At the mention of Seth, Xavier looked up at Evan, cautiously hopeful. While Seth had been ridiculous during the summoning, Xavier was genuinely curious about how the soldier was, though something twisted in his gut at the thought. It wasn't until Evan spelled it out for both of his lieutenants--that he had experienced some things with Seth that neither of them wished had happened--that Xavier could identify the feeling. There was the jealousy again. Xavier potently remembered being reluctant to leave Evan with Seth, but there really hadn't been any real reason to stick around. And, really, if Evan regretted whatever happened, why should it matter to Xavier? Maybe he would ask Evan about it later. At least Xavier didn't think Evan would regret the things the two of them just did together, so would this knot in his stomach just go away already?
But then Xavier looked at Katrina's reddening face, and it seemed like that would be too much to ask of his belly.
Would Seth want to go back? Xavier kinda doubted it. He had been especially reluctant to go to the summoning in the first place. But, then again, Seth had crossed the line. Who knew?
But then Evan glanced over at Xavier, and for reasons Xavier did not fully understand, he blushed and smiled widely and shyly for a moment before his gaze found the ground again lest he betray himself further. But, he was sure that Evan had caught it, and some part of the lieutenant desperately hoped that Evan appreciated it in spite of how risky it was. Xavier searched the ground vigorously as though he would find a thing to say there to distract himself.
Finally, he looked up at Katrina and said, "When we were in the mess tent, Raccoon overheard Evan talking, and they sounded interested. And Captain Dod is also on the lookout. I think we are well on our way to finding enough volunteers," Xavier said, his chipper attitude showing through at last. Though, after a moment, he looked down at the ground again, wondering if he should mention that he also offered to go. He opted for silence but did look back up, looking from Katrina to Evan and back again, unsure if he could contain further blushing.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan was surprised and elated when Xavier grinned at him, sending a jittery flutter through his chest as a crooked grin slapped itself right on to his own face. Gods, it was good to see Xavier smile, even if he went and hid it in short order. Right, maybe Evan should try to reel his in, too. The captain returned his gaze to Katrina, startled and a little uneasy that she had also returned her gaze to him, and didn't look too happy.
Katrina's eyes darted briefly to Xavier, and back to Evan, where they would have stayed if Xavier hadn't spoken up again and called her attention back. She wrinkled her nose slightly when Xavier mentioned Raccoon, her eyebrows raising in confusion in the same moment. Katrina hadn't interacted with Raccoon much, but she had a very strong impression of them as exceedingly odd, and she could not make any sense of that particular soldier alongside a goddess, nevermind one who seemed so... serious and sultry. Seth honestly made more sense to her; he seemed like the type of man a lot of the stories she'd heard were about, in some ways. But, she didn't know Raccoon very well, and she certainly didn't actually know all that much about the goddess, so she left it at just the facial expression, and returned her attention to Evan.
"I'll talk to Seth. I'm not sure how much help I'll be at recruiting volunteers beyond that... but I guess it sounds like you've got it covered."
There was a slump to Katrina's voice that pulled Evan's expression the rest of the way back to a frown, but he wasn't entirely sure how to address it. Instead, he stuck with more details she'd need to know if only for Seth's sake.
"That's fine. If Seth does want to volunteer, he should meet me here by sundown, before I return to the goddess tonight."
Katrina looked exasperated about that.
"Just how many more nights will you be spirited away? You aren't going to volunteer, are you?"
Evan blinked, admittedly surprised by the question. He answered confidently enough, though: "No. I owe the goddess two more nights."
For whatever reason, the memory of the velvety succulents of the gate to the underworld started to bloom in Evan's mind. He could practically feel the touch of them on his thigh, slick and beckoning. It made his gut dance, and his cock swell once more. Gods, he ached to get back to the goddess, but there was still so fucking much to do.
"And, however long the final task takes to free her. But once that's done, I'll be here 100 percent, alongside both of you as we make our way back to the capitol and finish this godsdamned war."
Katrina frowned, but nodded, appreciating the earnestness in Evan's serious expression. She admired that expression deeply, when his resolve and determination radiated in his thick black brows and taut jawline. The fire in her cheeks bloomed again, but she hoped that neither Evan nor Xavier fully knew why.
"I'll hold you to that, captain." Katrina said, with a small hint at a smirk tugging at her lips. Evan allowed a smirk to start curling on his own lips again, as well, relieved that something seemed to have clicked back into place between them.
Katrina's eyes darted briefly to Xavier, and back to Evan, where they would have stayed if Xavier hadn't spoken up again and called her attention back. She wrinkled her nose slightly when Xavier mentioned Raccoon, her eyebrows raising in confusion in the same moment. Katrina hadn't interacted with Raccoon much, but she had a very strong impression of them as exceedingly odd, and she could not make any sense of that particular soldier alongside a goddess, nevermind one who seemed so... serious and sultry. Seth honestly made more sense to her; he seemed like the type of man a lot of the stories she'd heard were about, in some ways. But, she didn't know Raccoon very well, and she certainly didn't actually know all that much about the goddess, so she left it at just the facial expression, and returned her attention to Evan.
"I'll talk to Seth. I'm not sure how much help I'll be at recruiting volunteers beyond that... but I guess it sounds like you've got it covered."
There was a slump to Katrina's voice that pulled Evan's expression the rest of the way back to a frown, but he wasn't entirely sure how to address it. Instead, he stuck with more details she'd need to know if only for Seth's sake.
"That's fine. If Seth does want to volunteer, he should meet me here by sundown, before I return to the goddess tonight."
Katrina looked exasperated about that.
