The Perk, Thursday Late Morning

[pocketpretzels]

For whatever reason, Watts had not noticed the luggage when he'd first woken up. Otherwise he likely never would have left the house at all, let's be real. But he did leave the house, and it wasn't until he was nearly at the Perk that 'IDENTITY' and 'DIFFICULT' made their appearances in the shape of suitcases. Seeing as he was basically at the shop door, he (perhaps stupidly) elected to press on, doing his best to steadfastly ignore the 'ABANDONMENT ISSUES' trunk that was quickly followed by a wheeled suitcase labeled 'CLARISSA' that made a break for the door as soon as it landed.

ooc: open Perk is open! come get caffeinated beverages with a side of emotional baggage!

Comments

[thatsmysword]

After the whole mess with the lizards, Henry had largely avoided leaving the castle at all. But it had been some time, and he was a curious sort, and so-- at last-- here he was. Following a random person into this random place.

Bags appeared here and there-- SKALITZ and DEATH and PA AND MA and LOST SIR RADZIG'S SWORD and many others. But if there was such a thing as an advantage to being nearly illiterate, this was it: reading took effort, and Henry hadn't the faintest that the luggage was for him.

"Hullo," he announced, to the barista. "Ah, you're some sort of tavern, I take it?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Not quite," Watts offered, giving Henry's luggage a cursory look, but he wasn't going to press. "Beverages- non-alcoholic- and some snacks."

[thatsmysword]

Henry looked aside at him, quizzical. "... What sorts of beverages are we talking about, then?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Coffee-" Watts gave Henry's garb a once over. "Do you know coffee? Or tea?"

Some of which were present on this menu and could only defined as such in the very loosest sense.

[thatsmysword]

Henry didn't know how laundry worked out here, and so his poor loose green-and-red peasant's clothes were starting to get a bit on the dirty side. He looked every bit the medieval yokel that he was.

"Ah, I think someone in the castle's mentioned tea to me before," he said, "But I haven't the faintest what it is."

[pocketpretzels]

"Dried leaves steeped in boiling water," Watts explained. "Essentially."

Possibly not the most enticing description of what tea was, no.

[thatsmysword]

"Oh, so like a potion," Henry said, nodding. "Though usually you'd think they'd put some wine in there as well."

[pocketpretzels]

"... An intriguing idea," Watts had to admit.

[thatsmysword]

"There's this potion where you boil chamomile and sage in wine for a bit that helps with healthy sleep," Henry recounted. "I don't suppose they'd be selling something like that 'round here?"

[pocketpretzels]

"You could check with Ms. Ingram at the plant shop?" Watts suggested. "She works with tinctures and salves, she might have something. Or Dr. Isley or Mr. Blackwood over at Pick Your Poison. Which- despite the name does not sell poison. That I am aware of." He gestured to the menu. "The majority of offerings here are likely to do the opposite, as many of them contain a substance called caffeine, which is a stimulant." A beat. "It keeps you awake."

[thatsmysword]

"Ah." Henry looked at the first thing that resembled a beverage nearby. "I hardly need any help with that."

He looked back at Watts. "Ah, I should say, I'm Henry," he offered. "God be with you."

[pocketpretzels]

"Just Henry?" Watts checked. "No surname?"

[thatsmysword]

"Of Skalitz?" Henry said. "Sorry. I know everyone has two names around here, but I don't."

[pocketpretzels]

"There are a few others who have only the one name as well, Mr. Ah. Henry," Watts said. "It's not the norm, but you're not alone. I'm Detective Watts- the first is a title, not a name. Most just call me Watts."

[thatsmysword]

"Well, nice to meet you, Watts," Henry said, an easy smile on his face. "'Detective'? What sort of a title is that, then?"

[pocketpretzels]

"I'm a -" he almost said 'copper', then stopped, realizing Henry would have no context for that. "Member of- law enforcement." He wasn't sure whether he'd have context for that one either, but it seemed a little more self-explanatory, at least. "My job involves solving crimes, Detecting, if you will, who is responsible so they might be brought to justice."

Technically in modern times one was supposed to say things like who is suspected to be responsible, but while he assumed he was significantly more modern than Henry, Watts didn't have all the current lingo down just yet.

[thatsmysword]

"Oh, so you're like a guard," Henry said, nodding along. "Right, that seems simple enough. Wonder why they decided to come up with such a fancy title?"

A pause.

"Not that you're not fancy or anything."