Chapter Text
While 'Innkeep' cleaned their glasses, they heard the bell ring signalling a patrons arrival, not thinking much about it they continued their mindless cleaning waiting on the other to start the conversation as they walked towards the bar, an automatic route now at the sound of the bell. Lifting their head, they stopped in their tracks at the oh so familiar face staring back at them.
He took a seat at the bar acting like any other patron. He sat there smiling as if the history between them never happened, and as if he wasn't the wanted necromancer they had just sent the two groups off to stop. "Hello." As if he wasn't the past they had tried so hard to run away from.
"Greetings, traveler." If he wanted to play this game, so could they. The paladin necromancer stared blank back at them expectantly, probably was expecting more of a massive blow out or perhaps just something more than a generic greeting. "Nice armour, is it new?"
"No. Doesn't it seem familiar?" It sure did, how could they forget the armour of the person that was the reason they had lost everything the loved the first time around, the people they cared about most. The face wearing the armour now was different but no less deadly, no less recognisable. They did not want to dwell on that.
"The flowers certainly do. I'm guessing you keep my books, Looks like it came in handy." The orange gladiolus, always a favourite of his, barely saw him without. The yellow zinnia and orange marigolds they were all to familiar with, they used to decorate the Tavern with them, it's how they ended up meeting Fable, but now they just keep a few pressed in their room and only place them around during the day their friends passed. The pink petunia however, clearly directed at them, they couldn't blame him however, the commitment to probably always have a fresh one seemed a bit much. That did remind them they had a shipment due soon of flowers, it was getting round to the time of year they would put them up, as long as the world didn't end before then that is.
He just stared at them blankly, clearly seeing how the innkeeper kept deflecting, tiptoeing around the subject of his arrival. It wasn't going to last forever, one of them was going to address the elephant in the room just not quite yet.
"You know I imagined this place differently. It's nice." He mused ignoring the others previous comment. Or rather avoiding it.
"Thank you." They were about to go off on some of the usual decoration small talk they usually had prepared when people mentioned it, but the other interrupted.
"But I thought you'd be long gone by now. After all, you like running, don't you?" There it was. God the memories, the burning in their legs, their wounds pulsing with pain, vision tunnelled. If you had asked them which direction they came from they couldn't tell you. Fuck, the memories made them nauseous.
"I like it here." Was all they could get out with the past weighing heavily on their mind.
"You know, it's not advised to stay in one place for too long. Eventually the past will catch up to you." By the dragons he was acting like they didn't know that, even they weren't sure why they stayed when they knew something like this would happen.
"I can see that." Well they knew now, it took some time but they had grown attached to the regulars coming in and out of their tavern, they couldn't just leave them. Especially not now.
The necromancer sat silent at the response, looking increasingly unimpressed. Well, they might as well rip the band aid off now. No point drawing it out any longer. "What brings you here, really, Quasar?"
Quasar grinned finally hearing his name leave their mouth, he was starting to worry they had forgotten it. "You know, this and that." It was the innkeeper's turn to be unimpressed, Quasar amused at this. "I paid Marrow Castle a visit. It's quite serene this time of year."
'Innkeep' tilted their head at the information. "What for?" Why would he feel the need to visit the Castle, was it to see Lady Evelynn?
"Sightseeing. Trespassing…" He explained casually as if discussing the weather.
Trespassing? The innkeeper's blinked in surprise. "You broke in?" That didn't seem like him, Quasar wouldn't do something like that unless entirely necessary. Or at least the Quasar they used to know, then again the Quasar they used to know wouldn't have done half the things he's done now.
"No, of course not. I walked in." He almost faked being insulted before a smug grin came over his face. "I was persistent in my approach. Politely, I knocked on the door."
The Innkeeper deadpanned. "How 'polite' of you" Sarcasm dripping from their voice that Quasar just brushed off.
"Unfortunately, vampires these days have no hospitality. No one came forth to greet me, so I had to let myself in." He grew frustrated and the innkeeper, honestly couldn't tell wether the other was mock upset about it or not. Surely he wasn't serious.
"That was a bit rude of you, no?" Could he at least be self aware.
