[Featured characters: Alanis, Rico] Budehuc Castle: By the Lake This area sits lower than the main castle--So much so, in fact, that the only path up to the front door is up a long, narrow set of stairs. Nowhere does the castle itself look more worn down than here, where the walls are moss-covered and so well worn that defensive walls and pathways have smoothed into one. The buildings that have popped up here, however, are as beautiful and new as anything--Made of brick and white walled, with red-tiled rooves and sturdy wooden beams. Here the pathways have been repaved, as well, making a pleasant stone path that leads around the lake. A well sized outside cafe sits here, with half a dozen white tables set up in the sunlight by the lake. The lake itself is the most stunning thing here--Wide and beautiful, one can see far, far across the lake the silhoette of the mountains that sit north of Vinay del Zexay. ===== Heavy clouds make the afternoon seem more like evening, and the smell of rain is heavy on the air, blowing in over the lake to meet Alanis where she is sitting beneath the overhang of Mamie's cafe. The chef can be heard moving around in her kitchen, accompanied by noises that probably mean she's cooking something. But who will come out on a day like this? There are no couples taking leisurely strolls around the lake today. Not with the weather looking as it does! Alanis's parents hadn't liked the idea of letting her out today either, but one can only stand so many hours cooped up inside with way too many people. In the end, that worked to her advantage, and she was able to escape, only to come out here and do... nothing. Well, unless you count sitting around and eating crepes 'something.' She really should go inside, but at least it's quiet out here, and one never knows when other people will arrive, right? Besides, she doesn't want to get drenched if it /does/ start raining. Sigh. She peers out over the lake in a vain attempt to find something interesting to look at. Interesting? What interesting? There's nothing but water, lake and clouds in view, unfortuna - wait, hold that thought. Is that a bedraggled lass making her way to the cafe from further down the lake road? It is! My, what a coincidence... Looks like Alanis's gotten her wish for company, though it certainly doesn't look like much. For the moment, it seems that Rico's grudgingly chosen to ditch her load of luggage, seeing as how impractical it is considering the current weather. Looking fairly soaked - some water from last night's rain collected on the roof and very timely poured onto her - Rico squish-steps her way towards Alanis to collect some grub from Mamie. Yay! Amazing - another person! That's definitely a surprise, all things considered. Alanis peers through her bangs over a bite of crepe and wonders if she should offer to let the other girl sit at her table, since unfortunately, it's the only one under cover. The cafe really isn't good for this kind of weather. It can get by when there's only one person eating, but what if there's a crowd? What if Viki botches another teleports and drops half of the Destroyer army on their heads? Ohhhh dear, bad thought, bad thought. Never, ever invoke Viki. Alanis takes another bite and waits for the girl to order. It'll give her time to think about whether she really wants to take pity on her, or not. Rico pauses just in front of the cafe, and gingerly rummages through her pockets. Potchpotchpotch... where is her potch?! Perhaps the food is free and perhaps not(she's not exactly an expert on Budehuc castle life, considering the fact that she's been living entirely off beef jerky while setting up 'camp'), but she'd prefer paying for it all the same. Rico's /honorable/ that way. At any rate, her impromptu investigation of her (soaked) pockets reveals no money at hand. Grr. And she's not entirely sure what some of those items up on the menu are, either. 'Crepes' sounds like monster bits. Should she be worried?! Scratching at the back of her head, she glances at Alanis out of the corner of one eye. Who was this, then...? Rico does not socialize, no sirree. It's a pitiful sight, in a way. She'd seen Melville with that expression plenty of times - Alanis knows what it means. Just because she's a poor little rich girl doesn't mean she hasn't felt the indignity of having no money. Sad, isn't it? She tilts her head questioningly at the girl, and wonders if she should say something. It's a little rude to just blurt something out like that, and if her parents did anything during her childhood, it was drilling manners into her head until they wouldn't leave. So. What to say. Come on, /think/! It's easier to talk than pretend she doesn't