Vasily's Links
In the continuity of a well-established lifestyle, one inevitably absorbs elements of individuals or adopts particular attitudes in accordance with the roles they assume. For the sake of brevity, I shall designate the young individual in question by his official title. Our encounter transpired within the confines of a convenience store, a mission bestowed upon me by my brother to procure a product from a brand that had long ceased to exist. As I navigated the aisles in search of a substitute, I discerned the Red Heron discreetly observing my movements from the periphery of his gaze.
Individuals of our particular skill set are adept at not merely observing but meticulously evaluating every facet of our surroundings—a requisite for survival. Consequently, Heron's scrutiny of me was hardly surprising. Given that my present role did not align with the stereotypical "cleaner" archetype, I assumed the guise of an unwitting customer. Heron's discernible hesitancy before offering assistance spoke volumes. His selection of a seemingly mundane item, the bag of chips my brother would surely devour in seconds, revealed nuances in the method he employed, particularly in the way he gripped the bag with his nails rather than employing his entire fingertip—a detail that further substantiated my deductions.
While not unseasoned in our shared craft, the entire transaction afforded me a glimpse into the unguarded demeanor of the youth when they momentarily step out of their professional roles. For future endeavors, a discreet employment of silicon solutions might serve him well in mitigating conspicuous gestures. However, it is with a caveat that I would caution against any hypothetical scenario wherein my assistance in this matter could inadvertently lead to my own demise, a fate I would decidedly eschew.
“…I may be overthinking this, but I believe this guy was onto me somehow? No matter how much I attempt to blend in, as long as someone of the same profession is within range, being caught, whether explicitly or not, is inevitable. I guess the same goes for him though, the way he carried himself was no joke, it’s almost laughable that he was looking for a substitution of a discontinued chip brand. Obviously, no exchange is needed about our rightful suspicions, but I will certainly aid customers with their grocery inquiries, I get paid for that after all. Even though I wouldn’t dare mention our shared career, seeing such a protruding angemo in my humble workspace almost made me blow my cover. Ahem.. I would prefer to not mention any potential influence his appearance may have had on my judgement, but I must say that he’s definitely got a face on him. I hope he doesn’t let that go to waste.”
Our interactions, albeit limited, primarily revolved around discussions regarding his sister. I find his evident concern for her well-being endearing. Additionally, it peaked my curiosity that despite the prevailing notion that he harbors a disdain for angemos like myself, he has never displayed any overt rudeness towards me. It's intriguing, as my demeanor has often been misconstrued as "stuck up" by many.
The Abstract Evangelist is an interesting person. My sister seems to like him, although she usually wouldn't like people like him. Well, I guess he showed her kindness that she usually wasn't shown, huh?
I admire another heavenly being who upholds our standards and takes pride in their work. It's disheartening to see many deviate from these principles, especially when they've been steadfast since the inception of Peak. I fail to comprehend why some would stray from such a path. Though I have not had the opportunity to formally meet this individual, I have heard nothing but commendations about him. He stands as a beacon of guidance for our younger counterparts, a fact that garners my utmost respect.
The Evangelist is amongst the few that still strongly uphold the Peak's values, although... That incident... Even I agree his ways were much too extreme. I haven't heard much about him since then. Were it not for that incident, I believe many would have looked up to him. I'd like to meet him, if possible, if not to simply ensure he's still around.
This angemo proved to be agreeable enough. Both inclined towards silence, our shared reticence, which typically fosters tranquility with others, curiously resulted in an awkward atmosphere. With a subtle gesture, I sought to break the tension by inquiring about his hobbies. He divulged a fondness for reading, with a particular penchant for chess. Sensing his eagerness to delve into this subject, I posed some basic inquiries about the game with a brow raised.
In truth, I once harbored a fervent love for chess, honing strategies to swiftly outmaneuver my brother during our matches. However, I prefer not to disclose such personal anecdotes. He graciously entertained my questions, offering additional insights, before we each resumed our respective paths.