"Rude? Innkeeper, politeness has always been a virtue I stand by." Quasar countered. He often pride himself in his manners, but he certainly wasn't going to be pushed over by a rude host.
The innkeeper chuckled "I don't remember you as a polite person." they jested. It was a complete lie, sure he had his moments of rudeness and snippy comments, mostly at them, but he certainly was polite to those who deserved it.
Quasar clearly wasn't as amused by this. "Your mind must be failing you." He took a breathe before continuing his retelling of events. "The manor was derelict. Seems like even vampires are abandoned eventually. Inside, broken glass and blood speckled the ancient halls. A shame. It must have been such a beautiful estate once. But I didn't dwell too long. I took my chance to get what I wanted without any inconvenient interference." He was boasting by the end of his story, although polite he was inexplicably prideful.
'Innkeep' put the glasses they were cleaning down, leaning against the bar on their elbows. "And what would that be?" They inquired, their interest clearly piqued.
"Curious as ever, aren't you?" Quasar teased mimicking the others pose, old habits die hard it seemed. He's surprised they hadn't fallen into other old habits, yet.
"That's why I made it my job."
"What? Being nosy?"
"Something like that. People like to talk. Especially to those that trust you."
Quasar scoffed, shaking his head, "You manipulate your patrons into telling you their darkest secrets?" Was he surprised? no. Why would he be. This is still the same old warlock he once knew, once called —
"I don't manipulate. I listen. To their woes and their successes." The innkeeper thought fondly about their different patrons, each with a different story, watching the evolve and grow with each mission they take.
Quasar face slowly fell hearing the other talk, they talked with such care about their new friends, the ones the didn't run away from. The replacements.
'Innkeep' seemed a bit unaware of this as they moved back to the previous topic. "Anyways, I'm all ears. What would Lady Evelynn have that you, Quasar Duskbringer, would want?"
Quasar recovered quickly, they didn't deserve to see him vulnerable. Not anymore. "Just a little blood. Ingredients for the execution of a grand design." He seemed chuffed with himself, as he should be after all this time planning. He needed. He deserved what he worked so hard for.
The innkeeper seemed a little taken a back "Grand design? We were never ones to make big plans." There was barely any plans at all with that group, just chaos, ego and a lot of luck. Until their luck ran out
"Speak for yourself." Quasar grew agitated, the others assumption in his lack of ability to plan big, their doubt in him only adding to the fire.
They sighed at the other annoyance, his temper certainly hasn't changed. "Maybe time's changed you. Oddly enough, you still look the same." He looked older but that was to be expected. He was only human after all.
He took pride in their comment, of course he looked the same, if not better, he put a lot effort into maintaining his appearance. "I had to make sure you'd recognize me after all." And the others.
"How could I forget you?" The words came out before 'Innkeep' was able to stop them, the two both seemed stunned by the statement, before Quasars face turned to rage.
"It seemed like it was pretty easy for you to move on."
"It wasn't."
"Yet you're hiding. You ran away from everything that once mattered to build a life behind a counter at a shabby tavern." His voice rose as he slammed his fist against the table, scaring Andu and Renu as a result meanwhile the innkeeper kept calm.
"Is that why you're here? To throw your accusations around?" they spoke an eerie calm in their voice, ah the old customer service voice plus fae uncanniness a horrifying combination truly.
And yet Quasar settled down, this wasn't why he was here. He can let his anger get the better of him. "No. I guess I just wanted one last chat now that everything's coming to an end. And I'm curious about how this old friend of mine is doing. So how are you doing, friend?"
There was a pregnant pause. They hadn't heard him refer to the much as a friend even when they did get along. Well it's not like they'll likely see him after this, may as well be honest. Better late then never at least. "I'm worried the world we know will end."
Quasar grinned "That doesn't worry me one bit —"
"I'm worried the world they knew will end" the world their friends knew, worked hard to protect, the world they love and the world they taught the innkeeper to love. They looked out the window, the stars they sat under talking about everything and nothing, gone in one night, they didn't have much left of their friends to remember them by.
