Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[SeriousConcentrate]

"I think apothecaries only treat the bald. And I'm glad THAT is not the problem."

He laced his fingers through hers and looked at their hands for a moment.

"It's still a little... unreal to me. I keep expecting someone to shake me out of a daydream..."

[Blade Master Model 42]

"I was that good, huh?" Sheila said, that wicked grin on her lips again. "I'm serious about the apothecary though. If they can put hair on a head, maybe they can grow it out."

[CrimsonEon]

Alec crossed his arms.
: "...I did enjoy it well enough." Alec drummed his fingers on his forearm for a moment, "But, I guess looking back, seeing all these people from different corners of the world, I guess I felt cooped up. I got the impression that... there were more important things to aspire to. And answers I needed to get for a couple of people important to me."
: "But, again, why? And the 'old man curiosities' excuse isn't going to fly for this one."

[birdy51]

Miguel cocked a curious eyebrow. He crossed his arms behind his back and continued walking.

: "Well, you wouldn't be the only one who thought that before about this great wide world of ours. But if that was then, then what do you think now? Have you found the answers you are looking for?"

To the final question, he smiled.

: "First you answer my curiosities. Then I'll sate yours, yes?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

Leo blushed, looking away slightly.

"...We're both lucky I spent a long time learning self-control, because otherwise we might break a few public decency laws."

His tone turned teasing.

"Just imagine the scandal. How would we ever look our friends in the face after they bailed us out?"

[CrimsonEon]

The bard sighed at Miguel's insistence.
: "I'll be honest, it's a lot more trouble than it's been worth so far. Had I known then what I did now I'd probably have kept my nose out." He lifted the long flute case hanging off his belt, "As for those answers though, I feel like I have a lead for one, but I haven't even put a scratch in for the other two."
: "But if I can find something, it'll have to have been worth it, right?"

[Blade Master Model 42]

"Hm, I dunno, I think most of them would understand, considering we're newlyweds who've had to be hands off for months up until today." Sheila leaned in close and whispered in Leo's ear. "Or, we could skip pissing off the guards and go somewhere a bit more private."

[birdy51]

Miguel chortled happily.

: "Ohoho! Perhaps. Final answer. The answer of whether it's worth finding or not all depends upon what those somethings are yes?"

The elderly man leaned in swiftly, the old gossip in him becoming dangerously curious.

"Now, if it's some dark secret, you'd need not fear telling me! Hohoho! Won't be long now before I start trying my hand at gardening. Whatever you'd tell me would go straight to the grave."

[SeriousConcentrate]

There were a few moments of silent indecision before Leo did what any sane man would do. He threw his wife onto his shoulder and started heading back to the inn.

[CrimsonEon]

: "Well, it's hardly dark. At least, not in my opinion." Alec shrugged, "I'm just not too keen on sharing that with a-...*ahem*" He projected his voice into his now-rarely-used 'grandiose' persona;
: "Sharp, conniving, elder merchant master!"
He held his little smirk for a moment before falling into a more serious tone.
: "But, I have two younger siblings, a brother and sister. In order, I want to figure out how to help my brother stand up for himself more often. He's impressionable and far too easily influenced and... was a little too reliant on me."
: "Then there's my sister who... Well, she's not a very healthy girl. She can't stand to be outside, or exposed to anyone for too long. Even a handshake can make her sick for months. My parents tried everything to help her, but no-one, Church or beyond, could find a cure. So maybe... there was something my parents overlooked that I could have found."
: "And then... well, it wasn't apparent at the outset, but then there was me. I thought I could get in with a certain noble lady and finally get a good picture of the world... But, I ended up hurting things more than helping. Then I 'met' our dear Mireosian friend and got caught up in all this rebellion business, and I thought; 'Maybe I can help other people, instead'? But, the reality is, I'm getting less and less relevant to the picture. Turns out, blood's the most important thing to this world after all." The bard spoke that last sentence with a bit of bitterness. In a moment, he gave a short laugh derisively at himself.
: "Quite the mouthful, huh?"

[birdy51]

: "Quite." Miguel muttered in quiet agreement. He shook his head. For a short moment, the old man paused to think, then continued with an attempt to give council.

