Craig
*As Terrel quipped, Hikari's glower only got worse, and their eyes were rolled. Why oh why, were they stupid enough to work with this man...*

"I'm moreso the tactics side. Although if a situation demands it, Id rather not shed more blood than needed... A lot of times do. I can handle myself."

*Those who go for the kill, eh..? Hikari let out another chuckle with about as much joy as the previous.*

"The usual ally, then? You're a picky one? Considering only the best of the best have brains."
Lewis
*Tactics ay? He supposed he was working with more brain than brawn or perhaps someone with a few tricks up their sleeves whenever it came to combat. Unpredictability was nice against an opponent. At the very least he considered himself able to put up a fight despite him wanting to avoid bloodshed when unnecessary. It was almost lawful of him.*

"No, not typically."*He'd say to answer his question regarding the Elf's pickiness.*"I've worked with plenty of allies, some just end up so stuck with what they're doing that they forget what our mission was originally."

*Terrel would make his way back to Hikari, finishing his own explorations of the place.*"A job has only two things to it and it's staying alive to the end making what you were offered upon taking it. What happens between the beginning and ending of it, best not mess it up, especially with me agreeing to bring you along. Would be a shame to regret it. You seemed so capable after all."

*The last part could have been sarcasm, but it was often hard to tell with the Elf's already monotone voice.*"Surely you've had your fair share of questionable companions. Or do you typically take every job you do on your lonesome? The latter wouldn't make much sense, considering you were up to the idea of partnering with me."*He'd say as if to point out the strange reason of him wanting help with his jobs if not to milk whatever it is Terrel earned. The Elf was strict with his payment and he tolerated little that tampered with it.*
Craig
*Hahaha. Hahahahahahahaha.*

*Hikari knew many a person where their morals (or lack thereof) meant needless bloodshed. Zed killing that elf even after said elf was cooperative. Arthur's very existence. The description given by Terrel threatens the sanctity of the fabled flask, and pits Hikari's hands very close to it, as they try tapping their hands against their legs, hoping it comes across as mere impatience or even just simply a state of boredom, less so willpower to avoid heaving out the precious alcohol and numbing those thoughts into oblivion, as they had done the past year. Were they that much better than their birth parents? More and more of their behaviour proved that to not be the case. Terrel's snarky remarks wasn't unnoticed, but Hikari couldn't be fucked with anything more than a snide glare, especially considering its fairness with Terrel's experience of the Northerner.*

*Every job on their lonesome... Hikari looked to the side and fiddled with the clothing they originally rubbed and fiddled with in an attempt to keep their hands off the drink.

Maybe two years ago, they'd have avoided allies like the plague, and allies... Well, they didn't think like you, didn't care for you. But friends, companions... That's something else. Katherine, Mevis... Even Arthur... They were friends, and Hikari would've been long dead without them, another unmarked corpse in a forgotten grave, only avoiding being thrown into a random hole as a decaying cadaver due to common courtesy. So...*

"I usually try to get allies. It's just safer that way, right? Without someone to keep me safe, maybe from myself, where would I be?"

*Hikari faltered further. The thought of how their friends had treated them, how they had repaid... They didn't even talk to Mevis much these days, or Arthur. Even Katherine was at most a strained friendship, and it felt like a slow burning fire... Or perhaps, as if acid were shoved into their chest, slowly eating through their flesh.*
Lewis
*At least he was truthful, in this circumstance anyways. It seemed he had some experience with working with others and atop that, not being quite so messed up in the head as some tended to be. The Elf would give the slightest dip of his head. Satisfaction perhaps or maybe simply approval as he looked around at the shop.*

"What kind of stuff do you make around here anyways?"*The Elf would question him half distractedly. It seemed he was changing the subject upon receiving his answer. Hikari seemed like a good enough ally, though one never knew for sure until thrown into combat, but that was one thing for another time.

Trust was more so needed now than ever it seemed with Hikari's questionably lack thereof. Terrel didn't mind it much. They hardly knew one another anyways much like most of the people he worked with, but at least one person he could trust to make his job easier would be nice. Sentimental or not, a job well done was a job well done.*