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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1507354" data-attributes="member: 15043">Meeting the Parentals... and an Old Friend Returns“Well, that was pleasant to take care of,” Tess remarked with a grin, returning to the room where Shaun and Elenya still waited.  “I... to use the terms I’m sure you would use... I punked your father, Shaun.”“How bad?” Shaun asked expectantly.“Fine of fifteen thousand gold to Elenya’s father,” Tess beamed.“Yes!!” Shaun did a fist pump, his shout enough that it roused the sleeping Alexander.  The Emperor had a new arm thanks to Grumki’s heal spell, though the cleric and the other servants had advised him to lay down for the rest of the day.“Justice was served on that wretched merchant?” Alex asked, and Shaun nodded eagerly.  The Emperor gave a small laugh, and remarked, “Perhaps, dear Tesseron, you have a new calling... a jurist on the Imperial Bench?”“Um... no,” Tess said hurriedly, clutching her harp.  “I’ll stick to playing music.”  She then turned back to Shaun, who was clearly in a better mood by the raised eyebrow he gave her.  Tess resisted the urge to smack him for the unseemly thoughts she knew he was thinking about her and the Emperor.“Now...onto more important things,” she said, hoping her next question would distract the prankster, “Your parents wanted to meet you.  Elenya, do you want to meet your dad?  And Shaun... do you really want to meet your mom and dad?”“No,” Shaun answered quickly, “they can rot in the Nine Hells, as far as I’m concerned.” “Are you sure?” Tess asked again. “He’s been ordered to leave the palace and the city this afternoon.” You haven’t seen your parents in what... seven years?  It might be good to let them know your alive, let them see you in person, no matter how fleetingly...“Very much so.  I’d be delighted to meet Elenya’s dad, however.  Considering he brought such a sweet creature into the world, I’m guessing he can’t be that bad,” the raised eyebrow now transferred to Shaun’s wife, who playfully elbowed him.“Suckup!” she laughed.“Okay.  Just in case, Shaun.... your dad is staying upstairs, three rooms down from the marble staircase.  Think about it, ok?” she said, turning to go fetch Quinnias.   Don’t harbor your anger too much... its how the staff got at me...I really should go meet them... but I don’t want to, Shaun’s own mind wrestled with the subject.  Maybe if I talked to them... maybe if I talked to my father, now that he’s been humbled... maybe he’ll change... ...nah!“Tess, do me a favor!” Shaun called as she was about to leave the room.  “Tell one of the servants to take up two mugs of fine ale up to my father’s room... and dump them on his head!”Tess sighed, but did as he requested.Some fifteen minutes later Tess returned, with Siabrey and a rather awestruck Quinnias in tow.  Beaming, Siabrey began her introductions, starting with the most important person in the room.“Quinnias... first off, I’d like you to meet our friend... Alexander.  Your Majesty... Quinnias the Shopkeep.  Quinnias, His Majesty Alexander V,” Siabrey giggled at seeing the old man’s eyes almost leap from his skull.  He started to go to a knee, and she held him up, as Alexander waved off the prostration with a laugh.  She then proceeded to introduce him to everyone else in the room, before finally reaching Elenya and Shaun.“Quinnias... here is your daughter... safe and sound,” Siabrey said with a gentle smile.  The old man stood, seemingly awestruck.  Earlier, while Tess and Siabrey had been judging trials, Shaun and Elenya had gotten formal wear from the palace closets, at Alexander’s insistence.  The poor shopkeep evidently could not believe his eyes that the beauty in front of him, with a very slight bulge in her belly, was his daughter.  Tearing up, he walked forward, and put her into a bearhug.“My precious little girl,” he whispered into her dress as he cried, and she rocked him gently.  “I thought you were gone forever.  Praise Pelor you are safe!  You...” he pulled back, tears streaming down his face as he beamed at her, “You know... you’re going to have to tell me everything that happened to you.”“Well, most importantly, daddy,” she said shyly, “Shaun happened to me.”  The old man’s gaze then shifted towards the dark haired man standing beside her, and his smile shrank only slightly.“Young man... come this way... I’d like to have a word,” he said pleasantly, and Shaun walked over, a small smile on his face.  Quinnias is going to snarl and bite at me like a good father should, Shaun guessed.When they were about ten feet from Elenya, the old man turned, and pulled Shaun close.  The rogue was easily three or four inches taller, but the old man showed no fear, as his voice, in a quiet whisper, spoke out.“Listen here, and listen well.  You have looked after my daughter well... and for that I commend you.  BUT... I understandably don’t trust your blood.  Your father is a jackass, thus I am guessing from experience you are a jackass as well. I will try to get to know your better... my daughter, it seems, was crazy enough for you to marry you, which speaks volumes to your credit.  But know this.  If you hurt my daughter... in ANY way, shape or form, I will kill you by the most painful magical means I know,” he snarled.  Shaun let the grin on his face fall away... he guessed it wouldn’t do well for the victim of the threat to giggle at the person issuing it.“I understand, Mr. Barachis,” Shaun said nodding.  “I’d  never do anything to hurt Elenya... and I must agree with you.  My father is a jackass.”  