Prose log with Caesar

[percivalthegale]

Who: Percival and Caesar (better_than_bro)
When: todayish
Where: courtyard
What: conversation~

Caesar sat cross legged on the wall in the court yard, looking out over the square with a small leather bound book in his hand, casually flipping through the pages. The book was old; pages worn, wrinkled and yellowed. As Caesar flipped through it he had a slight smile on his face.

The next leg of Percival's patrol took him through the courtyard, always a good place to linger because the most people hung out there, opening up potential for conflicts or need of a guard's assistance in some way - as well as opportunities to distract. Percival tended to be more reserved while working and unlikely to shirk, but "duty" at Budehuc wasn't nearly so taxing. He made a circuit around the fountain, nodding at passersby and noticing Caesar up on his perch.

"Good afternoon," Caesar called, not looking up from the book. "I take it today's been rather slow from the recent rains?" He reached behind him for some tea, and took a sip from the cup, and placed it back.

Pausing, Percival glanced up to him. "No more or less than usual," he replied. "I see you've found yourself the perfect vantage point."

Putting down the little book, Caesar looked down at the knight. "I suppose you could say that," he said thoughtfully. "I always thought that looking down from above gave you a clearer view of things."

"It also allows you to literally look down on your fellow man," Percival said dryly, clasping his hands behind his back as best he could. "But you're not that type of person, Caesar, are you?"

"No," Caesar said scowling, "I'm not. I would like to think you would know that, Sir Percival." He closed the book and carefully tucked it into his front pocket.

Percival only raised an eyebrow, the slightest smirk playing on his lips. "Not in the mood for teasing today, I see. I'm sorry."

"Would you be if you had a brother like Albert?" Caesar asked with a raised eyebrow as he rested and elbow on his knee and his chin on his fist.

"I don't know, considering I don't have any siblings at all to compare to," Percival sniffed. "All past issues considered, he hasn't caused trouble here, so I'm not sure I can sympathize at the moment."

"Only child huh? Well, then, I'm not sure you can understand my pain then," Caesar said a bit dramatically, smiling a bit. "It's been six years since I've seen him," Caesar said, "I don't think he realizes that."

Percival folded his arms over his chestplate. "What, you think he isn't aware of the passage of time? At his age...I can guess that he probably is. Painfully. Particularly after the outcome of the war."

"That's not what I mean," Caesar said, "And Albert got more out losing that war then you think. But..." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, not sure how to say what he was feeling without sounding like a child.

"I'm afraid I don't exactly see what you mean, then," Percival shrugged, shifting in place and making his armor clank.

"He expects that things are exactly as they were when they left," Caesar said eventually. "And is unwilling to see that they have changed."

"Ah. Well." Percival tilted his head. "You no longer being a teenager is hard not to notice. But as for the rest...I couldn't say. That sounds like something that's between you and your brother alone."

Caesar sighed, "I suppose you're right." He leaned back, puting his arms behimd him and looking up at the sky. "Still, one would think that in six years one would mature a bit."

"We can't all be so lucky." Percival turned, not sure he had anything else to say to the young Silverberg. "At least your quest is over. You know he's still here and have spoken. Victory is yours."

"If only," Caesar said with a bit of sulk. "Some how, he always make my vicotries seem meaningless."

"Does his approval really mean that much to you?" Percival gave him a curious look. "Considering the things he's done, the people whose lives he toyed with for his own ends?"

"It's complicated," Caesar said, looking down at Percival, "He's a prodigy, I'm not. He was the straight A student, I was the B student that decided it would be better to drop out." He gave a yawn, "He's what I've been compared to."

"He assisted in trying to destroy the world, while you pulled together ragtag armies who hated each other into a cohesive allied unit to save the world," Percival added, again with the dry note. "It makes me wonder who is comparing the two of you to come up with that."

"He's still my brother," Caesar said simply. "And even though Albert lost the war, he still turned it so he got a nice job out west."

"Even so." Percival huffed a short sigh. "You shouldn't worry so much about his shadow, considering how tainted it is. You were an asset to our armies, more than any of the chiefs and captains want to admit. You should be proud of that."

