Post by redcoat on Mar 27, 2022 12:46:45 GMT -5
Username: The Red Coat
+Now appraised of the situation, Bones moved carefully as she left the conference hall, the discussions with her new team. Well. At least she knew who her babysitter was going to be. Hugging walls, taking the long way around- it wasn't that she was trying to duck the three dwarves shadowing her, but she was definitely not showing her face in any main areas.
She followed her nose, the faint, lingering scent of burnt hair and sulfur. The comforting scent. The scent that reminded her of warm hearthstones out of the rain and spare meat left 'accidentally' unguarded. Finding him puttering around the walls, she joined him, falling into the dwarven language almost as easy as she fell into common.
"Well, this is a right fucking mess."+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
"Whoo damn-!" Cried the dwarven forgemaster, spooked nearly out of his undersized boots. He turned and faced the tabaxi woman, face a little paler, brows a little higher. Heaving his chest once, he sighed and rest his fingers roughly at chest height, using his broad mid section like a chest. Had he a cloak and bald spot, he might look like a friar.
"Oof, lass… Ye can't be sneakin' up on a man the open like that." Puffing once, he made his mustache billow briefly before turning to her fully. A certain sadness was on his face, though he seemed pleased enough to see her outside.
"T'is, t'is. A right proper mess. 'Ow're you holding up? Y'must be ready to collapse, all that water'n now this."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+With a small smile, she ruffled his hair familiarly. "Sorry- I didn't mean to. Considering the climate I thought it best to move with discretion." Moving in front of him, she flopped down to the ground gracefully and stretched out, leaning against the wall comfortably as she looked up to him.
"It's not… It is frustrating, of course. But I'm no stranger to having just about everyone I know actively dislike me. At least this time I'm an adult and I have friends in my corner." She gave him a knowing look, before leaning her head back. "I just need to move carefully, work openly, and figure out who the hell is in my territory, fucking with my city." There was a little venom in her voice as she mentioned the invaders- she hadn't lied when she had said cats were territorial, and Port Nyanzaru was hers damnit.
"How are you holding up, Thorhac?" She turned her thoughtful eyes towards the dwarven man, looking him up and down, analyzing every inch of him. "It can't have been easy, defending me like you've been."+
Insight: 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
The dwarf appeared a bit run down. A bit paler, a bit older. The way he stood, half hunched and puttering made him look at inch shorter. Though it wasn't just his back- his whole posture, how he held his hands close, how he was off to a corner, it told a certain story.
Thorhac was lost. Beyond his element, with a pride that wasn't just cracked but crumbling. The way he fiddled with his hands, it only took her a few moments more to piece together the situation. Thorhac practically lived in his smithy, and now he was miles away without a clue what was happening back home.
"I've been handlin'. All things considered." He tilted his head, shifting the braids and beard to scruch slightly against his collar. "Bein' relegated t'only half information on account o' rank 'as been frustratin', but I get the Black Dragon keeps thins' internal on account o' investigatin'." The dwarf's lower lip tightened visibly as he looked toward the younger Tabaxi woman, his voice low.
"Hush an' careful as they are, everyone suspects foul play now. An inside job- the higher ups don't tell us contractors, but in private the lower ranks say it between 'emselves. An' it makes sense, what with th' powder and patrol routes bein' hit."
His brows came to furrow. "Nobody pointed fingers or 'ad answers t'suggest until just recently- maybe less 'an a week ago. You remember that thug, Boscov Drixol? The racketeer you were buildin' a case against last year.."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+"Distinctly," she answered dryly, lifting her head to watch him. She needed the information he had- people talked to Thorhac, he was kind and well liked. She'd missed him greatly while she was gone. He was right, it'd been a fool's errand, and look where it had landed her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
He wrinkled his nose and bristled his moustache slightly. From there he leaned in. "Week ago, commission scouts found 'im leadin' a group of civilians and wounded up this way, 'long the Old Road. Good health, fed, mended. A real… honorable display." The dwarf squinted, scrutiny in his face.
"…Ended up getting shining remarks for his performance. Now e's nowhere to be found, gone off on expedition to find others. Suddenly people are all talkin' bout the hero, Boscov Drixol, an' askin questions 'bout that one Tabaxi investigator who's gone missin. Real suspicious that Tabaxi went missin at a time like this." He shook his head with a little huff.
"Y'still got plenty of people in your corner. Even the old black dragon himself, though he 'un show it. It's the civilian folk who've got me worried. Fools, lot of em'."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+Bones sighed deeply. "Of course he did. He is fond of shifting the blame, and he's charming enough that anyone who hasn't had more than surface dealings with him would buy everything coming out of his mouth. He could be involved, could just be pretty happy with the timing of my trip." She sighed a little.
"Which was an epic waste of time and effort. Either my father was an odd duck, or my mother had him well accustomed to the way of things on the island very quickly." She waived off the thought, not wanting to chase that particular thread- it didn't take an Inquisitor to see the flit of sadness and hurt.