Quinnias’ dark face lightened a bit at the comment, but instead of a laugh or a grin, he merely patted Shaun on the shoulder.Shaun smiled anyway... it was a far bigger vote of confidence than he’d been expecting.  He seems reasonable... My love for Elenya will win him over in time...Alexander insisted that the party take time away from him, as there was, “no use in looking after a crusty, injured codger like me all day.”  At his orders, a small lunch was prepared for them...mostly so Shaun, Elenya, and Quinnias could talk.  The party made sure to extol to the elder Barachis Shaun’s bravery... and all repeatedly told the tales of Shaun’s actions when Elenya was kidnapped.  The elder Barachis seemed more and more impressed... eventually by the end of the lunch, he was smiling and laughing with Shaun.  Each time that Shaun looked at Elenya’s father, however, he saw a shadow of his own father... what his father should’ve, could’ve been... loving, caring, protective, honest.  And every time his mind wandered to that place, he questioned if he could change his father, for the better.As Elenya continued to talk with her father after the lunch was finished, Shaun suddenly rose, and excused himself.  I need a walk... I need to think.Dad always loved Shawn more than me, his mind traced, as he wandered around the palace.  He loved Shawn more than me... because Shawn didn’t speak out against the wrongs he was doing!  Shawn ignored them!  I couldn’t ignore the people he had roughed up... the thugs he used...Shaun’s insistent step rounded a corner, as his mind continued its internal debate.  But Tess was right... she did hurt him where it counted.  Maybe now that he’s lost a great deal of his precious money, he’ll be more willing to change...  and I do feel bad now about the request to douse him with ale......I could change him! Shaun’s mind thought, just as he realized where he was... right beside the door Tess had indicated was where his parents were staying.  For a few more seconds, indecision ran rampant in his mind, before he gingerly went up to the door, and knocked.From inside, he could hear screaming and yelling... his mother’s screech pealing against his father’s basso roar.  He’d heard these arguments before... this time she wanted a new parasol, while Shaun’s father complained of the fine.  Doubts re-emerged in Shaun’s mind as he thought back to a childhood where they were too busy either with their personal pursuits, fawning over Shawn, or arguing to pay attention to the darker haired twin brother...  against all his conscience, he knocked again louder, and the screeching momentarily died down.Why are you so intent on meeting him? Shaun’s mind asked again.  Why?  HE SAID HE DIDN’T CARE IF YOU HAD DIED UNTIL SIABREY TOLD HIM YOU WERE A NOBLE! his mind roared.  He sees only money in you!  And now that his coffers have been hurt, that is ALL he will see in you!  Get away!  Now, while you still have the chance!When Abraham Dice, furious that he still stank of ale, opened the door to his room, he saw no one, save a shadow disappearing down the marble stairwell to the right.  “Who the hell knocks on my damn door and doesn’t answer!” he roared, thoroughly annoyed.From the stairwell, a distance voice echoed back, “How did you like the ale, bastard!?” The voice sounded strangely familiar, but Abraham immediately dismissed that instinct; no one he knew would have been rude enough or bold enough to challenge him... unless the word about his ruinous fine had gotten out.  Part of Abraham wanted to charge out to find the cur that said that, but he was still sopping wet, his wife was harping, and he needed to find a way to save his business and/or avoid that fine.  These were more important things to tackle than chasing a mere fool...Happy with his decision, Shaun wandered down to the throne room, where he was confident other people would eventually end up.  A small slew of petitioners were still waiting, but they had learned their lesson... none charged towards him, demanding his attention.  Save one...The man was slovenly dressed, a halfling... who by his offkey singing and raucous tune, was clearly drunk beyond compare.  When his eyes saw Shaun, he stumbled forward quickly, nearly falling several times.“Sh... Sh...Shaun  Dizzice!” Geoffrey yelled, then hiccupped. “How izz ..are..*hic* you doooing?” he stumbled to a halt, hand extended.“Um... hi Geoffrey!” Shaun said uneasily.  Didn’t expect him to show up!  “I’m... doing well!  How about you?”“F..fine... as long as *hic* I got myyyzeelf a bottle of spiritz,” he slurred.  “Anywaze... I wanted azzk... youz... if its true yourz going to da Abysssss?  Or Celeztiya, or da Planes of Fire?”“What?!” Shaun pulled Geoffrey close, muffling him.  What the?  I need to get him out of here now!  Don’t know if there are spies in here... Shaun dragged the small halfling out of the room, and into a small, private drawing room.“What wazzat fer?” the halfling lolled as Shaun let him go.  “That waz mightee rude dere...”“Geoffrey... Geoffrey!  Focus!  Here...” Shaun pointed at his mouth.  “How did you find out I was going to...” he paused, not letting himself say the actual destination, “go...um.. plane-hopping?”“Oh.. Da Thieves Guild knowz,” the halfling slurred.  “Dey ‘ad someone *hic* that was gonna help out... but heze gone mizzing.”“Who, Geoffrey?”  Someone that could help us go through planes?“Gnome... namez Pyrion,” the halfling slurred.  “Heze gotta devize, a masheeny, dat ken take people across planez,” Geoffrey laughed.“Where is he?”“Mizzing,” the halfling pulled out a bottle of wine that was now only quarter full.  He downed the quarter and dropped the bottle to the ground.  “Klorphaxius took ‘im... yez he did.”</blockquote>

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