<Sadurean> There are closer bars than the Mermaid's Song to his home, and they're also cheaper. In particular there's a small place near the barracks by the name of Half a Wheel. It's popular with the Frost Watch, but this late in the evening it's usually pretty sparse. The bard doesn't really want to deal with people, so he'll just order an ale and ease over to an empty corner of the room to have a seat and sip the beverage. He's looking l
<Sadurean> beverage. He's looking less like himself these days, if only because for once his hair isn't meticulously groomed, and he just pulled on some pants and a shirt from the day before with a black cloak over top. For one so careful about appearances it's a change.
<Calanthar> Ahhh, what a night. On quiet nights like this, Calanthar finds himself drawn to wander the streets, enjoying the night air and taking the time to think. He needs the break, too, and this is one of the first times in a good while that he's been home long enough to change out of uniform, trading those whites and the chainmail he prefers for a thick black turtle-necked shirt with fur-lined pants and a dark overcoat. The only trace of the usual soldi
<Calanthar> overcoat. The only trace of the usual soldier are the old boots and the saber, having left that bulky spear at home. The Half a Wheel calls to him as he wanders by, and the old man finds himself drawn in and towards the bar. A drink is just the thing to warm the body tonight.
* Sadurean isn't prone to drinking, usually too concerned with other things to waste time and money on getting drunk, but he needed an excuse to get out of the house and the ale gives him an excuse to avoid Evi. He can plead having a headache in the morning and she'll likely let him be so he can sleep in until she's gone to the bakery for the day. When Calanthar enters the boy looks up, but the Captain is one of the last people he wan
<Sadurean> last people he wants to speak with so he'll look down at his drink again, hoping the man moves on without ever noticing him.
<Calanthar> Ahh, but fate *is* a cruel mistress, and the boy's avoiding of Evi will be paid back by the company of Calanthar. After receiving his ale he'll turn around and lean on the bar, scanning the room until he sees the sulky lad in the corner and scowls. It's a bit late for a certain *someone* to be out drinking, especially someone who he has rarely seen drink. Could it be duty that makes him move over to Sadurean's table, duty of an officer to make su
<Calanthar> Sadurean's table, duty of an officer to make sure his soldier doesn't drink himself stupid? Could it be genuine concern? A mixture of both? Whatever the case, he'll draw up in front of the table and stand, wordlessly, only opening his mouth to sip from the drink as he looks down at the boy. It's *so* much more fun this way.
* Sadurean lifts his dark blue gaze slowly, a small sigh escaping his lips as the captain stops at his table. The faint scar running down his left cheek, added with the uncombed hair and wrinkled clothes gives him a rather bum-like appearance. It only illustrates how much a little time spent on one's personal grooming can affect how they're perceived. "Sir..?" He asks, hoping inwardly that the soldier doesn't hang around long. He
<Sadurean> hang around long. He has a lot on his mind and isn't in the mood to talk.
<Calanthar> "Emil let me know that you decided to take me up on my offer to take some time off... That's good, but I had assumed it was to spend time with your wife, not this poisonous stuff..." A wry grin crosses the old man's face, almost acknowledging the hypocrisy of the statement, but it passes soon enough replaced by a more grim one, with concern showing in the man's brow. "You don't look well Sadurean. Are you sure you should be out here, this late,
<Calanthar> sure you should be out here, this late, drinking?"
* Sadurean chews on his lip in silence, considering what to say. The mug is his first, so it's not like he's really all that concerned that he might be starting a habit. It was just a reason to get out. "I have spent time with her.. a lot of time. She's sleeping, and I wanted some air." It's not entirely true. Evi has been home, he's been home. Time together has been less than quality. "I'm five minutes from my apartment. I don'
<Sadurean> my apartment. I don't think I'll get into too much trouble.." He adds, lifting a shoulder in a half-shrug. The bard certainly doesn't sound drunk.
