[Flashback - The Rearing Stallion] Squire's Duty (Julian)

[Dimitri]

Spring 41, 510 AV

Dimitri was grumbling slightly as he walked down the road to The Rearing Stallion. His master had tricked him into agreeing to a menial favor. He recalled how the master approached him in the dormitary as he was finishing his daily exercises. He promised Dimitri a heroic adventure to help a maiden in need. He didn't realize that the maiden was Remi Aargon, and his heroic adventure was bussing tables at The Rearing Stallion since her son was sick. He didn't know why his master owed her a favor but knew he was the one returning it.

As he neared the tavern, he tried to get one last good breath of air, one last feel of sunlight before he begrudgingly began this arduous task. He sighed and stepped into the tavern and approached the bartender, Remi's husband, proprietor of the tavern, and former knight. The man recognized him and pointed his thumb back to the kitchen. As he entered, a large tray and a bucket of water and a rag was handed to him. "Clear the tables, wipe them down, and be quick about it," a woman he assumed to be Rima said. He quickly made his way out to the tavern area proper and quickly cleared some tables, wiped them, then stood looking bored. None of the women were good looking, or young, so he resigned himself to observing the various patrons, hoping there would be some sort of entertainment to aid in the dullness.

[Julian]

Yes, Julian had come to the Rearing Stallion that night. Usually, it was to play his instrument, get a few claps and maybe some smiles. Occasionally dancing, when he was feeling particularly lively. Tonight, however, he didn't have his cello with him. He actually felt a bit lonely without it, but he'd gone to meet a pair of friends to share a few drinks. Men were allowed to go out without their wives occasionally, weren't they? Even if their wives were with child, emotional and needy. Hell, especially then. Liara was a lovely woman, but at night she had this tendency to completely fall apart on Julian. She was so worried, seeing as her last child had miscarried. It had been a difficult time, yes, but now everything seemed fine. However, Julian had spent so much time worrying about the pregnancy and caring for his wife, that he hadn't had time to prepare for a very significant fact: he was going to be a father. This. Was. Terrifying. But! Nothing a bit of liquid courage couldn't cure. At least for moment. However, his friends also had wives. One of them also had a son. After sharing a round of laughs and a few pints, they had already gone home. Julian was left sitting at the bar, cradling a mug as he stared into space, stewing in his fear and excitement. Just another few fortnights and there would be a third edition to the equation. His life would change. He was ready for it. he knew he was. Or… could he really fill the role? Would he have the patience for it? Or… no, no. He'd be fine. Maybe. Probably not. The consensus changed in his head with every sip of ale. As the crowd thinned in the tavern and Julian's mug grew more empty for the sixth time, an odd sight became gradually more apparent. He'd noticed it in the corner of his eye before, but never paid it much mind. But as activity died down, it gained his full attention, and suddenly he was completely fixed on it. That man waiting tables… he did NOT work at this tavern. "Pardon," Julian called out, lifting a hand to gesture toward the blond young man who'd been cleaning tables. He began to speak again, but a bubble caught in his throat and he stifled a modest, intoxicated burp. Covering his mouth momentarily and reorganizing himself, he finished his question. "You uh… Are you new here?"

[Dimitri]

Dimitri heard a man call him over. He had seen the man arrive and attempt to escape his troubles in the bottom of more than a few glasses. Him and his friends were good customers it appeared. They didn't get violent, rowdy, or even loud. Dimitri wandered over nonchalantly, but his senses were assaulted by the breath of the man. It smelled like the alcohol from all six glasses was still in his mouth. "No sir, I'm doing a one time favor for the tavern, Remi's son is ill."

He looked around at the slowly emptying tavern. There was still the dating couple sucking face like the cure to poison is in the other's throat, in a booth. There's the older knights playing darts, putting holes in the wall around the board. A few scattered drunkards, a couple passed out in their glasses, and the one guy talking to the wall. Oh well, soon my job will be over. He turned back to the man that had summoned him over.

[Julian]

"Remi's son, you said?" Julian looked down, biting the side of his glass thoughtfully. That was right tragic, wasn't it? Some part of Julian felt like he should have been able to sympathize - as a future fellow parent, but he couldn't. He was going to need a lot more practice at this. "Nothing serious, I should hope?" Julian put his empty mug down and waved over a bar tender. It was growing late and he was getting quite drunk, in all honesty he should have been starting to head home by now. The idea of Liara confronting him at the door and demanding to know where'd been however was an entirely counterproductive notion. So how to solve this conundrum? Ah, but the solution was so very simple - keep drinking until he wouldn't care what Liara would have to say about his personal excursions. The thought amused him only momentarily. He had his own personal parentage to think of. How many times had Evelyn said that to justify anything she'd done? Ugh, how dreary. That was ancient history anyway. "I swear, you look familiar, sir." The clink of a newly heavy mug hit the bar nearby, and Julian placed another few coins next to it. He smiled and nodded his thanks, then returned to his for-the-moment curiosity. "At least, I don't see someone like you wiping down tables for a living. Nor do you seem pleased to be doing it. Did a woman twist your arm into doing this? Remi herself, perhaps?"