"Just how many more nights will you be spirited away? You aren't going to volunteer, are you?"
Evan blinked, admittedly surprised by the question. He answered confidently enough, though: "No. I owe the goddess two more nights."
For whatever reason, the memory of the velvety succulents of the gate to the underworld started to bloom in Evan's mind. He could practically feel the touch of them on his thigh, slick and beckoning. It made his gut dance, and his cock swell once more. Gods, he ached to get back to the goddess, but there was still so fucking much to do.
"And, however long the final task takes to free her. But once that's done, I'll be here 100 percent, alongside both of you as we make our way back to the capitol and finish this godsdamned war."
Katrina frowned, but nodded, appreciating the earnestness in Evan's serious expression. She admired that expression deeply, when his resolve and determination radiated in his thick black brows and taut jawline. The fire in her cheeks bloomed again, but she hoped that neither Evan nor Xavier fully knew why.
"I'll hold you to that, captain." Katrina said, with a small hint at a smirk tugging at her lips. Evan allowed a smirk to start curling on his own lips again, as well, relieved that something seemed to have clicked back into place between them.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Xavier actually found himself feeling hopeful about ending the war and felt reassured when Evan said he wasn't going to volunteer for the goddess. While the thought had not even crossed Xavier's mind, he was glad to hear again that Evan didn't intend to stay with the goddess forever. It wouldn't have made sense anyway, though, not if Evan meant to get the volunteers back. He'd have to be out of her grasp to do that, right?
Still, the way Evan said it to Katrina, it sounded like ending the war really was just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Was that too good to be true? Xavier hoped not. Although he wasn't at all sure what would happen to whatever was going on between Evan and him then. Better not to think about it for now.
As Xavier watched the two of them, he decided that the situation was calming down and felt happy. That all certainly could have gone a lot worse. They really would need to do better at keeping Katrina in the loop. She deserved that much. Especially if Xavier and Evan were going to keep fooling around.
"I'll hold you to that, too," Xavier said with a smile he did not feel he needed to hide.
Still, the way Evan said it to Katrina, it sounded like ending the war really was just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Was that too good to be true? Xavier hoped not. Although he wasn't at all sure what would happen to whatever was going on between Evan and him then. Better not to think about it for now.
As Xavier watched the two of them, he decided that the situation was calming down and felt happy. That all certainly could have gone a lot worse. They really would need to do better at keeping Katrina in the loop. She deserved that much. Especially if Xavier and Evan were going to keep fooling around.
"I'll hold you to that, too," Xavier said with a smile he did not feel he needed to hide.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
"So, off to fame and glory with you, then?" Gavin asked with a very slight smile. "You might get to live up to all the boasts you've made now."
Lance gave Gavin a sidelong smirk, complete with a subtle wink.
"One can only hope." he said playfully, before leading them both into a turn back towards Evan's tent; might still be early, he supposed, but he'd certainly rather overhear more of the captain's dalliance than miss him altogether.
Instead, Lance saw Lieutenant Emmett approaching from the other direction, looking none too pleased. The brunette paused his saunter, and looked at Katrina curiously. She gave him a warning glare--wouldn't be the first time--and planted herself in front of Evan's tent, demanding entry. Lance tossed a shrug to Gavin, and started walking again, still in the same direction. They were still a ways away, and it'd look more suspicious to change his course on Katrina's account. Katrina tossed him one more sidelong glare before stepping into Evan's tent, but really, that was just how she looked at him. Lance was fully used to it, and didn't mind.
With Katrina out of sight, Lance tossed Gavin a grin which broadcasted that he absolutely intended to eavesdrop, and he picked up his pace to get fully within earshot more quickly, though he kept his steps light to not attract attention.
---
Evan turned his gaze to Xavier, his smirk brightening further, and he gave the seated lieutenant a determined nod.
"We should probably get to it, then. Xavier, you're on Raccoon; Katrina, you're on Seth; and I'll go check in with the commander. Meet back here just before sundown with whatever volunteers you're able to gather."
Katrina's own expression turned serious and determined, her small round face mirroring the expression Evan had donned when he spoke of ending the war. She was grateful to have some direction and purpose again, even if her gut was uneasy about all this. It wouldn't be the first time her captain had lead her into an uneasy mission, and she prayed as she often did that her trust in him would continue to prove deserved.
The red-head gave a final bow, straightening her posture as she stood back up to a formal stance. Then, she tossed Xavier a warm nod, an excited smile peeking through her serious expression, and she took her leave, eager now to get started on the task her captain had given her.
((OOC: Having trouble deciding how Lance would have positioned himself to eavesdrop, depends on layout of tents and the area Gavin was hanging out in before. Figured I'd put off that decision one more post to go ahead and get this one out, but obvs Lance's next post will be after Katrina leaves, so not sure if Katrina will see them or not lol.))
Lance gave Gavin a sidelong smirk, complete with a subtle wink.
"One can only hope." he said playfully, before leading them both into a turn back towards Evan's tent; might still be early, he supposed, but he'd certainly rather overhear more of the captain's dalliance than miss him altogether.
Instead, Lance saw Lieutenant Emmett approaching from the other direction, looking none too pleased. The brunette paused his saunter, and looked at Katrina curiously. She gave him a warning glare--wouldn't be the first time--and planted herself in front of Evan's tent, demanding entry. Lance tossed a shrug to Gavin, and started walking again, still in the same direction. They were still a ways away, and it'd look more suspicious to change his course on Katrina's account. Katrina tossed him one more sidelong glare before stepping into Evan's tent, but really, that was just how she looked at him. Lance was fully used to it, and didn't mind.
