[ Saber has spent her life around livestock, first as a young girl and a squire and then as a knight and a king. True, herding and shearing sheep wasn't exactly on her list of things to do, but the same principles of handling easily startled animals was the same, wasn't it? Horses were much larger and much more likely to do damage, in any case. So she's out in the field, where the farmer has apparently left her and her companion to get to work on running down and shearing sheep.
Poor man.
Saber glances at her companion and gives her a firm nod. ]
Do you have much experience with sheep? Most of my own is with horses.
[ Might as well get that out of the way. Saber's right down to business. ]
[Mikasa just watched some of them. Wispy, silvery balls of wool on legs darting around staying away from the two monsters. The fae was already rolling her shoulders. There's going to be some running here.]
No. I grew up with chickens and got trained in horsemanship. There's not a lot of livestock where I'm from.
[So much serious business talk.]
We just have to knock them out so he can shave them...That shouldn't be too hard.
[Restrain them? Mikasa looks over at one, they could probably hold it still, maybe?]
Do you have a rope to do that or would we be holding them by hand? That could be dangerous if he's got a blade... [Shanking the sheep while trying to cut it's wool would not be a good start. But at the mention of names, the fae's antenna flick forward. Smelling.]
Mikasa. [The shortest introduction.] I'm a fae...Not sure if it'll help but I can make barriers but it takes a while. [Or fairy rings, as they're otherwise known.]
I may be able to do it by hand. I am a chimera and I'm stronger than I look...
[ She inclines her head towards Mikasa. ]
That seems as if it might take too long if we have to do that for every sheep... hardly efficient. I can fly, I have strength... so holding them down seems to be the best thing we can do for the least damage to them. They are animals after all.
Even if you're a chimera, they're nearly as big as you. And they're still going to wiggle... [It was more a lack of limbs than strength really. But she snorts.]
So what you're saying is you'll hold them, and I follow and shave them. Or can you fly them back to the farmer?
[Both would work, until the sheep started biting.]
[ Well, Mikasa is correct so far. She thinks for a long moment and then sighs. ]
I think that would be best, honestly. I'll hold them down as best I can and you'll shave them. I can't imagine it will be too difficult. They are traditionally docile creatures, aren't they?
[ She knows very little about sheep. She dusts her hands and takes a few steps toward the closest sheep which eyes her warily and gives her a little 'baaa'. ]
[She just liked to rain on people's parades. Regardless of how good the argument was, she'd be a pain.]
I'd hope so if they're kept in a group this big... All our horses where more aggressive than civilian ones, but the really bad ones were kept in smaller groups. [Because one nasty animal was easier to deal with than a few.
But Mikasa follows, ducking her head to nod. Then the sheep's lips curl back showing some sharp, pointy teeth. That makes the fae pause, clearing her throat. Tilting her head towards the chimera.] They don't normally have those do they?
[The pensive blink is returned. Because those teeth sure are a thing, now she'd seen them the fae couldn't unsee them. Even when the sheep closed it's mouth she could see the small points sticking out over it's lip.]
I thought they ate grass... [That did they need fangs for. Come on... But she does move forward, in line with Saber.]
Which end do you want the biting end or the kicking one? At least they're not horses.
[Being kicked would still suck. But it wouldn't kill them. Probably, she just didn't know with this place.]
I've dealt with bigger teeth... [But she shrugs. Looking at her left arm, the chitin covered one. It didn't feel like it had before when the top layer peeled away but something was telling her it'd be bad if it was damaged.]
I don't. I can run back and get some. Are you going to try and keep this one here or are we letting it go for now?
[The fae was already turning, ready to run off. Only lingering long enough to hear the answer.]
I'll try and hold it here as best I can. I think I can manage that...
[ Saber sighs and shakes her head. ]
Hurry back.
[ Well, time to try and wrestle a sheep. It's going to be a bit of a struggle, honestly. Especially since this sheep bites. Still, by the time Mikasa actually gets back, Saber is loking much sweatier and dirtier, but she has the sheep mostly pinned down, despite her relatively small size. The wingspan helps. She's still trying to avoid getting bitten, though. ]
[With the confirmation that she might have to go looking for Saber if the sheep bolts with her. The fae runs off.
She'll return in a few minutes. A coil of rope flung over one shoulder. Now to wrangle it. Even as she runs she making a loop of rope to toss over the animal's neck. Not the safest option for the animal. But it's what she knew. It'd stop the sheep from running too far if it got loose.]
Are we tying it's limbs as well?
