Jaklo stood off in the distance having waited around outside while the food cooked. He had come there earlier before to deliver a goose. He had happily used his talents to procure a one fresh from the skies. Even then that was a brief meeting that he quickly removed himself from. As much as he did enjoy cooking, something he was often picked out for, he felt uncomfortable being there on his own. While he certainly saw Lenya as a friend. There was something disconcerting to him about being somewhere new even if it was just someone else's house.

The hunter sighed looking away from the waves and up to the house. He wasn’t particularly excited about the dinner. He had been earlier, but something was nagging at him. Veterans day wasn’t a holiday particularly important to him, but Wulf had always mentioned a number of friends who had served. Jaklo, being the good apprentice he was, would go with Wulf to memorials and graves and the very rare meeting with old friends. It had been strange not doing that now. Just one more thing to adjust to with him.

Jaklo walked by the dock not acknowledging anyone and into the garden to inspect the statues. Perhaps after the drink started flowing he’d be more inclined to talk. For now he was a stranger in a strange land and his instincts were kind of kicking in. A part of him insisted to know everything about anything here. It lied somewhere between a minor paranoia and instinctual obsession.

In the back of his mind he had other thoughts. Memories of the times he spent with his family. He had always kept them at a distance worried they might discover what he really was. They didn’t need to know. They didn’t need the worry. Even then the holidays were a time where none of that mattered because they were family. Distant, confused, and often uncertain, but family.


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By far the most excited by the events was Markiel. He had not been to a St. Martin’s day celebration in quite some time, or even been back to Poland. He had however been able to procure a fresh batch of Rogal świętomarciński, a polish pastry made specifically for the day, and was extremely delighted to share them with the other members of the office. As much as he was their boss he much prefered to be a friend and leave the real management to Seph. He was dressed in a red and black argyle sweater happily enjoying the colder temperatures. Everything was reminding him of home and a great many holidays spent there.

The other manager was less enthusiastic. He certainly enjoyed the thought of a nice dinner, but there was always something strange when he crossed the barrier from boss to friend. He didn’t have the social gifts that Markiel had and as such often couldn’t balance the disconnect quite right. This often left him to avoid such events, but Markiel had almost forced him into coming insisting that if he didn’t come to this he would force Seph to come to the office christmas party. He stood at the back of the group hidden away in his brown “formal” trenchcoat.

Markiel stepped up Lenya and took her hand kissing it like the old man that he was.

“Thank you for welcoming us all into your home on this fine night. It’s been far too long since I’ve gotten to celebrate Martinmass. So few in the states even seem to know what it is. Though it’s strange to be the only catholic at one of these.”

While he was always an open person in the jovial attitude of the evening he felt much more like himself than he had in a long time. He thought back to his conversation with Mithias and to all the many good years with good friends. With luck this would be another day not soon forgotten.