With Katrina out of sight, Lance tossed Gavin a grin which broadcasted that he absolutely intended to eavesdrop, and he picked up his pace to get fully within earshot more quickly, though he kept his steps light to not attract attention.
---
Evan turned his gaze to Xavier, his smirk brightening further, and he gave the seated lieutenant a determined nod.
"We should probably get to it, then. Xavier, you're on Raccoon; Katrina, you're on Seth; and I'll go check in with the commander. Meet back here just before sundown with whatever volunteers you're able to gather."
Katrina's own expression turned serious and determined, her small round face mirroring the expression Evan had donned when he spoke of ending the war. She was grateful to have some direction and purpose again, even if her gut was uneasy about all this. It wouldn't be the first time her captain had lead her into an uneasy mission, and she prayed as she often did that her trust in him would continue to prove deserved.
The red-head gave a final bow, straightening her posture as she stood back up to a formal stance. Then, she tossed Xavier a warm nod, an excited smile peeking through her serious expression, and she took her leave, eager now to get started on the task her captain had given her.
((OOC: Having trouble deciding how Lance would have positioned himself to eavesdrop, depends on layout of tents and the area Gavin was hanging out in before. Figured I'd put off that decision one more post to go ahead and get this one out, but obvs Lance's next post will be after Katrina leaves, so not sure if Katrina will see them or not lol.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Gavin found himself rather unaffected by Lance's smirk and wink. It seemed like a non-committal answer. But maybe that was because there was something else on Lance's mind. Lance had caught sight of something (someone?), and it took Gavin a few moments to realize what was going on. Katrina, Gavin's lieutenant, was also intending to get Evan's attention. Gavin couldn't blame her, really. In fact, she had a lot more right to his time than Gavin did. Should Gavin have approached Katrina first? Maybe.
But, wait, wasn't there someone in the tent? Would Katrina walk in on them? Gavin found himself sidling up alongside Lance, not realizing at first that this was, technically, eavesdropping. Gavin was just waiting for some kind of reaction. There was none. In fact, the conversation was... normal. Maybe whoever had been making sounds in Evan's tent had slipped out while Gavin was out walking with Lance. Yeah, that must be it because Gavin heard Xavier's voice, too.
Anyway, it sounded like a good thing Gavin hadn't gone to Lieutenant Emmett first; she was just about as in the dark as Gavin had been.
By the time Gavin realized he probably shouldn't be listening in, he had already heard half of the conversation. He was interested in what they were saying about Seth--Gavin didn't dare go near the man, but he was part of Katrina's retinue, after all. He certainly had been even more intolerable to be around after... whatever happened with the goddess. And Evan, by the sounds of it.
After a few more moments, though, Gavin left Lance to sit back down by the nearest fire. While he couldn't make out the words of the rest of the conversation, it seemed like things were about to wrap up, and if he were lucky, he would get all his questions answered whenever Evan was free anyway.
--
Xavier was grateful that Katrina's mood had significantly improved since she arrived in the tent, and it didn't seem like she had noticed anything weirder than usual between Xavier and Evan. Crazy that all that had happened only a handful of minutes beforehand right where she had been standing. Well, all over the tent, to be fair. Oh dear, oh dear, how in the worlds was Xavier supposed to keep all this a secret?!
But at least he had a task to keep his mind on now. Find Raccoon. He could manage that much. Right after he took a dip in the river. Being with Evan... well, Xavier was sweaty all over, for one.
Xavier briefly intended to stop by his tent to grab some supplies and clean clothes but was shortly stopped by one of the soldiers underneath him.
"Lieutenant Allegre!"
Xavier jumped several inches in the air, and his face turned bright red. How did they already know?
As Xavier turned around, he assured himself that, no, no this surely wasn't about Evan's idea of a walk or the way that Xavier was taking smaller steps across the ground than usual.
"Can I have another one of those charms? I gave one to a friend of mine."
"Oh! Yes! Of course!" Xavier stuck out his tongue as he fished around in his pocket, quickly handing the man a charm. He tried to calm his breathing in the process. Then, he remembered something and added, "You can have this, but you shouldn't really need it anymore. Not for the goddess, at least. She promised Captain Rutliff she wouldn't attack anyone anymore." And bargained specifically for me, Xavier thought.
"Cool. Well, it makes me feel safer to have one, anyway." Xavier nodded, understanding completely. He never went anywhere without his. But then the soldier looked Xavier over and asked, "Hey, is everything all right?"
Too fast, Xavier responded, "Yep! Yep! Fine! Everything's fine! Bye!" And turned back around, shuffling faster back to his tent.
He was less careful and shy about nudity than usual, finding a relatively open place in the river to bathe after he had stopped by his tent to grab clothes and his grandmother's homemade soap. At least he had managed to bring a substantial supply of that before he left for the army. Small comforts from home. Smelled like honeysuckle and goat's milk. Xavier didn't miss milking the goats.
Xavier went deeper into the river than he usually would, taking deep, deep breaths and scrubbing everything all over. It wasn't so much that he was trying to wash off what had happened as he wanted to wash off the sensation that everyone knew what had happened. When he reached back to scrub his anus, Xavier whimpered a little, fascinated by the way it was open and soft, even still. He looked around to make sure that no one had noticed, but everyone else was only paying attention to themselves, and they were quite a distance away.
The lieutenant closed his eyes to remember just a few moments of his encounter with Evan--the feel of Evan's cock in Xavier's mouth, the sensation of being face up on top of Evan, the cuddling they did on Evan's cot afterward--but then Xavier quickly started to get hard again. He would need to get out of this river eventually, and he wasn't helping himself there. Starting to shiver, Xavier tried to think of something else but could only come up with gratitude for the fact that he had attracted Evan's attention at all. Really, how did this all happen?
