Submission (#574) Approved

(If these should be uploaded to a google doc instead, lemme know for the future!)
Faustus helps a friend set up. Or intends to.
(Breakdown: +3 for another adult crederian (Ori), +2 patron rewards (patreon UN reed))

**

Truthfully, Faustus wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to Ori’s initial request for his assistance—it’s not like the bab actually needed it, their little stage-booth and tent was already set up by the time he’d arrived, and there was hardly anything for him to do besides drop off the sugar goods he’d gathered on his way over. And the fairegrounds made for such awful study. The crush of people, the noise, the smells… there was really only a handful of types of people who enjoyed this sort of mess and he was decidedly not among their number. But there he was regardless, attempting to fade into a corner of Ori’s moodily lit tent, thick with sweet-smelling smoke spooling inside from the bonfire without.

And because he wanted it, and he had been twice-cursed at the start of the fresh year, Faustus could of course have none of it.

Ori spied him first, laughingly excusing themselves through the small crowd that had gathered to listen to their stories and avail themselves of their proffered drink. “Oh, is it—? Faustus?” They rose to their haunches enough to sling an arm around his thin shoulders, shaking him such that he would’ve sworn he felt something fall loose in his head. “I didn’t think you’d come!”

Part of having friends was being polite. He knew this, he really did. Practicing it, on the other hand… The pawbird sneered more than he smiled, delicately removed their arm from around his neck. “Yes, well. You did request my assistance.”

“I asked everybody!” They laughed too loud in his ear, leaning against him as if they needed the support. “You’re always so busy, I thought there was nooooo way you’d show.”

He sniffed, surprised to find his ego bruised. It was true that he was busy more than he wasn’t, and lying about it the other portion of his time. But they didn’t need to say it like it that, not when he’d actually brought them something this time.

“You’ll forgive me for missing the opportunity to help you raise your stage, but I did bring a gift.” He removed the satchel full of carefully wrapped sugar goods he’d gathered on his way to the fairegrounds and dropped it carelessly into their lap. “Something for the youth in the audience tomorrow, perhaps.”

Ori gasped, a little too performative, and dug through the satchel greedily. Unwrapping the wax paper he’d been so meticulous in sealing it inside, Ori popped a stick of curled chocowafer into their mouth. “This is sooooo much. How’d you even find this all? I had others digging around Lothlere Forest, and they only came back with a little.”

“I came through Pastol Meadow.”

“That far?! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” they crowed, shaking him briskly by the shoulders. They oo’d and aw’d over him more than he felt was necessary, but it was hard to deny that it gratified his ego. Faustus preened, examined his claws to keep even a flimsy hold of his uncaring veneer.

And perhaps he had made himself out to be too good a friend to Ori, because halfway through the night they asked if he’d be staying for a performance once the Florabell Faire kicked off proper. Try as he might, Faustus could offer no excuse.

Reward	Amount
✨ Coins	12
💎 Magia Fragments	2