You entered the store as you moved the tarp from the door.
John was in the middle of sowing some seams for a pair of pants, but he was still trembling to the point that he could barely control his own sewing needle. He jumped when you entered, still sketchy from the whole Risa eating people thing. You really wish you'd have remember getting those fabrics from him. Especially when you had Risa on your side.
"Boss!" He acknowledged you, putting down his work and giving you a nod, "Did you hear? I assume you know by now. The whole Risa thing. Can you believe it?"
"It's all true." You said.
"Dammit..." He got to his work, but his hands were too shaky. Any hope that it may all be a rumor was diminished, and now as he lifted the seams, his hands shook to a dangerous degree. He sighed and set his tools down gently, "I can't do this."
"John-"
"I have to leave." He began to pant again, "It's a trap. A lie, I know it. She's going to kill everyone!"
"John, calm down-"
"No." He kept his voice down, moving from his table, "Boss, you need to help me. I need to gather my things and go. My aunt isn't coming,and I am sure as hell it was Risa. And I'm sure as hell not going to that feast."
John stood up and grabbed everything he could, you find it hard to believe John is true to his word. He is a nice guy, mainly because he's a coward. But now he's brave enough to ignore Risa's gifts? No... This clearly isn't bravery.
"The others are leaving, I need to go with them." He pushed aside his stuff and looked around for a box, "H-how hard could it be for a tailor to find new work, r-right?"
"Who's leaving?" You aren't surprised that some aren't happy about this new situation, but leaving as a whole? There aren't many people here to begin with. Everyone who lives here does something important, and there aren't any inns for travelers, probably because they often find a warmer place to sleep. How many people can leave before this place becomes a ghost town?
John motioned his hand towards the door and window, "Anyone whose been here long enough to know this is a bad idea.Do you really think she's not going to eat anyone who goes there? She even said it herself, she isn't going soft on us at all."
"John, wait." You hesitated, unsure what to say to change his mind, "How about this? Be like Anton. He's been here since the start, and even he is willing to give Risa a chance. She isn't going soft, but she's always been this way. Think about it. She'd always leave perishable food in the pantry when she no longer has the will to eat it. Do you think she just did that for the fun of it?" John paused and listened as you continued, thinking twice about his plans, "She did it as a reward. Just this time, much less strangers and foreigners will have a crack at it. It will be ours. If she wanted us dead, we'd be dead, and a lot hungrier too. She'd have bought canned food, like some asshole. Join me, alright, and you and I will stay as near of a mouse hole as possible. Nothing bad happens, and you can tell all of your friends it was a great time. Deal?"
John was still silent, as if every moment was reliving his first Risa encounter. He muttered, "To be fair... no one is asshole enough to just buy canned food in spite of us... Boss, how are you not afraid of her? How are you calm about all of this?"
You poured some of your spare food in his tip jar before heading out, but before you did, you turned back and said, "Because I can think."
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