Welcome Back to Kantas - Derthaad & Henri

After all the main vignettes have ended and after the speech and toasts have been shared, Derthaad leans to rest on a fence slightly away from the bonfire and the mass of people, but still well within the view of the massive bonfire.

"Didn't think you'd return so soon," he says casually, holding two mugs of mulled wine, handing one of them to Henri. "In fact, I was kinda living with the idea that you'd sit back in Waterdeep forever. Or at least on that side of the sea. Wouldn't blame you if you did."

"What can I say, I go where the wind takes me." Henri accepts the wine, raising it in thanks as he leans with his back to the fence, his elbows high and propped against the wooden rails. "I've spent more than half my life in Waterdeep. It's just so... boring."

"Well, it depends where you look, but I get what you mean. What about your family back home, they ok with you wondering off again after being absent for... a year?"

"Two. Or thereabouts. Time was hard to keep track of, but based on Father's reaction you'd think it was a decade." Henri smirks, taking a sip of wine before inclining his head to the side, eyebrows raised in slight approval. "Not bad. Thank you, Sergeant. And of course Father doesn't understand why I'd leave, but he never has." A shoulder raises in a small shrug.

"Well he IS your father, after all. It'd be concerning if he didn't worry. That's how parents are anyway, always worrying about their children. 'Why go out into the perilous world when you can sit here'," he finishes, that last line as if quoting someone.

Henri chuckles, eying Derthaad up and down as though taking a measure of the man. "Speaking from experience, are we?"

"Yup," he replies shortly with a small smirk on his face.
Derthaad glances back at the tall roaring bonfire. "So, why back here and not somewhere else?"

The light of the bonfire, still throwing a few motes of blue light, shimmers and shifts in the silver reflection of Henri's scarf as the two watch. "Well, where else can one find so many others with fathers worrying from afar? I'll fit right in."

Derthaad pauses for a second at that, but continues on as he takes a sip from his mug. "Yup. The only problem is that I feel like it tends to get a bit repetitive after a while."

He then glances down as the silver scarf glitters in the light of the bonfire. "Seems you've joined Gerhard in 'The Call' group," he says point a thumb at the scarf. "How is it? Have you walked it since, or are you weary of it?"

"Once." Henri replies, and as he turns his head to face Derthaad, his eyes glint with shimmers of silver reflections. "And it was as glorious as ever. Why, would you like to come along? Once won't hurt, I'm sure."

"You of all people knows what happens when someone walks it without a Call. Or did you already forget that bit?"

Henri raises an eyebrow, but he cannot keep a straight face for very long before a toothy grin breaks across his lips. "My apologies, Sergeant. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe there was a drop of silver still coursing through those veins." He takes a sip of wine, winking at Derthaad. "I remember quite well the cost to travel. But some things are worth paying, no?"

"Thankfully, none left," he replies with relief, grateful at the fact that Gerhard cleansed him of that temptation.

He then perks up upon hearing of the cost. "And what would that price be?"

"Just a small donation, as I'm sure you recall. A tiny piece of Derthaad to keep the wheels turning." He swirls the mug in his hands, watching as the liquid spins. "You've given up much more than that before, haven't you?"

"Maybe..." he answers quizzically. "But whatever I may have given... I was the only one who bore its loss. It's not worth it when someone else has to lose from it as well."

At the guarded response, Henri's eyes flick over his drinking partner briefly before settling back on the bonfire ahead of them. "To each their own, then." He takes a long sip, seemingly lost in thought.

Derthaad glances shortly at him, taking in the meaning behind this brief silence. "You know... we nearly died for both of you and yet I never ended up properly asking Gerhard what was the story with you two. I admit, I ashamed that I got a bit too preoccupied with other things that I never actually took him out for a drink to just... get to know him better." He takes another sip of his wine and then looks at Henri.

"What is the story with you two? One does not simply go to the edge of the universe for just a random schmuck."

Henri's mug parts from his lips, with only a sliver of light between them. "Our story?"

As Henri's chin lowers to his chest, so too does the mug, held gently with two hands that tip it forward and back. His head cocks to the side, watching the liquid come and go, recede and swell.

"I think our story found its end, Derthaad. G found his random schmuck and saved the girl. A fitting end for a worthy hero, don't you agree? All that's missing is to parade him through the streets."

As Henri speaks the words, there is a sadness in his body language, clear from how he rests his head and holds his cup. A sadness that seems to come, by the words as they leave his lips, from a status quo upended - of "what was" no longer being "what will be."

But there is frustration, too, in the way the words are spit. Of choices made, of potential squandered. Of the infinite that was up for the taking, and the life that was chosen instead.

Derthaad looks at Henri, reads the sadness and frustration within him and releases a deep sigh. "I shall not press further into your past, then. But do answer me this: hypothetically, if you would be given another chance, turn back time if you will, would you have made the same decisions or would you have charted a different path?"

Henri chuckles, a tinge of sadness to his voice. "My regrets are not for my own choices, Derthaad. I wouldn't change a thing."

Derthaad gives a moment for the heavy heart to sing its tune. "Giving credit where credit's due, travelling to so many places at will does sound endearing, and travelling with someone you care about does sound idilic. BUT," he exclaims with one wave of his mug, "only if ones choices are truly their own." He lowers his gaze at Henri, slight smile on his face and points a thumb at the silver scarf. "That's where those come in."

