Homeless, Mun's been looking at this Facility....

[oldstrangersvoice]

Listen, kid. Now I don't mind being here entirely. Nice fine mind you've got, you'll make your city's mancers... or whatever you've been calling them...proud. I'm touched I remind you of another old man you used to know, too.

But that don't mean I'm eager to be shipping off to that place you're so fond of. Give it a think through before you make any...rash decisions. You got two fine gentlemen and that young lady of yours already living in that place, ain't really room for a spare.

Not like I'd fit in, anyhow. That's a place for fighting men. My fighting days are long over.

Comments

[archditz]

[The tall man in the expensive suit is silent for a moment. His gaze is locked on this old soldier. And wordsmith, apparently.]

I see. You are correct; that is not the place for someone who has done his duties. [He blinks, which is only noticeable because this is the first time he's done this since the conversation began.]

Or anyone, now that I think of it.

[oldstrangersvoice]

No. It ain't.

But there's folks there anyhow. And if there's anything an old man like me can do for them, I suppose I will, won't I?

Here I go, doing all the talking. Old habits, huh. What about you, stranger?

[archditz]

[The last question catches him by surprise.]

I don't know. What about me? [There are many things About him. Plus, he's never made it a habit of talking about himself.]

[oldstrangersvoice]

[Rucks just laughs] Oh, don't take no offense now. Just a habit of mine, back where I'm from there ain't much to do but kick back and swap stories. Where you're from, what you do... Don't have to be nothing personal if you ain't one for sharing.

[archditz]

I don't mind. [He just needs a little bit to think.]

My name is Michael. May I ask for your name?

[oldstrangersvoice]

Rucks. [he bows, a little, he has a bad back. The gesture remains-mister Rucks is a proper gentleman, despite his rough appearance]

Formerly of Caelondia's Masons and Mancers. A builder of working things.

[archditz]

I see. [He bows deeply in return.]

It is an honor to meet you. As for myself... [Hmmn.]

I suppose you could say that I am a civil servant.

[oldstrangersvoice]

Suppose I could. Would I, though? That's the question, ain't it.

What would you call yourself?

[archditz]

[Level stare.]

The same thing. It's... [Mild hand-wringing is the only indication that he's having difficulty finding the right words.]

I apologize. It's the closest approximation I could think of.

[oldstrangersvoice]

Hey now. Don't you feel bad about nothing, it was my question.

[He shrugs] Guess I'm not so used to folks who're so...delicate with their phrasing.

So, mister civil servant...who do you serve? A...city, a country?

[archditz]

The universe.

[...Basically, yes.]

[oldstrangersvoice]

Lofty charge. [He seems legitimately impressed, if still curious]

Suppose you don't care to elaborate on that. If you don't want to, I won't blame you.

[archditz]

I wouldn't say it's "lofty". The only difference is a bigger workload.

[He's silent for a bit, internally hemming and hawing about whether or not to elaborate further.]

I wouldn't mind. It is just that it is difficult to find the right words.