Exit post

[likeroaringlions]

Well. After some galvanizing conversations with Hotspur and with Jim Moriarty, young William Douglas is all on fire to go Do a Thing. Fight a Fight. Raise some Hell. So he's packed up, and made his goodbyes to Jamie, and now he's stopping by the Bar to be sure his tab is all paid. (...And Jamie's, to cover him for some time yet.)

Hm. He should probably leave Jim a note, since he's promised his help getting stuff up the mountain and now he's leaving. On the other hand, Jim can take care of himself. So--eh, whatever. Anyway, with any luck, he'll be back in Milliways soon. There's got to be another way into this place somewhere, right?

William shoulders his bag and makes for his door.




Exit post, but feel free to catch him before he goes.

Comments

[harryhotspur]

Hotspur happens to be coming in just as William is starting to head out-- though of course, the two doors don't lead to quite the same place.

"Why, bound for Scotland?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Aye, that's right." And hopefully for England at some point after that--but he's just not going to mention that to Harry Percy, eh? "I've been sitting around Stirling long enough, about time I got back to Douglas lands to take care of Douglas business."

[harryhotspur]

Harry nods. In his day, of course, Douglas business mostly consisted of fighting Percys (and vice versa), but who's he to complain? It's good fun for everybody!

"Then I shall wish thee well of't."

[likeroaringlions]

Yes, well, William figures it wouldn't be too hard for Hotspur to guess. And suddenly, thinking about it, the Douglas business of fighting Percys (and vice versa) seems like a much cleaner, brighter thing than almost anything William's been up to at Stirling. He's just about bouncing on his toes with the excitement of it.

"Thanks. You--" A sudden unplanned outburst. "--You wouldny want to come see Scotland, would you?"

[harryhotspur]

"Scotland?" he echoes in surprise. "With thee?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Well--yes..." Awkward now. Was it a silly thing to offer? "I just thought...I know you canny be away from here long, but...it's a bonny ride, from Stirling to Threave. And I'd rather go with someone I trust than with a man of my father's."

[harryhotspur]

Harry is about to scoffingly protest that he has no need of bonny rides, but that last thought brings him up short.

"-- and hast thou such trust in me?"

He likes William-- wants to like him better than he does, if only he'd treat Harry the way a Douglas should a Percy, not this strange mix of bravado and deference that makes Harry feel strangely old, though he thinks they can't be more than four or five years apart in age.

[likeroaringlions]

It's much the same on William's side. He wants to get off on the right foot with Hotspur: wants to not act like an uncouth young unblooded idiot, wants to find the kind of friendship that his uncle must have had with the man. (But there it is: Percy's not much older than him, but he's of a different generation.)

"...Aye. I do. Well, you're a backstabbing Englishman, of course, but...if we met with thieves or reivers I'd be glad of your company..."

Ugh, now he's just being uncouth. And young. And unblooded. And an idiot.

[harryhotspur]

Harry laughs. "I doubt not the roads of Scotland swarm with thieves as bees to honey. Yet--" Yet what? Why not? "--I must leave word for one that might note my absence."

[likeroaringlions]

"Oh, aye--of course!"

ugh is he being too uncool

[harryhotspur]

"But I would not over-delay thy departure..." says Harry Percy, most impatient man in England.

[likeroaringlions]

William shrugs. "I guess it's all the same on the other side of the door, isn't it?"

[harryhotspur]

"True! 'Tis true indeed. But one moment--"

He hurries to the bar and scrawls out a note to Feuilly-- gone to Scotland, shall return betimes-- and is soon back at William's side.

"--I haven't a sword," he says abruptly, the idea just occurring. "Somewhat dented it was, and I have had not the opportunity to repair it."

[likeroaringlions]

"I'll see you mounted and armed, no fear!" The shape of the adventure--of course it's an adventure!--is already forming in his head. They'll sneak through Stirling, order horses and provisions, and steal off before his father is even out of his council meeting...

[harryhotspur]

"And I shall be most grateful for't." And if it's a really nice horse, he'll only be a liiiittle tempted to try and bring it back. "Goes not thy King home with thee?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Oh, I think he'll bide here awhile. Jamie doesny leave Stirling Castle much and he's not in any great rush to get back there from here. So I've said goodbye to him already."

[harryhotspur]

"Very well! Then shall we forth?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Aye, let's be off!"

Suddenly in a better mood than he was just ten minutes before, William leads the way.

[harryhotspur]

And Harry, who doesn't take long to decide that any course of action he has decided on is The Best Idea Ever, cheerfully follows.