: "Well. To the second and last, I cannot help you. Just you wait young man. You only become more irrelevant to the world the older you get. But to the first, simply being there for your brother should be enough. The youth of today learn from the elders of yesterday. Show him what is like to be a smart young man, and that is what he will become."

He patted the Alec manfully on the shoulder.

: "From what I've seen of you, I'm certain he'll be just fine. In fact, who knows what you might find when you return? Perhaps he will have found the cure for your sister's condition and succeeded where you have not! Hohoho!"

: "Now. I believe I have come damn near close to taking your ear off with all of these questions. I believe I promised I'd allow you to turn the tables yes? Ask me anything. You have earned your favor from this... Sharp, conniving, elder merchant master with whom you now speak!"

[CrimsonEon]

: "Oh, dragon. If my brother up and did that without me knowing, ancient sea nymphs may as well start flying from the depths and replacing the leadership of the world with interpretative dance." Alec paused a moment, then his eyes went wide with some sort of realization, "Oh, gods. Do not tell the Fairy Prancer I said that."
: "But... I suppose you're right. I've been sending mail to him for quite some time, keeping him up to date on what I've been doing. I haven't gotten a letter back for a year now... But maybe he's moved on? Gotten some confidence and no longer needs me to come back and guide him..?"
Alec shook his head and seemed to contemplate.
: "Well, speaking of confidence. I think I've come to find there's a fourth question I'm looking to answer. Much the same story as my brother, just, a different person. That person... I'm not sure if the same advice would really work for them."
: "...Hey, old-timer. Just... given your experience; would you say, if there were someone who had genuinely hurt and made mistakes that had ruined a life in the past, should that person believe that they can have a second chance with another person's life, even if they're scared they'll repeat themselves?"

[birdy51]

Miguel stopped walking for a moment. He closed his eyes and placed his hand on his chin.

: "Hrrm. Hoo boy. That's a loaded question you've got there young man..."

The old man paused, letting out a small sigh. A still quiet drifted through, like a small breeze. After a while, he opened his eyes and began to speak.

: "But... I think I have an answer. Forgive me if I begin to preach a little... I have a little bit invested in this area as well..."

Clearing his throat he drew himself up to full height. His eyes took on a surreal brand of clarity that cut through the aura of senility as he laid them down upon Alec like a pair of great marble stones. His mouth moved as he began to speak.

: "My boy, people make mistakes their whole life through. Never failing. They just do."

: "Some are small. Some are large. There are some foolish decisions that you can spend your whole life regretting. But if there is anything that I have learned, it's that there is always such a thing as a second chance. It may not come in the way you expect them to, but they will come along all the same. All that matters is whether you are brave or smart enough to take that chance again. Whether one can succeed or not in taking that second chance..."

: "Well... I cannot say."

: "But I can say this. The worst mistakes you can make are in the chances you never take. So if there is a chance... Take it. Grasp it. Hold it in your hands and never let it go. Take the initiative. Take heart. Conquer. That is how people make the world. That is how they shape it in their image. In love, war, and kingmenship it is all the same."

[Xanmyral]

Fezz hmms and haws about the various tomes he found, before eventually settling on both Shine and Lightning, buying both of them with his share.

Content with his purchases, the historian sequestered the tomes away in the many pouches under his cloak and moved back onto the streets.

[CrimsonEon]

Alec stood in a daunted silence for a couple moments. When he stood up straight, Miguel seemed to be very much at eye-to-eye level with the bard. Was this the same doddling old man he remembered from earlier?
: "....I... I see.", A couple more moments of silence followed.
: "It's no simple answer... Really, I'm at fault for thinking any one answer could cast away all doubt." Alec looked at the flute case on his belt again before looking back at the old cavalier,  "But... You're right. I think it's a challenge that can be mustered to. Just... a little bit of thought to get one's course straight. The world will go on, right? Always time to drop everything and re-evaluate when you're at a young age... Come back with a new perspective... So long as you always try again." Alec rambled a little, apparently trying to vocalize as he sorted through the advice in his mind.
: "Yeah... I think I understand, anyway. What's life without adversity, huh?" Alec exhaled a little in amusement, "Thanks, old-timer. Er, Sir Cervantes."