Tobias sat down in the back of the inn at an empty table, facing away from the room. This morning, he had dropped Alice with her family, where she would stay for a few days. He had then gone to the post office to manage his savings account, had made some purchases, and now he was eager to set off and leave the noise and crowdedness of the town behind him. But it was a long journey and a cold day, and so he sat down for a hearty lunch first.

He had selected a different inn this time. That weird friend... ex-friend?... of Elijah's had bothered him last time, and Tobias was determined not to have his peace disturbed this time. He sipped his tea and let his thoughts wander while he waited for his meal.

So, Anthony had been set free for now, which was a good thing. But he had almost no money or food or anything at all. Which was a bad thing. He would've had a drink but his situation stopped him from doing so. Eventually he came to a revelation: he doesn't need money to go have a drink or something. Could just beg. He's done it before.

That was what he was going to do, then. He got dressed and then basically made a beeline for whatever establishment first came to mind, entered, and— oh, who's that fellow over there? Looked vaguely familiar. Oh, oh, it's that guy. That guy that he's friends with. An actual friend. Totally. Anthony headed straight for that poor man's table, because they were total friends and surely he wouldn't mind. "Hiiiiiiiiiiii," he sat down. That's how you greet a friend, isn't it?

Was he cursed? No, but seriously, was he? Tobias stared at short man almost in shock. "Hello..." Should have starved.

He wasn't being insulted or shouted at or being driven away. That was a good sign. "Hi." Wait. He already said that. "How are you?" Anthony put his hand underneath his chin, smiled and looked at the man.

"I'm alright," he lied. He wasn't. He prayed that his lunch wouldn't be brought any time soon, for he feared he would have to share again. "How are you?" Politeness forced him to extend the conversation and keep the man here longer.

This was great! He was actually having a nice, civil conversation. "I'm well!" He was very happy about this all, almost to an extent where it was kind of concerning. After all, who gets so excited over a simple 'how are you'? "Are you....." he was about to ask whether he was buying something, but figured it would be a bit rude and put it off. "nevermind!"

"Am I what?" Tobias asked instinctively, before realizing that that was a bad idea. Just then a serving woman appeared and put a large plate of food - a pie, mashed potatoes, peas and gravy - in front of Tobias. She turned to Anthony and asked in an accusing tone: "Are you getting anything?"

"Nevermind! I said nevermind!" Anthony just waved away Tobias' question. When the serving woman brought the food, he just kind of stared at it for a little bit hoping that Tobias would understand what he meant. His brief moment of what was almost joy was ruined by the hostile tone of the serving girl's voice, and her arrival in general. He shrunk into himself a little bit. "No."

Much as Tobias had been annoyed at the prospect of having to buy this guy lunch again, when he saw Anthony shrink like that, he couldn't help feeling genuine pity. "It's on me," he said.

Anthony hadn't been expecting this sort of outcome, but he was very pleased by it. This was really good. He didn't even have to start begging to get free food, which means that they're good friends. He was convinced of that. "Thank you."