{ CLOSED } If I just breathe

[aceso]

WHO: Christine and her closest friends
WHAT: A birthday picnic.
WHEN: Bloomingtide 13th
WHERE: the foothills of the Vimmarks, an hour NW of Kirkwall

As with most things, Christine overplans for her picnic. She studies maps and speaks with the locals about the safest areas outside Kirkwall and finds that heading towards the foothills of the mountains around mid-morning is probably her safest bet. She invites those nearest and dearest to her to join her for a birthday celebration, though it's by no means fancy. There will be plenty of food, drink, and activities to be had, but the part she's most excited about is just leaving Kirkwall. To breathe fresh air and see some greenery again. The brief respite she had for Aleron and Bethany's wedding made her crave this outing all the more.

On the day, they load up their mounts with the supplies and head out. The trip only takes around an hour and the path is well kept, so when she spots the large maple tree and stream cutting through that a local told her about, she knows they've reached the picnic spot. It's a wide, mostly flat field that starts to rise towards the north. To the east at the end of the field, it rises more sharply, the hills dotted with heavy stones. To the west is the path they've veered off, the large tree, and the stream that keeps going west under a short wooden bridge. And to the south is the view. Green hills descend before them, and while there's a hint of Kirkwall's Hightown within sight, what they can see beyond is the shimmer of sunlight on the Waking Sea. Now it's time to set out the blankets, let the mounts graze and lap water from the stream, and relax. Oh, and release the hounds, cats, and fox. Some of them brought their pets.

Comments

[bookish_lioness]

Seeing how instantly Kirk gets distracted despite the fact that he'd just chided Church when Sam took off his shirt, Hermione lets out a huff and rolls her eyes, though at least she's good-natured about it. "I'm about to invent a rule that says shirts must stay on," she mutters under her breath. Not that she's entirely incapable of appreciating a fit body, but there are more important things to focus on; there's a game going on, for goodness' sake.

But he finally does serve the ball, and while it's Hermione's instinct to attempt to hit it back over the net, she knows that it's best to get the rest of her team used to hitting the ball, too. Besides, she's too short to properly spike it with enough clearance, and so she positions herself so that she can bump the ball off her forearms, passing it off to the person closest to her. She might have to sacrifice another point if that person ends up not being ready, but it isn't as though they're playing for a trophy against seasoned athletes.

[aceso]

Christine chuckles beside Hermione and nearly says that she should have thought up that rule before they started, but then the ball is served and she tries to ready herself now that she knows just how she's supposed to hit the ball. It seems like Hermione's got it, but then she bumps it up towards Christine, and the latter sees the benefit in passing it over. Depending on the angle the ball is coming in at, readjusting the ball so it's more straight in the air makes sense. Positioning her arms like Hermione, Christine manages to hit the ball, angling her wrists in such a way that it launches the ball up and out towards the net, instead of straight up.

It just manages to get over the net with maybe two inches to spare, but Christine releases a breath of relief that it actually got over in the first place.

[el_tybs]

Well, too late, the shirt is off. Don't worry though, he's not going to encourage them, making a point in not turning around and keeping himself facing the net and the other team. Course that doesn't stop him from grinning, clearly a bit smug and amused at hearing Kirk snapping at Church for his whistle.

When he hears the ball being hit and sees it sail over the net again, Sam readies himself, or as much as he can seeing as he doesn't know how to position himself or hold his arms. So of course that means the ball comes to him having put himself right next to the net.

He makes a surprised noise as he runs forward, leaning out and barely catching the ball with his arm. It's the side of his arm though, so while it is still in the air it goes sideways towards the other end of the net.

[lionheartedman]

Cullen has been silent, and looking on slightly suspect through all of this, but he's pretty sure he understands what's necessary. Fairly certain. At least half certain. When Ponce decides that being over where all the people are expending so much energy might be fun, Cullen doesn't bother trying to command him back. That little terror (though greatly improved) takes pleasure from being contrary, he's sure of it. Instead, he whistles for his own dog. "Puppy, keep Ponce near the blankets." For anyone who's decided not to play, and is not interested in watching those who are, a hundred pounds of mabari herding eight pounds of fluff and yap is possibly even more entertaining.

