Rinth poked the man a couple of times before he actually woke up. He groaned before stretching out, Liam trying not to wince at the sound of the man’s back cracking.

“How strange.” He said after a moment, blinking at the pair of them.

“Did you make him? He’s so lifelike.”

Before Liam could even understand what was meant, Rinth was laughing. It started with giggles that caused her to bounce up and down before developing into guffaws that had tears streaming from her eyes.

“I should visit you more often.” She laughed when she stopped for air.

“I found him before Gwendolyn did, actually. He’s from the surface.”

“Really? I thought they were all fed to ---”

Whatever word the man said was completely lost to Liam as the two began talking as though he wasn’t there, slipping into a language he had never heard before.

“Erm, I’m still here.” He said at last, unsure of what to do.

“Of course, you are.” Rinth said as though she hadn’t forgotten about him. “Liam, this is the Tinkerer. Old man, this is Liam. He’ll be staying with us for a bit.”

“Very well.” Said the so called Tinkerer, as though keeping a person wasn’t unordinary.