Fog surrounded the road leading to a large decorated estate, the mist seemed as it it was engulfing the building, the beach behind the structure lost in the grey clouds. Garret traveled, his red-shirt stuck to him as he passed through the humidity approaching the large wooden after a long trip. With a tired sigh he'd knock, being met with skeptical glares from the retainers. Should be used to it, he was a commoner with no special qualities approaching an estate of wealth he only dreamed of, but still- it felt bad, being looked down upon without even a word. Then again he'd have disappointed them anyways, though pass that thought along as he tucked the painting into his armpit. "I'm here to visit with Wolf." 'Oof, fuck they're not gonna like that, I ugh- gotta have class and um- etiquette...'
"Shut up country filth. How dare you even step on the Drache's land." the Retainers continued cursing down at Garret.
Above the porch, in a small cramped room with a painting of a blonde woman, Wolfgang was lying on his bed awake. It was the nearing dawn, and he never could close his eyes before then, ever since when he stood next to a door's opening while hearing his mother crying on shell of a man inside the room. Wolfgang heard a faint yelling as he looked at the window outside. He saw some Retainers draw swords on the only man he considered more than family, rushing downstairs to halt them.
"What the fuck are you attacking him for?!."
Watching as Wolfgang resolved the conflict, Garret would follow his friend, needing to ask some questions. The pair sat down on a couch, and with a sigh he would start-
"I need a small favor, just somewhere to place this old thing for the moment, seeing I live in a keep full of Sellswords it'll be safer here."
"What? Did you steal that or something? Stole someone's family painting?"
"Si, I stole a Ravenstad family portrait and I'm staching it at the Drache estate."
Sarcasm in his voice, Garret would set the painting aside before toning back into his regular tone. With a lighting of a Sigg and offering one to Wolfgang, he'd continue.
"It's mi family, a painting that hung in mi father's old house, but ever since his death- I can't afford to pay the rent on the home. I have no choice but to give it up and I have. This is the only thing needing storage, to void with the rest- it just reminds mi of how I wasn't th- nevermindā¦ Just- When I can afford mi own place I'll return for it, please don't let it get banged up or roll your Siggs on it?"
Wolfgang waved a dismissing hand to the Sigg going on-
"I mean, sure? I have space upstairs I can put it. I doubt his Grace wants to see it- eh. I'll keep it safe don't worry. And -uh, I quit smoking"
And with business out of the way and the safety of all he had left of his father, Garret would drink along with his friend
Hours pass, nighttime fell again as the pair drank, socialized, and traveled the entire day, falling back to the comfort of the estate. As the time and liquor passed, he found himself in the washroom with a newfound sense of confidence. Sweeping open the doors he'd start out to where both Wolfgang and an artist sat, seating himself by a high-set table with various needles nearby he'd nod with a smile.
"Wolf, I'm sick of mi past, sick of the experiences that have kept mi awake because of what I used to be. When I came to Regalia I had a philosophy to fight for what you find beautiful and I have lost that. But now I want to separate mi past self from what I am now, from all the horrible shit and crimes I've committed though, I will not also just deny what I once was. The Title of Hound always suited what I was, so now I mark it down- and cheers to separating the man I was- to the man I will become! I dub the title of hound to miself, and this art will symbolize it."
Wolfgang nodded along with the speech, faded from the night the pair had experienced as Garret kept on with his intoxicated speech. And with every exclamation he'd raise his flask to cheers of what he saw himself, a hound. And with that the decision was marked by a tattoo on Garret's right arm- a colored in picture of a Cearidan Bloodhound growing was imprinted, so the man had two animals- a Niloom on his left and a Hound on his right. As the artists started work Garret would cheer- the retainers scoffing at the drunk commoner, though he didn't care- feeling he filled a void, but only time would tell if what he had built will simply crumble again, leaving that hole deep inside him.
@Nitesho helped write and @FireFan96 cause it's at the Drache estate.
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