Gavin studied Evan's face before the captain answered, and based on the way his expression shifted, Gavin did not at all expect his captain to say that the goddess liked hearing her name. That sounded... too easy? Was that really what she wanted? Why? Before Gavin could think much about that, Lance was already running off his mouth again, asking Evan to say the goddess' name. Gavin held his breath, both intuitively horrified that Lance had been so bold but also genuinely curious. It hadn't occurred to Gavin that he might not know the correct pronunciation of the goddess' name--and what would she do to him then? By the sounds of what Evan was saying, she wasn't very forgiving of mistakes.
Evan came back with a sharp retort, and Gavin began to get nervous about the way Evan's hand opened and closed at his side. He really, really wished that Lance hadn't had the idea to talk to Evan at the same time. But, Lance's next question was actually a good one. There was clearly a thin line between torment and pleasure with the goddess, and Gavin was starting to get the impression that even Evan wasn't sure what the difference was. The captain was oscillating wildly from encouraging their interest and rebuffing it, after all.
Stay away from the subject of the king. Evan's comment immediately piqued Gavin's curiosity, but he knew better than to ask Evan for that information. He should just be happy that the goddess seemed as frustrated about the king's actions as the army was. And, besides, Evan didn't look... well. Was he okay, going to the goddess every night and managing his retinue during the day? Was he getting any sleep? Remembering the sounds coming from Evan's tent earlier, Gavin guessed the answer to that question was probably... no.
Evan stated that he needed to get the commander, which made perfect sense, but Gavin's own stomach lurched at the idea that he might have to make a decision and show up at sundown without getting his most pressing question asked. Not wanting to implicate himself, he reached for Evan but just fell short of touching the captain as he blurted, "Would the goddess accept women?" The soldier scrambled, his eyes searching the ground while he wondered how that sounded to Evan and Lance. Quickly, he added, "One of my... bunkmates. She was... The goddess has only attacked men from what we've seen." Gavin couldn't look either of the soldiers in the eye and stared at the ground with a faint blush around the ears.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan stopped in his tracks, Gavin's question anchoring him with surprise. Before the captain could think, the goddess' voice floated into his memory. Preferably male. That's what she'd said of the body she was looking for at the summoning. Would the same apply to these volunteers?
While Evan weighed that question, he turned back around enough to look at Gavin. The soldier's babbling about his bunkmate sounded unlikely, and the captain's eyes traced the softness of the soldier's face in a new way. Would it matter, if Gavin wasn't actually a man? Scratch that--was there any meaningful way in which Gavin wasn't a man, anyway? The goddess had certainly done plenty with Evan that hadn't involved his cock, and he'd hardly classify her as a man just for having one. And who knows, maybe all that was wildly off-base, and there really was a bunkmate, and Gavin was being shy for other reasons--maybe she was more than a bunkmate?
Lance was incredibly still, his eyes wide and moving between Evan and Gavin. Under different circumstances, he absolutely would have given Gavin a hard time about his supposed bunkmate, but he recognized the tension in the air as the type that absolutely should not be forcibly cut through. He liked to think that maybe that was an instinct that might help him navigate those lessons he'd just asked Evan about. Here was hoping.
"I think..." Evan said carefully after a moment, moving his eyes off of Gavin enough to hopefully avoid the soldier feeling scrutinized. "She prefers men, but..." the captain frowned a little, wondering how much to trust a guess here. It wasn't like he'd seen any female thralls, and he'd always heard of women becoming priestesses rather than tributes, but even so... maybe it was just his own pansexual lens, but he realized upon seriously considering it, that it seemed absurd to think that the interests of the goddess of desire would actually be so narrow.
"I think anyone who wants to go, should go. I don't think she'd turn away a woman who truly wants to be there." The captain had to swallow again, though, still feeling uncertain about this answer. "I don't know, though. Your bunkmate will have to follow her own instincts about it."
Evan started to turn again, but paused, one more thought coming to mind.
"If she wants to be certain... she could ask the woman who lives in the woods. In a cabin a short ways down the small forest path."
