“Fine then, we'll do it your way.”
Silus Mill let out a malicious chuckle at that, causing his bloated form to jiggle about. The sight revolted Gabriel, but he kept himself from turning away. He would not let this poor excuse of a senator see him flinch.
“Ha-ha! You'll need to change your name to the 'Jiggling Fox', heh! I have to say, I relish the thought of you trading in your nimble quickness for cumbersome thickness. Are you sure you'll be able to go through with it, thief?” Silus cupped a chubby paw underneath his several chins and scratched lightly, his brow raised as he waited with glee to hear Gabriel's lament.
“Wait, wait, you thought that -I- was...?”, Gabe stopped mid-sentence and let out a short guffaw. He began walking around the large couch and heading towards the exit. Silus blinked in confusion, stammering unintelligibly before yelling out to the thief.
“Hold up! You said you were going to do it! How do you think you'll infiltrate the Acolytes without bulking up, you stupid thief?”
Gabriel stopped at the doorway of the dining room, and replied without looking back. “I heard you, you pathetic waste of flesh. Blah blah, gain weight to infiltrate the circle of Mages, yadda yadda...doesn't have to be -me- though, does it?”
And with that he headed to the window he had come in from and ducked through it, disappearing into the shadows as Silus wasted his breath yelling curses at the Flying Fox.
* * *
It had been around an hour since Gabriel had left his little brother alone at the portside inn. He was glad to see everything seemed to be in order as he stalked up to the front entrance. No broken windows, no yelling bargoers, and thankfully no Jim laying down in the mud with a broken nose.
“Maybe he had some self-control tonight,” Gabriel spoke to himself. “Or...he's passed out in a pool of his own vomit.” He was hoping for the former.
The fox pulled down his balaclava and hood and opened the door to the inn, relieved to see that Jim was right where he had left him. Gabe strode into the inn, noting there were fewer denizens than before, but those that remained were either drunk and drinking or sleeping. The fox pressed forward and clapped a paw on Jim's back.
“Hey, I'm back from my walk. Did you get enough to-...” Gabriel paused and stared at Jim's evening meal...or, rather, the remains. Well, technically, not even remains...Jim was still working on his third plate of odds-and-ends. Gabe wouldn't even try to guess how many drinks he had already guzzled down. With a sigh, he sat in the stool next to his glutton of a brother, waiting on Jim to notice he was there. Apparently his brother was too drunk to feel a clap on the back.
“...Hurk...mmm....hnngh....sho good...hic!” Jim finally swallowed and blinked his eyes lazily, his head turning to look at Gabe with a squinted gaze.
“H-Hey...who...you w-want...you want shomethin'?”
“By the gods”, thought Gabriel. “He's completely clueless. He's drunk himself stupid!” The sly fox grinned slightly as he got an idea.
“Who, me? Oh, well, I was just wanting to buy you another plate, my friend! Surely you must have worked hard today to have such a great hunger! I would be glad to help sate your appetite. The hard working deserve the most praise, yes?”
Gabe watched as his drunken brother worked through the offer in his hazy head, eventually realizing the offer meant more food. A big smile appeared on Jim's face and he nodded eagerly, giggling with glee as he watched Gabe slap some gold coins down onto the counter.
“Barkeep! Get this hard worker another plate, and load it up as much as you can!” The fox smirked and leaned back in his seat, glad to see he would have little trouble plumping his brother up over the coming weeks.
“I never would have thought that my chubby little brother would be the key to endless riches...” Gabe shook his head lightly, still not quite believing what he was doing.
As he watched Jim grab the new plate of greasy inn food, he couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt. Sure, his brother had always been a bit heavy, and honestly he might not even mind gaining a few more pounds. Still, Gabe was using him to fulfill his own greedy needs.
But...the Orb of Sarcous...
“What would mother say...”, thought Gabe as he pictured her standing over him, back when he was a teen and jealous of his younger brother getting all the attention.
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