An Afternoon with Uncle Hugo - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/9/478
Log
Hugo is seated on the balcony of the old manor house he has taken up residence in. "Come and join me on this fine afternoon," he says, as a discreet servant leads his guests to the canopy covered outlook. Rain drums lightly on the canopy and tea is on a small table in front of the snowy lion. "You are just in time for some refreshment," he says.
Katrina smiles and rumbles softly, her paw gesturing for Terry to follow. "Come now, Terry. No dawdling. Unless you prefer staying outside in the rain?" she questions with a raise of her brow, a flick of her tail.
Terry follows up quickly after Katrina, nodding up at her with a polite smile. "Yes 'maam, right behind you." He moves at a quickened step towards the covered canopy, and then circles around so that he's at Hugo's side. The small ocelot seems to be trying to quite hard to maintain a dignified pose, back straight, tail draping down and slightly curled at the tip. "Good afternoon, Uncle Hugo." He's wearing the same, clean-cut suit as the first day they met.
"Sit down, Terry," Hugo says, "You too, Katrina." The lion waits as a servant brings out an extra pair of plates and some small sandwiches. "What brings the two of you to my humble abode today?"
"Well, you did promise us another tale, Uncle Hugo. In addition, the Lady has an assignment for you. A small job, to get back in the swing of family-work," she notes with a smile on her lips, a flick of her ears.
Soon enough, a letter is laid down upon the table and pushed over to Hugo, a smile on her lips.
"Besides. I haven't seen my Uncle Hugo in forever!"
Terry nods at Katrina's words. He moves over to sit by the lion, on one of the chairs that have been laid out in the balcony. "I had to ask to come with, Lord Hugo. I did very much enjoy the stories you were telling us the other day."
Hugo scoops the letter up from the table and breaks the seal. "And how is our enigmatic lady?" he asks, scanning through the letter, "Well, I hope?" It is apparent in his tone of voice that he has some bit of history with the shadowy head of household. "I will get to this in my own time," he promises, and turns his attention to Terry. "Did you now?" he asks, an avuncular smiles spreading across his face, "Perhaps you have come to hear another story? Or is this just a business visit from my neice and her protege?"
"The lady is quite fine. Reclusive as ever. You know how protective she is of her identity, and that of the primary members of the Hand," she notes, gesturing at her mask. "Particularly the ones who delegate her orders," she rumbles with a flick of her ears, before looking to Terry, her tail swaying lightly. "Today is an off-day. We won't be handling any training today, and we'll gladly stick around for another story.
Terry looks up at Katrina as Hugo asks his questions, and smiles at him after her answer. "I would love to hear a story, Uncle Hugo. Or.. anything else you'd like to talk about, really." His tailtip flits playfully as he speaks. "I feel I can learn much from you."
"Fine, fine," Hugo chuckles, waving a hand at Terry, "Just inside the door you will find a bottle of brandy, bring it out here and I will tell you about the time I wrestled a Caldera Monk. It is an interesting story."
He looks back at Katrina. "You know I do not like the secrecy," he says, "That was all your father's idea."
A nod, and a shake of the head. "And father guided the Hand quite efficiently, as you are aware. Secrecy was a must, and still is, considering those who would see the Family removed," the she-cat notes, before shaking her head. "Secrecy was, and still is, the logical option, both under our previous Lady, who ordered the creation of the Hand, as well as our current Lady, whom requires her services just as much," the feline reasons, before nodding along with Hugo. "I would like to hear this story as well, of course."
Terry nods quickly. "Yes sir!" He slides off the chair and walks off, at a quickened pace but without actually running, his youthful excitement being tempered by the training he's been receiving the last few weeks. He goes to look for the bottle of brandy, along with a trio of snifter glasses to serve them with. He returns with the glasses and bottle on a silvered tray, laying it on the small table before settling back on his chair.
"Very good, Terry," Hugo says, lifting the heavy crystal bottle and pouring three glasses, "I will be forever grateful to the forethought of the being who saved the old family wine cellars from the crown." The well dressed lion looks thoughtful for a second, reminiscing about something. "I wish I had known your grandfather, Kitten," he says, "I greatly admire your father, but I wish I had known what drove Reginald to do what he did." He shakes his great mane and comes back to the present.
"I promised you a story of my own though, did I not?" he says, sipping his brandy and reaching for a little sandwich, "Tell me, have either of you been to Thera'Dor?"
"I do not know Reginald's motives, rest his soul. But I do know our previous Lady abode by his last word, and our current Lady abides by her wishes," she notes, before smiling faintly towards Hugo. "Even so... Let us not dwell on things we do not know, and instead, focus on an enjoyable day of stories, drink, and merriment, shall we?"
Terry watches the two as they talk. He doesn't know enough to comment on any of what they are saying, and even if he did he would know to keep his opinion to himself unless asked for it. Instead he takes his snifter of brandy, holding it carefully with his two small hands. He takes a short sip, and tries to control the instinct to cough as the alcohol burns down his throat.
Hugo grins at Terry, pleased to see the young feline trying the strong drink. "Now, you are aware that most of our great Northern neighbor is cold and barren, right?" he asks, "This is not true of the entire country. There are a few secluded valleys up in the fiery mountains that are like Springtime in Firmament for most of the year. The biggest one is the Great Caldera."
Katrina smiles and simply nods along, her tail flicking lazily behind her, gesturing for a servant to bring her a bottle of wine in the mean time. She simply smiles, flicks her ears, and rumbles. "I've heard, yes. Our contacts in Thera'Dor have provided us with sketches as well... Though I haven't had the time to visit the place just yet."
Terry nods along to Hugo's words. The orphan ocelot has not had much of an education, but he knows enough to recognize Hugo is describing Thera'Dor. His eyes twinkle as he looks at his 'uncle', already imagining the fiery mountains sitting amidst the wind-swept, snow-capped tundra hills. His mental image is probably very far from the actual truth, since the boy has neither been there nor seen any sketches, but it awes him none the less. "How big this village Uncle Hugo?"