see anyone there. "Need help?" she finally asks. There, that's neutral enough. It sounds like Mamie is in the pantry, so she won't be able to offer any guidence to her new customer. Indignity would perfectly describe Rico's current situation, yes. She inclines her head at the sound of someone moving around inside the cafe, but her attention is drawn more to the girl nearby. Her existence is acknowledged, which helps take the load of saying something first off her shoulders. Rico's not very good with introductions. "Er..." However, this means she's got to think of something to say next, which is equally unfun! "...Er, miss, do you happen to know if the people here allow you to have a tab...?" There. She's admitted it. Just shoot yourself and die now, Rico. "Tab?" Alanis leans back in her chair and shrugs after a few seconds of thought. "You'll have to ask - I'm not sure." She won't say that she's never had to beg food off of Mamie before, oh no - that would be bad. But... it's true, unfortunately for the other girl. "I don't see why not, though... we're all Fire Bringer, so I'm sure it's okay to ask for favors sometimes." And if that doesn't work, there's always the task of washing dishes! Not that there are many to wash on a day like this. So that wouldn't be so bad, now would it? But she probably shouldn't say that either. Rico still has to adjust her brain to that concept. She's always thought of herself as Rico the Maximillian Knight, but now she's Rico the Fire Bringer too! Oh, bah. This isn't working. "Well...the cook seems busy right now. I guess I'll just wait for her to come out..." With a heavy sigh, Rico plunks down on the nearest chair - only to have her face steadily set into a frozen expression as she realizes she's just sat in a puddle of ice-cold water that hasn't been wiped up. This is not turning out to be one of her better days. Alanis tries not to wince. That just looks unpleasant. "Mamie should be back out in a minute," she tries, hoping to distract the other girl from that... interesting experience. It could be worse, but... really. "I don't think I've seen you before." Her head tilts slightly, curious. Admittadly, she hasn't had nearly as many adventures here at Budehuc as she did in Vinay del Zexay, so finding a face she doesn't know isn't a shock, but she likes to get to know who she can. There are so many people around that it's nice to see faces she can put a name to once in awhile. "What's your name?" Manners, Rico, manners! Nevermind what you're sitting in, you were soaked anyway! Besides, aren't you supposed to be good with that Rune of yours...? Rico mentally scowls. Too bad Water Runes are only good for /wetting/, not /drying/. Oh, er right! Back to introducing herself. "Oh! Er... Well, I'm Rico, Fred Maximillian's squire!" It feels strange to tell people who she is. Fred usually does it for her, after all. "And you are...?" "Fred?" Alanis perks up a little. She recognizes that name! "I'm Alanis." She holds her hand out to shake, though she half-expects Rico to stare at it blankly. Most people at Budehuc do, unless they're Zexen or Harmonian. Who knew it was such an obscure thing to do? "I met Fred awhile ago, and he was looking for you! A... long while ago, though. Days." Her shrug is sheepish this time. "Have you found him yet? It looks like you've been out here for a while." That's an understatement. Rico does reach out to shake hands, though not before she does her best to get it dry. Mind, she's more used to ducking down in a half-bow, but she's at least vaguely aware of what you're expected to do when a hand is held out to you. She perks up as Fred's name is mentioned, then winces as Alanis adds how long it's been since she's seen the knight. Shirking your duties, haven't we, Rico? "Er, no... I've been busy trying to find us a place to stay at." And how successful you've been! Rico squashes her sarcastic inner voice. "Did he look alright?" she asks anxiously. "Only, well..." How to put this? "...He doesn't really take good care of himself. It's my job to look after him!" Well, Fred was fine last time she saw him, of course, if one forgets that she nearly blasted him with a fireball. Maybe she shouldn't mention that part. "He seemed okay, and I'm sure he's kept himself fed, at least. But I don't know where he's staying... with the knights, maybe." Wherever it is that the knights stay, that is. Lady Chris lives on the ship, from what she remembers of exploring, and so do Borus and Percival... but the others are nowhere to be found on the grounds, and Alanis isn't allowed to leave without an adult. Stupid rule. "I can help you look, if you want! I've been meaning to ask him something, anyway, but everyone