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When the door next opens, there is a tangible figure standing behind it, grinning down at you. He's just under five foot eight, with an average, slightly athletic build, short, salt and pepper facial hair, and a coif of curly, greasy hair. He's got a yellow Western-style shirt on with green cactuses and blue doves embroidered onto the front near the shoulders, with blue jeans, a black belt, and black cowboy boots. His belt buckle is a confederate flag of rhinestones on silver that says, 'Praise Dale n' Raise Hell!', a new and ostentatious accessory in a long line of curious accessories to feature in his inventory. This is just the <span class="mu-g">Mask</span>, however. To your yellow eyes, his fae nature is readily visible.
There are horns protruding up from his forehead, and his nose is really more of a porcine snout. His eyes are a deeper, emerald green with reptilian slits for their pupils, and a forked tongue rests behind his sharp, carnivorous teeth. <span class="mu-s">Rupert</span> is a <span class="mu-g">Hobgoblin</span>, a type of creature native to the <span class="mu-g">Hedge</span> between this world and <span class="mu-r">Arcadia</span>, which comes in a great diversity of shapes, sizes, and dispositions.
<span class="mu-g">"Well if it ain't me good mate No-Mercy Percy havin' me on for a grub... S'been too damn long, aye? Get on up and give us a squeeze!"</span> He greets you, throwing his arms wide open as he steps across the threshold. His accent is not at all Southern, or Western, and instead seems to you an even mix of British and Australian somehow, something that has always perplexed you and likely always will.
Still, you do as you're bid and get up to hug him. You notice over his shoulder a humanoid drone with a wooden tiger-mask over its face, holding a tray with two stemless wine glasses and a bottle of plum wine that is plain but for a red origami tiger logo on its front. You step back and squeeze Rupert's shoulder, then gesture to the automaton to get his attention. <span class="mu-g">"Welcome buddy, glad you could make it with zero notice, apologies for that. Our drink's here, you like takara at all?"</span> You say, moving around him to pinch the glasses together with one hand, and grab the bottle by the neck with the other. You wink to the drone and when both of you are back in your booth, the door seals itself behind you.
>Cont'd
