#elsewhere

Sir Vali patrols. That's not unusual, what's odd is that he's not patroling Rivervale, or even Bergen. No, he's seen no explosions, and the text from Gerd indicates all went well

But here he is, looking about the Barony of Silverwolf, though not the hold it'self. Beaumayn country this is not

The area surrounding the Silverwolf Manor is largely forest, with wooded trails and rocky bluffs, trailing creeks and ponds. Carthage itself is a small yet bustling town.

Mostly he kens, prophecy is a bitch and he gave it a hard shove... even put a boy at risk. It eats at him but he's got to make sure all is settled. Also... somehow he knows that two thanes may not be at the top of their game. He'll... be a good fae citizen. Still a man has to eat

SO he looks into the bustling town

The streets are not very busy midday in the middle of the week, just folk going about their daily lives. Back-to-School shopping flyers are up at the the department stores, advertising the best sales for school starting up very soon indeed.

A mounted police officer trots down the road, stopping to let a tourist take a picture of him on his horse. Unlike larger cities that rely on mounted police as crowd control, Carthage takes pride in having them as a part of there heritage.

In a playground, some kids squeal with laughter as they run around, tussling in the leaves that are just starting to fall - they have a soccer ball, but the game they play bears little resemblance to the sport, run by their own rules.

A diner, 'Chatterbox', has food scents coming from it. Traditional hometown fare, but it smells good.

A glimmer of glamour from the kids, as they whoop and play and dream, free and glimmering in it's own habitat. Sadly, most folk, small town or no, don't take kindly to strange adult men paying too much attention to the playground.

Here's a hint coming from the diner, feels like a fae presence.

A house with a for-sale sign has a bit of glamour about the sign as well. He feels just the slightest pull - doesn't he need a bigger home for his family? Surely he should give this Realtor a call!

He leaves the kids be. All he needs is some banal busybody who watches too much True Crime deciding he has a white van ready. Shame... he wonders how much shit he'll take when he takes his own kid to the park without Tiffany now and then? The house tickles him... he supposes he can't blame the fudging on the magic but he's tempted tto tweak it a bit. NNah.

So he goes into the diner.

A teenager with hair an eye-smarting shade of purple is sitting in a corner booth, nursing at a milkshake as she doodles in the corners of a book's margins. Looks like she picked the farthest spot from the door and from the counter as possible, and doesn't look like she wants to be bothered, based on the slightly annoyed glance up as the bell at the door chimes.

Behind the counter is a fellow that radiates bad attitude. Perhaps this is why the diner is almost empty - though they advertise takeout. His hair is slicked back under a hairnet, he's medium height, not scrawny but starting towards a bit of a potbelly build, and his apron is grease stained and smudged.

To fae eyes, the Redcap isn't any prettier, he grinds his blunt teeth together, mashing a toothpick into nothingness and then swallowing it.

"Ya here for grub or trouble?" He asks in a low voice, glowering a bit. His nametag just says "Al".

"If I want trouble I piss off the wife" Vali answers simply, and he looks for a menu or listing of options "So I guess I'm here for food"

A hand with scarred knuckles and close gnawed fingernails slides a menu across the counter to him. Laminated, and even pretty clean.

Much what one would expect from a traditional diner - American fare, and plenty of it!

Pancakes, Pancakes and Bacon, Pancakes Eggs and Bacon, Pancakes, Hashbrowns, Eggs, and Bacon. Biscuits and Gravy, Chicken and Waffles. Omelettes - made with 5 eggs here. Burgers, double and triple size, and with fries or tots. The closest thing to a healthy option is a fish sandwich, and even that is deep fried and comes with sides of taters.

Hoagies and rib sandwiches, breaded jalapenos, cheese sticks, - OH! A salad! Wait, no, that's potato salad.

Hot brown, turkey club, chicken parm... on a bun! Fried shrimp, patty melt... cube steak.