was busy with the dance, and I never got the chance." "Really?" Rico brightens at that prospect. Yay, maybe this day won't suck so badly after all! Then the rest of Alanis' words register, and she blinks. "...Dance?" Wow. So that must have been all the noise she'd heard... a long, loooong time ago. How time flies. Casting a glance at the main cafe - what was taking the cook so /long/? - Rico turns back to Alanis, canting her head to one side. "If you don't mind my asking...what are you planning to ask Master Fred?" "Oh, well..." Alanis scratches her ear and laughs a little, kind of embarassed. It's going to sound ridiculous, and she really shouldn't mention it since she and the others haven't talked it over yet, but... "Fred talked about recruiting knights, and it sounds like you all have grand adventures fighting evil. My friends and I... well, we're still too young, but it would be an exciting thing to do." Theoretically. Judging by what she's seen of Fred, it might be more harrowing than glorious. New recruits! That certainly catches Rico's attention. Catches it hook, line and sinker. The current state of the Maximillian Knights is...well, fairly depressing. Only two active members! It would be fairly exciting to have new blood in for a change, right? And the more, the merrier! ...Just as long as Rico still gets to be Fred's squire, that is. ^_^ "You can never start too early," Rico proclaims optimistically. "The world needs all the evil-fighters it can get, in times like these." Yes! Fight evil! For GREATER JUSTICE!!! ...Ahem. "I'm sure he'd be glad to let you and your friends join the Maximillian Knights, even as honorary members if you aren't old enough!" Rico knows their parents may not appreciate this. Ehe. "Er...How many are there of you?" New blood was all very well, but what if they got a slew of toddlers? That definitely cheers Alanis - talking about adventure, or even something related to adventure five times removed, is better than talking about something bland like, oh... stew. Duck stew. That's apparently blasphemous in Grassland. Ha. Ha. "Just three of us. Me, and then Melville and Elliot. I'm... not too sure about Elliot, though. He's not much of a fighter, but he's great at support, and he likes to travel." And she could learn to use a sword if she had to, but Fred had seemed to appreciate her magic, and that's her dream, after all. Zexen doesn't make much use of mages in their ranks, and her hope is resting on Fred, now that the bishop has turned out to be no help. That still stings a little. Rico grins. "Well, it doesn't matter what you, or they, /can't/ do. We'll just focus on your talents, and work together to cover - that is, guard - your weaknesses!" Not the greatest speech ever, and probably the wrong idea, but oh well! "Cooperation, that's the key. Well..." She glances up at the sky. "I've got a feeling I'll be waiting here a while longer. Think you should be getting home?" Wherever that is. "Probably." It's said with a sigh, and it should be obvious that Alanis really isn't looking forward to going back inside. It's noisy, crowded, and her parents are absolutely /terrible/ when they're cooped up with her. The only good thing about this weather is that it keeps her dad out of the trading post for once. "Well..." She stands up and takes her empty plate back to the counter to deposit it in the bin. "I'll see you soon, then? If you don't find Fred before then, I'll help you look for him. I usually end up here for one of my meals, so..." Rico nods, grinning at the younger girl. "Of course. I'll see you, then... And if I find Master Fred, I'll be sure to mention you and your friends!" Yes! Responsible Rico! ...Hmm. Alanis had mentioned people on a ship! ...The same ship she'd dumped her luggage on? Oh dear. Er. Um. ...That was not good, was it? She'd better fetch her stuff later...>.< Alanis offers a smile, a wave, and, "Thanks!" before setting off across the dining area and heading for the lake road. The sky looks terribly ominous, but maybe fate will be kind enough to keep the rain away until she can get back to the manor, or at least the inn. Her mother will /kill/ her if she gets drenched, and if she gets sick, surely mother will find a way to do it again. Best not to tread that path, if at all possible. Still, it was nice to meet Rico. Hopefully they'll meet again some time soon. Rico cheerfully waves at Alanis's retreating back, glancing up at the sky herself. Argh. Now how was she supposed to distract herself from the distinctly cold, clammy feeling in her nether regions? Sighing, she settles herself to waiting until Mamie comes out - who knows, if she's lucky, Fred might even drop by! >>> Unfinished <<<