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[open] don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious
WHO: Everyone!
WHAT: Fun and games.
WHEN: Downtime between missions.
WHERE: Various locations.
NOTES: No warnings yet
I. Under the Guise of Responsibility
The floor in the entrance hall isn't usually so shiny that you can see your face in it, but now--
--it still isn't that shiny, but it's close, and it's because Athessa noticed someone at some point polishing the stone floor and she decided, far too enthusiastically, to help. She also has helped herself to someone's pair of socks, and at this very moment seems to be preparing for some kind of hosiery slalom.
II. Impressionable
[ It starts as a normal meal, then a normal meal with drinks, then drinking and joking, and finally, drinking and playing games. From somewhere, someone produces cards, and a writing implement, and eventually Athessa winds up with both and is showing everyone how to stick the cards to their forehead with a bit of spit so everyone else can see what's written on the card. ]
Then you can either do impressions of what--who--the thing written on the card, or I can ask questions to coax it outta ya.
III. Bring Your Own Hijinx!
Play with me in this space!
I
[That's not to say he's not tempted, but he'd far prefer to not be covered in bruises and he's quite aware of how old he's getting in this moment. He hasn't slid on the floor in socks in well over a decade.]
I'm Anders, a spirit healer. Possibly effectively a grandfather, at this point, too.
no subject
So does that mean I should call you Anders or Pop-pop? Grampa? Grand-dad?
no subject
Maker, don't actually call me pop-pop or anything along those lines, please. Just Anders. And what do I call you? Other than potential patient.
[Despite the semi-seriousness of it, he flashes her a quick smile.]
no subject
[ Which is true, she is a blur, but not in a straight line. More of an arc. A downward arc. To the floor with a whump.
She rolls over, dazed but otherwise fine, and shrugs at the ceiling. She's a sturdy one, despite her petite frame. ]
My friends call me Tess.
no subject
I'll go with Tess, if that's all right. Or Athessa if that's not earned yet. I'll save Mirage for... feats, perhaps. Speaking of all right, are you?
[She's not wincing, but she's not up off the floor yet so he won't assume she's fine.]
no subject
[ With a probably-exaggerated groan, she sits upright. ]
no subject
[Anders carefully steps closer and holds out a hand.]
I could always ice the floor if you wanted to try something different. I've done that a few times, though never with anyone else wanting me to.
no subject
You can do that?! Can you make the ice go all the way to the end there? I want to set an unprecedented record for sliding. Even better if I can strike a pose the whole way.
no subject
Of course I can. Spirit healers have to get up to a bit of fun, we can't all have sticks up our asses.
[He waggles his fingers and a pale-blue glow surrounds his hands as ice slowly coats the indicated area. It's smooth and fairly even by the time he's done and the temperature has dropped by a few degrees.]
It takes a bit of work to keep the ice, rather than just make it, but that should last long enough for a few goes of it.
no subject
You're a genius! [ She runs, slip-sliding a few feet at a time, to the other end of the ice patch, so she can slide towards the healer rather than away from him, and also to get a running start.
The ice, needless to say, works far better than the polish. This time, she still falls but manages to preserve the order of her facial features, landing instead on her rear and continuing to slide until she slowly comes to a stop in front of Anders. ]
I'm about to join you in the genius club, [ she says, face alight with dawning realization. ] I have a great idea: slip n'jousting!
no subject
Brilliant.
[Anders offers her a hand again.]
It's got to use something soft, though. I'm already at risk of making more patients for myself with this and I'd prefer it stay something straightforward like broken bones rather than eyes being poked out. Maybe thwacking with pillows instead of jousting?
no subject
That removes the element of danger, though! OK, maybe not jousting, but what about sword fighting?
[ A beat. ]
With wooden swords, of course. Maybe pillow armor, but not good pillows. Lumpy old ones without any fluff to them. For the danger.
[ She does accept his hand, but as she manages to avoid falling on her ass this time, it's merely for stability as she slides her feet in place. ]
no subject
You did hear the whole spirit healer bit, I'd hope? The part where I only want to make fun work for myself with icing floors, rather than trying to heal a massive crack in someone's skull? What about fighting with...
[Anders trails off, trying to think of a middle ground.]
All right. Wooden swords, okay, but they're wrapped in linen to the point that they're not likely to do real harm beyond bruising. There's already going to be plenty of falling to cause other sorts of bruises.
no subject
[ And yeah, she heard him. She just...chose to breeze past it. Or slide, as the case may be. She takes to skidding back and forth in short, idle bursts. ]
It's not like bruises are that big of a deal, right? I mean I'm never not sporting at least one.
no subject
Just because blood isn't spilling everywhere or someone isn't screaming in pain doesn't mean there isn't damage done. Bodies are hardy things, but sometimes one good thwack can still kill.
[He exhales and leans against the wall, watching her.]
Counter-counter offer. No linen, all thwacking allowed, leather armor to be worn over at least the chest and head.
no subject
[ She's hurt plenty of people before and some of the worst screamers were men who hadn't sustained more than a scratch. Or a smack to the balls. ]
Counter-counter-counter offer, no leather armor, above the waist and below the neck thwacking only.
no subject
[His voice is very dry before he switches to simply serious.]
The most important thing is the war. We can't afford to have people incapacitated by fun when something urgent comes up. I'd like to do the fighting-on-ice thing, I think it could be a good idea, but we can't risk what matters for it.
no subject
I don't want to incapacitate anyone, [ She can't keep a slight nervous laugh out of her voice--being serious makes her uncomfortable, and this is about as serious as she gets. ] I thought we were just kidding around.