Quasar was left with his mouth agape, he'd had never thought 'Innkeep' would be this sentimental, the one they knew was so nonchalant about everything, keeping distance with the others, never revealing much about their past or feelings and yet here they were afraid and sentimental. This can't be right.
"How are you doing?" They asked, if they could gauge his emotions maybe they could get through to him. It's better than nothing.
Quasar snapped out of his own stunned thoughts, processing the questioned he scoffed "Do you even want to know?"
"It's my job. And my tavern is open to everyone." His walls were building up again, it's almost infuriating how easily he can do it yet, they can't find it in them to blame him one bit for it.
He chuckled before arguing "Your protection spells beg to differ."
"They let you through, didn't they?" They countered, even with everything Quasar had done they struggle to see him as a threat. They weren't naive, they knew he was powerful, the events outside showed as much, part of them just couldn't part with the paladin they met always wanting to help people.
Quasar stayed silent. As much as he would argue about it he knows the others magical abilities. They weren't stupid when it came to that at least, how they usually chose to use it however was questionable at best. Psychopathic at worst.
"So, how about a drink? And then you tell me whatever it is you need to get off your chest."
the offer caught him off guard though he was no less intrigued. "Sure. Let's see if you still know me well enough. And if you remember what I taught you." If they were as honest about their statements earlier then this should be a simple task for the other. If not, we'll it'd prove what he already, and his next choice would be simple.
'Innkeep' chuffed rolling their eyes playfully "Of course I do." The innkeeper moved to the back of the bar behind the wall to make his drink.
Andu shook nervously in his bucket clearly shaken by the necromancers presence, the memories of Quasar playing fondly with Andu now only tainted by the fear he now caused their precious familiar. Petting their head trying to help soothe the creature, it wasn't working so well. They'll,make a note to spoil them after closing, especially if this really is the end of the world.
Focusing on making a drink for the other their friend, yeah that's what this was. They could only dream of that now, what if they hadn't run, what if they had at least gone back to check. They can't do this cycle of what ifs again, they had already spent years ruining their life with it.
Now for a simple, sweet, charismatic drink. Which recipe would work best? Maybe best to stick with a classic, better to not complicate it. They started by pouring just a small amount of ignis, followed by the main body cantio, then adding just a drop of frigus. The basic recipe for a spoken heart.
The vortex zipped the drink just like any other to the awaiting… Quasar…
They returned round to the front just as the drink arrived. They stood under the archway leaning on the post arms folded, cloth over their shoulder. "How about this? Sweet and chatty."
He snickered at the straw before taking a sip. "Hmmm… Not bad. Almost taste like back in the day." Back when they were practising, kind of using the party a test subjects — willing test subject — the laughter when they dropped the cup causing absolute chaos.
"Did you think I'd forget?"
He smirked "Yes. I assumed you're as good at abandoning memories as you are at abandoning people." He said twisting the metaphorical knife deeper.
"Ouch." They put and hand over their heart dramatising a hurt expression on their face.
He shook his head before looking more thoughtful "It seems like people are right about one thing though."
"That would be?" They questioned eyebrow raised, were they gonna get a backhanded compliment or actual praise
"Your drinks can influence fate. They can't save people, but they can push them in a direction. Alter their destiny."
They scoffed "I wouldn't go that far. I simply do my best to support my patrons in their endeavours." As amazing as that could be, image being able to guarantee success on a mission by one simple drink, then again the stress of making the wrong drink and leading to their death. They don't think they could live with themselves themselves if that happened.
"Will you support my endeavour?"
The room went still as if even the clocks stop ticking.
"As I said, I serve everyone in this tavern." The goal was admirable they admit, the way he was doing it. They just couldn't imagine agreeing with it.
Quasar hummed in contentment "How noble. How awfully… morally grey. How opportunistic. It's like nothing's changed."
The stayed silent for a moment soaking in the comment while Quasar acted like he had figured them out, a feeling they did not like in the slightest. They hold their privacy close. "It's better that way." sometimes too close.
His grin only grew wider as he felt he'd cracked the code "Making decisions for people, leading them to their doom… All because you can't help but wonder what a little entropy would do." He kept his gaze on the innkeeper watching as his word got under their skin, they stiffened their face hardening.