[Questions she'd never thought she'd ask. Was that even a thing with livestock?]
[ The sheep is definitely trying to bolt. And to bite, honestly. Saber is small(ish), but she's got enough muscle strength to keep it pinned down for a little while without help. She still looks more than a little grateful that Mikasa has returned ]
I think we ought to. It keeps trying to run-
[ As she says that the sheep thrashes and tries to bite, doing its best to scramble back to its feet. ]
[Mikasa's eyes widen at it as it snaps at her when she leans to grab it's front legs. The back ones would have to be tied. But it wouldn't be able to get up very fast with the front, but the legs are in a loop and she's tightening the knot. Even as the sheep gives another trash.]
...I wonder if the teeth grow back. Why wouldn't they remove them?
[Even if they did normally faint, wouldn't the fangs still be an issue.]
No idea. One doesn't usually defang a dog, even if the dog may bite... maybe that's got something to do with it. They consider it too cruel?
[ She grunts and puts her weight down and manages to just hold the sheep in place as Mikasa gets the rope looped around and noted. It's still not happy, but at least it won't be bolting anywhere anytime soon. ]
Would it be? They geld a horse if it gets too aggressive...It's not as though they need them to eat, and I doubt they're very good for defense if they normally faint.
[It was cruel, but different times. Like her not paying attention to the poor sheep's discomfort as it struggled when the fae bound it's front legs to it's back ones. Shaving it's underside would be a pain. And that was the big money wool.
All this wool was big money wool. But the finer hair that wasn't in the elements so much would be softer, more valued.
Still, the fae's hand drifts behind her. Reaching for the shears in her pocket as she leans towards it, a hand sinking into the wool as she braced herself.]
...You said most of your experiance with horses. But have you done this before?
[ The sheep makes an irritated 'baaa' noise as Saber and Mikasa continue their conversation. Saber's able to let up a little and go for the shears she's been given as well. She seems to think for a moment. ]
Once, when I was child. I served in the household of a knight, though, and they didn't often have call to shear sheep.
[The baa gets a hiss back, don't you start. The fae was moving so the ram's head wasn't close enough to lean over and bite as she pauses.]
Knights? Those are the people who wore a lot of metal aren't they? [Something from a history book.]
I think...I think we're going to have to move it. Otherwise, we're going to have to carry the wool back. [They were too inexperienced for this! Wouldn't their pay be docked if the wool got caught in the wind and blew off? But the fae frowns.]
They're... sworn soldiers, typically to a household or kind and yes, they did tend to wear metal armor.
[ There's an amused 'huff' from her and then her attention goes back to the ram as it goes quiet and stares at them ruefully. Well, at least it's not trying to bite (as much). ]
If that's the case, maybe we should... herd them instead of trying to tie them up individually. That or we'll need sacks for the wool. Either would probably work, but we should figure that out before we go any further.
[ Look, the farmer knew they didn't have experience when he hired them. This is on him. ]
Yes. They were in history books...It's how they worked out how to deal with the armoured titan, it's weak points were the same as a knight's. ['Sworn to a household' huh? Did that make her a knight then? The fae grunts instead of thinking on it, rising to stand again.]
We should...I'd rather not risk cutting the sheep either. I'm good with blades, but if it suddenly bucks. If that's going to happen it can be while the farmer is working.
[Then she couldn't be blamed if they died.] The problem is they keep scattering. I thought sheep liked to stay in groups?
[ Saber frowns, trying to concentrate on the work and continue the conversation at the same time. She climbs to her feet and dusts her hands off. ]
Generally they do, I think, but will scatter if startled... if we could get sacks, we could simply follow them, but that might mean we end up with far too many sacks.
[ They really should've figured out logistics before starting, huh? ]
I could try and glide back to get some. Or we could try and herd them ourselves...
Large creatures that eat humans, the armour knights wore was useless against them... [Hence why there were in history books. But moving on, Mikasa scowls lightly, really not liking this. She liked hard work it took her mind off of things, but this was more running around than actual hard work.]
I think we'd need more people to herd them. Or we'd be doing it one at a time. The farmer seems nice enough, but I don't think he'd pay us for how long that'd take... [She reaches out, giving the sheep a pat, ignoring it's lips curling back to show it's teeth.] If you know how to fly then it shouldn't take too long, just don't crash.
[Because the last person she saw try and fly crashed.]
Well, I've had a bit of practice, so hopefully I won't make a fool of myself.
[ She pushes to her feet and glances skyward, trying to see if she can gauge the breeze. ]
I'll be back as soon as I can. Hopefully we can actually get to work, then.