While Evan weighed that question, he turned back around enough to look at Gavin. The soldier's babbling about his bunkmate sounded unlikely, and the captain's eyes traced the softness of the soldier's face in a new way. Would it matter, if Gavin wasn't actually a man? Scratch that--was there any meaningful way in which Gavin wasn't a man, anyway? The goddess had certainly done plenty with Evan that hadn't involved his cock, and he'd hardly classify her as a man just for having one. And who knows, maybe all that was wildly off-base, and there really was a bunkmate, and Gavin was being shy for other reasons--maybe she was more than a bunkmate?
Lance was incredibly still, his eyes wide and moving between Evan and Gavin. Under different circumstances, he absolutely would have given Gavin a hard time about his supposed bunkmate, but he recognized the tension in the air as the type that absolutely should not be forcibly cut through. He liked to think that maybe that was an instinct that might help him navigate those lessons he'd just asked Evan about. Here was hoping.
"I think..." Evan said carefully after a moment, moving his eyes off of Gavin enough to hopefully avoid the soldier feeling scrutinized. "She prefers men, but..." the captain frowned a little, wondering how much to trust a guess here. It wasn't like he'd seen any female thralls, and he'd always heard of women becoming priestesses rather than tributes, but even so... maybe it was just his own pansexual lens, but he realized upon seriously considering it, that it seemed absurd to think that the interests of the goddess of desire would actually be so narrow.
"I think anyone who wants to go, should go. I don't think she'd turn away a woman who truly wants to be there." The captain had to swallow again, though, still feeling uncertain about this answer. "I don't know, though. Your bunkmate will have to follow her own instincts about it."
Evan started to turn again, but paused, one more thought coming to mind.
"If she wants to be certain... she could ask the woman who lives in the woods. In a cabin a short ways down the small forest path."
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Gavin's ears burned, and Evan took long enough to respond that Gavin worried he had given himself away. At least Lance kept his mouth shut.
When his captain started talking, Gavin braved a look his direction, weighing every word Evan said. Something sunk in Gavin's stomach when he heard Evan say that the goddess preferred men. But. There was a "but," and Gavin started to hope again.
Anyone who wants to go... Gavin certainly did want to go. He was terribly curious now, and the possibility of there being substantially more magic in the goddess' realm than here... that was thrilling. Maybe there would even be magic enough to fully change him to a man physically. Wouldn't that be something.
Gavin then imagined what it would be like to penetrate the goddess, and something about that felt... wrong somehow. Did the goddess just lay there while men entered her? Gavin found that exceedingly unlikely. So then, what sort of...? Gavin had half a mind to ask Evan directly--but how exactly does she have sex with you?--but luckily caught himself before he went and embarrassed himself further.
Wasn't Gavin substantially male anyway? He had certainly been living as one for a while now. But what was male enough? Maybe these were all the wrong questions and Evan was right in his assumption that the goddess just genuinely wanted people who wanted to be there. That was... reassuring in a way. That much Gavin was sure he could manage.
The soldier was interested to hear about the old woman who might know more, but the prospect of visiting her sounded daunting. Gavin would feel very uncomfortable approaching a total stranger with these sorts of questions. No, Gavin supposed Evan's assumptions were all Gavin would have to go on. And that would be enough, right? The goddess certainly liked Evan for some reason or she wouldn't be having him back every night. Evan had to understand her to some degree.
Yep, that would have to be enough. Gavin couldn't believe that he was about to take this plunge, but if he didn't... he would always wonder what would have happened if he had. And it was intolerable to think about Lance coming back to brag about being with the goddess if Gavin hadn't gone himself.
"Thank you, Captain. Good luck with the commander." Gavin smiled sheepishly, not wanting to keep Evan any longer than necessary, and he felt like he had enough of what he needed now to let the captain go.
When his captain started talking, Gavin braved a look his direction, weighing every word Evan said. Something sunk in Gavin's stomach when he heard Evan say that the goddess preferred men. But. There was a "but," and Gavin started to hope again.
Anyone who wants to go... Gavin certainly did want to go. He was terribly curious now, and the possibility of there being substantially more magic in the goddess' realm than here... that was thrilling. Maybe there would even be magic enough to fully change him to a man physically. Wouldn't that be something.