[Dimitri]

Dimitri quickly checked to see that he wasn't leaving work unfinished. He turned to the man, "I am a squire of the Syliran Knights, and my patron knight, Ser Adamal Brinkaas, has me returning a favor he owed to Lady Remi. This is simply more training to make me into a better knight. What about you Ser? Do you have a reason you are escaping into these mugs?"

He hoped he hadn't overstepped his bounds by asking such a thing. He pulled up a chair, wondering if the drunk man would lay out his life before him. He would listen, be patient, and try to help, for that is what Knights do. He laid his hands on the table and awaited with open ears and helping heart.

[Julian]

A better knight? By washing down tables and serving drinks? That ridiculous notion brought a quick laugh out of Julian, however rude it might have been. He knew better than to inquire, at least. By the look of the young man's face, he was just as perplexed and bitter about it as Julian was amused. It was obvious this wasn't some vital part of a squire's knight training. This was just some Syliran Knight using hapless squire as an indentured servant for his own personal gain. Typical. And this young man knew it, too. Ah, to think of the starry eyed glaze in a young boy's eyes as he'd stare up at Syliran Knight in admiration. What honor, he must say to himself, what valor and heroism they represent. What adventures they must have. What challenges they must have faced. And it's all really just a bloated lie. Knights of honor? Rubbish. From everything Julian had seen, they were little more than a glorified fraternity of pretentious swordhands. "Escaping?" Julian stared at the foamy rim of his ale as he looked into his mug. After a moment's hesitation, he gave a smile of surrender. "Is it so obvious?" He threw his head back as he took a long swig, then set the mug on the bar. "I admit it, it's true. My friends have all gone home and here I still am. You see, in a few weeks, I'll be a father. And sir, I will tell you now, I haven't the slightest idea of how I'm supposed to do that."

[Dimitri]

The man's laugh didn't go unnoticed by Dimitri. He could sense the disbelief, and realized he may have led him to believe such. He did not wish to spread disbelief and discontent among the citizens. "It really is training, I must build relationships with the many peoples of our city, and I must be willing to help each and every single one." He swore to never falter again, to never question his training or his patron again. He would work on his dedication to his duty. Besides it may help to learn how to bus tables sometime.

"Congratulations Ser. A father is a great thing." Dimitri was reminded of his own father. Strict, fair, honorable. A knight in his own time, a teacher of squires now after his injury. But a good father. Dimitri thought about what it takes to be a father. His dad may have been a Knight through and true, but he always made sure to see him at least once a day when he was younger. "Ser, if you don't mind my saying so, but I believe the best thing a father can do is to simply be there for your child."

[Julian]

Julian held up his hands helplessly, smiling broader. He could see the young squire had taken offense, so he let him defend his dignity, as well as the honor of the Syliran Knights. That was his duty, after all. And if he had shining aspirations toward knighthood, let him keep them. His explanation of his duty felt a little... lacking, honestly. But if it made sense to the squire, then let it be. Julian wasn't about to get into any discussions about the Knights. "Thank you," Julian returned politely, still drowning in his own uncertainty - too much so for the reply to sound genuine. He also remembered his father, what little he saw of him. If Julian turned out anything like that... "You make it sound so easy. I'm an orphan though, and I have absolutely no basis for comparison. And I just keep wondering, you know, what if he hates me? Or what if I can't stand him? Or..." He laughed. "What if it's a girl? I wouldn't even have the slightest idea where to start with a girl." Picking up his mug, Julian took another giant swig of ale.

[Dimitri]

"Sounds difficult Ser. You may not know what to do, but most fathers don't, and yet we have cities full of people who turn out okay." Dimitri may not have a whole lot of experience with the psychology of drunks nor the complexities of fatherhood. But he had to try and help. "Would you like help getting home to that wife you mentioned? I would be glad to ensure you aren't harassed, be it mugger or concerned Knight?" He figured the man may need to get home before he got even more drunk, or lost in his self thought.

He also knew the dangers of late night corridors and alleys. Pickpockets, thugs, And even other Knights might take advantage of the late hour to let loose some built up steam. And in good conscience, he couldn't let that happen.

[Julian]

Turn out okay? The idea almost made him laugh. He stared at the squire in complete disbelief. Did he really believe that? People were "okay?" What city was he living in. Oh Julian, when did you become so bitter? It was clear now, at least hypothetically, that his child was doomed. If he thought the turnout of children growing up in Syliras was positive by any standard, he dreaded to think how his own son might turn out. Briefly he considered moving Liara to find another place to live, but for all its faults, there was no safer haven than Syliras, at least as far as he knew. Besides, being so heavy with child, it would be impossible to move now, or for at least a year or two until after he was born. It was an interesting prospect to consider. He'd spent his entire life in Syliras, a change would do him well. Poor timing for that idea, though. Having children was about dedication and stability - it wasn't the time to start taking risks and living for one's own self. "Actually," Julian said, pausing to finish off the ale in his mug, then set it down on the bar, "that would be grand. I'm probably more - hic! - likely to be interrogated by some bored guard than mugged. Equally unpleasant circumstances, I assure you!" Gods, even Julian could hear how drunk he was. Best take the man up on his offer before he ended up arrested for one reason or another. "You're a good man to be offering a service like that. I'll uh... if I can remember my way home, I'll point it out to you. I didn't catch your name, squire. What did you say it was?"