<span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;&lt;Lilium, In the Kitchen&gt;&gt;&gt;</span><br/><br/>So involved in mutterin to himself, dabbing his eyes, and cooking up the last bit of food is Vincent that he does not even notice Lilium walk up beside him until her soft voice breaks him out of his trance. The grizzled old barkeeper blinks his eyes slowly, looking up though the little food-door and into the main room...then back to Lilium, his red-rimmed eyes locking on hers "Oh? Oh, Miss Mae. I'm sorry. I was..ahh...cookin'. Didn't notice y'comin' in. I ah.."<br/><br/>His voice trails off when she begins to speak, at least saying sorry for the cook. They HAD been friends for a long, long while - longer than some of them had even been alive "I..." His voice cracks again, and he begins to bluster about, whiping his hands on his apron, wringing his rag out, and pretty much just trying to make himself look busy. She could tell immediently though - the thoughtful words had hit the spot. Thin streaks of tears begin to  stream down his face, and his normally jolly voice breaks down "I 'ken him da'near thirty years.." He begins, but cannot seem to get the rest of the words out. He simply breaks down, holding the old, red rag over his face.<br/><br/>It takes him a full minute to get back under control, and by the time he pulls the rag back, it is damp with tears. Wiggling his bushy moustache back and forth, he places a hand on Lilium's shoulder, giving it a tender squeeze "Ah...aye. Energy...M'old. Won't last t'many more seasons. I'll get t'see'im again, eh? Just like m'old missus. Ohh...jus' promise me, girl. Promise me...y'll take care o'th'ones wot did it. An' promise me y'll take care o'y'self in the process, hrm?"<br/><br/>When Lilium throws her arms around the old barkeeper, he returns the gesture, giving her a brief, but caring, hug. The spicy scent of spices and old ale filled the air around him, though it was a fitting scent, and not at all unpleasant "Y'did good l'nigh, girl. Y'did-"<br/><br/>Vincent's voice is cut off by a rather loud voice from the common room. Tapping the rag against his red-rimmed eyes again, he releases Lilium, peering up through the fooddoor "W..wot's...?"<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"I am second commander Talia Arwen. Just have a few...."</span>