Briefly, Xavier wondered if Evan had engineered it from the beginning--if that was why Evan had chosen Xavier to be his lieutenant in the first place--but that did not quite ring true to Xavier. Why wait so long if that was the case? And didn't making Xavier a lieutenant only complicate matters? Not really, Xavier realized. Well, still, it wasn't a nice thing to think about, so Xavier pushed that thought out of his mind, too. Besides, what would that mean about Katrina if that were true? It wasn't, Xavier convinced himself.
Quickly now, feeling like he was wasting valuable daylight, Xavier finished up in the river and waded to the bank to dry and clothe himself, preparing to speak again to Raccoon and see if they were serious about going to the goddess.
((OOC: I figured, past this point, I would move to Raccoon's thread.))
But, wait, wasn't there someone in the tent? Would Katrina walk in on them? Gavin found himself sidling up alongside Lance, not realizing at first that this was, technically, eavesdropping. Gavin was just waiting for some kind of reaction. There was none. In fact, the conversation was... normal. Maybe whoever had been making sounds in Evan's tent had slipped out while Gavin was out walking with Lance. Yeah, that must be it because Gavin heard Xavier's voice, too.
Anyway, it sounded like a good thing Gavin hadn't gone to Lieutenant Emmett first; she was just about as in the dark as Gavin had been.
By the time Gavin realized he probably shouldn't be listening in, he had already heard half of the conversation. He was interested in what they were saying about Seth--Gavin didn't dare go near the man, but he was part of Katrina's retinue, after all. He certainly had been even more intolerable to be around after... whatever happened with the goddess. And Evan, by the sounds of it.
After a few more moments, though, Gavin left Lance to sit back down by the nearest fire. While he couldn't make out the words of the rest of the conversation, it seemed like things were about to wrap up, and if he were lucky, he would get all his questions answered whenever Evan was free anyway.
--
Xavier was grateful that Katrina's mood had significantly improved since she arrived in the tent, and it didn't seem like she had noticed anything weirder than usual between Xavier and Evan. Crazy that all that had happened only a handful of minutes beforehand right where she had been standing. Well, all over the tent, to be fair. Oh dear, oh dear, how in the worlds was Xavier supposed to keep all this a secret?!
But at least he had a task to keep his mind on now. Find Raccoon. He could manage that much. Right after he took a dip in the river. Being with Evan... well, Xavier was sweaty all over, for one.
Xavier briefly intended to stop by his tent to grab some supplies and clean clothes but was shortly stopped by one of the soldiers underneath him.
"Lieutenant Allegre!"
Xavier jumped several inches in the air, and his face turned bright red. How did they already know?
As Xavier turned around, he assured himself that, no, no this surely wasn't about Evan's idea of a walk or the way that Xavier was taking smaller steps across the ground than usual.
"Can I have another one of those charms? I gave one to a friend of mine."
"Oh! Yes! Of course!" Xavier stuck out his tongue as he fished around in his pocket, quickly handing the man a charm. He tried to calm his breathing in the process. Then, he remembered something and added, "You can have this, but you shouldn't really need it anymore. Not for the goddess, at least. She promised Captain Rutliff she wouldn't attack anyone anymore." And bargained specifically for me, Xavier thought.
"Cool. Well, it makes me feel safer to have one, anyway." Xavier nodded, understanding completely. He never went anywhere without his. But then the soldier looked Xavier over and asked, "Hey, is everything all right?"
Too fast, Xavier responded, "Yep! Yep! Fine! Everything's fine! Bye!" And turned back around, shuffling faster back to his tent.
He was less careful and shy about nudity than usual, finding a relatively open place in the river to bathe after he had stopped by his tent to grab clothes and his grandmother's homemade soap. At least he had managed to bring a substantial supply of that before he left for the army. Small comforts from home. Smelled like honeysuckle and goat's milk. Xavier didn't miss milking the goats.
Xavier went deeper into the river than he usually would, taking deep, deep breaths and scrubbing everything all over. It wasn't so much that he was trying to wash off what had happened as he wanted to wash off the sensation that everyone knew what had happened. When he reached back to scrub his anus, Xavier whimpered a little, fascinated by the way it was open and soft, even still. He looked around to make sure that no one had noticed, but everyone else was only paying attention to themselves, and they were quite a distance away.
The lieutenant closed his eyes to remember just a few moments of his encounter with Evan--the feel of Evan's cock in Xavier's mouth, the sensation of being face up on top of Evan, the cuddling they did on Evan's cot afterward--but then Xavier quickly started to get hard again. He would need to get out of this river eventually, and he wasn't helping himself there. Starting to shiver, Xavier tried to think of something else but could only come up with gratitude for the fact that he had attracted Evan's attention at all. Really, how did this all happen?
Briefly, Xavier wondered if Evan had engineered it from the beginning--if that was why Evan had chosen Xavier to be his lieutenant in the first place--but that did not quite ring true to Xavier. Why wait so long if that was the case? And didn't making Xavier a lieutenant only complicate matters? Not really, Xavier realized. Well, still, it wasn't a nice thing to think about, so Xavier pushed that thought out of his mind, too. Besides, what would that mean about Katrina if that were true? It wasn't, Xavier convinced himself.
Quickly now, feeling like he was wasting valuable daylight, Xavier finished up in the river and waded to the bank to dry and clothe himself, preparing to speak again to Raccoon and see if they were serious about going to the goddess.