"It looks like I'll be leaving in the morning… do you want me to get anything from the smith? It has to be something I can carry, but if there's a tool kit or something specific you'd like, I can get it for you." She was worried about the old dwarf. "I'm surprised they haven't put you to work here yet. They'll be needing someone who knows their way around a forge, especially a someone of your skill."+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
"Yer father was… I wouldn't call him an odd duck. He was right enjoyable for an elf, though. Which is sayin' quite a lot." He ruffled and paced slightly, moving around her to glance down the trodden path, passively observing one of the unhitched carts. "Places like these, they don't attract the common folk. It's the.. oddballs. The ones who don't follow the rules, or can't. Loose cannons and, ah, iffin you don't mind me stealin the term, the Odd ducks. Maybe he felt as out of place on the main land as you did… Shame he went the way he did.."
There was another little sigh. "…They did try. I… Fumbled. A few times, in fact. Torrin's not givin' me a 'ard time about it, sayin' I should take time an' figure things out before I get back on the horse. Says I'm rattled- but…" He shook his head, looking back toward the Tabaxi. "Truth is, It's just not the same without me 'ammer. Brazenclout…" There was a touch of sadness, maybe even shame on his face. "…Fer as much fuss I make over family an' makin' it where you can find it, Brazenclout's an important heirloom. I need my forge. My tools. And my 'ammer."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+Talking to Thorhac, as always, was comforting, and the idea that perhaps her father had felt as ill suited to the well meaning, but rather… awkward elves was something that eased the pain of the trip a little. It didn't erase it, but she could feel a little of the hurt disappearing. Had he snuck off in the night too? Eager to get away, had he pilfered the family silver and come to a place he could be himself? It was a nice thought.
"I'll bring you Brazenclout." Bones said, the simple promise stated matter of factly. "I can't bring you your forge or your smith- at least, not right away, that will take a good bit longer. But I can bring you your hammer." Pulling out her waterskin, she took a swig of the good rum she'd stolen from her paternal grandparents- very nearly the last of it- and offered the skin to Thorhac, to seal the promise.+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
The kindly dwarf looked upon her and smiled. It was a sad, apologetic smile that seemed to hide a twinkle of excitement that he was perhaps too proud to vocalize. "Iffin ye can find Brazenclout in that mess, if some ruffian 'asn't run off with it, I'd be mighty appreciative." He took the skin, took a sip.
His eyes immediately lit up with familiarity. He took another, smaller sip, copper red beard darkening as the rum trickled down, as rum tended to do with dwarves. As he handed it back to her, he dabbed his lip with the side of his hand.
"Might even call us square fer all the good meat y'snuck out of me lunch pail." And there it was, the familiar chiding, cockyness he was known for behind his counter. Just a taste, but enough for Bones to know she was indeed home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Now appraised of the situation, Bones moved carefully as she left the conference hall, the discussions with her new team. Well. At least she knew who her babysitter was going to be. Hugging walls, taking the long way around- it wasn't that she was trying to duck the three dwarves shadowing her, but she was definitely not showing her face in any main areas.
She followed her nose, the faint, lingering scent of burnt hair and sulfur. The comforting scent. The scent that reminded her of warm hearthstones out of the rain and spare meat left 'accidentally' unguarded. Finding him puttering around the walls, she joined him, falling into the dwarven language almost as easy as she fell into common.
"Well, this is a right fucking mess."+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
"Whoo damn-!" Cried the dwarven forgemaster, spooked nearly out of his undersized boots. He turned and faced the tabaxi woman, face a little paler, brows a little higher. Heaving his chest once, he sighed and rest his fingers roughly at chest height, using his broad mid section like a chest. Had he a cloak and bald spot, he might look like a friar.
"Oof, lass… Ye can't be sneakin' up on a man the open like that." Puffing once, he made his mustache billow briefly before turning to her fully. A certain sadness was on his face, though he seemed pleased enough to see her outside.
"T'is, t'is. A right proper mess. 'Ow're you holding up? Y'must be ready to collapse, all that water'n now this."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+With a small smile, she ruffled his hair familiarly. "Sorry- I didn't mean to. Considering the climate I thought it best to move with discretion." Moving in front of him, she flopped down to the ground gracefully and stretched out, leaning against the wall comfortably as she looked up to him.
"It's not… It is frustrating, of course. But I'm no stranger to having just about everyone I know actively dislike me. At least this time I'm an adult and I have friends in my corner." She gave him a knowing look, before leaning her head back. "I just need to move carefully, work openly, and figure out who the hell is in my territory, fucking with my city." There was a little venom in her voice as she mentioned the invaders- she hadn't lied when she had said cats were territorial, and Port Nyanzaru was hers damnit.
"How are you holding up, Thorhac?" She turned her thoughtful eyes towards the dwarven man, looking him up and down, analyzing every inch of him. "It can't have been easy, defending me like you've been."+
Insight: 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
The dwarf appeared a bit run down. A bit paler, a bit older. The way he stood, half hunched and puttering made him look at inch shorter. Though it wasn't just his back- his whole posture, how he held his hands close, how he was off to a corner, it told a certain story.
Thorhac was lost. Beyond his element, with a pride that wasn't just cracked but crumbling. The way he fiddled with his hands, it only took her a few moments more to piece together the situation. Thorhac practically lived in his smithy, and now he was miles away without a clue what was happening back home.