<Calanthar> "Ohhh, I don't know. Young man can find trouble no matter *how* far from home he is. Trust me on that one... And if you don't, ask anyone in Shy'la about Cal Devregon and the exploding room." Another grin as he helps himself to a seat, kicking his boots up on an empty chair. Abandon all hope, young man. "But that's not the point, and it's a story that I'm sure you and your ale couldn't care about. So why don't *you* tell me what drags a boy
<Calanthar> don't *you* tell me what drags a boy who wants 'air' into a dark, smokey dive - into the *corner* no less?"
* Sadurean grimaces when the man helps himself to a seat. What can he do? Ask him to leave? That would just get the soldier asking more questions. "I couldn't sleep, so I went out. How are the investigations going? Have you found anything?" The mug of ale is picked up, a slow sip taken. His intent is to pretend to have a hangover, not actually get one.
<Calanthar> "I see... From air to insomnia. Well, too much of *that* stuff and you'll sleep like a stone, though I can't imagine waking up would be pleasant for you..." At the mention of the investigations, a cloud passes over the captain's face. "We... Haven't found anything, I'm afraid. Not much has come up other than the conjectures and suspicions of Crillner, D'Cint, and myself, but we have no proof, no leads to go on right now... I'm just hoping tha
<Calanthar> go on right now... I'm just hoping that the trail hasn't gone entirely cold..."
<Sadurean> "Oh. Well, I suppose it doesn't really matter at this point, anyhow. They're gone and you can't turn back time." He holds the mug between his hands, leaning back into the chair more to rest it on his lap. "What about Lason and Cayla's baby? Anything on that?" He hasn't seen his cousin since she ran out of the Song that night almost a week ago after he told her he had been pulled from all investigative work.
<Calanthar> Sadurean manages to elict another sigh from Calanthar with this question - it hasn't been the *highest* priority, but it's been on his mind for a good while since the boy put it there. "Well with things as they are, most of our resources have been directed off of... other investigations. I do know that Lason has returned home, but that he could not track down the kidnapper. I've sent dispatches to the major port cities up the coast with descrip
<Calanthar> major port cities up the coast with descriptions, and am considering authorizing... other... means, but it's rough going and it's not a Watch priority what with the current investigation..."
<Sadurean> "Of course not. Why worry about the living when so much time and resources can be spent on the dead." He mutters quietly with more than a trace of sarcasm. "That way, more people can get killed in the meantime while everyone is too busy following tracks in the snow or studying corpses. What's the point of having all this training and required time in the Watch if it doesn't help anything?" So many feelings buried under the an
<Sadurean> buried under the anger. He continues in an accusing tone, "Why didn't the counselors have guards?"
<Calanthar> "The counselors did not have guards because they did not *hire* guards. The duty of the Watch is *not* to sit outside someone's house all hours of the day. I don't know if you've noticed, being wrapped up in the amazing world of Sadurean, where everything is about him, but we'd be leaving ourselves a bit short staffed." Ohhh, but he's beginning to change. A stony, emotionless face, a hard, even voice, he's holding his temper in check, but it is f
<Calanthar> holding his temper in check, but it is fairly obvious that he is *not* pleased. "These were professionals. The Watch is *not*. But no, we're not looking into this matter so we can try to thwart future attempts, or to bring justice. Oh no, it's all to spite one 17 year old who thinks himself more important that anyone else."
* Sadurean scowls, not appreciating the obvious connotations. He could correct the mistake in age, but he is nearly seventeen and it would be rather petty to point out such an error. "It was the Ourani. What more do you need to know? Can't they just send a bunch of airships and attack the capital or something?" Hell, maybe they are. It's not like he's in the loop these days.
* McGig is now known as McGig`away
<Calanthar> "Oh, of *course*. Why didn't *I* think of that. You know, we should all listen to the 17 year olds. Damn the proof, let's send the Army to descend upon Dantem! Kill them whether they be innocent or guilty, let the *gods* sort them out! And send our own young to die for what may or may not be the enemy, because that, truly, *truly* is worrying more about the living. Hell, it'll give us more corpses to study so *everybody* wins. You look at this,
<Calanthar> *everybody* wins. You look at this, Sadurean, and you see the Watch not helping anything. But you're *only* looking at this. The Watch has served for *years*, and damn if they haven't done this town a great service. I'll say it again, this was *professional*, unexpected."