((OOC: I figured, past this point, I would move to Raccoon's thread.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Lance shamelessly stopped walking quite near Evan's tent, and frankly, he was more than a little thrilled that Gavin did, too, though he didn't make a deal about it--wouldn't wanna scare the other soldier away, after all. Instead the lieutenant just quietly listened, though his heart raced in excitement that surely shone on his face. That was lieutenant Allegre's voice in there with Rutliff and Emmett, and frankly, could easily have been the voice of the soldier who'd been moaning earlier, by Lance's estimation. The lieutenant brought his hand up to his mouth, fingertips touching to his lips as though that could quiet the ridiculous grin on his face.
Gavin moved away at some point, and Lance supposed that was probably smart, since it sounded like things were wrapping up. The lieutenant turned and sauntered after his companion, and not a few steps later, the first of the soldiers within the tent emerged. Lance didn't turn to see, but he heard a scoff and then stomping off which let him know unequivocally who it was. If Gavin was paying attention, he may have caught Lance's grin widen at the sound, well aware that Katrina must have looked irritated to see him still hanging around.
Lance's ears perked when the second set of footsteps exited Evan's tent, but he didn't stop and turn until the next footsteps followed after that, heavy and calm.
"Captain Rutliff!" Lance raised a hand in a casual wave towards the captain once he turned on his heel, "Spare a moment?"
Evan glanced over toward the campfire circle closest to his tent to see who had called to him. Some part of him was annoyed at yet again being intercepted, but he supposed it couldn't much be helped now. The captain shrugged off his annoyance and set into a confident stride towards Lieutenant Holloway and--one of Evan's own soldiers. Interesting.
"Gavin and I have some questions about volunteering." Lance said with a grin, tilting his head a bit as he sized up Evan's response.
Evan felt surprised, though perhaps he shouldn't have been. And, shouldn't he be glad word was spreading, and that folks were indeed taking interest? Perhaps it was just that, sometimes Evan wasn't entirely sure how seriously to take Lance, specifically. He let his surprise shift into skepticism, one eyebrow raised as he shifted his weight to one side and shamelessly sized Lance up.
"Do you now?"
((OOC: Lance and Evan will certainly continue without much pause, but how things go next could easily depend on even just Gavin's expression lol))
Gavin moved away at some point, and Lance supposed that was probably smart, since it sounded like things were wrapping up. The lieutenant turned and sauntered after his companion, and not a few steps later, the first of the soldiers within the tent emerged. Lance didn't turn to see, but he heard a scoff and then stomping off which let him know unequivocally who it was. If Gavin was paying attention, he may have caught Lance's grin widen at the sound, well aware that Katrina must have looked irritated to see him still hanging around.
Lance's ears perked when the second set of footsteps exited Evan's tent, but he didn't stop and turn until the next footsteps followed after that, heavy and calm.
"Captain Rutliff!" Lance raised a hand in a casual wave towards the captain once he turned on his heel, "Spare a moment?"
Evan glanced over toward the campfire circle closest to his tent to see who had called to him. Some part of him was annoyed at yet again being intercepted, but he supposed it couldn't much be helped now. The captain shrugged off his annoyance and set into a confident stride towards Lieutenant Holloway and--one of Evan's own soldiers. Interesting.
"Gavin and I have some questions about volunteering." Lance said with a grin, tilting his head a bit as he sized up Evan's response.
Evan felt surprised, though perhaps he shouldn't have been. And, shouldn't he be glad word was spreading, and that folks were indeed taking interest? Perhaps it was just that, sometimes Evan wasn't entirely sure how seriously to take Lance, specifically. He let his surprise shift into skepticism, one eyebrow raised as he shifted his weight to one side and shamelessly sized Lance up.
"Do you now?"
((OOC: Lance and Evan will certainly continue without much pause, but how things go next could easily depend on even just Gavin's expression lol))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
On the one hand, Gavin was grateful that he didn't have to find a way to get Evan's attention once he came out of the tent. On the other, he really wasn't sure that he wanted to be in Lance's company while this conversation happened. After all, what would Gavin feel comfortable saying in front of Lance.
It didn't matter, though, because the second Evan's expression turned skeptical, all the questions Gavin had in his mind left completely, leaving no trace. Gavin blinked several times, trying to regather himself. Maybe he could just let the lieutenant and the captain talk and interject if he felt the need. Though, with these two, he wasn't entire sure he would get the chance.
Well, he better say something so Evan at least knew he was serious about this volunteering business.
Looking at Lance, Gavin winced and explained, "We got here at the same time," as if apologizing.
It didn't matter, though, because the second Evan's expression turned skeptical, all the questions Gavin had in his mind left completely, leaving no trace. Gavin blinked several times, trying to regather himself. Maybe he could just let the lieutenant and the captain talk and interject if he felt the need. Though, with these two, he wasn't entire sure he would get the chance.
Well, he better say something so Evan at least knew he was serious about this volunteering business.
Looking at Lance, Gavin winced and explained, "We got here at the same time," as if apologizing.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Lance clicked his tongue and waved dismissively towards Gavin, amused by the soldier's need to clarify. Then again, between Gavin's verbal distancing and Evan's skeptical stance... perhaps Lance’s usual bravado was, in fact, not quite the right approach here. Fine, then. Lance gathered his arms across his chest and straightened up, meeting Evan's gaze with confidence, and, dare one say, some seriousness.
"You're asking people to offer their lives up to someone you haven't actually shared much about, you know. That parlor trick this morning was impressive, but somehow I doubt that was really representative of what the Demon Queen is offering--or asking for. You planning on being a little more candid, or are you just counting on lurid tales and lonely soldiers to cut it?"
