"Captain Davenport!" Angus's heart sang with joy to see his old friend. Then sank, remembering where he was.

"Ahoy, yes?" Davenport replied, looking around in surprise. then beams when he sees who it was who'd called his name. "Angus?!"

"Angus? You say something?" Mrs Cosie called from her office.

"Er no, Mrs Cosie!" Angus called back as Davenport recovered then hurried over to the counter.

"My boy, how good to see you!" he laughs, reaching up to grab Angus's hand and shake it. He's wearing a Rib shirt and Jaunty Blazer, but in a very casual way. And his long but well-groomed hair pulled back into a ponytail. "What are you doing here? How are you? How is my favourite detective?"

"Hello there Sir, welcome to The Old Mill Tea." Angus replied, "what can I get for you today?"

Davenport pauses mid shake, thrown by Angus sticking to a script. Actually Angus was too. He rarely needed to bother with it.

"Angus?" Davenport said. "It's me?"

"Yeah but-!" Angus says with gritted teeth hoping the captain will get the hint, pulling his hand away. "Hello sir, who I don't know. Welcome to The Old Mill Tea. Where I work."

This backfires almost instantaneously.

"But do you know me?" The captain says. "It's D-Davenport!"

At that hint of a stammer Angus freaks. And scared he has said very much the wrong thing, (possibly even a triggering thing,) to the exact wrong person, abandons that plan.

"Sorry. Sorry Davenport I know it's you!" he assured, letting go of Davenport's hand momentarily. Ducking and around the counter Angus skids to the captain's side to assure him. "I'm sorry. I know it's you. I could never forget you! But I have to pretend it isn't you captain-!"

"Is everything alright out there?" Mrs Cosie calls again. "I heard a shout?"

"Yeah! Everything's fine Mrs Cosie!" Angus says, hoping she didn't come out and recognise the Seventh bird stood in her shop.

"Wait, are you safe to talk?" the captain frowns in a whisper looking from him to the door. "Angus, are you in trouble?"

"No, I mean yes, I'm safe. It's just- I'm working."

"Ah. a case? Are you under cover?"

Angus shook his head exasperated. "Just working in a tea shop-!"

At that moment Mrs Cosie did indeed poke her head around the door. She can be incredibly light on her fee for such a stout little woman. She looks about, confused. Then sees Angus knelt on the floor next to a customer she doesn't know, and sighed.

"Oh, Angus. Please no more trouble with your Bureau pals? if this is another of their jokes-?" she sighs coming into the shop properly. Then pauses and Angus sees her reach for the wooden spoon in her pinny pocket. "Or is it another press weirdo? Do I need to call in Brenda for reinforcement?"

"NO!" Angus stands up with his arms out, trying to block the captain from view. "No, it's okay Mrs Cosie really, nothing like that."

Only Davenport then puts an arm out past Angus. With a little wave.

"Hello there."

"Hello?" Mrs Cosie frowns. And asks incredibly airy, "this a friend of yours, Angus?"

Angus can't blame her for being a bit wary. She'd been very understanding; but after all, look at the trouble she's had with his dads?

"No, he's not -!" Angus said, glancing back. The very small fleeting look of hurt on Davenport's face made him again back-track intently. "I mean he isn't just a friend, he's family. Like blood relative family, Mrs Cosie. This- this is my uncle."

It is quite possibly the worst and badly told lie Angus has ever told.

"Uncle?" Mrs Cosie repeats. Angus isn't sure she believes him. He can feel the captain's eyes boring into him at the back of his head.

"Uncle Daven- Davie. My uncle Davie!" Angus perceivers. "On my actual father's stepdad's side."

Mrs Cosie leans one way to get a better look at the captain. Angus leans with her blocking her view. He's sweating. And praying to every deity Davenport will play along.

"He's not one of the seven birds or the bob, and he isn't going to cause trouble I promise!" Angus lied. Well half lied. Just hoped he'd rolled high enough persuasion stats. The captain cleared his throat. And stepped out from behind Angus, ducking under his arm. Much to Angus's surprise, Davenport not only rolled with his fib; but embellished it.

"Yes. I am Davie McDonald. How do you do?" he said, holding out a hand to shake Mrs Cosies. He'd slipped on his reading glasses, and along with a minor illusion. Now, Davenport's hair was subtly a shade darker, a tad closer toward Angus's own colour. Another illusion to slightly alter the shape of his face. Not a lot, just to give the smidgen of family resemblance. In doing so, Davenport looks like A gnome. Just a gnome. Not the neat as a pin captain or the wordless one from the story everyone knew. Not the wild sailor he'd become for a few years. Just like any other gnome, albeit one with a snazzy taste in blazers. Mrs Cosie is shaking hands with one of the most famous people in the universe and appears none the wiser.

It is without a doubt a much better disguise then any Taako had been sporting.

"I've been out of NeverWinter for a while. and I didn't realise you worked here lad. sorry I didn't mean to make such a fuss." 'Uncle Davie' continued. With just a hint of accent; a bad impression of Merle's bad fake accent. Then jokes, thumbing over his shoulder at the space behind him. "Or hold up the queue."

Only other customer there was still Old Mrs Rowan Webb. She'd slowly oh so slowly raising her hand to beckon Angus over, calling, "May I order a pot of tea for one, and a slice of tiffen please, dearie?"

"See? Glad to see you've a trade at last, laddie." Davenport beams. "don't let me cut in now."

"Thanks- uncle." Angus fubbs. and hurries to fill the pot with hot water from the urn. He then took a tray over to Mrs Rowan Webb, having had it set up ready for her the moment he'd seen her coming.

("Ooh that was fast." Mrs Rowan Web says paying him. She also tips him a barley sugar as always. "Have a sweetie. My. what a nice young man.")

"I just came in for a bite to eat and a brew." Davenport meanwhile has turned very serious and as Angus's back was turned asked Mrs Cosie

"But You say his friends have been causing trouble, ma'am?"

"Oh, only one or two of them caused any actual trouble really." She said politely. "But there has been some mischief. Some of them are old enough to know better."

Davenport nodded in understanding.

"Ah. Well, I'm only in town for a few days I'm afraid. But I can have a word or two in half a dozen ears if you need me too? Especially certain pointy ones?" He said. And added, turning to Angus. "It wouldn't be the first time, Angus, believe me."

Angus assures him that won't be necessary. The captain nods. Then looks through their savoury menu and goes for their soup and a toasted sandwich. Mrs Cosie put the order in till herself while Angus prepared it. Mrs Cosie chatted all the while as was her nature, asking Davenport how he was finding the city and the weather.

"Your Angus has been such a hard worker y'know? And I'm very glad for his help. but this last two maybe three weeks, and he's had a few of his mates taking advantage of his good nature, haven't you, pet?" She said, patting Angus on the back as he slipped past her for the toaster. And in a conspiring tone leaned over the counter to tell Davenport, "Hooligans some of them! Especially- well. That's by the by. Anyway, what tea blend did you say again, Mr McDonald?"