<Sadurean> As the man continues to hammer the sarcasm into him Sadurean tightens his fists, temper becoming more strained. There's that fierce pride, born from his father and every bit as troublesome for him as it was for Kaden. He shoves himself to his feet, glaring at Devregon as he counters defiantly, "They sure as hell didn't need any evidence to attack -us-! Why should we sit here hiding and scraping for a reason to strike back?! The
<Sadurean> to strike back?! They are the enemy. They don't care about who they step on to get what they want." He shakes his head, fists still clenched. "Just.. just forget it. Nevermind!" He's letting his anger get the better of him and he's going to say something he shouldn't. Better to leave now. The bard will dig into a pocket to fish out a copper coin and toss it on the table, clearly done with his drink.
<Calanthar> "When I *want* to be, body and soul, like the Ourani, I'll go find myself some scales. But frankly, I consider myself far better than that, and you should as well. Just because they don't care about the price of fufilling their own selfish desires, you think we should do the same? Kill without reason, just because 'they're the bad guys, let's put their men, women and children to the sword without proof, without discrimination'? That's *sickening*,
<Calanthar> discrimination'? That's *sickening*, Avinash." Avinash. A title reserved typically only for the boy's father. When the coin comes down, the old man will wave Sadurean off. "Go. Let your anger take you, run away from here into the next bar you come across. If by some twist of fate you should end up at home, I'll be pleased." He'll mutter under his breath, loud enough that Sadurean might be able to pick up a few words, about his confusion a
<Calanthar> about his confusion as to why he thought he should have concerned himself enough with the boy in the first place. Let D'Cint have him back, she'll effect the same result.
<Sadurean> "That's not what I meant. You're putting words in my mouth!" He argues, frustrated. Why bother, indeed? Sadurean is expert at pushing people away. He notices to change in address. It's the same way all the other officers talk to him. "Send me up there. I'll find the people responsible and deal with them myself. And if I screw it up, no big loss, right? I'll find Jayda and I'll kill her." He can't go on his own, Evi would neve
<Sadurean> own, Evi would never let him out the door.. but if he was ordered to go? That would change everything.
<Calanthar> "Yeah, I'm going to send you up there to your death, sure. Despite the fact that I swore on my honor to your wife to die before letting the Ourani kill you, despite the fact that most of the extra, stress-inducing, ulcer-causing stuff these past few months has been out of concern from you, I'm getting to let you wander off to Dantem, falchion in hand, and fight someone who kills kids like you for a living. Go home, Avinash, you're not well." The l
<Calanthar> home, Avinash, you're not well." The last sentence is said with a sigh, a note of resignation. Why does he bother? Sadurean's just another draftee aching to get out, another kid with lofty ambitions. Like he *gives* a damn about the troubles of the Watch.
<Sadurean> "Stop saying that! You think I'm just going to fail at everything. I didn't know Jayda was going to be at the gate in Ama'til. I didn't -know- they were going to attack the council." He's upset. The boy just wants to prove that he can succeed at something. Every task he's been on for the last few months has ended poorly. He never had to work at music, it all came naturally. Now that he honestly cares about doing a good job in the
<Sadurean> doing a good job in the Watch he's dug himself too deep to turn things around.
* Calanthar has finished his own drink at this point, and is rising, drawing himself up to the full 6 feet, 2 inches as he tosses a few coins on the table. "Exactly. And neither did we, though you see fit to yell at *us*. Fail at everything? That's up to you, but you've had what, one year in the Watch, if even that? I *know* young people fancy themselves invincible, but Jayda knows she's not. She knows through *experience*, and it's experience and train
<Calanthar> *experience*, and it's experience and training that would give her a distinct advantage. I'm not going to say this too many more times, Avinash - go *home*. " He'll dig out a cigarette and light it, fastening his coat. It seems that *he* is nearing the point of walking out on this conversation.