Gavin then imagined what it would be like to penetrate the goddess, and something about that felt... wrong somehow. Did the goddess just lay there while men entered her? Gavin found that exceedingly unlikely. So then, what sort of...? Gavin had half a mind to ask Evan directly--but how exactly does she have sex with you?--but luckily caught himself before he went and embarrassed himself further.
Wasn't Gavin substantially male anyway? He had certainly been living as one for a while now. But what was male enough? Maybe these were all the wrong questions and Evan was right in his assumption that the goddess just genuinely wanted people who wanted to be there. That was... reassuring in a way. That much Gavin was sure he could manage.
The soldier was interested to hear about the old woman who might know more, but the prospect of visiting her sounded daunting. Gavin would feel very uncomfortable approaching a total stranger with these sorts of questions. No, Gavin supposed Evan's assumptions were all Gavin would have to go on. And that would be enough, right? The goddess certainly liked Evan for some reason or she wouldn't be having him back every night. Evan had to understand her to some degree.
Yep, that would have to be enough. Gavin couldn't believe that he was about to take this plunge, but if he didn't... he would always wonder what would have happened if he had. And it was intolerable to think about Lance coming back to brag about being with the goddess if Gavin hadn't gone himself.
"Thank you, Captain. Good luck with the commander." Gavin smiled sheepishly, not wanting to keep Evan any longer than necessary, and he felt like he had enough of what he needed now to let the captain go.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan debated going ahead leaving after he'd given Gavin the option to go to the old woman, but something held him there, he supposed maybe uncertainty that he'd given the soldier enough information. Besides, pondering gender had left him strangely grounded, his body no longer queasy or panicked. In fact if anything, pondering over his soldier's genitalia had shifted discomfort right back into his pants. Gods, having normal conversations in this state was fucking difficult. Then again, these conversations weren't exactly normal, and that certainly didn't make it any easier.
In the end, Gavin thanked him, and Evan offered the soldier a warm smile, hopeful that despite the awkwardness of the conversation, he had conveyed what he needed to. He shifted his eyes curiously to Lance, ready to offer the lieutenant one last opening. Lance gave a casual shrug.
"Well, you can expect to see me at sundown, sir." Evan rolled his eyes a little as Lance gave a loose salute that'd drive some of the other captains crazy, but an amused grin tugged at his lips nonetheless.
"You better go tell your captain, then. I don't want her biting my head off when she's down a lieutenant." Evan didn't necessarily think Ari would be a bitch about it, but he'd like to at least be able to say he'd told Lance to make sure she was in the loop.
Lance rolled his eyes right back to Evan, his own grin playful as he turned to Gavin.
"Maybe I'll also see you at sundown, Moretti--you and your bunkmate, too." Lance offered the soldier a wink, and then decided to take his leave. Much as he didn't want to miss anything Evan had to say, he also didn't want to just hang around awkwardly til the captain finally walked away. He'd learned what he needed to, anyhow. The lieutenant waved lazily over his shoulder as he nearly bounded off.
"Gavin," Evan said softly once Lance was off, "There's one more thing... your bunkmate might like to know." He felt a little awkward doing this, but since he had the opportunity... He moved a little closer to Gavin, to ensure he could talk quietly and the soldier would still hear.
"The goddess isn't, strictly speaking, merely a woman herself." His cheeks blushed a little, and his cock swelled to think back on the moment she'd let down her skirt; gods, here was hoping Gavin didn't notice that. Was it even right to be telling Gavin this? Evan consoled himself with the thought that, if Gavin wanted to go, he'd be getting comfortable with raunchiness soon enough.
"She can change her shape, and all the time she's interacted with me, she's... had the equipment to bed a woman just as well as a man." The captain's eyebrows raised cautiously and curiously, half wondering whether he'd need to get even more explicit to make sure Gavin understood him, and half ready for any sign that Gavin wanted space to digest that information.
In the end, Gavin thanked him, and Evan offered the soldier a warm smile, hopeful that despite the awkwardness of the conversation, he had conveyed what he needed to. He shifted his eyes curiously to Lance, ready to offer the lieutenant one last opening. Lance gave a casual shrug.
"Well, you can expect to see me at sundown, sir." Evan rolled his eyes a little as Lance gave a loose salute that'd drive some of the other captains crazy, but an amused grin tugged at his lips nonetheless.