"Double Sized Burger with cheese and bacon, dill pickle slice if you got it and a side order of fries. " That's assuming he's to add his own condiments, if the cook does it, then ketchup and mustard it is.

A nod, and he turns to the griddle. The diner layout is such that anyone at the counter gets a good glimpse of the chef at work. This chef also seems to be keeping an eye back on his patron.

Surprisingly clean back there, all of the ingredients are in little tubs and bins, no spill, no mystery liquids or crud on the corners of the flat top, and the oil is clear and without the stench of old grease.

In very little time, a burger is up - the patties are not thin smashed things but hearty meaty slabs, cooked to a perfect medium rare. Lettuce and tomato on the side... is that tomato rotten? No, it's a bit orangy-green looking, but that's because it's an heirloom variety, not sluagh fare. The fries turn out to be freshly hand cut - fried and salted to perfection, and with a hint of seasoning.. mmm, garlic, is it? Maybe a touch of paprika?

A milkshake accompanies it, strawberry. "On t' house. Ain't a good burger without a shake."

The redcap settles back to give him some space, but watches him without much effort to hide his interest.

A sniff of appreciation, then "Thanks." He sometimes wonders if he should gget some poison detecting magic. Not that the cap is out to get him, but one never knows when some Shadow Court affilate wants to take out a Beaumaynn. He does ken the stuff, but it's almost as much to see if it's pure skill or had help with a cantrip

It kens as.... smelling delicious.

and he take the food and to a spot that might be more 'tall friendly'

Be it table or booth

The counter is probably the best bet, he can stretch his legs out. The tables are normal height and would suffice... booths are probably right out, with the tables welded in place and no extra space for the mighty of girth.

Counter it is, place with a bit of reflective material so he can have 'eyes' in the back of his head. He tries a ggood healthy bite of the burger first after putting a dash of ketchup on on the burger and a another for the fries, and a squirt of mustard

The ketchup isn't in a Heinz bottle, nor the mustard in a French's. Freshly made condiments... out of place a bit. But it's good - fresh and tangy, just enough vinegar and sourness to the ketchup to cut through the rich greasy burger. The mustard is a grainy brown sort.

Vali has certainly had many burgers in his time, but this might be up there in the top 10. Perhaps it's just hunger adding the spice, but it's a damn fine burger. The bread is freshly toasted, meat is tender and flavorful, and just enough char.

A slight mm of appreciation, not too much, don'tt want to spoil the guy. He follows this with a sip of the shake

Al watches long enough to see that Vali goes for a second bite (rather than making a face or looking like he has any complaint), and then he grunts in wordless approval, and turns back to his workspace. The sound of machinery... he's grinding his own meat from larger chunks.

Sure hope it's not anyone I know he thinks with humor and soon he's sampling... Sip of shake, switch to dip of fry and crunch, bite of burger..

Nope, the flavor is clearly beefy, and good quality beef at that. A shame that the place is empty (or nearly), but the proprietor doesn't seem to care, as long as he gets to do what he does.

Tables are neat, if old, and booths might have some duct tape on the shiny vinyl, but some might call that character.

A bulletin board near the door has advertisements and flyers posted.

"Realty by Rosemary - Your new home is in my pocket!" A website address

"Guitar lessons - cheap (must bring own guitar)" Printed out on a printer that seems low on ink and smudged, most of the tear-away strips with phone numbers are still there.

"BIGFOOT SIGHTING - TALK TO TRUE BELIEVERS" This one has an email address, clearly newly made bigfootisreallyreal@freemail.net

A business card that advertises Marital Counseling by Dr. Greene - "First session free."

Advertisement for a used sporting goods store...

And others, buried in layers.

He can appreciate most of this is probably fae related, butt the 'big foot sighting' gets a brow. Could be a danger to the rigght of ignorance. He .. makes a note of the addy. He looks at Al as he finishes up his meal, "Al?"

A grunt, and he turns, wiping his hands clean on a cloth. "Refill?"

