A day to the inauguration, Tohgi walked around the festival exploring the stores when he came across a food stall selling different varieties of roasted meat. He was enticed by his options and was deliberating on what to buy when Winfell appeared.
Winfell: yo
Tohgi: I am kind of busy right now, don't need any distractions
Winfell: That's harsh, do you also like these stalls?
Tohgi: I'm guessing you're a regular here, any recommendations?
Winfell: They're all good, it is a family tradition to come here during the festivals
Tohgi: Is that so? Well thanks for your help. See ya!
Winfell: wait
Tohgi: (does he not get the hint)
Winfell: we're not all the same you know, I noticed how you detach yourself from everyone here.
Tohgi: You seem like a nice guy, I guess you feel the need to stretch a helping hand and all that, but I'm just not interested.
Winfell: Aren't you judging a bit too quickly?
Tohgi: I said it was a guess, wouldn't you have done the same if it was any other southerner you met at the examinations?
Winfell: I'm not sure
Tohgi: I am not saying you're the same, I am just not interested in finding out, it's too bothersome
Winfell: Okay let's make a trade, since you value your time how about all your expenses in the festival today are on me and in exchange you share a drink with me?
Tohgi: Don't you have anything better to do with your money?
Winfell: trust me I don't
Tohgi: (that rich huh?) okay.
Tohgi turned to the stalls to take advantage of the offer he just got.
Tohgi: Can I have 6 suya sticks, 2 takoyaki packs, 2 servings of lamb chops, ten sea seafood dumplings, 2 servings of your special crispy chicken pops, 2 servings of your stir fried calamari, 1 whole roasted catfish and 2 lobster tails. Thank you very much.
Winfell: Oh no need to hold back at all.
Tohgi: Well, you did say you have nothing to do with your money, lead the way.
Winfell: Bars don't usually allow food brought from outside, Luckily I know one that does
Tohgi and Winfell walked to the bar he spoke about, it looked very minimal, it was quiet with fewer customers. Tohgi was shocked.
Winfell: you look shocked, not up to your taste?
Tohgi: This is more my taste actually, I didn't think it would be yours.
Winfell: I am friends with the owner, he's from a family that used to work for my family
Tohgi: so a southerner? Are you attracted to southerners?
Winfell: I don't have any particular interest in southerners, I just don't see a reason why someone's circumstance should make me treat them differently.
Tohgi: hmm… well aren't you going to eat?
Winfell: Oh you ordered for two?
Tohgi: Are you trying to say I am a starved southerner that has never seen good food so I eat like a pig at any opportunity I get?
Winfell was in utter shock at conclusion Tohgi drew from his question.
Winfell: What?!?! How the hell did you even come to that conclusion?
Tohgi laughed hysterically at the panic and shock on Winfell's face.
Tohgi: What the hell is that reaction?
Tohgi continued laughed and Winfell joined him.
Winfell: what the hell is that laugh? (This is the first time I have seen him smile or laugh, didn't expect it to be this loud)
Tohgi: I was just joking, to loosen you up a bit, but I did not expect you to look like you were having a heart attack, you were right, I was too quick to judge, you might actually be fun.
Winfell: I see.
Tohgi: I actually do have a large appetite when it come to meat.
Winfell looked at the table in front of them.
Winfell: Tohgi, I just realised...
Tohgi: what?
Winfell: this is all meat, where's the rest
Tohgi: All you need is meat
Winfell: (I am pretty sure that's not all you need) Bartender!
Bartender: Winfell sir!
Winfell: please..
Bartender: I know. Winfell is enough, no need for the sir, but right now you are my customer so how can I help you sir?
Winfell: Can I have a smoking blue lagoon?
Bartender: and you sir?
Tohgi: Do you serve Mojitos?
Bartender: the best in town
Tohgi: I'll have that then
Bartender: coming right up (Winfell was actually genuinely laughing with a peer, nice)
Tohgi: So? Are you one of those super rich families with influence?
