EVENT: Birthday Party

[1000_npcs]

The tavern is curiously more crowded than usual tonight. Perhaps it's the recent influx of travelers who have decided to stay at Budehuc, or the fact that it's a certain squire's birthday, but the barkeep hasn't seen such a big crowd since the days of Nadir's plays. Drowned out by the drunken men's laughter and absurd stories, a small band of musicians can also be heard playing near the stage.

Comments

[armis]

[ He chuckles. ]

Somewhat. My family had quite a penchant for large gatherings, though I assure you things were kept civil.

What was yours like?

[esteems]

[ Alone in her manor with a butler and both parents dead. ...Is what she remembers immediately. ]

Mine was... low-key. I was one year away from graduating at the time, so I tried to cut out any distractions.

[armis]

[ He seems to remember much too late that this is probably an awkward topic, and as a result his conversational skills seem stunted now as he kind of searches for an out. ]

I... I see. It is a shame we did not know each other back then. I could have used much more studious company.

[esteems]

Oh? If I remember correctly, you and the others didn't take kindly to me when we met.

[armis]

What? Th-that isn't true at all!

[ Certainly not true for him, anyway! Stupid -- others! How does he explain this without looking like a complete fool? ]

I'm sure the others were only wary -- and I do not blame them for being as much. You are much more talented than we all will ever be.

[esteems]

[ She laughs quietly at the sudden compliments and shakes her head. ] It's quite alright, Borus, I was fairly used to it by the time I met you. Although, now you got me wondering what the Swordsman of Rage was like as a teenager...

[armis]

Perhaps not quite so rage-ful at that age yet. My recollection would be biased, of course. I recall I was certainly a brat, but who doesn't think of themselves as one as a child?

[ He smiles a little, not really wanting to talk about how wealthy his family was and the subsequent spoilt nature of his childhood. ]

[esteems]

I don't know about that... do you think Louis would? For a child of nobility, he's shaping up to be a good young man.

[armis]

An exception to the rule!

I mean, could you imagine Percival at this age? He would be unbearable, no doubt. Nothing like the shining example Louis is.

[esteems]

If you would really like to know what Percival was like as a child, you should meet his mother in Iksay.