[open] don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious

[sulahnan]

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!

Comments

[sulahnan]

[ She makes a face at that. ]

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. ]

[justice_is_blond]

[He snorts.]

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.

[sulahnan]

Counter-offer, no linen, but jabs are against the rules. No stabbing, just thwacking.

[ 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.

[justice_is_blond]

[Anders resists the urge to facepalm.]

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.

[sulahnan]

At the same time, just because someone's screaming their head off or bleeding all over the place doesn't mean they're actually all that hurt.

[ 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.

[justice_is_blond]

Of course. As there's nothing important there, simply heart, lungs, ribs, and so on.

[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.

[sulahnan]

[ She stops, and two seconds later so do her feet. ]

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.