Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration.
Because to the magical beings who worked alongside Riley, he didn't really look like a dried pickle.
If anything, he probably looked like the occasional dried paint. Just a little dry, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with a little water.
Only in the case of the overworked human aide, they figured he'd need a good amount.
Not that he lacked great features to begin with, since he definitely had them, but working for magical beings as an actual mortal could really shorten anyone's already short lifespan while widening their initially innocent hairlines.
But what do you know?
The mortal not only survived the drought.
He practically flourished.
And it showed the moment he walked through the doors of the MBE in such a way that had everyone turning their heads twice.
__
The lobby had been relaxed.
Too relaxed.
