As the creature pounced his way across the room to a table of his liking, Jack smiled with adoration like a man watching his new puppy familiarizing itself with the layout of its new home.  He took a seat across the table from the Pygmy’s position, placed the meals down, and popped the cork of his mead to take a sip while Piper posed his curiosity. 

“In my world,” He replied in a sober tone; “We have similar types. There is prejudice, cruelty, all the things that make life more unpleasant than it needs to be. We even had a world war where millions of people from one race were executed in the most inhumane manner, just because of one mans’ personal grudge.” 

Jack paused to pop a piece of potato in his mouth, chewed, swallowed. Honestly, the food wasn’t all that bad. He then gave the Pygmy a thoughtful stare as he continued; 

Not all of us are like that. Many of us have learned from our mistakes, we strive for a better world. To accept one another, respect each other’s beliefs and ways of life even if they don’t conform to our own. It can only serve to make life better for everyone, right? But don’t get me wrong, little fella, I’m not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination.” 

Jack had to laugh as his thoughts diverged to judge himself for a moment. He took another sip of mead and continued;

“My own work back home involves hurting people from time to time, but I try my hardest to only do it to those I feel deserve it. Yeah, that might make me hypocritical, but I’m good at what I do – And I’m trying, I’m really trying to be a better man. As for you, my new little friend” Jack smiled, though it may have looked to be a smile spawned of pain “You’ve given me no reason to believe you are worth anything less than equal respect. So hey, here we are….” 

He reached out across the table - not with any sudden movement - to feign a caress down the side of the Pygmy’s cheek. Making contact might not have been appreciated, even despised by the creature, but the affection was portrayed in the motion. He withdrew his hand and topped his spoon with a mouthful of meat from his plate.  

”My name’s Jack. What is yours?”  

[hr]

	The intruder still didn’t move, utterly motionless, only the aura around it would pulsate when talking. Regardless of this inactivity, their presence seemed to portray a great amount of consideration, remaining quiet for quite a while even after Cheryl had spoken, as though they were decisively deliberating on everything she had said. Or… maybe they were waiting. 

Whatever the case, close to a minute must have transpired before they replied in the same randomized voices from around the room: 

“My master understands your plight. Your mother. Do not be alarmed. You will be granted time to address your personal matters. But the patience of my master will not stand as stone. You have been chosen. You will deliver the outworlder. It will be wise of you to accept the terms of my master. …We will return soon.” 

Without allowing further response from Cheryl, the ground once again trembled as the intruder faded to nothing. In their stead, a leather pouch appeared on the floor. If Cheryl were to look inside she would find it filled with coins of gold and silver. The count would equal greater than the annual earnings of a well-paying job.