[ Look at them. Making progress. She turns and gets a bit of a running start and then her wings flare out and she leaps - there's a great flap and then another as she claws for a bit of altitude. She's still a bit wobbly... but she hasn't crashed yet. ]
Hopefully, but you're not carrying me like they were. [She shrugs, grabbing the sheep again. Holding this guy firmly even if he probably wasn't going to bolt. Though he does bleat at the Chimera's takeoff, the sudden wind surprising him.
When Saber returned she'd find there was a slight problem. The sheep was still there, but now it was sheep in the plural sense of the word. More had turned up. Not many only three had wandered close, and only of those three was willing to approach the fae while the rest hung back chewing the grass. Saber was intruding on the most awkward staredown.]
[ Saber comes gliding back in and stumbles slightly on the landing. She's still getting used to this whole thing. Woops. She straightens and dumps the armful of sacks that she's carrying onto the ground with a curious glance at Mikasa. ]
So they're coming to us now? Did something happen while I was gone?
[The fae grunts, crouching and holding on to the ram as it gives a thrash. Then the closer of the unbound three baas, pawing(hoofing?) the ground. Then it charges forward. Lowering it's head. It wasn't the largest sheep there, if anything it was the smallest, it's horns were small stump.
Fortunately, the young sheep wasn't exactly fast. The fae didn't even need to let go of the ram. Only lifting a foot. She doesn't kick them, just letting it run into her foot. It couldn't get any further, she was a lot stronger than it and it just tried to butt a leg that wouldn't give.]
No, I didn't do anything. Unless they're getting used to us...
[Because the rest of the flock seemed to be honing in after that one lamb's brave attempt.]
I... think they would rather we release their comrade.
[ Saber would normally be more amused by that, but there are many more sheep with sharper teeth and she doesn't think she wants to end up bleeding all over the pasture. Even if the wounds end up being mostly superficial. ]
Perhaps we should withdraw and come up with a new strategy?
[ She doesn't really want to run from sheep, but she also has to treat them with kid gloves... ]
[Mikasa was just blinking. Because attacked by sheep was not on her adgender for today, it was completely unexpected. And now, here she was, being shoved at by an angry lamb.]
I think so... Undo the rope on this one. I'll hold him so he doesn't bite.
[Hopefully. She could do it herself, but that'd put her at risk of being bitten. And she'd rather not.]
[ Well, the farmer wasn't going to be happy, but no one had mentioned the sheep might unionize. Saber kneels and very carefully begins to undo the binding they'd put on the sheep previously, watching the loose herd that still eyes them.
Man, that's actually pretty unnerving.
She finally releases the last of the rope and the sheep kicks and tries to get to its feet. ]
[Honstly. Mikasa was willing to not be paid for this, she'd wanted hard work, but this was more than she could handle. With the sheep cut loose, she gives him a shove forward towards the others.
Only for him to round back, lowering his head. She forces the leg bracing the lamb back straight to shove it away so she can stand to dodge. She wasn't scared of sheep. But she didn't want to be walked on by one even if she could handle the weight.
Then several other sheep join the charge... Okay, it probably wouldn't kill them. But she's not being paid enough for this. It's time to get out of the field. ]
[ Well, they can both see it. Saber still darts forward and tries to help drag Mikasa out of the way. Her wings flap valiantly and she manages to get just enough air to get them both skimming back about ten yards and out of the way before they're both back on solid ground again. ]
[This wasn't the first time she'd been carried in the air. But it really was a good job she did pull-ups often. That could have pulled her arm out of it's socket otherwise.
The moment Mikasa's feet reach the ground she's running. Time to jump a fence and get the hell out.]
[Hillarously? The sheep are still trailing behind, unable to catch up with the flying. So once they're in the clear, the fae waits a moment, taking a breath before commenting.]
That... I wonder if the farmer knew they could be like that.
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Mikasa
Poor man.
Saber glances at her companion and gives her a firm nod. ]
Do you have much experience with sheep? Most of my own is with horses.
[ Might as well get that out of the way. Saber's right down to business. ]
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No. I grew up with chickens and got trained in horsemanship. There's not a lot of livestock where I'm from.
[So much serious business talk.]
We just have to knock them out so he can shave them...That shouldn't be too hard.
[These poor sheep.]
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[ She frowns and puts her hands on her hips, wings flaring slightly as she thnks. ]
Well, they can't run if they're not awake, can they?
[ Makes total sense. ]
Shall we begin? Oh - you may call me Saber.
