"Remember what we went over?"
"Yeah. You sure he won't take it as if we killed his dog? Go nuts and all that fun stuff?"
"I believe that would mean that you need to be subtle, old man. There's no reason why he should have to suspect a thing."
"Right, right. I'm just surprised that you feel so strongly about this. You only just met him."
"He reminds me a bit of me. It would be wrong for us to let him do this to himself. As you said, we're helping him."
"Right. I just don't want him to go berserk and kill me, you know. Not after what we saw a couple days ago."
"And I understand. But when are you going to get a better chance?"
"I won't."
"And you care for the kid, right?"
"I do. He's just so young. Too many children were forced to grow up too soon. I guess…"
"You guess that this was the way that he dealt with it."
"Yeah. It's a shame really. Seems a bit weird, as something to attach to."
"It does. But then again, it doesn't really enter uncanny valley, so that may be why."
"Makes sense."
"Hey, geezer, chin up. It's okay."
"I know. It just hurts seeing a friend, and a kid at that, in this sort of situation."
"He is in his late twenties."
"And I'm nearing sixty. I know, I don't really look it."
"You really don't. What do you use?"
"A satisfying career."
Monger stepped on the boat and watched as Dove finished tying the ropes into place. He glanced back to Monger, and called out, "About time you showed back up. Everything ready."
Monger smiled softly to Dove. "Yeah. Got everything ready." Monger sat near the tiller. "You got everything tied down?"
"Yep."
"Main and jib sheets?"
"Yes."
"Clockwise around the winch?"
"Of course! I'm ready to go." Smiled Dove. "Don't doubt me so much. This isn't the first time I've been on a boat and isn't the first time I've been on yours."
"I know, I know." Gently smiled Monger. "You just have to be sure on this sort of thing, you know?"
"Yeah. Got to make sure it's done properly and all. I get it." Dove said, while idly tugging on a sheet. "One of the things I still remember."
"Thattaboy." Smacked Monger. "Now, let's head on out. Dead grimm dissolved enough, and there's nothing but blue seas from here and Vale."
"To Vale."
