Private Tales Learning Through the Bruising

[Sable Pembroke]

"Quitting time." The phrase wasn't something that Sable ever figured his line of work would feature, but the Anirian Knights actually had something of a routine when they weren't dispatched on missions. While routine was something Sable had learned to abhor in his time sealed up in Vel Salvus prison, the schedule that the Knights followed was by no means boring, and he admittedly valued the feeling of structure.

Of course, while the regular breaks were nice there did remain one small issue: knowing what to do with free time. Sable was still new to Vel Castere, to the squad. He knew virtually no one in town, and keeping up with his rigorous exercise routines could only soak up so many hours. A lack of new books had also left him a bit stumped, since off time usually found Sable wandering back to his room.

Perhaps his lieutenant had noticed that pattern. Sam had suggested food and drink following the end of their shift this night, and given that he hardly had any excuse to turn her down, he'd agreed. A quicker retreat to his quarters than usual was made, and after cleaning up and changing into his civvies Sable awaited Lieutenant Black outside their barracks. The sun was virtually down already, but the town was lighting up. Lively as it was, it seemed that they were hardly alone in their plans to make merry. The night awaited.

 

[Samantha Black]

Sam would have been sympathetic to Sable about him still being housed in one of the barracks buildings, but she'd never found pity to do much good for anyone. Beyond the bars of his former cell, the barracks were likely a vast improvement. New Knight recruits, at the very least, got their own rooms. Perhaps reminiscent of the Academy, they were provided with basic essentials, but if one couldn't do with the basics then it begged to question what they'd do with nothing at all when surviving out on a mission.

He'd passed his probation test and been granted the rank of Knight Sergeant by Captain Holstag, but he'd not yet been assigned to the Dragonsbane Squadron... or any Squadron for that matter. Not that Holstag would put him under anyone else but Sam, knowing his ... issues.

There were a few wrinkles to work out yet, but Sam was sure he'd be moving in to the last open room of the Dragonsbane Hall soon enough. For now it seemed he was having trouble making friends and finding time for socializing. This was very much not acceptable for many reasons.

Namely - all work and no play made Sable a dull fucking boi.

Ironically, Sam was still dressed in the majority of her training armor after having just left from a meeting with Captain Holstag and the other squadron Lieutenants. She met Sable with an expectant look, glancing over his civilian clothes and finding them to be quite strange indeed. Difficult when she'd been so adjusted to seeing him in nothing but armor for the last several months.

"You're in luck," she said to the taller Dreadlord (had he always been this tall?), "you won't have to put up with just me tonight. A bunch of Dragonsbane and Crosswind will be joining. It's Hammer's birthday."

They were headed to The Waterbell by the, you guessed it, water. How novel.

"Perfect time to celebrate your new rank," a smile planted itself on her face, equal parts pleased and proud with the results report Holstag had shared with her not but an hour ago, "and make some new friends."

 

[Sable Pembroke]

The months hadn't exactly been kind, but at least they'd gone by quickly. Sable still didn't feel like he'd earned his place among the Knights, but imposter syndrome was a powerful beast. He'd have to let go of it eventually...but denying himself any real recreation had honestly felt like more of a penance in his mind. Wholly unnecessary, as he'd been told many times.

Sam appeared at last and made her presence known, and Sable's head angled downwards to meet her eyes as she approached.

"Oh, alright ma'am," he replied, still very much in work-mode. Sam still being in her armor after hours felt fairly normal, but it didn't do much to put him at ease either. "I wouldn't have really minded either way. Wait, bollocks, I didn't get anything for Hammer..."

Callsigns were also something that Sable had forced himself to adjust to over the course of his probation. They weren't that strange, but it definitely wasn't something shared across the Dreadlords nor the Guard. Sable wasn't even sure he'd ever learned Hammer's actual name, which...wow, he really didn't socialize enough, did he?

That train of thought was quickly shaken by Sam's follow-up. He tailed her as she walked, familiar at least with the tavern they were making for.
"...New rank, ma'am?"

 

[Samantha Black]

"At ease...for the love of all the Gods," Sam snorted at him over a smirk. She liked that he was willing to address her appropriately but if he kept up calling her ma'am all night she was liable to dunk his head in a barrel of ale.

"I don't think you need to worry. We don't really do gifts as such. Mostly we just celebrate together. Time spent is more important, ya know?" It was how the Squadrons worked together so well.

From the barracks down to the port district wasn't a short walk, but it did provide a great view of the rolling slopes of the south quadrant of Vel Castere and the glimmer of the river below. She'd never been to Elbion personally but she wondered if it felt a bit like this, walking the streets in the evening hours with the colors of the sunset and the spots of torch and lanterns in between the shapes and shadows.