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Do you have a rope to do that or would we be holding them by hand? That could be dangerous if he's got a blade... [Shanking the sheep while trying to cut it's wool would not be a good start. But at the mention of names, the fae's antenna flick forward. Smelling.]
Mikasa. [The shortest introduction.] I'm a fae...Not sure if it'll help but I can make barriers but it takes a while. [Or fairy rings, as they're otherwise known.]
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[ She inclines her head towards Mikasa. ]
That seems as if it might take too long if we have to do that for every sheep... hardly efficient. I can fly, I have strength... so holding them down seems to be the best thing we can do for the least damage to them. They are animals after all.
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So what you're saying is you'll hold them, and I follow and shave them. Or can you fly them back to the farmer?
[Both would work, until the sheep started biting.]
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[ Well, Mikasa is correct so far. She thinks for a long moment and then sighs. ]
I think that would be best, honestly. I'll hold them down as best I can and you'll shave them. I can't imagine it will be too difficult. They are traditionally docile creatures, aren't they?
[ She knows very little about sheep. She dusts her hands and takes a few steps toward the closest sheep which eyes her warily and gives her a little 'baaa'. ]
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I'd hope so if they're kept in a group this big... All our horses where more aggressive than civilian ones, but the really bad ones were kept in smaller groups. [Because one nasty animal was easier to deal with than a few.
But Mikasa follows, ducking her head to nod. Then the sheep's lips curl back showing some sharp, pointy teeth. That makes the fae pause, clearing her throat. Tilting her head towards the chimera.] They don't normally have those do they?
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The sheep I'm familiar with certainly don't have sharp teeth.
[ Well, now things are just going to get harder, aren't they? ]
Perhaps we should approach it from two different angles. In order to reduce potential avenues of attack for it.
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I thought they ate grass... [That did they need fangs for. Come on... But she does move forward, in line with Saber.]
Which end do you want the biting end or the kicking one? At least they're not horses.
[Being kicked would still suck. But it wouldn't kill them. Probably, she just didn't know with this place.]
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[ She flexes her fingers. She does have claws, but she would rather not use them. ]
Do we have any rope? I suppose it's too late to go back and get some.
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I don't. I can run back and get some. Are you going to try and keep this one here or are we letting it go for now?
[The fae was already turning, ready to run off. Only lingering long enough to hear the answer.]
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[ Saber sighs and shakes her head. ]
Hurry back.
[ Well, time to try and wrestle a sheep. It's going to be a bit of a struggle, honestly. Especially since this sheep bites. Still, by the time Mikasa actually gets back, Saber is loking much sweatier and dirtier, but she has the sheep mostly pinned down, despite her relatively small size. The wingspan helps. She's still trying to avoid getting bitten, though. ]
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She'll return in a few minutes. A coil of rope flung over one shoulder. Now to wrangle it. Even as she runs she making a loop of rope to toss over the animal's neck. Not the safest option for the animal. But it's what she knew. It'd stop the sheep from running too far if it got loose.]
Are we tying it's limbs as well?
[Questions she'd never thought she'd ask. Was that even a thing with livestock?]
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I think we ought to. It keeps trying to run-
[ As she says that the sheep thrashes and tries to bite, doing its best to scramble back to its feet. ]
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...I wonder if the teeth grow back. Why wouldn't they remove them?
[Even if they did normally faint, wouldn't the fangs still be an issue.]
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[ She grunts and puts her weight down and manages to just hold the sheep in place as Mikasa gets the rope looped around and noted. It's still not happy, but at least it won't be bolting anywhere anytime soon. ]
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[It was cruel, but different times. Like her not paying attention to the poor sheep's discomfort as it struggled when the fae bound it's front legs to it's back ones. Shaving it's underside would be a pain. And that was the big money wool.
All this wool was big money wool. But the finer hair that wasn't in the elements so much would be softer, more valued.
Still, the fae's hand drifts behind her. Reaching for the shears in her pocket as she leans towards it, a hand sinking into the wool as she braced herself.]
...You said most of your experiance with horses. But have you done this before?
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Once, when I was child. I served in the household of a knight, though, and they didn't often have call to shear sheep.
[ She nods. ]
I'll try and work on the back here?
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Knights? Those are the people who wore a lot of metal aren't they? [Something from a history book.]
I think...I think we're going to have to move it. Otherwise, we're going to have to carry the wool back. [They were too inexperienced for this! Wouldn't their pay be docked if the wool got caught in the wind and blew off? But the fae frowns.]