When the game starts in earnest, however, he's back to looking slightly out of place. Mostly because there really is no way for a man wearing a plackart and vambraces, his pauldrons all the more obvious now that there's no furred collar to hide them, to look natural playing volleyball. It just can't be done.

[aceso]

The ball nearly makes it over, brushing against the net before dropping down to the ground. Christine isn't sure if that's a point for their side or if that just means the other team doesn't get a point, so she looks to Hermione for guidance. Look, it's not that she doesn't trust the rifter boys on the other side over there (well, okay, she doesn't trust them a little bit when it comes to the game), but Hermione is her teammate.

"Do we get a point for that?" And after she asks, out of the corner of her eye she notices Cullen and looks towards him, eyebrow lifting. "Cullen, you cannot be comfortable playing a sport in all that armor."

[lionheartedman]

He's got no clue if they get a point, and no clue if he's allowed to touch it, so Cullen just looks at the ball that's near his feet before looking back up at Christine. "I wear this every day. If I can make it through a battle in it without any ill effect, I think I'll be all right playing a game."

Notice he did not say anything about comfort. Not a single word. Mostly because Christine is not the only one who might pounce on that admission. Hermione is just as bad, if by bad you mean a good friend and concerned for his well-being. He's not going bare-chested for the sake of a party game, though, and it seems like a slippery slope.

[bookish_lioness]

Christine's right not to trust those other two rifters playing (with apologies to Kirk, at least), and so she nods as she holds her arms out for someone to toss the ball over her way. "That's a point for us, yes. That also means we get to serve next. There's usually a proper rotating system to it, but I can do it until someone else on our team feels comfortable with trying it. Assuming there are no objections to that."

She doesn't really notice what Cullen's wearing until Christine exchanges words with him, and she looks up at him with a frown. "Yes, but you have bigger concerns while in a battle, such as not getting skewered with a sword and making it to the next moment in one piece. The worst you have to worry about here is a ball rebounding off your chest. Or, if you insist on keeping that on, heatstroke. Do yourself a favor and get rid of at least some of it."

She's no expert in removing armor, but she's sure he can remove enough of it to be comfortable and still decent. And if he's unwilling, she's sure she can manage to make the right amount of buckles and clasps loosen and make it seem like it's just the will of the Maker, if that's how he chooses to view it.

[el_tybs]

Sam frowns lightly at his failed attempt of keeping the other team from scoring, but at least he tried and actually managed to hit the ball. He's not going to be too down about it though; it was only one point and the game just started.

There's a moments pause though, head tilting as he notices there is some concerned chatter happening on the other side of the net. It's obvious it's about Cullen's state of dress, because... well besides Christine and Hermione talking to him directly, it just looks very uncomfortable.

"You know, Commander, Hermione has a point. Though I might point out that this game seems like it is possible for players to bump into each other accidentally?" Hint hint: might save someone some injury by not running into metal armor. "We're also off duty and here to relax and have fun."

[aceso]

Christine hands the ball over to Hermione so she can serve before giving Cullen a critical look.

"There; you see? Not only will you get heatstroke, you could injure someone with all that metal. No one is asking you to take off everything, but to simply be properly dressed for the sport." Now off with it, before you're embarrassed by two women undressing you.

[universal_charm]

"That and you're useless in that stuff if you can't move," Kirk added as he took up a position to receive in the back. "The ball falls faster than you think, and it's going to hurt to dive for it in that armor. And I thought a proper knight wouldn't argue with a lady one of her most special of days."

Honestly, he didn't understand everyone's fear of the body in this place. Much less anyone who wanted to walk around in armor all of the time, even when they didn't have to. Did no one know how to have some R&R on this world?