"But bad habits are hard to quiet," Caesar said smiling.

Percival tilted his head again. "Suit yourself. If you were fishing for compliments, consider that one caught free of charge."

"Thank you," Caesar said with a laugh, "At least I know who to go to when my ego's too big." He looked down at the knight, "Thank you."

Percival shrugged it off as nothing. "So. Have you discovered anything of value while sitting up there?"

"No," Caesar said, "Just... reliving happier times, back when I used to adore my brother and thought he could do no wrong." He pulled out the book again, "Though I grew out of that by the time I hit my first growth spurt," he said with a smile.

"Ah." Percival nodded, not caring much about any of Caesar's intimate details. "Well, perhaps if you looked forward instead of back more often, you wouldn't be bothered so much by your brother's reputation. But what do I know? I'm merely a knight of no great status."

"You sell yourself short, Sir Knight," Caesar said, flipping the book open, "Don't you have great status as one of the Six Mighty Knights? I think you put too much importance on your blood, and not enough on yourself." He looked down at the knight, smiling cheerfully. "But your advice is appericiated, great status or no."

"Ah, apparently I can't be self-deprecating, either," Percival responded with an exaggerated sigh. "I just can't win."

"If you're not going to let me be down on myself, why should I let you have that fun?" Caesar asked and stuck out his tongue.

"I rather like being the humble one among the knights, you could leave me to it," Percival snorted, rolling his eyes a little at Caesar's display. "Would you rather I bragged about myself at every turn?"

"It would be interesting to watch," Caesar said, "I wonder how much would match up with what the ladies would say about you six years ago." He screwed his face up in mock concentration, "Though, I doubt you could be that vain about your looks."

"What? And why should six years ago be any different from the present?" Percival set his hands on his hips, looking slightly wounded. "Things have hardly changed in Zexen, I'll have you know. And while I do take care of myself, I am not that vain, thank you."

"I'm mearly comenting on the fact that I can't see you going around talking about how," Caesar put on a falsetto, "how dashing and well groomed Sir Percival is," grinning, he dropped the falsetto, "I see you more bragging about military conquests."

Percival rolled his eyes again, bigger and more widely. "For your information, I go around bragging about nothing. Neither my social life nor my battles."

"All hypothetical," Caesar said, "If you were the type to brag, that is."

"As I am not, it seems pointless to speculate." Percival sighed and rested his elbow on the hilt of his sword at his hip. "You should turn your mental exercises toward something of more benefit to the world."

Caesar shrugged, "I am. Don't worry. I'm just taking a break from it at the moment. You wouldn't have happened to know where your Captain is, she's on the list of people I need to talk to."

"Around the castle somewhere," Percival replied smoothly. "You might have better luck asking Sir Borus, as he is usually far more invested in her location than I am."

"Poor man," Caesar said softly, "He's got it bad."

Percival chuckled slightly, since he'd said the same thing - but Borus' personal life was something he didn't often discuss outside of Borus' confidence. "Either way. She hasn't informed me that she had any errands to ride out to, so it's more than likely she's here at the castle somewhere. Finding some way of occupying her time."

"Good, Then at least she'll be easier to get a hold than Hugo," he frowned slightly, one of many the reasons he back to Budehuc was Hugo, but Hugo had moved back to Karaya and had began his chief duties.

"Unless she conveniently must ride to Brass Castle to look after something, just when you want to speak to her," Percival teased.

"With my luck, that'll happen," Caesar said and gave a dramatic sigh, making a point to slump in mock dejection.

"I don't doubt it." Percival lifted a hand in a sort of wave. "I've been standing in one place too long, I should return to my patrol. If I see Lady Chris along my way, I will let her know you're looking for her."

"I would appreciate that," Caesar said, "I told her I would like to talk to her," he almost added, but she was being moody about her rune, but better judgement stopped him, "but a reminder might be good."

"Very well." Percival nodded and turned to continue his rounds. "Until next time, Caesar."

"Later Percival," Caesar and turned back to the book.