"I've been handlin'. All things considered." He tilted his head, shifting the braids and beard to scruch slightly against his collar. "Bein' relegated t'only half information on account o' rank 'as been frustratin', but I get the Black Dragon keeps thins' internal on account o' investigatin'." The dwarf's lower lip tightened visibly as he looked toward the younger Tabaxi woman, his voice low.
"Hush an' careful as they are, everyone suspects foul play now. An inside job- the higher ups don't tell us contractors, but in private the lower ranks say it between 'emselves. An' it makes sense, what with th' powder and patrol routes bein' hit."
His brows came to furrow. "Nobody pointed fingers or 'ad answers t'suggest until just recently- maybe less 'an a week ago. You remember that thug, Boscov Drixol? The racketeer you were buildin' a case against last year.."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+"Distinctly," she answered dryly, lifting her head to watch him. She needed the information he had- people talked to Thorhac, he was kind and well liked. She'd missed him greatly while she was gone. He was right, it'd been a fool's errand, and look where it had landed her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
He wrinkled his nose and bristled his moustache slightly. From there he leaned in. "Week ago, commission scouts found 'im leadin' a group of civilians and wounded up this way, 'long the Old Road. Good health, fed, mended. A real… honorable display." The dwarf squinted, scrutiny in his face.
"…Ended up getting shining remarks for his performance. Now e's nowhere to be found, gone off on expedition to find others. Suddenly people are all talkin' bout the hero, Boscov Drixol, an' askin questions 'bout that one Tabaxi investigator who's gone missin. Real suspicious that Tabaxi went missin at a time like this." He shook his head with a little huff.
"Y'still got plenty of people in your corner. Even the old black dragon himself, though he 'un show it. It's the civilian folk who've got me worried. Fools, lot of em'."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+Bones sighed deeply. "Of course he did. He is fond of shifting the blame, and he's charming enough that anyone who hasn't had more than surface dealings with him would buy everything coming out of his mouth. He could be involved, could just be pretty happy with the timing of my trip." She sighed a little.
"Which was an epic waste of time and effort. Either my father was an odd duck, or my mother had him well accustomed to the way of things on the island very quickly." She waived off the thought, not wanting to chase that particular thread- it didn't take an Inquisitor to see the flit of sadness and hurt.
"It looks like I'll be leaving in the morning… do you want me to get anything from the smith? It has to be something I can carry, but if there's a tool kit or something specific you'd like, I can get it for you." She was worried about the old dwarf. "I'm surprised they haven't put you to work here yet. They'll be needing someone who knows their way around a forge, especially a someone of your skill."+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
"Yer father was… I wouldn't call him an odd duck. He was right enjoyable for an elf, though. Which is sayin' quite a lot." He ruffled and paced slightly, moving around her to glance down the trodden path, passively observing one of the unhitched carts. "Places like these, they don't attract the common folk. It's the.. oddballs. The ones who don't follow the rules, or can't. Loose cannons and, ah, iffin you don't mind me stealin the term, the Odd ducks. Maybe he felt as out of place on the main land as you did… Shame he went the way he did.."
There was another little sigh. "…They did try. I… Fumbled. A few times, in fact. Torrin's not givin' me a 'ard time about it, sayin' I should take time an' figure things out before I get back on the horse. Says I'm rattled- but…" He shook his head, looking back toward the Tabaxi. "Truth is, It's just not the same without me 'ammer. Brazenclout…" There was a touch of sadness, maybe even shame on his face. "…Fer as much fuss I make over family an' makin' it where you can find it, Brazenclout's an important heirloom. I need my forge. My tools. And my 'ammer."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: The Red Coat
+Talking to Thorhac, as always, was comforting, and the idea that perhaps her father had felt as ill suited to the well meaning, but rather… awkward elves was something that eased the pain of the trip a little. It didn't erase it, but she could feel a little of the hurt disappearing. Had he snuck off in the night too? Eager to get away, had he pilfered the family silver and come to a place he could be himself? It was a nice thought.
"I'll bring you Brazenclout." Bones said, the simple promise stated matter of factly. "I can't bring you your forge or your smith- at least, not right away, that will take a good bit longer. But I can bring you your hammer." Pulling out her waterskin, she took a swig of the good rum she'd stolen from her paternal grandparents- very nearly the last of it- and offered the skin to Thorhac, to seal the promise.+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
The kindly dwarf looked upon her and smiled. It was a sad, apologetic smile that seemed to hide a twinkle of excitement that he was perhaps too proud to vocalize. "Iffin ye can find Brazenclout in that mess, if some ruffian 'asn't run off with it, I'd be mighty appreciative." He took the skin, took a sip.
His eyes immediately lit up with familiarity. He took another, smaller sip, copper red beard darkening as the rum trickled down, as rum tended to do with dwarves. As he handed it back to her, he dabbed his lip with the side of his hand.
"Might even call us square fer all the good meat y'snuck out of me lunch pail." And there it was, the familiar chiding, cockyness he was known for behind his counter. Just a taste, but enough for Bones to know she was indeed home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
