[He’s ever patient, though he doesn’t have to wait long. When he notices Aloy approaching, his manner is skewed into something quietly polite. A hand once more adjusts the bag slung over his shoulder, not currently weighted down with fruit — but above their heads there’s a veritable swath of the stuff hanging from this tree. They sway in the breeze and catch the light against round forms, practically begging to be picked.]

I am. Thanks for lending a hand. [He draws her attention upwards with his own gaze, to denote both the fruit and the intermittent stretch of branches that would act as their path up. From ground level, it’s something of a tricky start to plot the right route, but if they can get some momentum going, the rest shouldn’t be as difficult.]

That branch there. [Out of reach for one person alone; for Markus, at least. He points to it.] If you can boost me up so I can grab it, then it’ll be easy enough to continue the climb up. As long as we watch our footing.

[It’s turned into “we” now, because why not? He can’t pick all of this by himself.]