"No, I'm good. I just wanted to tell you that's the best damn burger I've had in awhile," He slides an extra ten down "And thanks for the shake, really went well with it" a glance to the Dr. Greene bit "You may want to take this card downn though. I hear Dr. Greene is on hiatus"

"Issat what you heard?" He asks, looming a bit closer to the counter.

Indeed, if this was anyone but a cap, he'd laugh at the attempt. Though he has seen Piper somehow loom over Siv or Jonas when she had her dander up. Love gives folks power.

He simply answers , trying to channel John Wayne "that's the story. Believe it, or don't."

"I heard it too." He nods, piggish eyes interested. "Heard some young thing got the old man wrapped around her finger. Folk don't generally lie to me." He pauses a moment, scraping at a bit of a stain on the counter top. "Folk don't generally talk to me neither though."

"Way I hear it? Dr. Greene got.. fired, for malpractice. Shame that, when folks abuse their power. Eventually itt catches up to them. " He shrugs. he's not whispering, but his voice is quiet "As for pretty young thing? If this was some kind of fairy tale I'd say she found her prince and rescued him. But well..." A shrug as if he's rambling and caught himself "I can see why folks donn't talk to you by the way. I mean, it's obvious" A beat "They probably have their mouths full with some grade A burger. " He rises, "Thanks again, Al."

A blink, and a smile. A friendly one for a redcap - the kind that doesn't show any teeth. Al reaches over and pulls the empty plate closer, and takes a finger... drawing in the smeared leftover ketchup.

"Where there's lazy lords, there's rusty swords. Watch yer ass."

He turns to dump the dishes into a soapy sink with a clatter, but not before Vali catches the star that the redcap smeared in bloo- ketchup! Just ketchup.

A nod, one of gratitude as he sees the symbol ... Aiden's been asleep. The barony has folks taking advantage. Fun "Roger that" And out he goes

"Refill?" He hears the grunt as he goes.

"Yeah, thanks Al." The teenage girl replies - apparently not too intimidated by the cook. "That guy bothering you? Want me to kick him around?"

"Haw!" Comes his short, amused reply. And a bit of paper tearing... the business card into the trash.

Vali smiles at the teen girl's comment . It would appear Al has friends. good sign for anyone. Of course, for all I know, purple hair is a Were Bear of the 'kick yo butt' line.. ah life

he does keep his guard up. Nadeen won't thank him for what he's set in motion there, or if she does, Aiden won't. But he's seen the futures unfolding and some are worse than others.

It was a good burger, though.

Really, Olgar and Frank need to take some lessons He patrols a bit, kenning about without LOOKING like he's patrolling. he even takes a selfie near sttatues and asks if he can take one with the cop on the horse "if it's no trouble , officer?"

Not too far from city center is 'Monument Park'. Grassy and well kept, with trimmed bushes. It includes several veterans memorials, and an original burial ground, though it's far more a park these days then a cemetery, judging by the parents strolling through with strollers or skateboarders enjoying the wide paths. It's dominated by a tall obelisk, alongside a life-size Civil War soldier figure. Union, of course.

The officer rides leisurely through the grounds, and stops to give Vali a cheerful greeting. He's young, a rookie, and clearly on "don't let the kids skateboard on the grass" duty.

"Sure, go right ahead. Cisco here is the veteran, I'm just his junior partner." Referring to the solid brown horse who looks like HE would like to be nibbling the grass.

"Well then, you, me, and Officer Cisco" And he takes the selfie

"You just visiting, or looking to pay respects to someone specific here? There's maps of the grave markers, if that's helpful." He has a bunch in his side saddle pocket, in fact.

"Just visiting, officer, " He says looking about "Though obviously there's a lot of respect to around. I teach French at a school in New Jersey. They've also got me hooked up for a history class. I want to have some pictures to show the kids that history flows into the present. I think I will take a map since you offer. Thank you"

And Vali takes a map.. and does just that

"History? Well, you should talk to the town Historian then. I swear he knows every single stone and marker in there. He gives tours sometimes."