Chapter 77. Double Date
Rhys returned to the stall grounds just after midday. He’d tried imbuing the potatoes with his path as they grew, but the potatoes were living things; just like with the bones, they resisted any kind of intent or path-related influence, since they had their own path and intent. Rather than trying to overcome it, Rhys had backed off. Potatoes were not trash, after all. It was only after he transformed them into junk food that they became trash. Therefore, if he tried to imbue them with his path now, he’d have to fight against their nature. It’s as I thought. I need to imbue it into them during the cooking process.
The rats had continued to plant new potatoes, and he’d continued to nurture them, filling them with mana for the time being. While he was absorbing trash to give the potatoes mana, he’d also worked on getting the next round of bags ready. Eventually, there’d be enough bags in circulation that he could simply pick them up with the trash, clean them, refill them, and seal them, but he wasn’t at that level of saturation yet, so he still had to make new bags.
After that, it was a short stop at a broken mirror to make sure his makeup and clothes were still holding up, and then he’d run back to the plaza, collecting Bast from the training yard along the way. He’d had to absorb the impurities from himself and Bast to remove the stench of trash and sweat, respectively, then fix a few details of Bast’s makeup that had gotten melty during his training, but for the most part, their costumes had held up.
Anabel awaited them in the plaza, surrounded by her flunkies, as usual. Rhys felt a twinge of intimidation as he approached her, but pushed it down. He was Rina right now, not Rhys, so even if he fucked up, it wouldn’t be a black mark against his record, just Rina’s. He smiled and waved. “Hi! Hope I didn’t keep you waiting?”
One of Anabel’s flunkies whirled on him, angry, but Anabel waved her hand, and the flunky instantly fell in line. “Not too long. Now then. All of you, begone.”
The flunkies bowed and retreated. A glimmer of jealousy flickered in Bast’s eyes.
She nodded at them. “I don’t like for others to watch the process. It’s far more trial and error than my reputation would have them believe. I’m the kind of person who only wants others to see once it’s good enough to be worth showing.”
Rhys nodded. He understood. It was a kind of perfectionism, but to him, the most tolerable kind. Holding back and restraining yourself from screaming about every tiny advancement you made, to instead surprise those around you when you were finally satisfied enough with your skills when you showed them off; that was an attitude he himself enjoyed, not least because he didn’t have to pretend to like every incremental advancement while their skills were still sub-par.
“So, tell me, Rina. What is your personal fashion preference?”
Rhys blinked, taken aback. He hadn’t expected to be questioned about it. Honestly, he’d expected her to drag him along and dress him up in the trendiest new gear, without asking him anything at all. What was Rina’s fashion preference?
“Take your time. I understand everyone doesn’t have an answer at hand,” Anabel said kindly, smoothing her skirts.
“I… like slinky fabrics. Soft clothes that accentuate my frame, and block colors,” Rhys said at last. He didn’t want a complex design, or something that distracted from the chips. Simple, but attractive, and slinky, shiny fabrics that caught the eye were ideal. His whole body served as his advertisement, so he had to make sure it was one that drew the gaze and held it. “Oh, and I want to be cute.” He couldn’t lose sight of his salesman nature. Cuteness was king, and he had to stay cute if he wanted to keep winning.