Good evening Budehuc

[trueltning_fury]

[There's a tall man clad all in leather walking through the gate, hiking alone with a pack slung over his back. It's like he knows exactly where he is, exactly what he wants, and doesn't mind whether or not he attracts any attention.

At least, until he has a glance around to see what's changed recently.]

...please tell me the tavern is still open.

Comments

[trueltning_fury]

[Well, that does answer one question he would have needed to ask. His big, heavy eyebrow goes up.]

...worst of it?

[siiiigh. Business rather than pleasure already]

[aloof_savant]

Have you heard anything about time travel or different worlds in your line of work?

[trueltning_fury]

.........no...

[Caesar why you ask him something like that. Now he's suspicious!]

[aloof_savant]

I didn't think so -- up until recently I would have written them off as stories of the occult.

However... a lot of our recent residents claim to be just that... either from the past, or a different universe altogether. And I believe them.

[trueltning_fury]

[for a long moment he just stands there, gazing at Caesar with his one eye, as if trying to see through him. Processing. Gauging. Knowing that this kid doesn't lie, at least not with such urgency.]

Strange. The past? What kind of past are we talking about?

[aloof_savant]

What kind? Try the kind that's over a hundred years ago, hah. Which reminds me, how old are you again?

[trueltning_fury]

[completely deadpan look. He's not going answer that!]

Old enough.

Over a hundred years ago... [hmmmmmmmmmmm]

[aloof_savant]

Well anyway, I'm sort of taking care of Budehuc until Master Thomas returns. I just don't know why they're all congregating here of all places. Some of them even know each other, which leads me to believe this is more than a freak coincidence.

...I'm not a fan of the unexplainable.

[trueltning_fury]

I suppose somebody has to. [as he looks past Caesar to the manor house. What has been happening since everyone went their separate ways after the war?]

Are any of them runebearers?

[aloof_savant]

Runebearers? Now why would you ask that?

[trueltning_fury]

[Really, Caesar]

Strange things tend to happen around Runes.

[aloof_savant]

But nothing like this, I'm sure. In any case, there haven't been any reports about strange runes. Just your old run-of-the-mill over the counter kind of runes.

And then there's yours.

[trueltning_fury]

[he closes his eye briefly]

If there are people around who weren't here for the war, I would appreciate it if you didn't mention it so openly. As far as anyone is concerned, I'm a mercenary from the Defense Force, nothing more.

[aloof_savant]

Right, you're still hush-hush about that. Understandable.

So what is a simple mercenary from the Defense Force doing here? You've come a long way just to order something from our ramshackle tavern.

[trueltning_fury]

That's classified. [was that a hint of a smirk in his eye? Too late, it's gone] It's not actually business, don't worry.

[aloof_savant]

Good. The last thing we need is an external force prying into this mess while we're still trying to make sense of it ourselves.

So, if not business, then... pleasure? [ Finds it strange to associate that word with Geddoe. ]

[trueltning_fury]

It's personal. Though, now that I'm here, it seems it might be more work than fun after all. News of unusual happenings shouldn't reach certain ears.

[aloof_savant]

Oh, I'm with you there; that means we're on the same page.

Too bad about your vacation though.

[trueltning_fury]

I have all the rest of my life to take vacations. [Sigh. That's not going to stop him from finding his favorite stool in the tavern]

What about my old room on the beached ship out back, is that still open?

[aloof_savant]

That old thing? Sorry, I turned it into a trophy room.









Just kidding.

[trueltning_fury]

[Staring. SO HARD. Really, Caesar? Really?]

You don't have enough trophies.

[aloof_savant]

Heh, maybe I'm the kind of guy who doesn't stick around for rewards.

Needless to say, the room is yours! It's good to have a familiar face around.

[trueltning_fury]

[He can just tell that the price of spending time at Budehuc is going to be dealing with Caesar's jokes. Ah well.

He nods firmly at that.] Thanks. Don't worry, I'll spend plenty of potch in the tavern instead of the inn.