week 2; saturday post-trial; jade vine farm

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[When Baldr comes calling, Healy is camped out on the front porch of Jade Vine cottage. He's got a half-empty six pack of beer with him and he's slowly nursing a bottle. He's a little surprised to have a visitor, but he tips the bottle at Baldr in greeting as the other man approaches.

Jade Vine Farm is still a mess, of course. Squinting into the dark, Healy can just make out the shadow of the scarecrow still lying in the trampled strawberry bushes.]

It's late.

[In other words: Hi!]

Comments

[driftingknight]

Yes, so it is.

[He's not at all surprised to see that six pack and even less inclined to judge after the events of the day. But that's also why he's carrying a thermos with him-- more of his tea, since he's had the feeling that there are a number of people who could use something soothing tonight.

He'll hold it up, the faintest trace of a sad, wry smile playing about the corners of his lips.]

What was it I said the other day? That I thought it might be prudent to have something non-alcoholic on hand, I believe it was... and I believe that still holds true.

[He'll take a seat on the porch as well, settling the thermos into his lap. It'd be rude not to let Healy finish that beer, after all. He can't say anything to the contrary when he's already had a couple himself.]

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[He lets out a tired chuckle. He's already accepted he's going to feel like shit tomorrow, but still, it never hurts to hydrate. Responsible irresponsibility, by god.

He nudges the six pack toward Baldr, in case he's interested in a bottle for himself.]

Trade ya.

[Baldr is a mellow presence and Healy appreciates that.]

What are you doing out here? Your farm's down the way a bit.

[driftingknight]

You have yourself a deal.

[The smile this time is a little more genuine, and Baldr doesn't need any further encouragement to hold the thermos out with one hand as he reaches for one of the beers with the other. He probably won't be feeling great tomorrow either, but honestly, will any of them? They'll be in good company, if nothing else.]

I've been... making sure that people are all right, I suppose you could say. It isn't much, but after today, I thought it was the least I could do.

[... after he was right there when Shinobu and Dongrang had been fighting and hadn't been able to do a single thing, but he isn't going to voice that part aloud.]

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[He takes the thermos. He should probably be more wary of accepting unknown beverages in thermoses after all the chaos of the past 24 hours, but, eh. Que sera sera. He's not quite done with his beer yet, but he can drink two things at once.]

That's awfully kind of you. Trying to keep the peace?

[It's a bad joke—one he might not make if he remembered Baldr was in the Wizard's Tower last night.]

It may not be much, but a little goes a long way at a time like this. Thanks. You don't need to worry about me, if that's why you're here.

[driftingknight]

[... yeah, Baldr is realizing the error of his ways on the thermos front about now, but. Bringing an actual pot of tea would have been tempting fate on his end, and he thinks they've all had enough of that for quite a while.]

Perhaps so. My lord always did say that I excelled at that...

[Opening the beer, he takes a sip of it before he continues.]

You may say that, but I worry about everyone here. Both because of what might happen, but also as a result of the things that have happened. Many of the people here... they seem as though they came from peaceful worlds. Not from worlds where this sort of thing would be expected...

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I would hope most of us are unfamiliar with this kind of thing.

[Although he's talked to a few others about the worlds they've come from, he never thought to ask how it might impact their experience here. Maybe that's why Erika is so... Erika.

He opens the thermos and, after a sniff, takes a drink of the tea. As per usual, it's good. He gives a small unconscious nod of approval.]

You're doing good work, then. We need someone like you around here. Someone who's actually got our best interests in mind.

[A not-so-veiled jab at their hosts. He hasn't spoken to either of them directly, but he's not super impressed with how they're running this show.]

[driftingknight]

You flatter me.

[He's touched, though, genuinely.]

I am a retainer... looking after others is my duty, whether they are my lord or not. That holds true in this world as well as in my own.

[And even if he weren't a retainer, he would do it anyway. That's just the sort of person that he is. His kindness is both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness all at once.]