[ visual :: do it or do not do it - you will regret both ]

[oneofthequick]

The communications system flickers on and displays a man wearing a drab, dusty taglemust but with a recognizable sword buckled at his hip. After a moment of surprise, he skims over a few notes on his tablet before unveiling his face to speak: "My alternate has left notes for me to read, but I would prefer a more reliable source of information."

Comments

[ visual ]

[faderbroderson]

"Doul, you're back." Godric looks happy about it, but not overly happy. He had been fond of En-Doul. He's just equally fond of the usual Doul.

[ visual ]

[oneofthequick]

"I am," he says softly with something might once have been an emotion backing his voice. Even without enhanced vampiric senses, it's fair to guess that he's glad to see a welcoming and friendly face.

[ visual ]

[faderbroderson]

"What did you want to know? Much has happened." If he finds it odd that Doul doesn't consider his glitched self to be a reliable source of information, he doesn't comment on it.

[ visual ]

[oneofthequick]

"As much as you can tell me." Which is to say, that he wants to know just what sort of things his alternate has been saying about him. "Although, I've no fondness for talking through this thing. Would you care to meet?"

[ visual ]

[faderbroderson]

Godric hesitates, which is unlike him, but he nods, agreeing.

"Where?" Name the place, Doul.

[ visual ]

[oneofthequick]

"In Osten there's an outdoor cafe, near the fountain -- do you know the one? I need to rinse the dust off, but I can be there in an hour, if you agree." The man is filthy. (Rimshot?)

[ visual ] --> [ location: Osten Cafe ]

[faderbroderson]

"I know it. I'll see you in an hour." He signs off with a nod.

Godric arrives in promptly an hour, sitting down at the cafe. He orders a bowl of fruit and a water, which should be the first indication that something is very different from normal.

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[oneofthequick]

Doul arrives shortly after Godric and orders the same for himself before joining him at a table. "Normally, I'd say it's good to see you well, but I'm not sure if you are well."

Or, to translate, 'how's breathing treating you?'

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[faderbroderson]

He shrugs in a way that indicates he's 'so-so.'

"I'm relatively well. Better than I was, recently." Physically, he's well, and well-adapted to being human, though he's had little enough time to do it. But he's weary in his soul, and in some small ways, it shows more prominently on his human features than it had on his vampire ones. He hasn't done much but sleep off the exhaustion of torture for the past few days, but he still looks tired.

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[oneofthequick]

"Have you had someone living to aid you?" He's not entirely sure what has happened in his absence, but Doul suspects that surrounded by the old and Dead, no one has properly made sure that Godric has had what he needs. "I trust the Brucolac and know you do the same for Eric, but they have been as they are for so very long."

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[faderbroderson]

"A friend of mine, Sookie, has been of invaluable help. It's true that none of the rest of us had much clue." Which makes him smile, amused at their general incompetence. It had been as if they'd all read a manual but had no idea how to put it to practical use, despite having done so before, long ago. Only Sookie -- utterly exasperated Sookie -- had known what the hell to do about any of it.

"Have you read the notes at all?" He wants to know how much Doul might know of what has transpired, before laying it all out there.

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[oneofthequick]

"From what I have seen, she is a kind and bright young lady." Doul (occasionally) has manners, but he also is being sincere in his praise.

"I have. He was very thorough, but biased."

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[faderbroderson]

"She is." His voice is warm when he speaks of Sookie, and he's glad that Doul seems to share his high opinion.

"Biased in what manner?" He takes a bite of his fruit salad, enjoying the grapes especially.

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[oneofthequick]

"From what I understand, we lived very different lives. Perhaps, you could tell me what you learned of him first? I don't want my own opinions to cloud your recollection." And he has some very definite opinions on the matter.

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[faderbroderson]

"He was...open, and yet not. He was frank in his curiosity, and curious about most things. He disliked the noise in the city, and seemed at times to be overcome with some emotion, for reasons I couldn't name. At other times, he showed little emotion at all."

He had been less hardened, less sure than Doul, though Godric doesn't want to put it in so many words.

[ location: Osten Cafe ]

[oneofthequick]

"He is very young and never had the benefit of leaving High Cromlech." Of course, your opinion of 'benefit' may vary. "Did he tell you much about the ways of his people? He left me a rather detailed diatribe on what I ought to be doing, and so I wonder how much he felt the need to pontificate."