Something Happened Over a Steak Dinner

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> This place was strange, after all. As he picked through the shelves of the Market, he found a small packet of chips. They were the same brand he used to eat as a kid. Funny coincidence. He smiled, and immediately doubled over as memories of previous lives rushed back into his mind. He fell to his hands and knees, the chip bag exploding under his hand as the chips themselves were ground into shards.
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> What the fuck was that? He only got glimpses of the memories, but the fragments were enough to instill a deep fear in his mind. A strange person, and a white-haired woman. He shuddered. How did he do that? What was that? He started to slowly push himself to his feet, quickly looking to the open back door of the building, where approaching boots crushed dead grass.
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> "Hello? Are you okay?" a woman's voice called through the door. He froze. It was that white-haired woman. Snow, the name bubbled up from inside of him. He scrambled to his feet, his shoes slapping the tile as he rushed for the door without a word. He slammed the front doors open, stumbling before recovering and sprinting as quickly as he could. His back tensed up, expecting to be speared by a lance of ice.
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> The attack didn't come, and he got away.
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> He was exhausted a moment later, walking down the street with a growling stomach. He'd been trying to evoke the memories once more, but had failed. He'd tried shouting, putting his fingers to his temples, and thinking real hard, but nothing worked. Suddenly, he spotted a white-masked face watching him from the treeline. That was...ominous. Somehow, he didn't feel terribly intimidated, and turned to approach the man. It was Shop, of course. He didn't know how he knew the name, but he did.
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> "Howdy! You look awful hungry, wanna buy something to eat?" Shop offered immediately.
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> He winced, "Yeah, I could go for something like that. How'd you know?"
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> "Call it a merchant's instinct."
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> "Merchant's instinct, huh? Nice," He smiled.
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> Memories flooded back. He stayed standing this time, and realized the trigger. He forced himself to keep smiling as he fully realized everything from before. Time. Snow. Shop. The world. It was easier to recall the more he remained smiling, until the man that was standing there a moment ago was replaced by someone who had lived a thousand lifetimes and many more deaths.
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> Smile considered Shop, before looking down at his hand. With a grimace that still counted as a smile, he gripped the Ring on his finger and tried to rip it off. As he knew he would, he failed.
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> Shop watched the whole exchange, before cocking his head, "Are you okay?"
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> Smile turned to Shop and responded with a question, "Do you accept anything as payment?"
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> "Of course."
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> "Could I ask to buy a hot meal?"
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> "What meal would you like?"
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> "Anything...I think a steak would be nice."
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> "I could do that."
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> "Can I pay up front?"
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> "Absolutely."
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> "Great. Then...oh, it's here. Don't mind if I do."
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> "No problem. As for payment..."
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> "The Ring. Take the Ring. Please, take it. Please."
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> "Is this...some kind of trick?"
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> "No, I promise, just please...please."
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> "...I think I get it...I'm sorry. I...it's been hard, right?"
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> "Mhm..."
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> "I'll take it. Enjoy your meal, pal."
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> "Thank you. Thank you..."
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> Some times later...
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> He learned many things about the one he shared. There's too much to think about now, but the most important thing he learned:
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> He smiles when he's nervous.
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