|
|
Post by black379 on Apr 15, 2018 18:15:31 GMT -8
"A... satisfactory... morning, is it?" His beak stuck upward, craning at the sky. Adeney was not one for pleasantries, nor did he really have much to offer. But the woman doctor's briefly described business was plenty intriguing to occupy his time, he thought.
She had some secrets, and interests best kept private, but Adeney was keen to pry. But at least he realized the need for discretion. For a moment, he only stood and watched her.
"I think I should talk with you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 15, 2018 18:53:13 GMT -8
Tilly slipped her hands into her pockets and let them rest comfortably there as she more-or-less bounced along towards the blacksmith's shop.
It was easier work, this, than it was to trample through some brush and kill monsters. The ease was entertaining, first, but she was certain it would get boring.
In which case, she would tackle that issue when she got there.
Her pace slowed, then, and with some squinting, she made out a cane-wielding figure on the horizon.
---
"It is an adequate morning." Florence agreed, though she wasn't rightly sure what she was agreeing to.
She looked upwards as he did, curious to see what he was meant to be looking at. When she saw nothing of interest, she turned her gaze back to him.
"What do you wish to talk about? If it concerns my research, we may speak privately in a tavern room."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Carrying Blade on Apr 15, 2018 19:43:13 GMT -8
The town crier made his way over to the bounty board, notes in hand detailing a few new bounties of expeditions that had just sprung up. He nailed them to the board, removing old or non important notes that held no more purpose as he begrudgingly sent more people to their inevitable doom. As he finished he cleared his throat, his voice ringing everywhere it could reach in the town square and surrounding main buildings, so loud that if anyone wanted to they could come check out the board.
“BOUNTIES! NEW BOUNTIES ON THE BOARD FOR NEW OR VETERAN MERCENARIES LOOKING FOR CASH! CHECK FOR YOUR OWN GAIN, THAT IS ALL!” He cries before making his way towards the tavern, going to partake in one of his usual activities before being sent around again like a pack mule.
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Apr 15, 2018 19:53:30 GMT -8
"It does." Adeney nodded singularly. His gloves slowly, almost hesitantly, met in front of him as he stared down Florence. His fingers steepled and he seemed on the verge of an important inquiry.
"Concern your research, that is." The ivory bill of his masked swayed toward the tavern, and his hand followed to motion in suit.
"If you are not busy, of course."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 16, 2018 8:23:15 GMT -8
"I am currently not busy."
Florence swiveled on her feet and made with some relative haste to the tavern.
Midway, she stopped, turned again, and beckoned for Adeney to follow before turning back and continuing to walk.
It was important to build up a team of higher minds in ventures as she was going into.
Perhaps this was what she was missing; progress was rarely done alone.
"I shall ask you questions and perhaps invite you to join my research."
|
|
|
|
Post by black379 on Apr 16, 2018 8:36:33 GMT -8
Adeney watched her depart swiftly, and then began after her. He caught up quickly enough and kept pace with her. The doctor fretted somewhat at the idea of possible interrogation.
"I have some questions for you too. But, when we are alone."
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 16, 2018 8:40:33 GMT -8
Florence tapped the pads of her fingers together with some quiet excitement.
This was an excellent start.
"I would hope that you do."
She more or less jerked the entrance door open and left it ajar long enough for Adeney to pass by as she entered the tavern herself.
[Flor and Adeney enter the tavern?]
|
|
|
|
Post by azmoham on Apr 16, 2018 13:40:13 GMT -8
In his perusal of the dismal sights the town had to offer, he hesitated for a moment, his eyes snagging on a peculiar hat whose peak rose like a smoke-stack from the wide, floppy brim. below that he could just make out the long, hawkish nose and the sharp features, framed by bundles of straw hair. A small grin crept up his lips, and he made to move forward once again. Once he was within perhaps two dozen paces or so, he raised his right hand, although saying nothing. Perhaps she'd recognized him? Then again, perhaps not, he was after all, a slightly different man than the one he'd left, with his hair regrown and combed back neatly, and his once-shaggy beard now reduced to a fine coating of hair across his lower face and chin. He sported a plain, white linen shirt tucked into a pair of brown trousers, over his shirt he wore also a dark-brown vest and over that, a coat which just made it to his knees. Slung over his shoulders was a bag, perhaps large enough to carry a change of clothes a few books, which is exactly what it happened to contain. Altogether, he was a more thoroughly average-looking figure than ever before, having apparently abandoned any pretense of 'grand wizardry' in favor of simple, scholarly dignity.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 16, 2018 14:16:55 GMT -8
Tilly blinked and stared and seemed to lose all purpose she had earlier.
