[Featured characters: Percival, Thomas] Budehuc Castle: Tavern This little adjunct is one of the busiest places in the manor. The long, thin room is filled with tables lined up end to end, stretching from full from one side to the other. Red carpets line the floors where furniture does not, and more than a half dozen small, curtained windows and small, hung lights provide ample lighting for the room. The bar itself spans nearly half the room, snug against the wall, with a kitchen tucked neatly in the back. A stage takes up the full back of the room, decked with dark salmon and rose-colored curtains. ===== The morning after a night of patrolling is a long morning, and despite the good judgement of the other men in his unit, it finds Percival in the tavern enjoying a glass of the wine Borus left to him days ago. He has never managed to fall asleep during broad daylight, so even though his limbs are heavy with exhaustion, he has no intention of going to bed. His armor has been abandoned, and he sits at the corner table, swirling that glass of wine as he leans back against the wall, still bound up in the orange surcoat of a Zexen knight. He's watching, searching for something to occupy his mind so he can stay awake. Please, someone entertain him! Almost as if it was scripted (and in many ways, it just may have been!), in walks Thomas with a piece of paper and a small feather pen. Unfortunately, his mind is quite distracted by said piece of paper and he ends up tripping over a chair and falling flat on his face. After an awkward pause, Thomas dazily starts to get back to his feet, shaking his head. "Oops! Ha...ha. I guess it's good nobody was sitting there," he says, scratching his head nervously. When he finally comes to a stand, he gathers his paper+pen and peers about the room. Odd, the tavern's usually a bit more active around this time, but now the only person in here is Percival. Uh...hopefully he didn't see that. "Oh, hello Percival!" he greets the knight. "Did you wake up early too?" Did he see it? Well if he did, Percival isn't one to laugh at poor, tired castle masters. In fact, Thomas has somehow managed to earn a great deal of respect, and it is with a smile that the knight greets him, and a wave indicating the younger man should join him at his table. There is another glass waiting there for Borus, but since his friend has decided to sleep in, it can serve someone else just as well. "Good morning, Lord Thomas! How goes your morning?" Aside from the tripping, that is. "I'm afraid I've been up all night, myself. Sleeping isn't high on the list of knightly duty." "Oh, as well as it could," Thomas replies, walking over to the table. "Sebastian isn't feeling too well this morning, so I offered to write down the inventory for him. I'm not exactly sure what inventory i'm supposed to write down, so i've been recording everything I see." Which reminds him, he ought to record these tables. Oh! And the curtain, too! Mustn't forget the chairs. So much to keep in mind! He pulls a chair across from Percival and sits down, giving him a nod. "Patrolling all night again? Shouldn't you be resting, then? You deserve it, after all." Percival picks up the bottle and tips it to pour a bit of wine into the empty glass - not too much, but enough to give the young man a good taste of it, if he's up to it. Louis hadn't minded, and that is still one of the most entertaining memories he can conjure of recent times. "Sleep would be welcome, but likely not worth the effort. It's too bright, and the curtains in our quarters too thin." He nudges the glass toward Thomas with a mischievous glint in his eyes, though by his expression, he's simply trying to be courteous. What kind of man would neglect to offer a glass to his host? Not Percival! "Inventory, eh? Sounds quite dull. A break is probably in order." Thomas nods. "Well, if you'd like- I could suggest thicker curtains to Sebastian and he could order some. We owe the knights a lot, so I could certainly have that done for you." It's at that point that he stares at the glass a moment. He peers at the bottle and blinks. Wine? "Oh, thank you! I wouldn't mind a break. I haven't tried wine before, but...," he puts the paper and feather pen flat on the table and takes the glass, staring at it a bit. He's never really had a drink before- but everything is worth a try. He gives a shrug and moves to take a sip- and the first thing he notes is the taste. It's very...strong. Enough to make his face contort a bit as he drinks. He puts it down and coughs, judging in a slightly hoarse tone, "Wow, it's...good but...takes some getting used to." Got to be polite! Only a little bit of Percival's amusement shows, in the form a tightly controlled smile and a definite hint of it in his voice. "Ah, you haven't? Then I suppose this would be a bit strong to start out with, you're right. But once you get used to it, it's quite good - Borus would say his family only deals in the best, and I can't say he's wrong this time." Maybe wine really is an acquired taste, and he has simply been drinking it too long to really notice. Ever since his first campaign, as a matter of fact... in a time of war not much different from what they face now. "I would hate to impose - I can live without a little sleep, if I must. Any aid I earn would be better turned to Iksay." Thomas takes a moment's breath. Ah, better. "Um...well, alright. I'd really like to try getting more trade done between us and the neighboring towns anyway. It'd really make everyone's lives easier!" he looks at the wine glass once more. Hmm...well, he's