Aethisia PoV
When the younger Bearkin returned with a vase I happily took it from her and began to ensure the flowers were situated just right inside of it, going as far as to trim them down myself so that they fit perfectly.
Gertrude finished her own work with the bull and whispered something to her daughter, who nodded and went into the back to clean up before heading out of the butchery completely, but not before giving me a quizzical look over when she thought I couldn't see her.
The moment that we were left alone Gertrude clenched the handle of her heavy, very sharp cleaver and stared me straight on, making me grin as I laid the vase on the table between us and looked at her from over the beautiful array.
"What is it that you want, Aethisia?"
I made my way over to the keg of beer and leaned on it, listening to the wonderful liquid inside slosh around as it shifted beneath my weight and collecting my thoughts before saying "What I want, Gertrude, is a way to make money doing something I'm both good at and something I want to do. I like hunting, and I like supporting people. Someone at the market wished me luck when I took this offer of yours, did you know that? And it wasn't a friendly 'good luck' either..."
The Bearkin grit her teeth a little at that and continued to stare at me, confirming that something had happened between her and one of the last adventurers slash mercenaries that had accepted her offer of work, something that made me a bit sad even if I knew that was how any world was going to work.
"You needed someone to hunt the monsters so that you could break them down into their respective parts to then sell to the normal people of the city. I needed something to make coin and feel good about doing it. Hunting is nice, providing is nice. You also happen to be a fascinating woman too."
That got her stare to sharpen, and I smiled at her as I added "And yes, there is a part of me that would love~ to have a taste of this person I think is so fascinating, but at the same time I am not an idiot. All that muscle ain't just for show, now is it? And even if it was, that cleaver is damn sharp; I killed the bull, after all, and I know what it takes to cut it as cleanly as you did."
"So then-"
"I am not doing all of this because I just want to get in your pants, Gertrude. I wasn't lying when I said I just want someone to prepare those ribs for me to eat. Back home for me involves almost a dozen people who have bottomless stomachs so I'd be lucky to get a single rib for myself..."
Giving her another sincere smile, I gave her a few seconds to ask something if she wanted to, but she remained quiet after that first interruption, so I added "I won't deny that I am attracted to you, Gertrude, but that isn't what motivates me entirely for this. I have an excuse to hunt, my prey is efficiently taken apart and then sold to the people on my behalf, and I get to help this woman I am attracted to make money to support herself and her daughter? Sounds like a win to me."
The Bearkin remained silent even after that, and so after the seconds ticked by a sighed and asked "If you would rather I could just take the ribs and go, Gertrude. I simply suggested something that would get the hard working woman a break and some company."
Those brown eyes were as steady as ever, with her prolonged silence drawing another sigh out of me as I pushed myself off of the keg and prepared to take the ribs back home, only for her to finally speak as she said "You want to give me a break... by asking me to cook for you?"
"I can see how that is a bit... counterintuitive, but I brought drinks as well~! Surely that makes this a little~ bit more relaxing, hm~?"
Since her tone wasn't heavy and making it overly clear that she wanted me to go, I leaned against the keg once more and watched as she relaxed her grip on that cleaver, her gaze turning back down towards the carcass as she appraised the ribs that had started this whole thing.
"I suppose it does. Very well then. Don't get your hopes up, buck; it's dinner and drinks, that's it. You're heading home afterwards, got that?"
"Whatever the lady desires~!"
She let out a soft snort at that, and I continued to watch as she began to prepare the ribs for however it was that she was going to cook them... which made me worry a little bit since they should need a few hours to get tender and executed perfectly...
"Finally realizing that ribs aren't a 'simple' and 'relaxing' meal to ask me to make? If you weren't forgoing the rest of the carcass I would have asked you to pay me for this..."
That got a wry smile from me, and soon we were chatting quietly as she got what she needed for right now before storing the rest of it inside of a fascinating discovery: this world had a freezer, which of course made sense since magic existed and all that, but still, seeing her open up a door that led into a very cold room where she stored everything else was certainly something.
Mother truly did spoil me so much with her insane abilities that I just kinda forgot that there were going to be technical marvels made real via magic in this world... but after a few moments I returned to chatting with the muscle mommy as I slowly chipped away at her rather reserved self, getting her to talk about why she started a butchery and all that so that I could learn about her.