She now believed she knew who this figure was.
"...Jacques?"
A grin crept on her face. She took some steps forward.
"JACQUES!"
And then she broke into a run, one hand clamped onto her hat to protect against the wind stealing it away.
She slipped on some wet maple leaf under her heel but maintained her balance as she made to close the distance between herself and her friend.
Tilly skidded to a halt if only to engulf the man in an over-joyed, spindly-armed hug.
|
|
|
|
Post by azmoham on Apr 16, 2018 14:46:24 GMT -8
He caught her roughly around the chest and took a stumbling step backwards, using his staff to prevent the both of them from tumbling to the ground, or worse over the side.
"Ah, hello to you as well, Tilly."
He replied placidly, patting her back in an only slightly awkward manner, somewhat caught unawares as how to receive such enthusiasm. Well, either way it was emboldening to see that at the very least she was glad to see him, to say nothing of how Blood would react. He doubted there would be this much hugging however...
"Looking as well as I've ever seen you, quite the feat, that."
Jacques smiled.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 16, 2018 15:09:33 GMT -8
"...You made it!"
Beaming, Tilly stepped back and took a breath, slightly winded from the relatively short burst of energy.
She screwed her hat back securely back onto her head, catching her breath as she looked him over.
"I swear to stars above: you look different every other time I see you." She clasped her hands together ecstatically, but leaned to one side behind him in some attempt to spy a certain shock of ruby-red hair.
She found none.
"Is Lavinia coming?" Asked Tilly; her smile wavered until her eyes flitted back to Jacques's.
"I missed you horribly, you ought to know!"
|
|
|
|
Post by azmoham on Apr 16, 2018 15:15:05 GMT -8
"I do tend to change my looks as often as the weather, tis true."
He agreed, nodding as he followed Tilly's glance back over his shoulder.
"But it is only because I am inclined to follow the latest fashions, unlike some."
The man sniffed, giving her hat a pointed look as he turned back around. His smile faltered for a moment as he considered her question, eyebrows scrunching together.
"I'm afraid not. She's still rather leery of the town. Quite frankly, I agree with her."
There was little enough here to warrant a return visit, save a few good friends, perhaps the only he could ever claim.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 16, 2018 15:30:31 GMT -8
Tilly seemed vaguely disappointed. "Hm. Pity."
The sentiment only lasted a moment before she started up again, making to walk forward and motioning Jacques to join her with a light nudge on his shoulder.
There was so much to talk about, it almost took force to decide which to talk about first.
"...A pity, too, that you can't see this hat is a timeless accessory that shall never die!" She declared with a tip of the brim of her hat and a light chuckle as she strode forward.
"You've no idea how much you missed-- but first: how've you been faring way out there?"
|
|
|
|
Post by azmoham on Apr 16, 2018 16:40:14 GMT -8
He chuckled at her declaration, shaking his head as he trailed after her, moving a slower pace due to the need for his staff.
"And here I was hoping you'd perchance finally see that thing belongs burning with that old book rather than atop your head. Alack!"
He brought a hand to his head in a melodramatic gesture.
"I've been quite dreadfully boring as of late, I'm afraid. I teach the village children, and more than a few of the adults, how to read, write and some basic maths skills. In return, I get bread or eggs or corn, sometimes a few coins, and once even a pair of shoes."
He nodded to the very pair he wore at that moment, made of dark, untreated leather, the laces being rawhide, with wooden soles.
"A deal, I'd say."
He smiled, clearly pleased with himself.
"Lavinia works odd jobs, mostly chopping wood and guard duty. She's...better, not fixed perse but certainly closer. Truly it's for the best she stayed home, wouldn't want to upset all that progress, eh?"
He was silent for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face as his eyes scanned the moldering town.
"Ah, well, I'm suer you've had a far more interesting time than I have. What with news of marriage, and, ahem, 'strange magick'?"
Jacques gave his friend a meaningful look to cap off his statement, clearly not entirely thrilled with the woman's earlier vagueness.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vanitypirate on Apr 16, 2018 17:04:35 GMT -8
"Ah... the three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic."
Tilly shot him a cheeky smile that grew more uncomfortable as she thought on the contents of the letter and the 'strange magick' she had found herself rooted in.
"I'd... rather tell you in private, if that's alright with you. I've got some rather important news and... er, an issue I wouldn't trust anyone else but you to know what to do with."
She shrugged apologetically and jerked a thumb over in some direction vaguely around the tavern.
"But! Leks and I bought a plot of land, and it's got a bitty shack that we're staying in. We're going to build it up to something fancier-- but it'd be a great place to talk, I think!"
|
|
