[center][h3][color=C0392B]Rudolf Shilage[/color][/h3][/center]

[color=c0392b]"I'm surprised you aren't just dumping the chore on me. Has distance made the heart grow fonder?"[/color][sup]1[/sup] an acidic, wry drawl finally cut in, the scarred burn victim having found the object of his ire. There was, of course, an undercurrent of familiarity that seemed to neuter potential worries of faux pas, at least in this setting— most of the present staff either keeping busy or rolling their eyes. If the exchange just moments ago between father and son weren't already illustrative... [color=c0392b]"Or is it just sentimental old man brain taking over?"[/color]

[color=ff8c00]"I'll get to [i]you[/i] soon enough, [i]'Rodolfo[/i]'. You're staying exactly where I always put you, you're not my chief concern."[/color]

Rudolf seemed to accept his lodging without overmuch issue, but folded his arms at being brushed off. Evidently, part of him had been counting on trading a few more barbs than this— after the escalation of the entire fiasco in Drana Asnaeu, he'd not been kidding about expecting one or five earfuls right out the gate.

[color=c0392b]"And for the record, you ought to know the minds of northern barbarians pretty damned well."[/color]

The Earl scoffed, needing no elaboration as to what his erstwhile squire was getting at. [color=ff8c00]"Your [i]father[/i] isn't so much a northern barbarian as he is an outright force of malice. To let them claim him would be disingenuous. An insult to both."[/color][sup]2[/sup]

[color=c0392b]"I'm not hearing reasons not to. Not when they're coming from [i]you[/i]. Barbarians are full of malice, they maliciously clamor at the gates of the civilized, screaming for death and blood. And you [i]love[/i] insulting both."[/color]

[color=ff8c00]"[i]Enough[/i]. Keep prattling and I [i]will[/i] dump chores on you, boy."[/color]

Rudolf bit his tongue, properly disincentivized from continuing to prattle.

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[*][sub]1. You little turd, let other people talk. The butler was right, you [i]are[/i] impatient.[/sub]
[*][sub]2. The more I hear about this guy, the more I like him. Surely he and I coulda talked shop back then, if it weren't for that white mage flying off the handle over his shoulder.[/sub]
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