Even if Cayde wasn't worried about a bad report to Ikora, he still wanted to stay out of Rahool's way. The Cryptarch was grumpier than a newly-docked Dreg. Not much was going to appease him until he got back to the Tower and could burrow into his Archives like a miserable little mole. Not even the fancy hotel Cayde reserved for him — on his own glimmer, thank you very much — made Rahool's foul mood crack open. The digs at this hotel, just a skip away from the College on the mag train, made even the Speaker's accommodations seem like a rusty shack in comparison. But would Rahool give him a break? No, sir. There was just no pleasing some people.
Not even his Ghost had escaped the Awoken's steely glare, though Rahool had been quick to forgive her when she apologized for losing track of time. Cayde knew better than to think there was any forgiveness left for him.
Cayde leaned against the hotel room door while the Cryptarch set his satchel on the bed and surveyed the room with his usual snobby air.
"Does it please his Highness?" Cayde asked.
"I still don't see why we can't go to the Tower," Rahool grumbled. Cayde forced himself to stay quiet.
"No, actually, I do see why," Rahool said, turning to face Cayde with a triumphant sneer. "You know you won't be allowed out at all if we return and I tell everyone what happened today. They'll cancel the lecture altogether."
"Over a little game?" Cayde snorted. "Get real!"
"I just have to mention how you wandered off and Ikora will realize it's better to have you under the Tower's thumb than outside its walls." Rahool crossed his arms and put on his haughtiest lecturing look. He managed it too, despite being more than a little sweaty and tired looking. Was that pigheaded confidence an Awoken trait, or something that Rahool alone had mastered?
"Say what you will," Cayde said, putting up his hands in surrender. "You wanna go gettin' me into trouble? Fine. I'll stand by the fact that I did everything you asked. I got you to the College, I stayed on site, everything! Everything except for one measly little task of knockin' on your door, and that not through lack of trying!"
Rahool considered him a while longer. Cayde waited for the next tongue lashing. The old grump ought to just take a nap and let him alone!
The tension suddenly drained out of Rahool. He turned back to his satchel on the bed and started to unpack it.
"You're right," Rahool muttered. "You did do what I asked."
Cayde blinked in surprise. Was he hearing right? Was the Cryptarch really admitting such a thing?
"You pushed the bounds of propriety," Rahool went on, "But you did respect my wishes."
A begrudging compliment at best, but Cayde would take what he could get. Besides, he fancied that anything beyond sitting primly on a chair with a book was "pushing the bounds of propriety" for the Cryptarch.
"Well, that's mighty decent of you to admit," Cayde said.
"Just...please, Cayde. No more surprises, all right?" Rahool asked, turning to face him.
Cayde hesitated. He had been planning on telling Rahool about meeting up with Adama. Would that fall under the realm of unwelcome surprise? Maybe he should make sure the man was happy with his room and all set for the night before going down that path.
"So, uh…want me to scrounge up a toothbrush for you?" Cayde offered.
Rahool shook his head.
"That won't be necessary. The concierge has what toiletries I need on hand."
"Wanna order some food? I hear there's a real good taco joint a couple of blocks away. It's a hit with the College kids."
"I'll attend to dinner shortly," Rahool said, beginning to sort through the booklets he had piled on the bed.
The Cryptarch was a finicky eater and would want to check out everything for himself. Cayde thought that maybe he wouldn't be so grouchy all the time if he didn't eat such a bland diet. Rahool looked at a burger or a steak like it was going to bite him back, opting to pile his plate with some greens and bread and little else. It drove the Tower head cook insane, much to Cayde's amusement. Few things were funnier than watching the song and dance of Ella trying to force Rahool to choke down a good pot roast and Rahool trying to extract himself from the situation without angering the formidable woman. She was just about the only person in the Tower who could lecture the Cryptarch until he slunk off with his tail between his legs. If only she could teach him her secret!
"What are your plans for the night?" Rahool broke into his thoughts, still looking through the booklets. "Have you started pracicing your speech yet?"
"Uh…" Cayde hedged, looking out the tall balcony windows. "I know what I'm gonna say."
He could feel Rahool's disapproval from across the room.
"You'd better give it some more thought," Rahool admonished him. "It's an important subject."
"You don't say," Cayde replied dryly.
Rahool looked up from his work and frowned at him.
"You can't just wing this, Cayde! You'll have a room full of people expecting advice from a Vanguard leader. How bad is it going to look if you're searching for words or rambling on? Or are you just going to tell jokes all night?"
So much for putting the Cryptarch in a good mood. He'd rather deal with grumpy Rahool than full-blown Master Rahool, the world's know-it-all!
"Just a few jokes," he said. "No sense scaring the people with a fire and brimstone lecture on the Walls."
"Maybe that's what they need," Rahool challenged. "A good scaring. So what are you going to say?"
"Easy. Go to school, eat your vegetables, and stay in the Walls so you don't become Dreg snacks. See? No big deal."
"Cayde!"
"Aw, give it a rest, Cryptarch!" Cayde groaned. "I ain't one of your Novices to order around. I got a lecture in mind, okay? Don't worry. I'll make us all look good."
He'd had it up to his orbital sockets with the man's bossiness. Cayde turned to the door to let himself out.
"Where are you going?" Rahool demanded.
"Out," Cayde grunted. "I'll meet up with you in the hotel lobby in the morning."
"But out where?" Rahool pressed.
"Somewhere fun!" Cayde said. "You remember fun, right?"
Rahool's look was withering.
"I really think I should know where you'll be."
Cayde shrugged.
"Well, I haven't made up my mind yet, so I guess you're plumb outta luck. If you want to come along, you'll find out. But, just to warn you, it might offend your delicate propriety."
Rahool looked as sour as if he had sucked on a lemon. Cayde shut the door behind him quickly.
Good talk! His Ghost piped up.
"Can you believe his nerve?" Cayde growled. "You'd think bein' a Vanguard would net me some respect once in a while!"
You know Master Rahool. Hard to impress.
That was for damn certain. Cayde stalked down the hall to the elevator, punching the button a little harder than was necessary. The couple that strolled out of the car gave him an extra wide berth, smiling nervously. His bad mood was showing and he had no intention of hiding it. Leaving the Tower was turning out to be not worth the trouble he had had to put up with so far! He would have to seriously get back at Ikora for this.
Cayde leaned against the car railing as the elevator doors slid shut.
"Where are you going?'" He sneered, mimicking the Cryptarch's precise accent in an unkind drawl. "What are you going to say in your speech? That guy's worse than my own mother!"
You don't remember your mother, his Ghost clicked.
"Well, if I did, he'd be worse! Geez, you wanna be his Ghost or what? You been takin' the Cryptarch's side all day!"
If you're so eager to get rid of me, at least give me to someone who won't bore me to death!
Her adamant refusal chipped away at his gloom.
"You sure?" He asked. "If we go back to the room now, you'll be just in time to grade exams."
Ooh, a tempting prospect. Do you think he'll turn the vidscreen on so we can watch the City Senate proceedings too?
"Only if you're in bed by eight."
His Ghost's tinkling laugh brightened his spirits even more. The poor little thing was itching for some more fun after the games at the College. She hadn't even scolded him for leaving the hotel room.
"Send a message to Adama's Ghost," he told her as the elevator slowed and came to a stop at the lobby. "The mission should be done by now. Let's see if we can't get a little reunion going."