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Selice: And what is that supposed to mean? All I remember your father doin was hunting well and makin it by. Far as I've heard, she's been downright diligent at the tavern lately, so I don't know what you're talking about.
Veli: Yeah, lately, but seriously, I promise, just give it a week or two and she's probably gonna be off in the forest again, chasing goblins or whatever.
Selice: Gremlins, if I recall. Also, and here's something to consider, who exactly is out chatting with a girl instead of tending to their mother right now?
Veli: ...Come on, work's rough, I just need to unwind a bit.
Selice: Yeah, sure, but she doesn't?
Veli: ...
Selice: Yeah, that's what I thought.
Veli: ...I guess I ought to, I don't know, do something? Like, I guess, give her a break?
Selice: I'd say you quite ought to do that.
Veli: It's just, you know, we need the money.
Selice: Well how are things looking now? Judgin' by that coinpurse you've got hiding under your cloak they can't be too terrible at the moment.
Veli: Yeah, I mean, I just got paid, but it's not gonna last very long, what with food for three, and I need to stop by the fletcher before I go on a hunt again, and less herbs have been turning up lately so they're more expensive now, and tithe's increased with the war, and there's no way we pay that off unless Reese keeps working, and my mom's been giving me that look lately, and- yeah, I just, it's just a lot.
Selice: Well, if she just took, say, one day off, couldn't you make up for it? And hasn't your mother been doing bits of sewing when she's feeling up to it? Couldn't that sell for a bit?
Veli: We sold that last week when the caravan came through, and, sure, I guess I could make up for a single day off, but- tsk, nevermind, smith's girl doesn't have to worry about money.
Veli: I didn't mean that.
Veli: Selice, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, things are just difficult right now.
Selice: Yeah, I know.
Veli: Look, and you're right, I could make up for a day, and I probably should, I'm just so knotted up all the time I feel like I'm already about to break apart without working until dusk every day for the next week.
Selice: That makes sense. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to butt in.
Veli: All good.
Selice: ...
Veli: ...
Selice: But aaaaanyway, didn't you come here to unwind? Because all I've seen so far is you windin' yourself tighter with every word that comes out of your mouth.

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