Evan frowned. So, Lance was in that kind of mood today. Still, something stuck out about the lieutenant's challenge that made him more confused than defensive. Parlor trick? Evan stonewalled his expression, calculating whether he dare tip his hand that he had no idea what Lance was talking about. He decided not to, and instead to go on the offensive to meet Lance head-on.
"I'll be as candid as you like now, Holloway, but the commander's waiting. You got questions, then ask already."
Lance let out a soft, breathy chuckle. Commander was waiting on Evan, and he was making that ruckus in his tent? Ballsy. Lance had half a mind to call him on it, but he supposed he had to pick his priorities here, fun as it would be to poke at Evan's dalliance.
"Just be real with me about this: do you genuinely believe you're asking soldiers to go to their divine calling, or their hellish death? Cause the stories could certainly tell it either way."
Irritation clawed up Evan's throat. Somehow he'd imagined this whole process of telling people about the goddess would be far more... fun, he supposed, though it seemed stupid to think that now. It was going to be fucking exhausting answering this kind of inquiry over and fucking over again. Then again, not everyone would come in as contrarily head-first about it as Lance.
“Entirely depends on the soldier, I think” Evan answered evenly, doing his best not to let his irritation show through. “For you, Lance, my money would be on some kind of hell.”
After all, Evan had seen plenty of himself in Lance before. Plenty of particular parts of himself. If Lance wasn’t careful, he might well end up with a dagger to his throat like Evan had, and no promise of being the goddess’ vessel to the Underworld to save him. Evan swallowed down the memory before it moved on to the next bit, urging it to flow through him and out of sight as he stepped closer to Lance, growing more somber.
“If you’re seriously considering going, Holloway, I’d think real hard on what you offer the goddess. She answers shit-eating grins tenfold, and thanks to my smart mouth I might well be dead if I wasn’t of value to her.”
Evan’s eyes flicked to Gavin, his mind already contemplating how to soften the blow of what he’d said to Lance. Talking to two such different soldiers at once about this was tricky. The captain stepped away from Lance before the lieutenant could reply, and regarded Gavin with a gentler posture.
“It’s harder to know for you, Gavin. There will be torment, and there will be bliss. Whether that’ll be hell for you, I can’t say.”
Evan pivoted again, inviting Lance back in to this next comment directed towards both of them.
“The goddess wants to be worshipped; if you go with that intention--however you worship--” Evan’s eyes had slid specifically to Lance on that last bit, but he continued without a beat, “then you will assuredly see something divine."
Lance held a somewhat uncharacteristically stoic expression, his eyebrows raised but his mouth more or less a straight line, his arms still crossed over his chest. He honestly hadn’t expected Evan to talk about his life having been in danger that directly--and to attribute it to his smart mouth, at that. It did send a flutter through Lance’s stomach, where some part of him doubted if volunteering was such a good idea for him then--but some other part, buzzing and roiling deep in his gut, now decidedly had to go.
((OOC: I think Lance will have something else to say, but it might (admittedly) take him a beat to come up with it lol, so Gavin could get something in. This also seemed a decent pause just to get Gavin’s nonverbal responses in before continuing anyhow.))
"You're asking people to offer their lives up to someone you haven't actually shared much about, you know. That parlor trick this morning was impressive, but somehow I doubt that was really representative of what the Demon Queen is offering--or asking for. You planning on being a little more candid, or are you just counting on lurid tales and lonely soldiers to cut it?"
Evan frowned. So, Lance was in that kind of mood today. Still, something stuck out about the lieutenant's challenge that made him more confused than defensive. Parlor trick? Evan stonewalled his expression, calculating whether he dare tip his hand that he had no idea what Lance was talking about. He decided not to, and instead to go on the offensive to meet Lance head-on.
"I'll be as candid as you like now, Holloway, but the commander's waiting. You got questions, then ask already."
Lance let out a soft, breathy chuckle. Commander was waiting on Evan, and he was making that ruckus in his tent? Ballsy. Lance had half a mind to call him on it, but he supposed he had to pick his priorities here, fun as it would be to poke at Evan's dalliance.
"Just be real with me about this: do you genuinely believe you're asking soldiers to go to their divine calling, or their hellish death? Cause the stories could certainly tell it either way."
Irritation clawed up Evan's throat. Somehow he'd imagined this whole process of telling people about the goddess would be far more... fun, he supposed, though it seemed stupid to think that now. It was going to be fucking exhausting answering this kind of inquiry over and fucking over again. Then again, not everyone would come in as contrarily head-first about it as Lance.
“Entirely depends on the soldier, I think” Evan answered evenly, doing his best not to let his irritation show through. “For you, Lance, my money would be on some kind of hell.”
After all, Evan had seen plenty of himself in Lance before. Plenty of particular parts of himself. If Lance wasn’t careful, he might well end up with a dagger to his throat like Evan had, and no promise of being the goddess’ vessel to the Underworld to save him. Evan swallowed down the memory before it moved on to the next bit, urging it to flow through him and out of sight as he stepped closer to Lance, growing more somber.
“If you’re seriously considering going, Holloway, I’d think real hard on what you offer the goddess. She answers shit-eating grins tenfold, and thanks to my smart mouth I might well be dead if I wasn’t of value to her.”
Evan’s eyes flicked to Gavin, his mind already contemplating how to soften the blow of what he’d said to Lance. Talking to two such different soldiers at once about this was tricky. The captain stepped away from Lance before the lieutenant could reply, and regarded Gavin with a gentler posture.
