Five, four, three, two, where the ones go?

[clawings]

WHO: Erik & Athessa
WHAT: Fighting bandits, bantering, etcetera
WHEN: Early Wintermarch, pre-dream times
WHERE: Ghislain?
NOTES: Violence, cursing, bonding over it. Good times.

To be honest? Erik was just glad to be doing something, something away from Kirkwall for a bit. Time to see more of the world while kicking ass and not taking names, as the case turned out to be.

Ghislain was just the place to do it. There were still the occasional bandit raiding party making trouble for the locals, and Erik and Athessa were dispatched to deal with as many of them as they could.

Athessa's horse riding lessons were possibly the most helpful thing he'd managed to learn, here; he'd have been on his ass more than once if not for her help, but for these bandits in particular they're on foot. He has a short sword on him and is thoroughly enjoying himself, thanks very much. He fights loudly, full of exclaimations and grunts; his fighting style is less on the flashy side and more about getting the brutal mess done and quickly.

They're almost back to back in this moment and Erik flashes Athessa a grin. "Sure know how to show a guy a good time." He's not even joking a little bit, he's thrilled right now.

Comments

I can't remember if they've already talked about this ffs

[sulahnan]

"Make it rain pamphlets, we done that before," she agrees, and shoves some of her hair back out of her face where it came loose from the tie.

"Could at least tell it to those arsefaces back there. Why is it that bandits gotta be dicks in the middle of a war? Like, isn't there enough shite going on without adding to it? Fuck's sake."

It's not a new gripe. It's not even a particularly volitive or convictive one; it holds about as much matter as commenting on the weather.

"There was a war on where you came from, right? Was it anything like this one?"

I don't think so? We're good lol

[clawings]

"Yeah? What'd they say?" Erik feels like he shouldn't be that surprised there's been a propaganda effort already, and yet. "Do you think they worked at all?"

He sucks his teeth, putting his hands on his hips. "They just trying to get over on somebody, don't really care who or why. It's fucked, but it's common.

Back home there was always some conflict on. The country I grew up in had a military industrial complex that meant having too many foreign bases but not allowing any foreign power to do the same to them. It's pretty fucked up there too, actually."

Still that doesn't exactly answer her question, does it. "Stakes were lower. Complete rule over everyone with destruction on the level Corypheus wants to bring about? Kinda unheard of. Mostly it's businessmen who wanna rule the world back there. They wanna make money and have power that way, exploiting people to do it. So it's a slower war, really."

[sulahnan]

The pamphlet question gets a dismissive wave and a very eloquent I dunno sound to accompany it. All she remembers about that mission was nearly falling off a griffon because Edgard slung a mudball at her, hit himself in the face with it, startled the griffon he and Colin were riding, and then the heavens opened to unleash a fucking storm.

Fun times.

"Sounds like business as usual around here when there isn't a war on. I guess by your standards that means...we're never not at war." Grim, but it certainly seems true. The memories she holds of what life was like before the war against Corypheus seem a little farther away when she thinks about it.

[clawings]

That sounds very much like Edgard, honestly.

At her evaluation Erik makes a face; he doesn't disagree, exactly, but he knows that can't be a comfortable realization when you're already in the midst of a seemingly unending conflict that threatens everything you know. "It's more a war of capitalism; it exploits people so... you end up with shit like this, because everybody ain't got enough. And some people, probably, would do this anyway even if they did have enough."

[sulahnan]

"Capitalism," she echoes, trying out the unfamiliar word on a light scoff. "Military industrial complex? Sometimes stuff you say goes right over my head."

It's mostly a cover; trying to preserve the light tone of their earlier moments with humor rather than let the contemplation show plain on her face. Her thoughts stray back to her clan, and how it was likely people with more than enough that took them from her. She thinks about that farmer in Ghislain that called her rabbit and barked orders at her during Riftwatch's stint offering relief there.

[clawings]

"Sorry," he says, but he rolls his eyes a little. "Lotta nonsense words for the same shit. People who have shit want to keep having shit at the cost of those who don't. It sucks."

He notices that she's considering something and reaches out to touch her cheek. "Hey. Let's talk about something else. Like fucking in orchards."

[sulahnan]

She looks over at him when he touches her cheek, then down and away as she laughs sofy. Self-consciously.

"Or how we should'a taken their horses to get there quicker?" Her grin turns cheeky with her next thought, and she just keeps walking.

[clawings]

"Fuckin' ay." Erik sighs and then chuckles, putting his hands behind his head as they walk together. "How the hell did I not think of that shit?"

[sulahnan]

"I dunno, how the hell didn't ya?" She teases.

[clawings]

"Too busy bein' impressed with myself, I guess." He rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue out at her. "It was pretty badass though, fightin' those guys. You're real good."

[sulahnan]

She can't blame him, she's pretty impressed with him, too. She watches him as they walk a few steps further. Admires the shape of him, his hair, the shape of his nose and his mouth.

Without preamble, she grabs him and kisses him. Her lips still curve with a smile through it, and she's almost laughing by the time she breaks away to keep walking ahead of him — still teasing. Always teasing.

"Thanks for noticing."

[clawings]

The kiss surprises him but it's easy to relax into it, let it happen for as long as she wants to. He bites her bottom lip as she pulls away but otherwise does nothing to stretch out the length of their kiss, pleased with himself (clearly) as she walks ahead of him.

And if he stares at her ass, well, he's only a man after all.

"I'll always notice you." Just in case she was worried that he wouldn't, or something. "You're very noticeable."