Elaine/Chris

[andrav]

Daniel was taken a little off guard by Chris' question, but he was heartened by the slight smile he sensed in Chris' features.

But, then, in order to answer, Daniel needed to think about it. After a moment of staring up at the blue sky through the crowns of the trees, he said, "Well, I don't think it's batshit crazy." After another moment, he looked back down at Chris. "There's obviously a sense of duty involved. And curiosity. And intrigue. And, sure, I suppose the goddess gets to do anything she wants to you in the meantime, but..." Daniel paused for a moment, "she's a goddess for a reason, right?" The solider shrugged his shoulders.

"But, you know, don't let me talk you into it. I really only just joined up. I'm still trying to get my bearings on the whole 'civil war' thing, let alone the divine hierarchy... My parents had low opinions of the old ways. 'Superstitions,' they would say. But, in all reality..." Daniel paused again, "I would follow whatever called to me." He gave Chris an inquisitive look, wondering if any of this had struck a chord.

[Emily]

Chris rolled his eyes subtly at the way that Daniel said batshit, but again, that small, barely-there hint of amusement tugged at his lips. The boy's expression grew somber quickly again, however, as he listened carefully to Daniel's comments. It was hard to tell how to take them, not knowing much about this soldier, but even so, Chris was grateful for someone's--anyone's--input, really. Real input, not the useless, vapid shit Amy had hurled at him. Captain Morris had tried, at least, but there was only so much candidness that relationship could bear.

The boy shifted uncomfortably when Daniel mentioned the goddess doing anything she wanted to him. Then, he jolted a little, his gut momentarily flying up into his chest at the sudden, powerful sensation like he was falling. It only lasted a blink, before he felt the ground's steadiness beneath him again, although his arms now trembled slightly. Chris mentally scrambled to catch up with whatever Daniel had been saying--he'd only just joined up, parents saw old traditions as superstitions, and...

Chris met Daniel's eyes gravely just as the man said that he'd follow whatever called to him. It was like a gong rang in Chris' chest, but he managed to remain still, albeit extremely tense. In the end, he swallowed and nodded as he shifted his gaze back to the grass.

"That simple, huh?" There was a note of bitterness in Chris' voice, but he didn't mean for there to be. He supposed he just resented that it seemed like this soldier had it easy, at least in some... nebulous ideological sense. That probably wasn't even a fair assessment, but, well, no changing his tone of voice after the fact, unfortunately. Chris frowned and twisted his mouth a little, letting some sheepishness blink through.

[andrav]

Daniel almost winced at the tone of Chris' voice, but he managed to subdue all but a twitch of one eyebrow. Without thinking, Daniel shrugged. But, then, a little put-off by the idea that his conviction was "simple," Daniel responded quickly with, "I mean, I was certainly called out of the life I had and into the frenzy of this civil war. Idleness did not suit me, and I always found a craving for... more. I imagine that some people fill that hole with religion, and maybe I'll get there eventually, but for now? There's no one but me making decisions for me, so yeah, I'm gonna listen for that call. And hope it comes." Daniel turned his gaze toward the river, almost behind him, a little melancholy. He did always wish that signs and omens and calls were a little more overt, but he suspected that he may just be projected meaning onto them anyway. Well, if he was going to project, he may as well do it well.

Daniel shrugged subtly this time and turned back to face Chris, getting prepared to stand. His feet were falling asleep in this position.

[Emily]

A warm, soft flush of shame washed over Chris' cheeks when Daniel spoke about leaving his life to join the war. No, of course that wasn't simple. For Chris, enlisting in the first place had been simple, and although his relationships within the army hadn't exactly been smooth sailing, he had found some strange, simple pleasures in this life. Making camp in the wilderness, visiting the occasional friendly village, being so frequently on the move...

All at once a clarity settled on Chris, that one thing he was afraid of with the goddess was feeling trapped. He hadn't listened to many of the stories passing around, but he'd overheard at least the occasional murmur of chains or rope or dungeon cells. He doubted that would be the fate of the likes of those whom Captain Morris had spoken, but even a more plush or honored existence wasn't likely to suit Chris if it was stagnant, or stationary. But, was there any possible way to clarify what lay before him before he had to make his choice?

Chris nodded as he returned his gaze to Daniel, hoping he hadn't let silence stand inappropriately long. The boy was momentarily taken aback to see the soldier starting to stand--shit, had Chris offended him? Maybe he just wanted to get back to his captain... he had certainly given Chris more of an ear than he had to.

"You're right." Chris said a little sheepishly, and then found the strength to finally push himself to his feet. "I'm just... kinda shit at listening." The boy cast his gaze down to the river, and shifted his weight a bit awkwardly before looking back to Daniel, curious if the soldier wanted anything else. Chris was feeling significantly more steady, and now rather eager to finally go wash his hands.

[andrav]

Daniel got fully to his feet and gave the man a smile. "I think you could do worse. You're considering it, after all."

Then the soldier looked pointedly in the direction of camp and decided he better head back before Captain Miller sent the rest of their squad after him.

"I should go," Daniel said, "but if you ever need an ear, you can find me running around Miller's camp." The soldier smiled once more, and barring any further interruptions from the other man, would happily be on his way.

[Emily]

((OOC: realized Daniel and Chris had already traded names a couple posts back, so kinda assuming that Daniel stopped at saying he'd be in Miller's camp.))

Chris gave a faint "heh" in response to Daniel's comment. He nodded when the soldier said he should go, and filed away the information that Daniel was with Miller's camp. He appreciated knowing, though he wasn't sure it'd ever be relevant. Chris almost went ahead and started walking to the river, but paused, catching one more thing he felt he owed the soldier, for whatever it was worth.

"I'm in Captain Morris'. Until sundown, at least."

He wasn't sure that Daniel would have much use for that information, but it seemed rude not to give it, especially since Chris didn't really have a reason not to. Maybe he even wanted the soldier to have it, though the thought seemed silly. Chris gave the soldier an awkward shrug and then did finally start heading to the river, a bit hastily now. That whole interaction finally feeling closed out, he was now real fucking eager to get his hands in the water.

The boy crouched down by the stream, the toes of his boots catching splashes as he plunged his hands into the cold current. At first a fresh spike of pain stung at his thumb and the other small scrapes he'd collected, but then it all mellowed into a dull thrum, echoing and slowly fading into the river along with the dirt he gently coaxed from beneath his fingernails. A relief and a relaxation started to wash over him. Surely, as a volunteer to the goddess of desire, life would be anything but stagnant. It felt crazy to believe that, but Chris was running out of stamina, and even interest, for disbelief.

((OOC: Wanted to go ahead and leave it there... I guess theoretically in case Daniel wanted to post anything else, but also just to pause and ponder what Chris' next big picture move is here. And also maybe look at what other places I might wanna turn my attention to now hehe))