Chapter Text
He woke up as soon as the sun stabbed through the curtains, as he always did. Like a sleepwalker he went through the motions of washing, brushing, and dressing. Stretching and shaking to settle into his uniform, he grabbed a cigar as an afterthought; something about today made him think he would need it.
The sun was crawling its way up over the rooftops as he made it to town, people rustling and arguing, going about their day. He pulls his hat lower over his eyes, not used to the brightness of early morning. It was… Friday, at least he thought so. People jeered at him as he passed, a typical day dealing with typical people. It wasn't all snide remarks and harsh words though, his “apprentice” was supposed to meet him today, really he was just the new guy in the league and thought Matteo looked approachable enough. His blue and brown eyes shone with an excitement he wasn't looking forward to seeing fade, but he spoke like he had nowhere else to go when he found them. He also seemed to like pointing out Matteo's strangely sharp teeth with suspicion. He gets that a lot, just another thing his family gave him, that along with absolutely untameable curly hair. Speaking of which, the boy was a whole five minutes late.
“Sir! Matteo! Im here im here”
“Good, next time be here faster. Sure you’re ready?”
“Positive!” he cheers without missing a beat, making him wonder where his boyish enthusiasm comes from. Maybe it was just him being old and jaded.
“Alright go through the list, weapons,”
“Yes sir, both halves of my siaf and pistol”
“Viles.”
“All 20”
“Molies.”
“Plenty sir.”
“Food, water”
“Enough.”
“Enough? What do you mean enough? You don't sound sure, listen you will dehydrate faster than you can lose blood you always want to have food and water on you when you are out, plus food lifts the spirits just like good booze.” He may have passed out from exhaustion and dehydration before, but Penley didn’t need to know that nor experience it himself if it could be avoided. “Alright sir, I'll pack more next time.”
“ Good, what about Ya ma’s nighties?”
“Ye- my mothers what?!” He cackles.
They set out to wander the streets mostly, cleaning out anything that felt the day was too monstrous a beast. It was the closest thing to ‘training’ you could get without being literally thrown to the wolves. Occasionally another hunter would pass by, out of uniform but they all smelt the same… for some reason. They didn’t do much else besides mind their business and wish Penley good luck. He knew the lad could use all the reassurance he could get. He seemed to look up to them, to the other hunters, especially the older ones. Maybe it gives him hope that he can make it somewhere if they can. He doesn't like it but lets him admire it anyway, those
hunters won't be getting anywhere near Penley without him, filthy-
“Sir, you're making faces again.” He was scowling and chewing on his cheek, not a pretty face. He huffed and shoved the hand pressing on his cheek into his pocket. “Were you thinking again?” Penley looked at him intently, probably wondering if it was something he did. Well it was but not really.
“You say it like it's a bad thing, of course I'm thinking, thinking about your Ma!”
“You don’t even know my ‘Ma’!”