"...new rank, ma'am?"

She didn't hold her stride but her voice did pick up so it would carry, "Yeah, didn't you hear? You're a Knight now, Sable. And a blooming good one at that, according to your scores."

"And stop calling me ma'am - you're off-duty!"

 

[Sable Pembroke]

The lieutenant called at ease, and Sable both smiled and winced, rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling as he did. Paying her respect had become a force of habit these last several months.

Time spent, she followed up.
"Right...I suppose I haven't been doing much of that. I'm starting to get the picture as to why you insisted on this," he said.

Despite the previous order, Sable followed in lockstep with Sam, though his eyes wandered over the surrounding landscape. This time of year and day it was actually rather breathtaking to behold, and Sable immediately began to regret all the time he'd been spending cooped up.

The news Sam delivered as they rounded a corner shocked Sable into halting, his jaw hanging slightly slack even as she continued on without him. Had it really been that long already? Despite himself, Sable's boggled stare quickly shifted into a pleased grin as he broke into a jog to catch up with the lieutenant.

"That's--I mean, thank you! I hadn't heard ma'am!" again with the honorifics. He shook his head, feeling foolish. "I mean, 'Sam!' Right, sorry ma--Sam. My bad."

 

[Samantha Black]

A sideways eye looked at him as he stumbled over his words but it was in good humor at his excitement, "There's a bit of paperwork to be done on my end and the Captain's, but we'll get you sorted and moved into the Hall in a few days. You're joining at the same rank as the others; Knight Sergeant."

Down a set of stone stairs that cut between buildings. Their footfalls echoed out, mingling with the sounds of a city slowly transitioning from the daytime churn to the nighttime hum.

"I'll need to assign your call sign, too," Sam said with a snap of her fingers, "that's gonna take some thinking. And maybe some drinking."

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"I'm honored, really," he replied, trying to brush off his stiff demeanor. To be awarded any rank higher than the lowest possible rank was a blessing. Being able to stand on the same level as the other members of Dragonsbane would be a breath of fresh air. Well, assuming he did end up there, that is.

Sable followed faithfully along the twisted urban path he knew Samantha had likely walked a thousand times before. They passed by a few civilians who smiled and waved pleasantly, familiar enough to greet Sam by name. That alone was a nice change from what Sable was used to; how many places had he been where the citizens seemed to outright hate the presence of Vel Anir's finest? Such experiences were disheartening, but Vel Castere seemed to have a great relationship with its protectors.

The snap of her fingers called his attention right back.

"Oh! Right. I admit, I haven't given that much thought...but I do like the idea of titling things," he mused, immediately thinking of the multitude of fictional tales he'd read in his life and the assortment of fancy names that had been bestowed upon heroes, places, and artifacts. Of course, it was Sable was the "thing" in question here. Maybe hazing should have been expected. He smiled, amused.

"Why do I get the feeling that the ale will leave me saddled with a sign that's laugh worthy?"

 

[Samantha Black]

The rueful chuckle from Sam might not have been reassuring to that end.

"Well... there's something about getting the title you deserve and I've yet to meet a Knight that deserved a shit title. But there are a few that came about from joking around. Cookie, for instance."

The expression on her face softened, warmed, as if thinking about a favorite grandparent which wasn't terribly far from the truth. "You haven't met him yet but you will. He's everyone's favorite and everyone's friend because he lives up to his name. He started as simply The Cook, a nickname they called him before the call signs became mandatory. Then just Cook. Then affectionately Cookie."

A shrug, a smirk, "It stuck. Nothing to be done for it. Knight Sergeant Cookie, haha."

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"Good practice, I like it," Sable commented. An alleyway passed them by, and Sable scratched a cat that stood atop a retaining wall as they passed by, the cat rubbing up to meet his hand.

"Cookie's not too bad. I think I could live with that if I wound up with something similar. I take it he cooks for the team?"

 

[Samantha Black]

"Best cook in the western army," Sam nodded, "his father was a professional chef and I believe he did a stint as one as well in his youth, after he did his two years with the military. War called him back to the front, after that he got recruited to the Knights. Turns out being a chef makes you pretty handy with knives." That went without saying, but she'd seen some things out in the field working alongside Cookie and they were not things she would soon repeat in polite conversation.

Or most sober conversations for that matter.

"If you're lucky enough to get a mission with him, you won't go hungry. I lucked out having him assigned to my hall, so we're fed real well when he's home."

 

[Sable Pembroke]

"Ha! Great to know. I tend to eat a lot, so it'll be nice to have someone like that around. Plus, a cook that can actually fight...I'm sure that's something to behold."

In time, the Waterbell came into view. The streets bustled with the night-time crowd, and it sounded like the merriment was already beginning to arise within the pub.

