"...." Ash was silent for a moment, before looking away slightly.

"I just..." he stammered.

"I mean... I was taught that those like me didn't deserve to be in nice places like this." he went on.

"Quality people were worth something. If you weren't quality, you were garbage." he continued.

"...however, I am grateful that you still feel that I'm worthy of this." he then added, looking at her and smiling.

"Thank you."

Ash paused for a moment.

"Uh..." he stammered.

"Hang on." he said.

He was then silent, and thought for a moment.

"Ah! 14." he remembered.

"I'm 14 years old." he told her.

Which... was almost alarming, seeing as he looked like he was around 9. At best.

Ash was silent again, but nodded.

"All right." he said.

He then suddenly perked up, and saw his nose seemed to be twitching about.

But before she could ask, she heard her friend.

"Heeeey!" a man with black hair and slightly darkened skin said, as he approached.

"Long time, Rylie." he said, setting down the tray of food, which contained meat, drink, vegetables, and other such things.

"...I was told you needed some clothing." he then commented quietly.

Ash looked at the woman in shock, before looking at Az.

"Dig in, kid." Az told him.

Ash just nodded, and started reaching for food, happily and fervently making it disappear.

Az then looked at Rylie.

"You all right with leaving him alone?" he asked.

"You know you have a change of clothing in my room here at the inn." he told her.

"If you want, we can head there and you can dress so that the degenerates here won't catcall."

Ash was in the middle of shovelling something into his mouth, when he looked at her.

He was silent for a moment, before swallowing, and nodding.

"Uh-huh." he replied.

"I'm fine." he told her.

"I'm used to being left alone for whatever reason." he said.

"...geez, that's depressing..." Az mumbled under his breath... though Rylie could see that Ash had heard that. Impressive, considering SHE barely heard it, and he was right next to her.

"Okay." Ash responded.

Az then nodded, and the two of them stepped away, behind the desk, and down to the basement. They made their way through the supplies area, before going through another door, to the rather comfy room that Az lived in.

"Your clothes are in the right bottom drawer of the dresser." he told her.

"Feel free to grab them." he said.

"Want privacy to do so?" he inquired, essentially asking if she wanted him to scram for a minute or two.

Az just laughed out loud.

"Yeah, sure, THAT'LL be the day." he said.

"I was merely being cordial." he commented.

"But if you want help, I'm happy to do so." he told her.

"However, onto more serious matters." he went on.

"First and foremost... who's the kid?" he asked.

"I never saw you as the type to take in a child. For... well... various apparent reasons..." he muttered.

"....ah... I see." Az replied.

"For the record, I was referring to your... nomadic... lifestyle." he commented.

"But assailants?" he asked.

"For YOU?" he asked further.

"They're either very brave or very stupid..." he mumbled.

"At least the kid didn't get caught up in that stuff." he went on.

"At least, I'm assuming he didn't."

"...he... didn't?" Az asked.

"Wow. That's... that's new." he said.

"Unnerving, as well." he muttered.

"Where'd he come from?" he asked.

"I mean, wherever it was, it couldn't have been nice." he reasoned.

"But did you get anything specific outta him?"

"Of course." Az replied.

"Usual payment." he said.

"You got info for me to relay?" he asked her.

That was their deal. She travelled, gathered info, and gave it to him. In return, he took it to those that could use it in positions of authority, and she got to stay for a while.

"Anything at all." he said.