"I help." They spoke plainly burying attempting to bury any feelings that tried to surface.
Quasar face shifted into a snarl, a look of disgust mixed with anger. "You help, sure. You always liked to 'help' when it was most convenient for you. When it got people to love you." They had helped the group for years, they grew trust with everyone but yet when they were needed the most they abandoned them, they abandoned him.
'Innkeeper' just stood silent, barely listening to the other as he slowly faded out sounding muffled as their head and thoughts grew heavy. Their skin burned as nauseating guilt sat in their throat sinking into their chest.
Quasar straightened his back arms folded as he spoke. "I hope all your 'helping' has aided you in forgetting them."
"I don't forget them." They defended focus now turning back to the other eyes tired.
This sent Quasar into a rage "Oh, so you didn't forget them? You're certainly acting like you did. I couldn't sleep, or eat for months. Hell, I didn't know how to act like a person for years, I didn't know what to do with myself now that they were gone. Here I was stuck pacing on that battlefield alone, but yet I wasn't the only person to survive but I was alone." His mannerism became more erratic, practically clawing at the counter. "And by the end of it, when nothing was left, when I had finally stopped pacing, there was just one question: How could the one person I trusted with my life turn on me like that? How dare they leave me with nothing but the stars, staring at them alone… wondering whether the blood, their blood, would ever wash off? And how by the Dragons and their false light… this. A shabby tavern on the outskirts of a town. While there's still blood on your hands. You left me!" He was panting when he was done with his outburst.
Once his breathing had evened out he looked callous, glaring into the innkeepers soul. Trying to bore wholes into it. "It took me way too long to realize that I didn't have to give up — that I'm not like you. That it doesn't have to be their blood that sticks to my hands."
They let the other catch his breath properly before speaking calmly "So you've decided to have everyone else's blood on your hands? They're gone, Quasar." They tried to get him to see reason, it wasn't truly their blood on his hands, more so their soul dust, but he didn't need to know that. But to replace that with thousands of peoples live, the very world in existence was surely not a worthy trade.
He looked at the other with almost a manic smile "Not for much longer. Soon the stair rain and the flood that washed away our yesterday will open the gates to a new tomorrow. A new horizon awaits, unhaunted by still ghosts, by our friends." He explained it so simply for them to understand.
"Quasar"
"Innkeeper"
They sighed. "Why would you do something like this?" This felt so out of left field, so insane, so not how they remembered him.
"Don't we owe it to them? The you I knew would've agreed."
Ugh they didn't even want to think about how reckless they used to be, sure they were a primordial warlock, it's part of the job description but they were so ugh… is this how humans feel about their teenage phase. "The me you knew was foolish. Some situations are hopeless and decisions aren't always easy."
"Decisions are quite easy if you set your mind to it."Quasar stated dismissing the other "Say I need to tear apart Cassiopeia's wings for the stars to rain in Gaia."
'Innkeep' humoured him. "An ambitious task. If not a reckless one."
Quasar continued, dismissing the comment. "I could decide not to and abandon my plans because I'm intimidated by the complexity — Or 'scared' of the consequences, maybe worry about others opinions. But no, instead I choose to stick with it and get what I want. I don't give up. I succeed. It truly is that simple. If you care, you'll get it done. No matter how much effort it may take."
They didn't miss the subtle dig at them. "Everyone was dead."
"I wasn't" He was quick to correct staring at them deadpanned.
They looked at him with an expression he couldn't quite work out. "I can see that now." There was a hint of… regret in their voice.
"What did we mean to you?"
"Everything"
Quasar sat in pure shock at the instant response. That, that can't be right, they can't have cared. "Liar"
The silence between the two stretched for a solid minute as they both avoided the others gaze. Quasar's mind filled with a concoction of emotions spiralling around. 'Innkeep' looking… tired.
Quasar exhaled finger tracing the shape of the glass. "Do you still ponder the meaning of life, watching the stars?"
"No. There aren't any anymore." They stated, gazing past the other mourning the blank sky outside the window.