Winfell became nervous at the question.
Winfell: well I can't deny we live very comfortably
Tohgi: I'm pretty sure there's a difference between my comfortable and yours
Winfell: So you're content?
Tohgi: I was thought to always be grateful for what I have and use the tools I'm given to get what I want, rather than complain about what I don't have.
Winfell: mother or father?
Tohgi: mother, my father is more of a hard worker than a teacher
Winfell: I see...
Tohgi: It's easy to see how people like you live and think I could have had it better, but even though we don't have a hospital in our village my mum is an amazing herbalist. There are no official schools but retired workers from different cities tutored us on magic, etiquette, trade among other things.
Winfell: that explains why you're so well spoken.
Tohgi: So you expect southerners to be uneducated riff raff too.
Tohgi asked in a bid to goad Winfell, but the statement instead made him sad.
Winfell: not that, but from what I have heard there is no organised system of living in the south and all we do is take advantage of that.
Tohgi: well to be honest not everyone in the south is lucky enough to be educated, there aren't that many tutors in the first place (he actually feels responsible).
After a short while of silence, Tohgi yelled for the bartender.
Tohgi: I don't have any interest in consoling anyone tonight
Bartender: How may I help?
Tohgi: We are switching to ale, your finest and keep it rolling.
Winfell: I would prefer cider
Tohgi: We'll have that then
Bartender: My pleasure!
After a few drinks and idle chatter, Tohgi became comfortable with Winfell.
Tohgi: Now let me tell you about the most amazing person to have been born, her name is Willow, anyone that messes with her is dead!
Winfell: (Oi, why did that feel like a warning)
After a long rant, Tohgi was finally done talking about Willow and his family.
Tohgi: I know you're reserved about your family, so I'm not gonna ask if you're scared about that
Winfell: Thank you, I have a sister as well, not quite as cute as yours, slightly older. She was born with no reiki.
Tohgi: Is that why you are sympathetic to southerners, like they say, experience is the best teacher.
Winfell: I guess you can say that, writing someone off because of their reiki, I'm indirectly familiar with that.
Tohgi: Rich people problems really are different.
Winfell: What do you mean?
Tohgi: No one in my village has enough energy to waste on caring about how much reiki someone else has, you guys on the other hand have such luxurious lives you become bothered by trivial things amongst yourselves, it's laughable!
Winfell: This might sound a bit tactless, but I am jealous of you
Tohgi: A bit? You just defined the word tactless with that statement. I guess the grass is always greener, bartender can we get some more?
Winfell: I just turned 18, I think I should slow down.
Tohgi: Really? when?
Winfell: Yesterday
Tohgi: Just in time for the inauguration
The mention of the inauguration created some tension around them that made Winfell uncomfortable.
Winfell: the mood's too serious, we'll have some more cider.
Winfell chugged the cup he had in front of him.
Tohgi: Oi, you don't need to force yourself, you'd throw up.
Winfell: I'll be fine
Tohgi laughed and continued drinking.
Tohgi: You're such a softie. Happy Birthday then, you can have more dumplings, as a gift
Winfell: I paid for it, but okay
Tohgi: it's the thought that counts, don't waste my goodwill
Winfell: isn't goodwill meant to come from your pocket?
Tohgi: okay, you can have none then
Winfell: sorry, sorry, I'll help myself
Tohgi: better
They continued drinking until night fell and Winfell passed out. The bartender noticed Tohgi attempting to get him to leave and interrupted.
Bartender: No need to worry sir, I would be able to get home safely.
Tohgi: I would leave him in you care thrn, how much was the bill?
Bartender: I cannot collect money from a guest of master Winfell
Tohgi: Alright I'll take my leave then, Thank you
Tohgi went home feeling anxious thinking of the next day, the announcement of the new knights or Vanderkar. The inauguration was set to happen at noon, to give the candidates time to go back to enjoy the festival. Tohgi made his way to the central arena as instructed by the letter he had received the night before.
END!