“It’s harder to know for you, Gavin. There will be torment, and there will be bliss. Whether that’ll be hell for you, I can’t say.”
Evan pivoted again, inviting Lance back in to this next comment directed towards both of them.
“The goddess wants to be worshipped; if you go with that intention--however you worship--” Evan’s eyes had slid specifically to Lance on that last bit, but he continued without a beat, “then you will assuredly see something divine."
Lance held a somewhat uncharacteristically stoic expression, his eyebrows raised but his mouth more or less a straight line, his arms still crossed over his chest. He honestly hadn’t expected Evan to talk about his life having been in danger that directly--and to attribute it to his smart mouth, at that. It did send a flutter through Lance’s stomach, where some part of him doubted if volunteering was such a good idea for him then--but some other part, buzzing and roiling deep in his gut, now decidedly had to go.
((OOC: I think Lance will have something else to say, but it might (admittedly) take him a beat to come up with it lol, so Gavin could get something in. This also seemed a decent pause just to get Gavin’s nonverbal responses in before continuing anyhow.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Gavin followed the conversation closely, looking from the captain to the lieutenant and back as each of them spoke. While Gavin was concerned about the tone Lance was taking with Evan, it didn't especially bother Gavin--or surprise him--until Evan told Lance to think long and hard about what he offered the goddess. More than hearing that she genuinely had threatened Evan's life, more than hearing that it might be some kind of hell, what frightened Gavin is that he might not have anything to offer the goddess.
Tears welled up in Gavin's eyes, but he fought them desperately. This was not at all company Gavin felt comfortable crying around.
His mouth felt exceptionally dry and murky, and though he had questions on the tip of his tongue, he wasn't sure how to ask what he needed to ask. His words were escaping him still, and the tears in his eyes didn't help. He was worried his voice would waver.
But then, Lance actually shut up for a moment, and imagined or not, Gavin felt Evan looking expectantly at him. He did, after all, want to know what divinity looked and felt like. Even though he had never really worshipped before. Maybe his intense interest in all things magic would be enough?
Coughing a couple times, Gavin finally croaked out, "what kinds of things does she like?" It was an earnest question, and innocent, Gavin hoped.
Tears welled up in Gavin's eyes, but he fought them desperately. This was not at all company Gavin felt comfortable crying around.
His mouth felt exceptionally dry and murky, and though he had questions on the tip of his tongue, he wasn't sure how to ask what he needed to ask. His words were escaping him still, and the tears in his eyes didn't help. He was worried his voice would waver.
But then, Lance actually shut up for a moment, and imagined or not, Gavin felt Evan looking expectantly at him. He did, after all, want to know what divinity looked and felt like. Even though he had never really worshipped before. Maybe his intense interest in all things magic would be enough?
Coughing a couple times, Gavin finally croaked out, "what kinds of things does she like?" It was an earnest question, and innocent, Gavin hoped.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
It took Evan some effort to keep up a stoic expression in the beat after he had spoken, both the soldiers before him looking more pensive than their usual. Anxiety buzzed in Evan's chest, but he assured himself that the soldiers' pensiveness just meant that he'd successfully communicated the gravity of what they were considering, which was a good thing. Still, it sucked to stare so much at the darker parts of the goddess. He knew he wanted to get back to her tonight, but that feeling was getting murky now, especially with the memory of that dagger at his throat so close by, and ever threatening to keep playing to what happened next.
Thankfully, Gavin spoke up with a question which immediately summoned to mind very different memories with the goddess. The first to surface, sliding into view like smoke billowing from a fire, was Evan's teeth sinking into the goddess' neck--albeit in Xavier's body--and the moan she'd released in response. A flurry of other images danced across his memory after that--his hand around her throat that first night; both his hands caressing over him at the summoning; the purple pillar of light he'd felt in his body; the way she'd writhed when he'd finally said her name. Not all of that applied to Gavin, presumably, but at least Evan landed on one thing he was confident about.
"She likes when you say her name," he nearly purred; he couldn't quite help it.
"Will you say it?" Lance asked excitedly, a fresh grin splattered across his face. "I've heard at least a few different pronunciations, wouldn't want to get it wrong."
Evan narrowed his eyes a bit darkly at the lieutenant, irritation showing through. He managed to turn up a fresh grin of his own after a beat, though, his weight shifting to one side as he set his hand on his hip.
"I dunno, Lance. The goddess might enjoy teaching you herself."
A fantasy stole its way immediately into Evan's mind: a slap to Lance's face for a purposeful mispronunciation, over and over and over again, each time the lieutenant taking a little longer to recover that cheeky glint in his eyes, until finally he melted and the goddess' name spilled freely from his lips. The captain opened and closed his free hand at his side; he could swear he felt his palm stinging.
A thrill danced in Lance's chest. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen the captain eye anyone in quite the way he was eyeing Lance now, and the lieutenant wondered delightedly if Evan might have let loose a low growl, had he been just a little less guarded. Just how was the captain imagining the goddess might teach him? Gods, it was tempting to just fucking ask--hell, escalate this all the way to flirting, why the fuck not?--but the lieutenant contained himself, and turned his mind instead towards what else he actually needed to know.
"So then how will I know the difference, Evan? Between lessons the goddess might enjoy teaching me and lessons I might die before I learn?"
