"I'd appreciate that, thank you." She gives him a grateful smile.

He smiles back and lifts the next beam into place.

And she attaches it securely and fits the crossbar, and things progress.

By sundown they're halfway to the remains of the next floor. "Now that'll be a job," says Ross, eyeing it. "Hate to say it, but we might have to tear the whole thing out. You coming tomorrow, Frank?"

"Yeah!" says Frank, ears twitching. "Absolutely! Count on it! And I won't be late!"

She looks up at the wrecked floor and nods. "Tearing it out will be quite a bit of work, but needs must. Count on me tomorrow as well, Ross."

Ross nods.

"Anytime, remember. My cousin's toolshop. Lemon Lane just off Salt Street, not three doors down," Frank says hopefully, but then as soon as Ross hands him a twenty-gem piece, he nods to both of them and scampers off.

"Sylvie's now, or another day?" asks Ross, passing Maya her own pay.

She shrugs. "Whichever is easier for you," she replies, tucking it away.

They'll probably explain themselves to the man on the walk, whichever day it is. Maybe introduce Ross to Torok? Can she even explain Torok?

Shrug. "Now's good."

Though it does, apparently, mean he'll be bringing the cart along. It doesn't seem to slow him down much.

She smiles gently and follows alongside. "It has been a pleasure working with you so far, Ross. Quite looking forward to more."

He nods agreeably.

She hums thoughtfully. <No, Sable, you should do this rather than I, if we do it at all.>

<Fair enough, love.>

"So Ross. You ever meet someone who was multiple people at once?"

He blinks, slowing to a stop as he processes the question.

"...don't think so," he concludes, tilting his head thoughtfully. "How's that work?"

"Imagine having four other sets of thoughts rattling around in your head, any of whom might have a reaction to events around you. If things get awful, they're quick with a reassuring word and a mental hug. If you can't deal with something, they can take over for you and keep going. And no matter what happens, the five of you are facing it together."

He nods along to this explanation with a low rumbling hum of consideration.

"And that's you?" he says, a few beats after she finishes speaking.

She nods with a cheerful grin. "And that's us! I'm Sable, all of today until the start of this explanation you've been working with Maya, and yesterday was Hailey. The others are Neo, who doesn't talk, and Ruby."

He considers this for a few more seconds, still standing there holding the handles of the cart.

"What do I call you when I don't know who?"

"'Sable' is a tolerable default. 'Pirates' is the name we chose for all of us as a group. 'Pirate' could also be used as a tolerable 'Hey I don't know which of you but c'mere' placeholder. But also we're going to be looking for a fabric store or something — our friend has hopefully found one today while we were working, in fact — to get colored fabric or cord or something to tie around our wrists and make clear who's who."

He nods slowly.

"...bit odd to call you Pirates. Sable for now, and tell me when I'm wrong, and hope you get your bracelets soon?"

"Sounds like a plan, Ross. Also, wow, everyone we've told since coming to Mareth has been extremely reasonable about all this. Such a relief compared to the world we came from."

He smiles slightly, and nods, and resumes walking.

And she walks happily alongside. It's a nice night out.

At Fountain Square he turns down Treasure Street, and ambles along past an assortment of shops and establishments.

A little ways down Treasure Street, they pass a cheerful-looking building with big display windows full of wonderful-looking baked goods of all sorts, and a sign depicting a drizzle of honey falling onto a round loaf from one of those wooden honey dippers. Ross nods to it with a fond smile. "That's Ernie and Willow's bakery, the Honey Bun."

She grins. "Oh that looks lovely. Are Ernie and Willow your hubby and his girlfriend?"

"Mhm! He mostly does bread, she mostly does sweets."