"However, as I told a dear friend of mind, wondering too much on the 'what if' can lead someone to madness. The past is the past, the present is us enjoying a mulled wine and the future... " He leans his mug over to the man standing beside him, "will hopefully have wiser decisions and more favourable circumstances."

"To wiser decisions, then." Henri raises his mug in a toast, an eyebrow raised at Derthaad. "And to you, of course, without whom I would not be standing here enjoying this mulled."

Derthaad gives a half smile as the mugs cling against one another. "The only credit I can take for is just being there. As you said, Gerhard was the one who carried that entire thing."

"And he'd have been able to do it alone? I owe you, Derthaad. All of you. And I intend to pay down my debt."

"Well, at least your debt towards me is a small one. Give me a beer one evening and it will be paid."

"Done." Henri takes a deep sip.

"Hmh!" intones Derthaad mid-sip. "Almost forgot to ask... who's your steward?"

"Mm." Henri responds, his mouth full of wine. "Unclear. I only briefly met those Infinite that Gerhard was working with, but I don't think its any of those. It's not him, either, thank Tymora."

"So it would be safe to assume that you have yet to meet them. Mister, the little shit that captured you and Orianna is most likely in a box somewhere on a shelf right near Gentleman, and Andromeda seemed to be fairly sociable. I feel that if it was her you would have known. Which means it may either be Grandmother, the one that cosmic-slapped Mister and it seems that all stewards are afraid of, a new steward we have yet to meet... or it may actually be Gerhard himself," he finishes with a shrug and a smirk.

"Have you talked with him since you returned from Waterdeep?"

"When I find out I'll be sure to let you know," Henri replies, returning the smirk with a wink. "G seems to be busy enough with whatever he does these days. I did speak with Orianna, though. She had some thing in Kundar, some sort of upstart god that she was dealing with." The night winter air is cool as Henri breathes out, a mist enveloping his cheeks before disappearing. "I don't think she's as happy as you are to see me."

Derthaad releases a low grumble at the mention of the so called god. But upon hearing of Orianna's reaction, he takes in a deep breath and sighs. "Well, to be fair, Gerhard seemed a bit... peeved... to say the least. But it was the type that usually stems from someone who cares about the wellbeing of another. So, it is understandable that Orianna may be as well, especially if she only got to know one side of the coin. After all, history is made by those who write and live to tell it."

Henri nods in assent, a deep breath in and out following his eyebrows as they raise and lower. "Truth. While I don't blame her, I hope they can both... forgive me? It's not as though I had much say in the events."

"It is not that we leave that's the problem. Sooner or later, we all leave to walk our own paths and leave plenty behind. It is how one leaves. And those who care about said someone are the ones who are affected the most. Parents are the best example. Like your father, they care about their young ones, and they also are the ones who have to live with the notion that, one day, said young ones will grow and leave home, only to return on very few occasions. Of course, they worry about their safety, but they take comfort knowing that, wherever they are, their children are safe, or at least happy. Take that comfort from them and... things start to crumble. It can be pretty debilitating knowing that you have sacrificed so much for something that was taken and gone in a matter of seconds."

Derthaad pauses only to take another large sip from his wine. "Judging by your previous answer, travelling the staircase is indeed something that you wish and don't regret doing. But tell me, if the fact of you leaving won't change, would you change the how?"

Henri nods, taking in Derthaad's words. He chuckles, shaking his head slightly from side to side. "Why do I get the feeling that G got these lectures from you, too? Let me guess, his were about paying attention? Or were you more concerned about his self sacrifice."

Derthaad returns the chuckle. "Something along the lines of keeping his head straight and not just throwing himself in blindly. I mean, he was reasonably devastated given that Mister decided to torture him by kidnapping Orianna. But, you're right, he did receive my words of wisdom."

"Good. I'm glad he had..." Henri turns his head away, his focus casting out to the middle distance, to the few flakes of snow that still fall within the fairgrounds. "I intend to do better this time, Derthaad. I'm able to do better this time. But I won't give it up."

Derthaad briefly places a reassuring hand on Henri's shoulder, fully understanding the need, the want, to do better. "Life has a cruel sense of humour. Sooner or later you'll most likely be faced with the same questions. What's important is that you learn from the previous and open your eyes and ears to all the possibilities and to make sure that, when the decision is made, you know exactly what's most important."

"For now, though, the best decision you can make is to talk to them, Gerhard and Orianna respectively. Talk to them separately, it may be easier. Tell them the regrets and the truth that happened. Oh, and try not to justify the decisions you made back then unless asked. It diminishes the regrets and it makes it seem like you're searching for excuses."

"You're sure you don't want to just come along, do the talking for me?" Henri laughs. "Thank you, Derthaad. I wasn't expecting such a welcome, but it is appreciated."

"Hey, we all fuck up. What's important is to take responsibility for those fuck ups and try to mend them." Derthaad lifts his mug to take another sip and as he tilts it he frowns, turning upside down. "Well, time for a refill I guess. Come on," he calls towards Henri, nodding his head in the direction of the bonfire.

In a single motion, Henri downs the rest of his, holding the mug out in midair before letting go, his hands shoved in his pockets for warmth. The mug floats along lazily next to him, guided gently out of the path of passersby as Henri follows Derthaad back into the crowds.