--Celio—

The new guy was suspicious. Not only did have a flimsy reason for being here (Celio knew what anger-based decision making looked like. It did not look like this.), he was entirely too interested in Ira, and Gloria didn’t like him.

If you can’t trust a dodo’s opinion, you can’t trust anyone.

It was a good maxim. He’d come up with it after seeing Gloria peck the new guy.

Said new guy was smiling at him, now, Charisma working full force (Celio wasn’t fooled. People who invested in their Charisma stat that heavily were never to be trusted). “So, I hear you’re a painter. Is that part of Lux’s practices?”

“Nope.” Celio replied.

Ira sighed, annoyed at his obvious dislike of the man.

“Sorry Vanni.” She said, “He’s usually a lot more outgoing.”

“You don’t have to apologize for me.” Celio told her. “I’m a big boy.”

She kicked him under the table, “You know, I’d never have guessed.”

New Guy laughed sheepishly. “It’s okay. I know having high Charisma isn’t seen as that trustworthy. But I really am interested in the old sects.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Sure.” Celio replied.

New Guy brightened like a damned sunrise, “You know what, I bet you know a lot about the Scoop, do you want to show me around? You could fill me in on the local doctrines.”

Local doctrines. Hah, this man wasn’t the slightest bit religious, he definitely had an ulterior motive.

“You know what?” Celio smiled brightly in return (and no, he wasn’t competing, he wouldn't stoop to compete with someone Charisma-heavy), “That sounds like a great idea. Let’s go right now, dinner is over, right?”

“Great idea!” New Guy said, “Should we start with your temple?”

“No, I’ll show you the orchards.”

Ira sighed heavily. “Celio…”

He patted his old friend’s head cheerfully. “Problem?”

“No,” She gave him a surprisingly anxious look, “Just reminding you that you don’t have a combat class.” He didn’t have any class, at the moment. Nearly empty stats.

Celio felt a little warmth at her worry but couldn’t convince himself to back down. “Why would I need a combat class? Besides,” he gestured to the dodo he had tucked under his arm, “I have Gloria.”

New Guy squinted at the bird, “What is that thing, anyway?”

“Gloria is a bird.” Celio replied, straight-faced.

He blinked. “Okay.”

They went outside. Walked to the orchard.

“I’d like to say this first,” New Guys said evenly, “I did not intend to hit on your girlfriend. I’m just incredibly attractive.”

Celio nodded. “Noted and ignored.”

After they beat the hell out of each other (well, Celio got the worst of it), they sat on the cool grass and stared up at the stone ‘sky.’

“By the way, I’m Vanni.” New Guy introduced himself.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Celio.” They shook hands. “You’re not bad in a fight.”

Vanni shook his head. “You’re way worse than I thought you were.”

Celio shrugged. “It’s a temporary thing. So why are you really here?”

Vanni thought for a minute. “Would you believe me if I said I was here to get rich?”

“Yeah.” Celio nodded, stroking Gloria. “Yeah, I really would.”