"You better go tell your captain, then. I don't want her biting my head off when she's down a lieutenant." Evan didn't necessarily think Ari would be a bitch about it, but he'd like to at least be able to say he'd told Lance to make sure she was in the loop.
Lance rolled his eyes right back to Evan, his own grin playful as he turned to Gavin.
"Maybe I'll also see you at sundown, Moretti--you and your bunkmate, too." Lance offered the soldier a wink, and then decided to take his leave. Much as he didn't want to miss anything Evan had to say, he also didn't want to just hang around awkwardly til the captain finally walked away. He'd learned what he needed to, anyhow. The lieutenant waved lazily over his shoulder as he nearly bounded off.
"Gavin," Evan said softly once Lance was off, "There's one more thing... your bunkmate might like to know." He felt a little awkward doing this, but since he had the opportunity... He moved a little closer to Gavin, to ensure he could talk quietly and the soldier would still hear.
"The goddess isn't, strictly speaking, merely a woman herself." His cheeks blushed a little, and his cock swelled to think back on the moment she'd let down her skirt; gods, here was hoping Gavin didn't notice that. Was it even right to be telling Gavin this? Evan consoled himself with the thought that, if Gavin wanted to go, he'd be getting comfortable with raunchiness soon enough.
"She can change her shape, and all the time she's interacted with me, she's... had the equipment to bed a woman just as well as a man." The captain's eyebrows raised cautiously and curiously, half wondering whether he'd need to get even more explicit to make sure Gavin understood him, and half ready for any sign that Gavin wanted space to digest that information.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
So Lance was that decided then, huh? Gavin supposed so. And really, did he think Lance was going to back down now after a little conversation with Evan? No, if anything, Gavin supposed that Evan might have invigorated Lance by casually suggesting that it would be too much for him. Gavin shook his head slowly and subtly, staring again for a moment at the ground.
Gavin raised his gaze just in time to hear Lance sarcastically mention the imaginary bunkmate and wink at Gavin. What was that supposed to me? Gavin got a little queasy thinking about how Lance might run his mouth if he had figured out that Gavin wasn't strictly... But Gavin tried to calm himself, knowing that, if all went as intended, both of them would be leaving in a matter of hours, and neither of them had much time for gossip.
After Lance left, Gavin was surprised that Evan leaned in closer, and Gavin inhaled sharply in surprise. When Evan lowered his voice, Gavin's ears perked up, eager to understand why the sudden secrecy was in order.
The goddess, strictly speaking, isn't a woman herself. Gavin's mind went wild trying to think about what that meant. Thankfully, Evan elaborated.
She can change her shape... Gavin dropped his eyes again, searching the ground for his own understanding of the situation. Before long, though, Gavin couldn't help but look directly at his captain, searching the man's face for... for what exactly? The man's eyebrows were raised, and there was definitely a blush on his cheeks. Though the captain wasn't always serious, Gavin had a hard time believing this was some kind of a joke.
Gavin blinked twice, not entirely sure how to respond. What was he supposed to say in a situation like this? He was tempted to ask Evan if he liked that the goddess was that way. But, Gavin suspected the answer was complicated. Evan certainly was protective and insistent about going back to her, but he was also... uncomfortable somehow. Was Evan all right? Probably. He trusted his captain to chew what he bit off, even if it was too much for him in the moment.
"I'll... I'll let her know," Gavin said, his eyes wide. He wanted to leave the conversation, wanted to get away from the blush he could feel rising on his cheeks, but he found it difficult somehow. He... liked having Evan's attention.
"Captain..." Gavin said, dropping his eyes and not totally trusting what he might say next, "I just want you to know I think you're handling all this really well. I can imagine that it's complicated and difficult and confusing, but from where I'm standing... it's a good look on you." A good look? Wow, was he flirting with his captain now? No, not exactly. It was genuine praise. And, besides, it was far more innocent than anything Lance had said.
Gavin raised his gaze just in time to hear Lance sarcastically mention the imaginary bunkmate and wink at Gavin. What was that supposed to me? Gavin got a little queasy thinking about how Lance might run his mouth if he had figured out that Gavin wasn't strictly... But Gavin tried to calm himself, knowing that, if all went as intended, both of them would be leaving in a matter of hours, and neither of them had much time for gossip.
