#rakha would have deeply loved an option here to dropkick him into the river

[blackjackkent]

Barcus, as we've established, is one of the very small number of people outside of Rakha's companion group that she actually likes. So she has been (mildly) invested in Wulbren's well-being and makes a point of seeking him out at the inn.

Wulbren, however, is brusque and dismissive when she approaches.

"Ketheric's lackeys found me already - blast it all. You need to deal with him."

(A/N: Interestingly, Hector got a different dialogue here when reuniting with Wulbren at Last Light - a more elaborate one, albeit basically the same because Wulbren was still brusque and disinterested in him. This shorter conversation is apparently dependent on the state HAV_Mood_State_Alert ("State after repelling the attack of the Flaming Fist traitor. NPCs are afraid of other possible attacks.") Given we are no longer in that state, it seems like maybe the more extended conversation is bugged out.)

Rakha's not overly pleased with this reception, but seeing he's not interested in conversation with her, she goes over to Barcus instead.

"Ah. There you are. Everyone seems to be quite a-flutter. Do you know why?"

"Haven't you heard?" She's mildly surprised no one told him; Barcus hasn't exactly been subtle about his goal of finding Wulbren. "I freed the people being held in Moonrise Towers."

Barcus's eyes light up at once. "You-- you did? But that means... Wulbren!"

Without waiting for a response, he dashes past her into the main room of the inn as fast as his short legs can carry him. Wulbren and the other rescued gnomes are sitting around a table, and Barcus halts just behind him.

"There must be another way into the city," Wulbren is saying thoughtfully.

"Perhaps I could be of assistance?" Barcus pipes up eagerly.

Wulbren doesn't even look up, still busily thumbing through a bag of his supplies. "I have little time for eavesdroppers," he says brusquely.

Rakha comes up next to Barcus in time to see his smile fade into sharp dismay. "I'm no eavesdropper! Wulbren, please."

Wulbren shrugs absently. "Yet I don't recall asking for a stranger's opinion. Be on your way."

"I'm no stranger!" Barcus yelps, visibly agitated now.

"Wulbren!" He waves his arms, trying to get the other man's attention.

Wulbren finally looks up - and shoots Barcus a rather bored look, quirking an eyebrow. "Ah," he says vaguely. "I'd heard you might be about. How the devil did you get stuck here, Barcus?"

Barcus shifts awkwardly from foot to foot. His wide smile is plastered back on his face but there is a hint of unease to it now. "I'm not stuck!" he says brightly. "I came to find you, of course!"

Wulbren raises his eyebrows - then lets out a dramatic sigh and rolls his eyes. "Why would you do a foolish thing like that?" he asks. "Really, Barcus..."

He has the tone Rakha has sometimes heard Astarion use to chastise Scratch, when the dog has picked a poor place to relieve himself. Rakha feels a flicker of irritation. She has barely any memory and little more social skill, and even she knows this is a cold way to greet a supposed friend.

And indeed, Barcus is really struggling to keep up the smile now. "Unfortunately for me," he says, a hint of bitterness beneath the earnest tone, "you're my friend. Rescuing you from mortal peril is my right!"

Wulbren rolls his eyes again and scoffs. "But you didn't rescue me, did you?" he says derisively. "I rescued myself." Belatedly, he registers Rakha's presence - and the several feet of height she has on him. "With the aid of this... helper..." he adds grudgingly.

Rakha's eyes narrow to slits.

"Yes, of course,"(*) Barcus adds hastily. "Thank you very much for your help finding Wulbren." His gratitude is painfully sincere, a sharp contrast to Wulbren's cool disdain.

"You don't belong here, Barcus," Wulbren snaps in irritation. "Soon as the way is clear, pack up and head to Baldur's Gate."

Barcus's eyes widen in hurt - and alarm. "But - Wulbren - the runepowder! We need to discuss what you're going to--"

"I SAID GO HOME!" Wulbren roars, with more volume than his small frame seems like it should be capable of. Several of the Harpers look over in mild concern - and some with amusement.

Rakha, however, is not laughing. Her eyes have gone cold with irritation. All the strain she was already feeling at being back at Last Light, at being able to almost smell Isobel upstairs, has come to focus on this man instead.

He has offered no gratitude for her help. He is insulting and minimizing her. He is (to judge by what Barcus said back in Grymforge) planning something very dangerous. And he is disdainful of and shouted at Barcus, one of the few people to whom she is worth something, and who is worth something to her.

A wordless, angry noise sounds in the back of her throat and for a moment her head aches fit to burst.

"Rakha," Wyll says behind her, low enough for only her ears. "Stay with me."

A long, strained pause. Her vision clears. Her fists are still clenched at her sides and she glares at Wulbren with undisguised dislike... but she does not strike.

"Prick," she mutters hoarsely.

(A/N: LOL. I love that Wyll approves of this. And I love it even more here because the way I wrote this, it reads as Wyll also approving of her keeping control of herself. c: )

Wulbren stiffens. His eyes narrow and his head drops forward into a fighting stance. "Say that again," he growls.

Rakha grins savagely. Yes. Fight me. Strike the first blow, I dare you. I will be strong enough not to open the fight - but I will finish it.

But before the moment can explode into violence, Barcus steps between them, waving his hands urgently, placating.

"Let's not be uncivilized!" he stammers. "Wulbren, perhaps we can talk more later, when you've had a moment to settle in."

Wulbren stares at Rakha, unmoving, for a few endless moments. Then he relaxes and gives a deliberately uncaring shrug, turning away. "Sure. Now, I've got business to attend to. Good day to you both," he says curtly.

-----

"Well. There we have it," Barcus says afterwards. "Wulbren is safe and sound, thanks to you. I owe you a great deal." He's still trying to smile but it has lost all of its energy. He looks like a kicked dog.

(Rakha has never seen a kicked dog, that she can remember. But she knows this. She knows it with certainty.)

"Wulbren seems like a real arsehole," Rakha says bluntly. She does not understand why Barcus came all this way for someone who acted like that towards him.

Barcus shakes his head earnestly. "Don't judge him too harshly," he says. "He's been through a lot. When he's had some rest, he'll be back to his usual self."

Rakha frowns. She doesn't understand this either. Why does Barcus not only not care but defend Wulbren?

"Your relationship seems one-sided,"(**) she says flatly.

He flinches. "Nonsense! When you've known each other as long as we have, there aren't sides. Wulbren... can be a little sharp - but so can I," he says defiantly. "You should know that better than anyone."

She considers this. It is not how she would have described him. But then - she is sharper than most. Perhaps her perspective is poor.

He speaks of returning to Baldur's Gate as Wulbren demanded. She shuts that down at once. Mostly this is for practical reasons - it is too dangerous out in the shadow curse. But also she is still angry on his behalf, though she has gotten control of herself, and she doesn't want Wulbren to have the satisfaction of driving Barcus off.

"That'll have to wait," she says firmly. "It's lethal out there."

He smiles sadly. "Oh, that's all right," he murmurs. "I'm a patient fellow. I'm sure you'll clear a path for everyone soon enough."

----

(*) Adjusted dialogue slightly here. In-game Barcus acts as if he's only just finding out we helped, even though we just told him.

(**) Removed "rather" from "rather one-sided" in this line, to better fit Rakha's blunt style.