Unveiledvagabonds - Muses By Murr...

✞ 666 ✞

"huh? oh, no. if anything i wound up sleeping a bit better than usual because of last night; because of you..." keagan explained with a halfhearted smile. "sleep is just something that's always alluded me. which is funny when you consider the facts." mainly the fact that he was a witch and even when he turned to spells or potions he never managed to feel fully rested no matter how long he slept. maybe he was cursed to always be tired; or maybe it had something to do with his caffeine codependency. "unless you have some trick stronger than my own magic to make me feel rested, no." he answered with a matter-of-fact nod of his head and loose shrug of his shoulders. "--but it's fine, really. i'll be alright. that's what coffee is for."

"got it, i'll do my best to remember you actually deserve a title in public but for now i'll just stick with rico." he teased slightly, more of his personality starting to return to the surface as he consumed more and more coffee. "yeah, unfortunately i'm not really known for being much of a gentleman," keagan joked at his own expense, "so you should definitely take my number if you ever feel like enjoying some... unbecoming company again."

"shit," the witch cursed as he furrowed his brows, his right hand lifting to pinch at the bridge of his nose. "i didn't even consider the fact you probably don't drink coffee on the regular-- or at all for that matter." can he even drink coffee? keagan didn't know much about vampires aside from what he'd read in a few grimoires and the few he had crossed paths with in his life-- and shockingly enough, none of those sources every breached the topic of what he should offer for breakfast the morning after.

"uh, everybody is different but most people put a couple spoons of sugar and some milk to cool it off and sweeten it up since coffee can be very bitter on it's own. i, on the other hand, prefer it that way..."

"I'm sorry to hear you didn't sleep well! Was it because of me?" Rico asks with a sad frown. To be fair, this is one of the few times he woke up later than his attendant. They usually suffer from exhaustion and blood loss. And Rico has to remind himself that he is not in his kingdom. People here are not his royal subjects. The whole point of this little picnic of his is to experience the world outside. And catch thieves, if it comes to that. "Anything I can do to help?" He offers, fascinated by the kitchen and coffee machine and everything in between.

His attention snaps back to Keagan and the question. "Oh, forget formality. This isn't the court and we're not even in public. In private, you can just call me Ricardo or Rico, either way works. In official capacity, though, your highness or Prince Ricardo should suffice." He grins at the mention of last night, "it was a bit unbecoming of a gentleman to... fornicate in the bathroom but it was exciting, I must say."

He takes the mug, clearly excited to try the coffee. "Thank you. What do you... regular people put in your coffee? I cannot say I've actually had homebrewed coffee."

????

the fates had a funny way of making people cross paths; like children playing with their favorite toys, putting them wherever they liked or in strange situations without any regard to sense or logic. they certainly seemed to enjoy playing with caidence. why else, after all this time, would he find himself in some idyllic, quaint little town-- the same idyllic, quaint little town that rictor had set up shop in; and no, that wasn't a play on words. the man had quite literally set up shop here in alexandria.

at first caidence didn't believe the whispers he heard. their relationship, if you could even call it that, had always been complicated at best. there was a closeness between them that allowed for... heated exchanges and moments stolen away together. they even, on occasion, worked with each other and for each other but there was never a discussion of what that could possibly mean for them. caidence didn't need it to mean anything, but part of him still felt hurt that the man didn't even bother to call him and let him know he had a shop now. what, were the harpies stolen trinket's not good enough for him to sell?

waltzing into the man's shop, caidence half expected it to be someone else with the same name-- he wouldn't put it past the fates, they really did have a sick sense of humor-- but much to his surprise the voice that greeted him as the bell annoyingly announced his presence was all too familiar. it really was him.

following after it, caidence approached the man as he worked but there was no grand reintroduction between the two of them. in fact, as rictor looked up at him it seemed as if the man didn't even recognize him; though that easily could have been the fault of those ridiculous glasses he was wearing. "yes, ahem. good day sir," caidence spoke, purposefully lowering his voice to try and disguise himself as he spoke. "i set up an appointment with you about a week ago. richard swallower? i had an old family heirloom i was hoping you could appraise for me..."

@unveiledvagabonds; for caidence to drop by rictor's store with a gift.

rictor was at his desk in the shop, loupe attached to his glasses. the witch was currently working on restoring an antique, being extremely meticulous and delicate with the object. it was a miniature sculpture that was at least a couple hundred years old. brush in hand, he was dabbing a little bit of plaster on a thin crack to cover it up. rictor adjusted the desklight shining down on it to check if he'd missed a spot. it was then when he heard the shopkeeper's bell ring, signalling a potential customer. "give me a moment! i'll be right with you." he called out as he tilted the sculpture around to catch the light.

satisfied that the crack had been covered, the witch placed the brush down on the wooden table, which in and of itself was also an antique. "now what can i do you for?" he asked, looking up from his work; not realising he still had his loupe on, and as such failed to immediately recognise the man before him due to his magnified and distorted vision.