"Seems like a quaint place..." Sable noted aloud, commenting on the rustic look it had from the outside. He truly had no idea what sort of tomfoolery he might've been about to get involved in, but he'd heard plenty of tales of guardsmen getting up to no-good whenever they were on leave within a town. It wasn't exactly his tempo, traditionally, but the point of the night was to unwind.

Perhaps it was time to pull the stick out of his arse and just enjoy himself for once. He imagined Sam might agree.

 

[Samantha Black]

"He's a bit like a friendly boulder... with knives." Sam smiled to herself as she pictured the various missions she'd seen Cookie in action. For such a gentle and well-meaning man, he could bring a world of hurt on his opponents.

She stepped in through the entrance of the Waterbell like she was walking into her own home and felt her grin broaden at a rise of welcoming calls from a host of familiar faces. Spending a few moments greeting those closest, she then looked around for the man of the hour.

"There," she said, leaning toward Sable to speak with him over the din and pointing to a tall, dark-skinned man boasting a mane of dreadlocks and a bright, broad smile, "That's Hammer. Come, I'll introduce you to some of the Squadron."

The Waterbell was full to brimming tonight and much of its patrons had spilled out onto the decks that sat against the river. Barmaids were serving to makeshift tables on the decks while the main bar inside was shoulder-to-shoulder, not an open seat in sight. The noise had reached levels of raucous that the evening's band was nearly difficult to hear over the din of laughter, chatter, and celebration.

Sam pulled Sable through the crowds, more easily finding a path when it was parting people of lower rank.

"Hammer!" she called to the man, and he turned with a startle and immediately snapped into a drunken salut.

"LIEUTENANT IN THE HALL!" Hammer hollered, sending several others nearby into similar stances. Some swayed on their feet, others nearly toppled over.

"At ease birthday boy," she grinned and clamped a hand on his bicep, "we're in a bar, not a hall. Sable this is Haauuufff-" but she couldn't finish her sentence as Hammer pulled her into a giddy bear hug.

 

[Sable Pembroke]

Sable ducked inside after Sam to be met by the bustle within like a wall. The whole place seemed to know the lieutenant on a first name basis by the way folks smiled and greeted her as they passed. It served to make Sable realize just how badly he'd sequestered himself over the past months. He'd been in this town this long and knew...no one. Besides Sam, anyways.

Hammer was easy to pick out, especially as he was pointed out. Sable was fairly confident he'd seen him around before, just never made to introduce himself.

The space was tight as Sam led him along, especially for a guy as large as he was. The noise was something he'd have to get used to as well. He felt like a fish out of water and a sardine in a tin at the same time.

As the various knights drunkenly saluted Sam, Sable finally cracked a smile and chuckled. That chuckle became an outright laugh as he watched Hammer scoop the lieutenant off her feet like he did. It was clear Sable was going to have to play booze catch-up pretty hard if he wanted to enjoy the night properly.

"Nice to properly meet you, Hammer," Sable greeted the man, still chuckling. "And happy birthday!"

 

[Samantha Black]

Not every member of the Dragonsbane Squadron was in attendance, as Sable would learn. Several were out on mission, including Elias and Davi, while some others were off on personal leave for their turn in rotation. Who he did meet, though, was the motley crew of Mess, Mizer, Fern, Bigman, Cookie, a handful of others that Cait has yet to flesh out with names or personalities, and a fellow Knight Lieutenant that went by the name Sparrow.

"Pleasure," said Sparrow as she held out her hand to Sable over the table they were currently squashed into amidst the throngs of revelry and celebration, "I lead the Crosswind Squadron. Those are my blokes," she craned her head and squinted over the crowd, gesticulating vaguely, "over there. I'm sure you'll meet them eventually."

The Squadrons rarely crossed on missions save for the really big ones, when Knights were ordered out in large numbers for particularly heinous targets or stakes. But living within Vel Castere often provided plenty of opportunity for comingling and socializing.

"Especially in the training court," Sparrow grinned as she was handed a fresh flagon of ale by a waitress who was making the rounds, "tuck in," she nodded to them both, "this rounds on me."

Sam gratefully accepted, taking up a flagon for herself and jostling Sable with her shoulder, "Drink, Pembroke. You're stiffer than a virgin cock."

Sparrow sputtered over her drink and eyed Sable, "Are you a virgin? With that face? Shut the front door, mate. Oh we need to find him a woman - where's Marta? Marta! Has anyone seen Marta?!"

"Leave Marta out of it," Sam eyed her ruefully and took a prolonged sip from her flagon.

"You're right, she'd make a mess of him - oh don't, I'm just teasing you," Sparrow snickered at Sable.