"It's better that way. It means there's no risk of getting caught up in trivial things." He rationalised taking another sip of the drink, it was the only thing able to keep him talking at this moment.
"Like getting caught up in the thought of a world without pain."
"Like that."
"So naive."
"So stupid." he retorted narrowing his eyes at them.
"It meant everything to me." the sky, the stars, their friends old and new, the life they built then and the life they've built now. They were never good with emotions but they learnt to appreciate and cherish the things and people around them.
Quasar stood up from the stool pointed yelling at the other "Don't lie to me! I know you're tricks!" His breathing was erratic before slowly stabilising. The innkeeper just watched over him, one look in their eyes and his accusations crumbled.
He slumped back down in the chair rubbing his face. "So why doesn't this feel like one." His outbursts having tired him out enough for him to be a tad more reasonable, a tad more like his older self.
'Innkeep' chuckled moving back to be closer to the bar. "Hate to be the barer of bad news. It's because it's not."
"So what, you want me to stop all this and hold hand with you replacement singing kumbaya?" He dramatically retorted as he grew frustrated.
They shrugged "Wouldn't hurt to try?" They suggested playfully.
He deadpanned, their capability fluctuate moods the way they do was intriguing if not aggravating "I'm being serious."
"So am I." They teased, although it had a bit of hope. They doubted that's all it would take to convince him but it'd be nice to even help push him towards that direction.
He rolled his eye "You infuriate me."
"I know." And they were about to infuriate him more, they were well aware he was a stubborn man he explained as much earlier but that was nothing new. "So, you think this is what they would have wanted? What they deserve to come back to. What good is it to bring them back to a broken world so different from what they knew, what they loved destroyed."
Quasar scowled "It's more than what you're doing. Tell me more about how gracious you are after leaving us to die." his hands frantically and dramatically making his outrage clear.
"I'm not saying I'm a good person." They muttered before explaining. "I'm saying they are, and the friends I knew would hate what you're doing right now. I mean actually think about it." Quasar looked at them suspiciously, clearly not understanding. "Delphi the folk hero known for saving lives, Kya the sweetest person alive and would give you the clothes off her back if you needed them, Aegeus although dealt with customer service nightmares for year, still saw and valued the people around him"
Quasar snorted, it was nice to see him genuinely smiling. 'Innkeep' just stared at him in awe at his amusement. "I remember him talking about the creme brulee incident, he was completely dumbfounded at the request."
"Who wouldn't?" 'Innkeep' couldn't help but join in with a chuckle before continuing. "And Cain already had a second chance. Don't you think if the Great Spirit Dragon thought he'd need to come back they would have sent him back." They tried to reason.
Quasar, unfortunately, wasn't having any of it. "The Dragon's are useless." They never helped, never stepped in when needed. All because they didn't believe in meddling in mortal matter, they certainly don't mind being involved with mortals when being worshipped.
"The old you would have never dare to think that." They argued, the paladin they knew sung the Dragon's praises, not obsessively but being a paladin it probably just came naturally.
He frowned "The old me was foolish."
"Guess that makes two of us." They shrugged quoting the others earlier comment, Quasar was not as humoured by the statement. Well, he certainly wasn't going to like this one. "Would it not be better to just let them rest?"
"What?" He was caught off guard by the sudden claim.
"I mean, looking at it from an emotional sense they aren't going to be happy to come back to — well, what's left of the world — and in a practical sense your not exactly as young as you used to be." They watched as the others face turned from shock to a scowl, clearly taking offence.
"Excuse me? You don't exactly look spry." he countered.
They certainly knew that, their backs been telling them for years. "But I've still got a couple centuries in me. You've barely got over a decade." Saying those words out loud made them sick, if they weren't such a coward they could have had more time. Not like they have time now, after today who knows how long the world has, even while not having the most pleasant conversation, they'd rather spend that time talking with him then not.
"No wonder you could abandon us so easily if that's all you see us as." It was seemingly clear to Quasar just exactly how they valued their friends, no wonder they prefer the replacements, longer lifespans, the longer they can be useful for them.
They stalled before chuffing "Trust me, I tried. Tried to think about the practicality to keep distance. To not get attached."