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[ There's an amused 'huff' from her and then her attention goes back to the ram as it goes quiet and stares at them ruefully. Well, at least it's not trying to bite (as much). ]
If that's the case, maybe we should... herd them instead of trying to tie them up individually. That or we'll need sacks for the wool. Either would probably work, but we should figure that out before we go any further.
[ Look, the farmer knew they didn't have experience when he hired them. This is on him. ]
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We should...I'd rather not risk cutting the sheep either. I'm good with blades, but if it suddenly bucks. If that's going to happen it can be while the farmer is working.
[Then she couldn't be blamed if they died.] The problem is they keep scattering. I thought sheep liked to stay in groups?
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[ Saber frowns, trying to concentrate on the work and continue the conversation at the same time. She climbs to her feet and dusts her hands off. ]
Generally they do, I think, but will scatter if startled... if we could get sacks, we could simply follow them, but that might mean we end up with far too many sacks.
[ They really should've figured out logistics before starting, huh? ]
I could try and glide back to get some. Or we could try and herd them ourselves...
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I think we'd need more people to herd them. Or we'd be doing it one at a time. The farmer seems nice enough, but I don't think he'd pay us for how long that'd take... [She reaches out, giving the sheep a pat, ignoring it's lips curling back to show it's teeth.] If you know how to fly then it shouldn't take too long, just don't crash.
[Because the last person she saw try and fly crashed.]
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[ She pushes to her feet and glances skyward, trying to see if she can gauge the breeze. ]
I'll be back as soon as I can. Hopefully we can actually get to work, then.
[ Look at them. Making progress. She turns and gets a bit of a running start and then her wings flare out and she leaps - there's a great flap and then another as she claws for a bit of altitude. She's still a bit wobbly... but she hasn't crashed yet. ]
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When Saber returned she'd find there was a slight problem. The sheep was still there, but now it was sheep in the plural sense of the word. More had turned up. Not many only three had wandered close, and only of those three was willing to approach the fae while the rest hung back chewing the grass. Saber was intruding on the most awkward staredown.]
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So they're coming to us now? Did something happen while I was gone?
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Fortunately, the young sheep wasn't exactly fast. The fae didn't even need to let go of the ram. Only lifting a foot. She doesn't kick them, just letting it run into her foot. It couldn't get any further, she was a lot stronger than it and it just tried to butt a leg that wouldn't give.]
No, I didn't do anything. Unless they're getting used to us...
[Because the rest of the flock seemed to be honing in after that one lamb's brave attempt.]
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[ Saber would normally be more amused by that, but there are many more sheep with sharper teeth and she doesn't think she wants to end up bleeding all over the pasture. Even if the wounds end up being mostly superficial. ]
Perhaps we should withdraw and come up with a new strategy?
[ She doesn't really want to run from sheep, but she also has to treat them with kid gloves... ]
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I think so... Undo the rope on this one. I'll hold him so he doesn't bite.
[Hopefully. She could do it herself, but that'd put her at risk of being bitten. And she'd rather not.]
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[ Well, the farmer wasn't going to be happy, but no one had mentioned the sheep might unionize. Saber kneels and very carefully begins to undo the binding they'd put on the sheep previously, watching the loose herd that still eyes them.
Man, that's actually pretty unnerving.
She finally releases the last of the rope and the sheep kicks and tries to get to its feet. ]
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Only for him to round back, lowering his head. She forces the leg bracing the lamb back straight to shove it away so she can stand to dodge. She wasn't scared of sheep. But she didn't want to be walked on by one even if she could handle the weight.
Then several other sheep join the charge... Okay, it probably wouldn't kill them. But she's not being paid enough for this. It's time to get out of the field. ]
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[ Well, they can both see it. Saber still darts forward and tries to help drag Mikasa out of the way. Her wings flap valiantly and she manages to get just enough air to get them both skimming back about ten yards and out of the way before they're both back on solid ground again. ]
...time to go.
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The moment Mikasa's feet reach the ground she's running. Time to jump a fence and get the hell out.]
...Thanks.
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[ Now is not the time to chat, of course. They can debrief later. Right now there's lots of angry sheep behind them...
So much for being shepherds. ]
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That... I wonder if the farmer knew they could be like that.
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[ Saber wipes sweat off of her brow with a frown. ]
He's not going to be happy with us, but I can't really see a way for us to work.
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I'm not bothered. I like farm work but this needs people used to livestock.
[Time to go, and not get paid.]
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[ Saber sighs. ]
Hopefully he'll find someone.
[ A small price to pay for failure, really. ]