<Sadurean> He clenches his teeth, biting back a lot of retorts that would be far from prudent at this juncture. Calanthar only has a few inches on him, but there's an authority in the soldier's eyes that can be intimidating. "I never said I was invincible. You have to find her. She's the one behind all of this, I'm sure of it." His tone is more controlled now, his newest obsession starting to take a clearer shape now. If Jayda is remove
<Sadurean> If Jayda is removed from the picture, a lot of his guilt might be assuaged.
<Calanthar> "I will *not* entertain notions of petty, personal revenge, Avinash. If Jayda is behind this, I will find proof before I act. The days of rushing headlong into things are long past for me, I learned the *hard* way that it's a bad idea." A long, contemplative drag on the cigarette seems to calm the old man, although those pale eyes are still rather hard and icy. "Now, I know you're under a lot of stress, so I'm going to go ahead and go; unless y
<Calanthar> I'm going to go ahead and go; unless you have anything more to say to me. Otherwise, just try to get some rest. You're speaking out of grief, and perhaps guilt - I'll grant you that." But does he *believe* it, or is he making excuses to try and convince himself that the boy isn't completely hard like Kaden was?
<Sadurean> "It's not personal revenge! She is. I know she is." He'll follow the man outside if he has to. Perhaps this is a solution to his dilemma. "She captured Ryn, because she wanted to get an airship. She knew who he was and how to get him, and that means she knows a lot about the nobility. She was in Ama'til, right in the center of things. The soldiers listened to her and she knew things then, too. Ryn'an -had- her in his grasp and
<Sadurean> her in his grasp and then he let her slip away. How?? She obviously had someone on the inside.. "
<Calanthar> Oh, he's moving towards the door, grimacing all the way. Maybe a breath of cigarette smoke would deter the boy... But that would just be cruel. "Maybe. Maybe she's the *devil* herself! But some insider in the Ashetai military knowing all the councilors, all the intimate details, would require someone of fairly high rank. And when you throw accusations around up there, you'd better be *damn* sure you're right. This would have to have been som
<Calanthar> right. This would have to have been someone who has been in Sinari a *while*. Once I find *that* person, then I can follow the trail back." He'll kick the door open and turn to regard Sadurean. "But until then, I'm not ready to shout for war."
* Sadurean is still following after him, barely noticing the cold air that blasts in. The boy is eerily silent now, his face paling as he swallows. He hadn't met to lead him along such a path of thinking, his goal merely to get Devregon considering focusing more attention on the woman. "Okay.. I'm going to get home now.." He says in a much quieter voice, looking far more worried than angry rather suddenly.
<Calanthar> Oh no. No, no, no. That change is never good, and it doesn't go unnoticed. The old man will eye the boy for a second, all traces of anger and exasperation fading, before glancing around the room. "Yeah. I think that would be a good idea. Get home, get to bed... I'd advise remaining at home for a good while, get some rest. I'm sure Evi can take care of you..." The words may be vague, but the accompanying expression makes the point fairly c
<Calanthar> expression makes the point fairly clear. Don't venture far from home, Sadurean. We have more to discuss. "I should finish my walk... After this cigarette, perhaps." He'll stand aside and motion for Sadurean to go on ahead.
<Sadurean> Despite liking to think he's clever and oftentimes expert at deception, he makes mistakes and trips up just like everyone else. If the wind wasn't so cold, there would be sweat on his brow. He nods when the man turns that critical gaze upon him, not saying anything further as he makes his way for the street his ramshackle apartment is on. That would have been an opportune time to come clean, but Durean still hasn't convinced hims
<Sadurean> hasn't convinced himself to do the right thing, despite Evi's begging.
* Calanthar will take a loooooong drag on the cigarette, finishing it off and grounding it out, before he lets out a long, loud sigh. It wouldn't do to jump to conclusions, so he'll give the boy a few days. Let him either come to him first to let Cal know, or let Sadurean sweat for a few days to increase the boy's chances of letting something slip when he *did* pay a visit. Hopefully he would find out what he needed to then, and wouldn't have to drag the b
<Calanthar> to then, and wouldn't have to drag the boy down to the jail cells for interrogation. Evi would kill him if it came to that. Probably kill both of them. Ah well, time for this old man to get wandering home.
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