"Did it work?" He asked unamused. He already knew the answer —
"Not in the slightest. It only made the guilt worse for wasting time not spending it with them while I could. I always thought I'd have more time then I did."
The honesty caught him, he hadn't expected that. "Well, I guess we're both guilty of that. It was both of us hiding away, looking at scrolls and artefact for hours on end. I thought the only persons time I was wasting was my own, and yours."
"It was never a waste of time spending it with you, not to me." They admitted, unashamedly for once, if this was the last time they'd meet the least they could do is be honest.
That was unexpected. The warlock had never really been the one to show emotions having more of a milder look on life, but here they were being more emotionally vulnerable over the course of this discussion then any of their time together before. "Did you ever stop regretting? Did the feeling of guilt fade into nothing?" The curiosity got to him, if they were being honest like this now he wanted to know the truth.
They shook their head "No. But it got easier to manage."
He appeared unimpressed, they surely couldn't actually be sentimental, they surely couldn't care, if they cared they wouldn't have left. "I'm sure the replacements helped with that."
They sighed "I would never replace them. But these people are alive, I can help them. I learnt my lesson in running away. I'm not going to waste this second chance." They weren't gonna sit by while they could still do something
"And I'm just here. Alone." He didn't want to be alone anymore. He was sick of it. 30 years he's spent alone.
"You don't have to be." Their gaze and voice softened as they spoke.
He scoffed pushing the now empty cup away from him."And abandon them like you did. Fat chance." The vortex came and took the empty cup from the counter.
"There's really no convincing you, huh." Their could be one way but they couldn't hurt him like that… he's already been hurt enough.
"Unfortunately for you." Quasar mocked, arms crossed as he smirked as they finally realised the seriousness of his decision.
They chuckled "Still as stubborn as ever. Fine, what's your plan if they're unhappy with what you've done? I mean we fought with Kerebosia for less." They hoped the other would see sense, if not for the world or them then for their friends.
Quasar sat stone-faced, how dare they suggest they were anything like Kerebosia. He had things he cared about, he had people he cared about those he loved and cherished. That's who he was doing it for after all. But they did have a point, what if they came back upset with him, with what he had done… No he couldn't dwell on it too much not now. He'd come too far to turn back now.
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." He deflected. No point worrying about what if's now, if they're upset, he'll deal with that, but they'll be back.
"You hate going into things without a plan." He barely like going to the local market without a plan and would lose his mind if the other divulged from it.
He grumbled looking off to the side. "Since when did you start knowing me so well?" They knew him very well realistically, they were the one he was the most vulnerable with in his entire life.
"Since you saw me being chased by five, six guards I believe." They couldn't help but make the joke.
Quasar snorted at that statement, he'd almost forgotten how much they really despised each other when they first met, what a funny way fate had at making the innkeeper the person they hated the most but lo- cared for the most. "Maybe you're memory isn't as bad as I was giving you credit for."
"How could I forget it." There was a tenderness in their voice.
A tenderness that only made the wounds hurt so much worse."You felt pretty okay forgetting me on that battlefield." he muttered. They shouldn't be letting them get to him like this but seeing they way they look at him now, he can't help but wonder.
"I thought you were dead. I'm honestly glad to see you're not, minus the situation at hand." They had assumed everyone had dies or was on deaths door, it didn't excuse their cowardice but it explained their thought process.
What a lousy excuse. He wasn't dead, they never even came back to check. To see if maybe someone survived but no they left and never turned back.
"Now if this is the last time I get to see you before the world end I don't want to spend it arguing." Enough with the sorrow and the back and forth, this may be their last night alive that they get to see Quasar after 30 years, they didn't want to waste all of it just convincing him even though they really should.
Quasar squinted at them suspiciously "Since when were you the sentimental type."
"When I had to deal with losing the people I care about."
Nope, nope, nope. He wasn't going to get stuck in an emotional loop with them he had plans he needed to complete. "Well unfortunately, I'll have to leave soon before your little pawns interfere with my threads of fate." He spoke standing up from the stool. "Gertrude? Come on. It's time to go home."
