(no subject)

[ostro_goth]

Teja is sitting in the bar today, with his new 'computator', and an even newer little printer, printing out things. Some of them are not particularly useful things; he is just fascinated by it all.

However, all in all, his mien is very dark and grimmer, darker and grimmer than it has been for a long time. What happened yesterday, still hurts deeply.

Myrrh is keeping him company, lying either on the paper, or the computer, as they were clearly made for cats to lie on, until Teja gently shifts her. In her black fur, a last lonely bit of blue glitter is sparkling, and when he touches and notices it, the smallest smile appears briefly upon Teja's grim face.-



tinytag: the huntsman

Comments

[alorn_bear]

Pwing.

"Guess you figured out how to get your report out of that thing, huh."

[ostro_goth]

"I did," Teja says, handing Belar a sheaf of papers.

"This could be useful for Security work. I can make several copies very fast, and more easily than with the machines of the trolls."

[alorn_bear]

"I'm never gonna get over that name," says Belar, examining the printouts. "We've got trolls back home. I did most of the design work. They're not smart enough to use fire, just big and vicious."

[ostro_goth]

"These trolls are the most clever and industrious beings that I have met in this place," Teja says. "They have odd language, and a thing about buckets which is sometimes awkward in a forge, but they have my respect for their cunning machines."

[alorn_bear]

Belar nods. "Haven't seen the machines up close, but I'll take your word for it," he says. "And I'll ask about the buckets later. I wanted to tag in one last time on the whole thing with Orpheus."

[ostro_goth]

Teja sighs deeply, and hides his face in his hands.

"I have almost started to wish I'd never heard of the man, or never meddled," he says. "I lost one of my dearest friends yesterday, over this."

Sigh.

"I shall tell you all you wish to know. Ask!"

[alorn_bear]

"I'm not really sure I wanna put you through having to talk about all that again," says Belar. "I just wanna make sure about what Orpheus said, without having to look into somebody's heart or something. You got the complaint from the third party not to be named and you told Orpheus you'd trail him until he did something wrong, is that much right?"

[ostro_goth]

"You may look into my heart all you like," Teja says. "By now, I think all bets are off."

Pause.

"I told him I would keep an eye on him until (if and when) he once more would abuse his powers."

Pause. Sigh.

"I may have been overly stern at the start, for I did not wish to employ false politeness, but speak straight into his face. I meant to startle him into admission, to see if he was aware of any wrong-doing."

[alorn_bear]

"Yeah, that didn't work too well," says Belar. "It doesn't work too well for a lot of people. Even the ones who want to cooperate clam up when someone's looming at them and trying to scare them into a confession. Pretty much all that came out of the deal was you pissed this guy off."

[u2642]

"Would you drink mead with me, Teja son of Tagila?" Mars says to announce himself. He is wearing his usual, jeans and a blood red t-shirt.

[ostro_goth]

Teja looks up from his electronics.

"I would," he says. "Thank you!"

[u2642]

"Shall we drink it watered since you are working?"

[ostro_goth]

"Let us thin it with small ale," Teja says, "for mead in water is odd; I would water wine, not mead. But mead ale is a pleasant drink, and none too intoxicating."

[u2642]

"I defer to your judgement as I honestly have little experience with mead," Mars says with a nod. "Would that more of my kind could trust a mortal's judgement."

This is Mars trying to be subtle I think.

[ostro_goth]

"Some do not," Teja says. "I must live with that."

He shrugs.

"Mead would be truly welcome. I lost a good friend last night."

Mars probably already knows, to judge from his words.

[u2642]

"Two bowls please then Lady? I spoke with my Aunt and she is not pleased with you, yes. Judgements are fickle things but necessary, order must be maintains despite how a judgement is received. That is the burden of kings and governments.

"She is not likely to be final in her judgements however."

[ostro_goth]

"And we of Security are the closes thing we have in this place," Teja says. "I wonder if it was possible to have all patrons vote together for those they would trust instead, the way my people did, and yours also, in their beginning."

Pause.

"I would apologise to her rather now than later, if only we could agree to disagree on the point we came to strife about."

[the_huntsman]

The Huntsman strides into the bar, face grim. Looking round, he spots Teja, and makes straight for his table. He's positively vibrating with anger.

"What did you do?" He spits, slamming his hands on the table.

[ostro_goth]

Teja has never seen him this lively.

"I made no mention of you," he says. "I accosted Orpheus over turning men's wills to his desires by the magic of his guitar, for that is what he did, from what you told me; and I could not let that pass by. All that you did later was your own doing, and best forgotten if the memory pleases you not: - but this one thing was his, and foully done."

[the_huntsman]

"You had no right," he snarls. "I told you to say nothing to him. I told you to leave it be." And from his reaction when Steve mentioned it outside, he's sure that he's guessed that the Huntsman is the one Teja was protecting. Which means it's likely that Orpheus will find out, too.

[ostro_goth]

"You have all right to be angry," Teja says, "but ultimately, it was neither for not against you. I had a godling abusing his powers on my jurisdiction, what was I to do? Let him carry on?"

He shrugs.

"Such situations shall not arise again: - Belar, one of the leaders of Security, has promised to take all problematic gods and magic users off my hands from now on."

[the_huntsman]

"He..." The Huntsman bites back a reply, his hands trembling as he fights the urge to punch Teja. He wouldn't normally hold back; but he's trapped here, and Teja's given him a job. He won't jeopardise that just yet.

Teja's words help. "So they think you were wrong?" He points out, shaking his head. "I trusted you. And now-" he gestures out the door. "I had a man I'd never met telling me Orpheus is in the infirmary. Because of you." And that is all because of him. He's to blame. "Saying that you'd spoken of someone, someone you couldn't name, who you were defending." He leans over Teja, not lowering his voice.

"I don't need you to defend me! I don't need anyone! Just..." Words have never been the Huntsman's ally - and now they've abandoned him.

[ostro_goth]

The Huntsman's smell is not pleasant, after days outside; and still, Teja does not flinch back.

"Orpheus was in the infirmary because of himself," he says. "He went to the woods and played out his anger over me, touching all that happened by. One that it touched was much stronger than him, and crushed his shoulder. I came between them, and then called Belar to deal with them: - Belar is a god, and well able to handle either."

Pause.

"I do not think he thinks I was wrong, merely that I am out of my depth with godlings of Orpheus' ilk. And I am. I am a mere mortal like you, and not meant to stand between a demi-god and a half-demon."

Another pause.

"Oh, and the last I knew of, Orpheus was transformed into a song-bird for a day."

[the_huntsman]

He shakes his head, standing back. If he doesn't, he'll do something he may truly regret.

"Do not look for me at the forge," he says at last. "You'll not find me there."

He'll find another way of paying his keep. Or continue to live as he has, the last few days.

[ostro_goth]

Interesting way of throwing in his towel on a job, but one that Teja finds respect for in his heart, even if he does not say.

"If you ever wish to return, or need tab badly, you shall still be welcome," he says, instead.