Red Lion's posts

Bertrand rolled around on the comforter before he replied in a soft and hopeful voice, "Food?"

Bertrand let out a much less ambiguous sob. "This is the nicest place I've ever stayed," he hiccuped as he flopped onto the sprawling bed and flung out his limbs in all directions. To his amazement his feet and hands never met the edges and he was certain he could have laid across it sideways and still had ample room.

Bertrand let out a small noise, something between a squeak and a sob. It was bigger than his entire apartment back in Paris and he said as much once he managed to get the words out. He took a tentative step into the room and craned his neck to peer into the bathroom. "Back home I have to share a communal bathroom with two of my neighbors," he said.

Bertrand stripped down and took a robe, grateful to be out of his wet clothes. He thanked Valko profusely and loaded the washing machine, "How far is my room?" he asked.

Bertrand gave the dog a friendly pat, "I see," he said scratching Pequin's ears. He didn't spend much time on the dog for his host resumed their walk down the hall. Unable to keep from staring at the opulence that shined and gleamed from all sides Bertrand found himself wondering more and more if he'd stumbled into a fairytale. Mud coated and footsore it was hard not to feel like a dirty peasant in an enchanted castle.

Right on cue the "tick tick tack" of hard toe nails hitting hardwood in rapid succession echoed down a nearby hallway and a loud bark followed. A bundle of fur shot into the room like a rocket and circled Bertrand, sniffing and barking happily.

"Pigs?" Bertrand scarcely had time to utter the word before a large, bristly, hog trotted forward to sniff at his legs, "That's a big pig." he said as he tried to step around the creature. He followed after Valko, making note of their features. There were all the expected hallmarks of a Scandinavian troll, large size, giant nose, tusks, long, heavy limbs and a tail, but there also seemed to be crystals growing out of Valko's body, he moved closer to get a better look, peering hard at them.

At first Bertrand could only stare, the hotel was a marvel, elegant and glamorous with a bit of a wild edge, there was something about the splendor of the decor that seemed to warn of something old and powerful under the veneer of elegance. He was brought back to himself when the troll, Valko, handed him a towel and instructed him to follow.

"oh thank you!..." Bertrand hesitated, though the troll had a beard they also had apparent breasts and he wasn't certain whether to say "sir" or "ma'am." As he wiped himself off and shucked his shoes and jacket he finally ventured a cautious "Ma'am?"

Bertrand hobbled to his feet and gathered his remaining bags, "Well you didn't with me specifically but you should have heard from a Professor Henri Beauchamp. I'm his assistant, studying magical beings on his behalf," he wiped his left hand on the side of his pants in an attempt to wipe off some of the muck but only succeeded in getting a wet leaf stuck to his palm, " I'm Bertrand Moreau."

Bertrand blinked and after a moment's pause, "It's raining."

From his position on the porch floor, where he had collapsed after knocking, Bertrand gazed up, and up, and up at the massive creature before him. A thousand questions fighting to be asked first filled his mind but when he opened his mouth all he could manage was, "Room for rent?" he flopped a muddy hand forward in a feeble attempt at a handshake.

Bertrand Moreau wiped a trickle of sweat from his forehead with one hand while pushing away some dense jungle vegetation with the other. He was well off the main road by now and the taxi driver had refused to down the decidedly narrow dirt trail that forked off into the dark and strangely silent forest. It had been late afternoon when Bertrand had left the nearby town and as the day faded into evening and the undergrowth became pitch black he was forced to pull a flashlight from his travel bag. Aside from being dark and still, nothing seemed too out of the ordinary, until the yellow beam of his light fell upon the bleached dome of a polished skull on a pole. With a loud cry he scrambled backward. He'd been warned, of course, that trolls were unfriendly but now he was having second throughts. He shook his head and drew a deep breath, he'd come this far....

Gathering himself back up he pressed on, keeping a wary eye open for more signs. Sure enough he found them, scratches on rocks, more human remains and even a few bear traps hidden in the leaves. Unwelcoming as they seamed the sight of them cheered him, his destination couldn't be far now, and a good thing too, his legs ached and he could hear thunder brewing in the distance. "Better hurry" he said to himself

By the time the forest cleared it was raining and Bertrand was soaked to his underwear. Grumbling and sloshing through mud and wet leaves he practically broke into a run when he saw a lit window up ahead. He slipped twice, fell once and lost one of his bags in a muddy runoff before he finally got his fist to the hotel door.

*slams beer on the table*

I'll do it! And I pick Valko for the character >8D

I p much have one single avatar that I use for every site I'm on. Red hair and beard blue vest and I usually never change it. I'm here mostly to socialize once in a blue moon or lurk. Items do not excite me like they used to.