'Innkeep' tilted their head confused. Who was Gertrude? They didn't need to wonder for long as the crow flew over from its branch down to the counter next to Quasar. What. The. Fuck.
The tongued their checked annoyed "Care to explain?" They stood arms folded unimpressed by the infiltration of privacy of both them and their patrons.
He shrugged, a shit eating grin as he explained "I sent you a little companion so you wouldn't be so alone. But I need her back now."
"Sent me a spy but didn't come to see me yourself?" They sounded almost offended as they questioned the necromancer.
"I didn't think you'd care to see me." He stated blatantly, because he was right, they wouldn't want to see hi-
"I would have." That certainly interrupted his train of thought. Their sighing bringing him back to reality. "You don't have to do this."
He shook his head, dismissing the idea. "I don't… But I will. I owe it to them, and so do you." The letter he had written, then rewrote a millions times before, if not for seeing that vampire fellow at the market he may have never given it to them. "Speaking of which — my invitation. The offer still stands. Join me and watch as I repair what you destroyed 30 years ago. Join me to witness the renaissance of times past." This would be his last offer to them, to fix everything.
"I can't. my place is here." The thought was tempting, to just fix everything. But they knew it'd never work. It was never possible.
His charming smile faded into a frown, of course, why did he expect anything different. "What a pity. It almost pains me to see you haven't changed one bit."
"I've moved on. You should try it sometime." They offered gently.
He tsked "Spoken like a true coward. It's not like I need you anyway. Not anymore."
The innkeeper stayed quiet, they could stay out of this, they should stay out of it. They were a neutral party that's all, help those who come in and just don't get too attached… But that clearly didn't work. So it's either hurt Quasar's feelings and potentially waste people time on their quests, with the risk he doesn't listen or believe them or risk everyone's safety outright and the fate of the world resting on wether or not they are all able to be successful… Okay so there's obviously a clear answer here, why did it have to be the most difficult one.
"Well, seeing as you don't want to listen to reason I suppose I'm gonna have to use facts." That grabbed his attention.
"Facts?" He chuffed, as if he didn't already know the facts.
"Ones, you're not going to like." 'Innkeep' warned.
Again with the being cryptic about what they want to say, they can never just say things outright "What is it?"
They took a deep breath, maybe they could use a drink. "You do realize you opened five portals thirty years ago, right. Using the scroll the one we'd promise to never use, the one we hid from the group?"
"Soul shatter. The only way to survive, the portals opened as a byproduct of Kerebosia's torn soul. And? What are you getting at?!" Were they really going to start ridiculing him for surviving for doing what needed to be done.
"It's not a judgement. I'm certainly not one to speak. But Kerebosia was one person. But four other people died that day, didn't they? Five dead. Five portals. Do you think that's a coincidence."
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. "You- you have to be lying, surely you would have told this sooner if it were true." This can not be all for nothing.
"I wanted to spare you from knowing what you did to them. I was giving you a chance. You've clearly been suffering for so long with this I didn't want to make it worse but you deserve to know."
No! He can't loose them."I don't believe you. I can still save them!" He slammed his hands on the counter before storming off to the front door.
"Quasar." He stopped turning to look at the other, a manic craze in his eyes, breathing erratic. 'Innkeep' spoke softly. "There'll always be a place for you here, if you change your mind."
He laughed shaking his head, "And if I don't?" he tested.
A mournful expression crossed their face. "Then I suppose this is goodbye, old friend." Maybe he's too far gone. At least they tried. They couldn't watch him leave, focusing on cleaning a different glass.
Quasar paused hearing what the other had to say before opening to door…
"Goodbye, 'Rune'."
Their head snapped up to the door, but all that met them was the sound of the bell as the door closed.
Maybe it's time to close up for the night. It felt like they were walking in a trance, doing each task without thinking about it. Their familiar sensing the change in behaviour, he disregarded his food instead hopping into the warlocks lap, snapping them out of their own thoughts.
The innkeeper chuckled at this, now back in reality. Thy pet Andu before setting them done back at their bowl to eat. Time for bed they think, they got ready before blowing out the candle and hitting the sack.