Evan's grin faded, and his eyes softened a little. Lance's expression still held onto a superficial grin, but the lieutenant's tone had been low and serious, and his bravado had faded from his eyes. The captain's mind flashed to the way the goddess had screamed when he'd mentioned Rorrim's name; the feral rage in her expression as she held that dagger to his neck. He closed his hand again to keep himself from reaching up to touch the cut; one of the wounds the goddess hadn't magically licked away. He swallowed before he answered, finding himself focusing intently on that moment, his heart starting to beat in his ears with the terror of it, because he was desperately afraid that if he tried to leave that moment, his memory would move right along into the next.
"I don't know." Evan finally answered after a long beat, his mouth now dry and his gaze a little distant.
Lance's grin faded fully. That... really hadn't been the answer he'd wanted to hear, but he supposed it was all the more important that he'd heard it, then.
"Probably stay away from the subject of the king." Evan added after another moment, his hand reaching up to rub nervously at his hair. "Poking fun there got me in the most trouble I've been in." Worse than backing out of their deal? Was he sure about that? Evan's stomach started to swirl, and he couldn't stop himself from placing his hand over it as though he could calm it down, even as he had to shift his foot suddenly to keep his balance.
Lance sobered considerably. Evan... wasn't okay. The nervous hair-rubbing Lance had seen before, but that queasy expression? That looked completely alien on the captain, far as Lance was concerned. The lieutenant couldn't help turning to look at Gavin with a bit of a gape to his expression, curious about whether and to what extent Evan's soldier would be alarmed about this. Of course the captain wasn't about to just stand around while the soldiers decided what to make of him, though.
"I should really be getting to the commander," Evan said a little hastily, already starting to turn. "Report to my tent before sundown if you still want to go."
((OOC: Lance might try to stop Evan if Gavin doesn't, though we're not sure. If Evan leaves the conversation here... meta-Evan wants to assure Gavin that he might try to find Gavin later, if he can swing it, cuz he knows this didn't go great at this point lol.))
Thankfully, Gavin spoke up with a question which immediately summoned to mind very different memories with the goddess. The first to surface, sliding into view like smoke billowing from a fire, was Evan's teeth sinking into the goddess' neck--albeit in Xavier's body--and the moan she'd released in response. A flurry of other images danced across his memory after that--his hand around her throat that first night; both his hands caressing over him at the summoning; the purple pillar of light he'd felt in his body; the way she'd writhed when he'd finally said her name. Not all of that applied to Gavin, presumably, but at least Evan landed on one thing he was confident about.
"She likes when you say her name," he nearly purred; he couldn't quite help it.
"Will you say it?" Lance asked excitedly, a fresh grin splattered across his face. "I've heard at least a few different pronunciations, wouldn't want to get it wrong."
Evan narrowed his eyes a bit darkly at the lieutenant, irritation showing through. He managed to turn up a fresh grin of his own after a beat, though, his weight shifting to one side as he set his hand on his hip.
"I dunno, Lance. The goddess might enjoy teaching you herself."
A fantasy stole its way immediately into Evan's mind: a slap to Lance's face for a purposeful mispronunciation, over and over and over again, each time the lieutenant taking a little longer to recover that cheeky glint in his eyes, until finally he melted and the goddess' name spilled freely from his lips. The captain opened and closed his free hand at his side; he could swear he felt his palm stinging.
A thrill danced in Lance's chest. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen the captain eye anyone in quite the way he was eyeing Lance now, and the lieutenant wondered delightedly if Evan might have let loose a low growl, had he been just a little less guarded. Just how was the captain imagining the goddess might teach him? Gods, it was tempting to just fucking ask--hell, escalate this all the way to flirting, why the fuck not?--but the lieutenant contained himself, and turned his mind instead towards what else he actually needed to know.
"So then how will I know the difference, Evan? Between lessons the goddess might enjoy teaching me and lessons I might die before I learn?"
Evan's grin faded, and his eyes softened a little. Lance's expression still held onto a superficial grin, but the lieutenant's tone had been low and serious, and his bravado had faded from his eyes. The captain's mind flashed to the way the goddess had screamed when he'd mentioned Rorrim's name; the feral rage in her expression as she held that dagger to his neck. He closed his hand again to keep himself from reaching up to touch the cut; one of the wounds the goddess hadn't magically licked away. He swallowed before he answered, finding himself focusing intently on that moment, his heart starting to beat in his ears with the terror of it, because he was desperately afraid that if he tried to leave that moment, his memory would move right along into the next.
"I don't know." Evan finally answered after a long beat, his mouth now dry and his gaze a little distant.
Lance's grin faded fully. That... really hadn't been the answer he'd wanted to hear, but he supposed it was all the more important that he'd heard it, then.
"Probably stay away from the subject of the king." Evan added after another moment, his hand reaching up to rub nervously at his hair. "Poking fun there got me in the most trouble I've been in." Worse than backing out of their deal? Was he sure about that? Evan's stomach started to swirl, and he couldn't stop himself from placing his hand over it as though he could calm it down, even as he had to shift his foot suddenly to keep his balance.
Lance sobered considerably. Evan... wasn't okay. The nervous hair-rubbing Lance had seen before, but that queasy expression? That looked completely alien on the captain, far as Lance was concerned. The lieutenant couldn't help turning to look at Gavin with a bit of a gape to his expression, curious about whether and to what extent Evan's soldier would be alarmed about this. Of course the captain wasn't about to just stand around while the soldiers decided what to make of him, though.
"I should really be getting to the commander," Evan said a little hastily, already starting to turn. "Report to my tent before sundown if you still want to go."
((OOC: Lance might try to stop Evan if Gavin doesn't, though we're not sure. If Evan leaves the conversation here... meta-Evan wants to assure Gavin that he might try to find Gavin later, if he can swing it, cuz he knows this didn't go great at this point lol.))