It had been almost a year since Isaac and Birger met Grandpa and started working at the Civic Eye.
Isaac had adjusted well, but to be fair, his routine was far easier than Birger's.
Isaac's routine was basically running errands for Grandpa in the morning, before sitting at the Civic Eye, sketching for articles until the day went by, then go home with Grandpa.
Birger meanwhile was given full reign of the printing press, and Grandpa said that he had improved very well and deserved the job. Now, Isaac didn't know shit about printing, but seeing perfect copies of his art in the magazine was enough to convince, not forgetting his education, he could read words now, and could efficiently do errands as well, he wasn't no wordsmith, but more like a...normal peasant.
It was late evening today, and almost everyone had left, except Birger, Isaac, Grandpa and an old employee, who was the Magazine's accountant.
Isaac was finishing the sketch for next week's issue, as Grandpa had cleared up his writing desk, while Birger was sitting, relaxing with them, while the employee was not in the room.
"Hey, Isaac, you done with your sketch yet?" Asked Birger, he'd grown his red hair a little, but otherwise kept his clean shaven look.
"Just the boot...and done." Said Isaac, he'd kept his hairstyle, but had grown out his facial hair, sporting a light brown moustache and a slight beard.
"Well...it seems we're done, boys... both of you, clear your desk and sit down with me." Said Grandpa.
Isaac cleared his table up, while Birger had nothing so he just sat there until Isaac and Grandpa sat down with him.
"So...Grandpa...what is it?" Asked Birger.
"Well, Birger. Isaac. You two have been here for almost a year now...and I can say that we've got close enough to be a...found family. Am I right?" Asked Grandpa.
"Well...yeah, we could say that Grandpa." Said Birge. "Well, yeah, why are you asking this, Grandpa?" Questioned Isaac.
"Well...throughout all this time...you don't know much about my past...and...I don't know much about yours." Said Grandpa.
"So?" Questioned Isaac again, as Birger remained silent.
"Well...I'd say we should share little...nuggets of our past now, shouldn't we? Like who we were before we met!" Said Grandpa.
"Sure! Only little nuggets okay, Grandpa?" Said Birger while Isaac just stared at them awkwardly.
"Good, why don't you share a nugget first, Birger?" Asked Grandpa.
"Well, I'm actually a Forester...Grandpa." revealed Birger like some big truth had been revealed, like Grandpa and Isaac hadn't figured it out months ago.
"Wow...that's a nugget...but...why did you leave the forest? Why did you come here?" Asked Grandpa, as Isaac was still staring at them apprehensively.
"Grandpa, y-you said a nugget, that's a nugget, that's all you're gonna get!" Said Birger cheerfully, Grandpa and Isaac knew that tone meant that Birger would definitely not budge.
"Okay...Isaac, how about you? Can you reveal a nugget?" Asked Grandpa.
Isaac was still staring at them apprehensively, like he was scared to reveal a nugget of his past.
"Okay...I'll reveal mine first." Said Grandpa, as if to ease in Isaac, as Birger looked at Grandpa excitedly.
"Before I started the Civic Eye...I was a bard...the same one part of those expedition parties the kingdoms sent." revealed Grandpa, as Birger, who didn't know any of these terms, still looked excitedly at Grandpa, while Isaac immediately came forward, surprised that Grandpa was a bard.
"A bard? Wow...didn't know that Grandpa. Guess you were a wordsmith even in your young days huh?" Commented Isaac.
"Yes. Yes I was." Said Grandpa.
"Hey! Isaac! Grandpa revealed his nugget! Now you have to say it too!" Said Birger.
Isaac groaned before saying "Fine...Grandpa...I lied about being a traveler...I'm a native of the Veldt." Revealed Isaac.
"Oh my." Said Grandpa, shocked as was Birger.
After a slight pause, Grandpa continued. "But...you're talent and your education and intellect...that could only mean you're-"
"A noble." Finished Isaac.
Another slight pause after that..."Well...I have to ask again...why did you leave?" Asked Grandpa.
"Well...I didn't leave. I got...kicked out." Answered Isaac.
"Why?" Pressed Grandpa.
"...Let's just say that...the reason...wasn't my fault." Replied Isaac grimly.
There was a long pause between the three of them.
"Well, it seems we have revealed some nuggets of our past...you two help close up the shop, I'll be back..." said Grandpa as he left the room, as Isaac and Birger started to lock up the rooms.
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Grandpa headed out to the front of the building, where his accountant, Mr. Milton was standing.
"Any good news? Any of our debtors ready to pay up?" Asked Grandpa.
"No luck, sir. Half of them dead, other half bankrupt." Said Mr. Milton bluntly.
Grandpa sighs. "Goddammit. I don't want the stress to land on the boys you know...the loan sharks will be knocking any minute."
"I'm...sorry sir. I don't have any solutions for this." Said the Mr. Milton sadly.
"I'll try to negotiate...but otherwise..." Grandpa went silent at the pause, as he watched Mr. Milton leave and Birger and Isaac finish closing the Civic Eye up...something which could be...a permanent state.