[D9:ME] Black and White

[Derrock Swann]

Ser Derrock sat at a table smack in the middle of the Huntsman, drinking lightly and exchanging idle chatter with some of the local patrons, who seemed to give no end to the praise at his performance in the joust. Pleased as he was at the appreciation of his return, he wasn't much a man to boast, and mostly nodded and thanked the eager drinkers who slapped his shoulder in greetings now and again.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
You know, ser."
Theomore approached the aurochs with a rather clear desire to join him at his table, though polite enough not to sit down before some confirmation was given. "
There are those of us who would have hoped you had retired by now..."
his smile indicating that it was nothing more than a jest.

[Derrock Swann]

"
Ser Theomore Tullison."
Derrock gives the man a wrinkled smile, gesturing in a welcome manner to the seat opposite him as if he were waiting for his arrival all along, and pleased by it, too. "
I thought I would retire, Ser, I thought. But I cannot. While my grip on the lance is firm, I cannot let it go for long, I'm afraid. But you do your house credit, riding as you do. Only one can win the jousts, and nearing the final is an honor by itself."
He nodded and sipped more of his ale. Looking at Theomore, now, he remembered an ill feeling that had struck him during their tilt, but the knight supposed it was better not to comment. Even in jest, he didn't want to upset the man by suggesting he could outride him while sick... you never know what passes for an insult in the Riverlands.

"
I cannot help you by leaving the tourneys, Ser, but if there is anything else."
Ser Derrock says inquisitively, intrigued at Theomore's directness at coming to his table.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Oh, I thought myself done when I was paired up against a member of the kingsguard, ser"
Theomore was not likely to get any further than he did anyway, more luck with the draw would then be needed. "
I outdid myself already by the time I faced the best of them, or maybe I used up all the luck I had in the previous match?"
Oh, well. "
I have sort of always wondered though, what makes you go on? The way I hear it, I wasn't even born when you won your first victory. No fair lady has yet to claim you as her husband, no lord has tempted you to settle down in some comfy tower on his lands?"


"
The sort of things you begin to worry about when you realize that you must exercise harder to keep up with the younger self, settling down, having a family. Never felt that urge? "

[Derrock Swann]

Derrock waves a wench to bring a mug for Theomore and another to himself, then leans back, looking at the Tullison.

"
I had such manner of thoughts once, Ser, but that was long ago. Likely not long after you were born."
He gestures idly towards Theomore. "
But the Seven have led me in other ways. I have spent the last few years in quiet and comfort, and word spread of my retirement, as you know. But I cannot just crawl inside a tower and wait until my body at last breaks, especially not now that I know this moment is closer than I could ever comprehend. Not many men make it far past my age, and I have seen none reach it with as much stamina. Can't last long, yes?"
He chuckled good-naturedly at his own misery, then sipped the mug that'd just arrived.

"
I must exercise hard, harder than the younger ones, harder than I used to, myself, and at the time I never thought it possible. Now I do more, and achieve less. But what can I do? I am a lancer, Ser, a soldier, and a knight. Nothing else."
Derrock shrugs as if it was the matter was nary an afterthought.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
And if someone would like someone with your dedication to keeping himself in shape to serve as an example for his own men, what would you then say, ser?"
Theomore tests the waters, worth a try, or else Dunstan was liable to hand it over to Ser Ulbert. Badass, was the word his nephew used. A brutish bully with a chronic need to take inventory of the armory every morning in the hope that he could shout the ears off some poor man for not properly cleaning or sharpening his weapon.

Well, everyone does need a hobby, it's just that jousting is a far more noble pursuit of entertainment.

"
Some lord or the other might find that appealing enough to offer the title to some of his lands to entice such a man to enter his service."

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