After our investigation into the doppleganger and the sea kraken, I'm back to working the night shift at the Waffle House. I meet interesting people, as usual, but some of the savor has gone out of it for me. After all, they're interesting, but they're not as interesting as a timeless sea serpent that demands that we sacrifice our young to the waves.

My regulars notice I'm distracted, but I do my best. I renew my bonds to locals who know me. I have a sort of social stable of people who come into the diner, I pick their brain for news, and I trade them tidbits they might find interesting.

I'm very skilled at not being the way when fights start (which is often). Maybe I am growing more bold? Hard to say for sure. On the one hand, my experience at sea was frightening, but then, it's hard to be frightened of diner brawls when you've faced a kraken and survived.