not going to get used to it if he just lets it sit there- and that would be so rude! So he picks it up and takes another sip- this time a smaller one. It's kind of funny, he feels quite a bit more relaxed now. Maybe he did need the break! What was he doing again? Oh, right! The inventory. Gotta record the number of glasses. "They send regular wagons to help with the war effort, but the crops were small this year because of the attack." Some of Percival's amusement fades, and his smile grows fainter. He takes another sip, leaning back in his chair again. Talk of his home always sobers his mood these days, and the more he thinks about it, the more he'd like to break from his routine at Budehuc and give them a hand. Even one day would make him feel better - one day at the mills, if they've been rebuilt yet, or a few precious daylight hours spent on repairs to the house he grew up in. "They won't be much help this year, beyond sending grain, but if the hostilities stop by next planting season, they may be a great help. We always had a surplus when I still lived there." Thomas nods solemnly. "Well, if they need support for anything, i'll do what I can. Thanks to the festival, we've got a bit more money than we need. So I think we could help the people in Iksay out!" he smiles at that. It'd just be a matter of how much and when; thought Sebastian probably isn't going to be too thrilled. Thomas is sure Budehuc'll do just fine with the support of Zexen, so there can be more spending if needed. He takes another sip of the wine, this time a bit more liberally than before. What were they talking about again? Oh, right! The inventory! "I won...der if we've got any extra food stores this week?" "Thank you, Master Thomas. Your kindness will truly be appreciated." Percival takes another sip and watches the boy over the edge of his glass. He can't hold his liquor at all, can he? Well, that's to be expected of someone so young, perhaps. He hadn't intended to leave the castle master tipsy, but if they've come this far, might as well go all the way! He leans forward and refills Thomas's glass, leaving it at the same level it was before. He's never been one to back out of a good prank, though he will, of course, apologize later. This was unintentional. Really. "Anything extra will be gobbled up by us soldiers, for sure. We eat when we can, as we never know when our next chance will be." Thomas looks to Percival and smiles. "Oh, thanks!" he says, taking the glass and having himself another sip. Odd, this doesen't taste that bad at all anymore. What was he doing? Inventory? Didn't Sebastian do that already? "W..ell, yeah...you have a point there. I'll jus..t have to go give Barts a visit later...and...well, something." He takes another sip before putting the glass down. "Now...lets see...," he looks at the paper a moment, peering at what he's got written down. Chairs - 2, Graffiti - 1, Dresser - 1. What does that mean? Was is a song? Why would he write a song? Maybe that's what he was doing! "That doesen't work very well...for a song...at all, does it?" Thomas finally says, pointing at the paper. A song? Maybe it's a good thing there isn't much left in the bottle - if the boy can't take two glasses, he certainly shouldn't have any more. "Wasn't it... inventory?" he asks with a crooked smile, leaning forward to peer at the paper, and then looking up at Thomas. Whatever happens, Sebastian may get a very interesting list back, come nightfall. "But I agree, it's a little awkward for a song." If the castle master leaves the tavern singing about the inventory, Chris will surely have his hide. And Sebastian will probably be next in line! Oh dear. Percy pours the last of the wine into his own glass and brings it to his lips again. Well, at least there won't be any more to give him. Thomas blinks. "Oh, inventory? I thought...Sebastian already did that!" he takes another sip of the wine and reaches for the feather pen. "I dunno where I was going with it...but ah...guess I can't leave it finishes...what would Cecile and everyones think of a castle master who doesen't get anything...done that he started!" so he gets to work writing...something. Sting down, loking at, clotes in. He writes a bit more random nonsense before he blinks. "You know...I jusht got to thinking...this might actually...be a poem. No wonder!" Percival drains the rest of his wine and rests his head in his hands for a moment, hard-pressed to keep from breaking down and snickering. Why did he do this again? This is going to land him in the stables for /weeks/... but it's just so /funny/. He manages - barely - to lift his head again and refrain from laughing. Maybe Thomas and Louis should get together some time and compare notes. And maybe he should stop trying to get the boys drunk. "You know, Master Thomas, your office looked like a wonderful place to write poetry." And it's out from under the watchful eyes of the Silver Maiden as well. "Care to retire there for a bit to work on this?" Thomas blinks at Percival a bit. "Oh, riiiiight! What...was I thinking, writing poetry in the tavern?" he lets out a robust laugh at that, which is actually kind of scary coming from Thomas. "Shoo....i'll go back to my office. Thanksh for the help on my song...um...what's your name again?" he stands up and scratches his head. "I'll remember...in a minute!" he grabs the paper and feather pen and starts to rush off to his office- but trips and falls over the same chair again. Quickly recovering, he continues his rush off. This is going to be a long day- and not just for Thomas.