d&d scenes } { of returns and hiding in plain sight

[iluvroadrunner6]

Ric: [and after all the traveling that he did over the last few days, plus the decision of the group to create a new institute, Ric schedules a dinner meeting with Lammel]

Lammel: [which he will attend, giving him a small smile when he sees him] Welcome back, jet setter.

Ric: Good to be home. [he will pull out the cufflinks he acquired and holds them out] Souvenir as promised.

Lammel: Lovely. [he takes them with a smile] Thank you.

Ric: No problem. Looks like I didn't miss much.

Lammel: No. Things were quiet. I think what you were doing was much more interesting.

Ric: It was. I ended up going to a few different place while this group of idiots tried to figure out what their purpose was.

Lammel: Did they?

Ric: They're resorting to the world they knew, aiming to rebuild the Institute. A way to protect the humans from overreaching gods.

Lammel: How are they defining overreaching?

Ric: I think they're still drafting those rules.

Lammel: Well, keep me in the loop.

Ric: Always. [sits down, relaxing back in his seat] Keeping tabs on them will be easy.

Lammel: Good. It's always better when they make it easy.

Ric: You'll be able to keep tabs on them too. I've offered to build their headquarters in my building. Floors three and up, with the second floor as a buffer to keep them away from my dealings on the first.

Lammel: Do you think that's a wise choice?

Ric: If done wisely, yes. I'll be able to construct it in a way that will allow me access to everything happening, and if they become a threat, I'll be able to contain it.

Lammel: I trust your judgement. Have they made any requests?

Ric: For construction? No, not yet. I think they plan to leave it up to me since it's my building.

Lammel: Good. That'll give you a lot of free reign.

Ric: I just need to make sure the temple is safe from them.

Lammel: Well, we have measures for that. No one should stumble over it unintentionally.

Ric: I know.

Lammel: We'll be fine. As long as we stick to protocols, no one will know.

Ric: Good. Until then, keep my friends close, and enemies closer.

Lammel: Just be careful they don't start getting under your skin the way heroes usually do. [joking, but only mostly]

Ric: I just need to work on my patience. That's the piece that I seem to lose the fastest.

Lammel: They seem to be aggravating people.

Ric: You have no idea. And I think I know which one stole my crystal, even if he denies it.

Lammel: Be sure to get that back. There are only so many of them.

Ric: I don't think he has it anymore. I need to figure out where he fenced it.

Lammel: I have some contacts you can pull.

Ric: Thank you. [smirks] Also, I think I've confirmed in their heads that you are an outstanding citizen. It seems in their past, they had issues with you.

Lammel: Did they?

Ric: Yeah. Though I believe it was tied to the dragon Tiamat, not Shar.

Lammel: Who's Tiamat?

Ric: A dragon that was so feared she was hidden in another dimension by the other gods that could only be accessed by opening some kind of magical seals.

Lammel: Sounds like some dragon.

Ric: But she doesn't exist here. In fact, the brain trust decided to make a wish that she never existed, creating the world as we know it now.

Lammel: Is this one better or worse?

Ric: I guess that depends on the person. For me, it's been a lot better. I didn't have anyone there to take care of me, and when I was in trouble, even this team abandoned me.

Lammel: Then good riddance.

Ric: Only reason I plan on sticking around is to see what they're up to, and how I can make it beneficial for us. Someone has to protect the people from those who think they know better.

Lammel: I'll drink to that.

Ric: [and he'll raise a glass of his sparkling water to salute the statement]

Lammel: So do you need anything from me?