewhat small, shared, cabin.

She should say something, break the ice. It had been quite sudden when she'd somewhat boldly proclaimed, "Be my dingo!" in that room with Marie and Faust, while only briefly explaining what the hell dingo was before diving into a list of reasons why it was a good idea. In the end she had resorted to mentioning the profits of the ordeal, and after a lot of haggling had agreed on halving it for each.

Days later, refreshed, appropriately clothed (coughFaustcough), and packed, Marie had tearfully sent them both off, surprising everyone when she'd suddenly turned around to hug Faust as well.

Now they were on the boat off the island to the mainland, where they would catch a ride with a letter bee to the headquarters. Mercy was really nervous, and it showed as she restlessly fidgeted.

"So..." She started, reaching for any kind of conversation starter, "Any questions?"