Catching Up. (Semi-Open)

A brief moment after he had knocked the door opened to reveal a fair faced servant who looked to be in her early 30s. She curtsied to him and stood aside so he may walk in. " Hello sir, i am Margaret. Pleased to make your acquaintance. " Once he walked in she would shut the door behind him and turn back to him with a bright smile. " General Tahlem is in his study and requested i bring you there once you arrive. If you may just follow me?" She said happily.

Assuming he agreed she would lead him down a main hall. The halls floor was a white tile that was cleaned daily and was lit by candles upon golden holders. Paintings were hung on either side and names under them to announce who the person was. It depicting each Starr male of the family and their occupation. It seemed most of them were wearing military uniforms. Once arriving at a oak door at the end of the hall she opened the door and curtsied to Tahlem. " Sir, your guest has arrived."

Tahlem turned his head and closed the book, setting it on the counter. " Thank you, Margaret. May you bring us a bottle of wine from the cellar please?" She nodded and quickly left the room to fetch the requested item, making sure to give Jon a small bow on her way out.

Tahlem smiled at Jon and waved his hand to the seat opposite of him. When he sat down it would be comfortable enough to almost sleep in, even the arm rests were soft like velvet. It seemed Tahlem liked to feel like he was "in the clouds" while reading. The study had large bookshelf's filled with scores of novels, biographys, and maps. " Glad you did not get lost." He joked. " How are you finding our city?"

He smiled, a gleam in his eye while Jon complemented Demacia. Demacians took pride in there city almost like it was themselves getting complimented.

" I have been told that our city is grand from other visitors. We must stand as a shining beacon of Justice and our buildings and style must represent as such. Our city is beautiful unlike Noxus..." He leaned back in his chair to relax.

Margarent returned with a glass for Jon and set it on the table, popped the bottle, and filled it and Tahlems back up. She set it down on the table and curtsied. " Do not hesitate to call me if am needed." and she promptly left, closing the door behind her.

When jon asked he had ever visited Piltover he shook his head. He has really not visited many other locations and it saddened him. The "city of progress" he heard was a grand city of technology. " Sadly, i have not. I have only been to bradle and small villages outside Demacia. The other city states...are quite a mystery to me. " He picked up his wine glass and took a sip." How is the city? I have heard stories of it being a shining example of technology and advancement? Always as step above in creating more useful technologies for the whole of Runeterra. I may need to visit it some day. Especially since my pistol has been jamming and otherwise breaking down.." He reached by his chair and revealed an old hextech pistol. The same exact one he used in the Ionian war. And promptly set it down on the table.

Tahlem watched Jon produce his own pistol and set it down. He remembered it...and when it was used. The Ionian war. Gunshots. A scream. Jon was not the same after that moment and he was relatively...distant. It took words of encouragement and pleading to get him to move again.

It brought back his last stand..the last of his men that trusted him fallen. The fight that brought him his scars and almost killed him. Though..the medic saved him. He would never forgot that.

Tahlem looked at the pistols silently, in thought as well. Though, he stretched his arm over the table and placed his hand on Jons shoulder as a small comfort. It looked like his buddy needed it more than he did.

" ...Its been a long time, Jon." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice. He did not like thinking about past wars...about the men he killed...the men he lost. It was enough to make a man depressed.

Tahlem could only nod to his comment about war. It was hell. He could barely sleep sometimes if he thought about past wars...reading usually kept his mind off it. It was horrible at times...yet. Its what he did. Its what he knows how to do.

" ...Sometimes in my dreams i still hear the clanks of swords, the screams of dieing men, and the pops of gunfire." He took his hand of Jons shoulder and shook his head slowly. " War is hell...The scenes on some fields would have cured anybody of war." He sighed.

" But we live on for another day and hopefully....continued peace. As the soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
He rests his arms on the chair arms.

Tahlem watched the medic as he sat silently. His own mind cycling through the wars and experiences he has had. Some terrible at the front-lines...others he stood in the back giving the orders.

When he spoke Tahlem nodded. " Smart man. That quote rings true even today." He fell silent thinking of something, then, put his hand on Jons shoulder again.

" You told me long ago to tell you something. If another war breaks out...never take anything for granted."

He watched Jon put everything back together in his mind and the tear slide down hi cheek and Tahlem smiled. Never make a promise you are not willing to keep. Something his father told him long ago..rest his soul.

" I keep my promises for friends, Jon." Then he raised an eye when jon was going to show him a secret. " Secret? Well don't keep me in suspense." and he leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs.