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]

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.