After Lance left, Gavin was surprised that Evan leaned in closer, and Gavin inhaled sharply in surprise. When Evan lowered his voice, Gavin's ears perked up, eager to understand why the sudden secrecy was in order.
The goddess, strictly speaking, isn't a woman herself. Gavin's mind went wild trying to think about what that meant. Thankfully, Evan elaborated.
She can change her shape... Gavin dropped his eyes again, searching the ground for his own understanding of the situation. Before long, though, Gavin couldn't help but look directly at his captain, searching the man's face for... for what exactly? The man's eyebrows were raised, and there was definitely a blush on his cheeks. Though the captain wasn't always serious, Gavin had a hard time believing this was some kind of a joke.
Gavin blinked twice, not entirely sure how to respond. What was he supposed to say in a situation like this? He was tempted to ask Evan if he liked that the goddess was that way. But, Gavin suspected the answer was complicated. Evan certainly was protective and insistent about going back to her, but he was also... uncomfortable somehow. Was Evan all right? Probably. He trusted his captain to chew what he bit off, even if it was too much for him in the moment.
"I'll... I'll let her know," Gavin said, his eyes wide. He wanted to leave the conversation, wanted to get away from the blush he could feel rising on his cheeks, but he found it difficult somehow. He... liked having Evan's attention.
"Captain..." Gavin said, dropping his eyes and not totally trusting what he might say next, "I just want you to know I think you're handling all this really well. I can imagine that it's complicated and difficult and confusing, but from where I'm standing... it's a good look on you." A good look? Wow, was he flirting with his captain now? No, not exactly. It was genuine praise. And, besides, it was far more innocent than anything Lance had said.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Between the way Gavin's wide eyes blinked and the soldier stammered out his reply, Evan thought Gavin probably needed space to digest more than he needed any further explanation... and yet, the captain couldn't quite bring himself to leave. There was a magnetism in the air, like maybe there was still something being left unsaid. Evan started to wonder what Gavin thought about the goddess'...equipment. The image of Gavin watching as that cock came into view danced across Evan's mind, the soldier's jaw dropping subtly much like Evan's had, tongue snaking out and threatening to drool.
"Captain..." Evan jerked himself back to attention, briefly horrified that somehow the fantasy may have played on his face. Mercifully, Gavin was looking down, and relief washed over him. Evan had known that Lance could tell he'd had something lurid in mind when they'd bantered, and that was all well and good with the lieutenant, but he had no idea how Gavin would respond to that sort of thing, especially in his own captain.
Then, the solder went on to praise Evan. A warmth bloomed in his chest and stomach, almost hot in the way it melted him and pulled him a little off balance. The captain rubbed nervously at his hair again as a big, stupid grin landed across his face.
"Honestly, that means a lot," he said with a sort of airy chuckle. "Not everybody's exactly happy with me at the moment. Glad at least one of my own soldiers is."
"Captain..." Evan jerked himself back to attention, briefly horrified that somehow the fantasy may have played on his face. Mercifully, Gavin was looking down, and relief washed over him. Evan had known that Lance could tell he'd had something lurid in mind when they'd bantered, and that was all well and good with the lieutenant, but he had no idea how Gavin would respond to that sort of thing, especially in his own captain.
Then, the solder went on to praise Evan. A warmth bloomed in his chest and stomach, almost hot in the way it melted him and pulled him a little off balance. The captain rubbed nervously at his hair again as a big, stupid grin landed across his face.
"Honestly, that means a lot," he said with a sort of airy chuckle. "Not everybody's exactly happy with me at the moment. Glad at least one of my own soldiers is."
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Gavin looked up and gave a small, bright smile, grateful that he hadn't crossed some kind of line in saying something. That was really one of the things Gavin liked about Captain Rutliff. For all the ways he might be intimidating from a distance, he really was very approachable. Very... human. And it made Gavin happy and grateful to be under his command.
"Well, don't let me keep you from the commander," Gavin started, taking one step away from Evan, "but I suspect you'll see me around sundown." With that, the soldier turned around, the smile on his face widening as he walked away.
"Well, don't let me keep you from the commander," Gavin started, taking one step away from Evan, "but I suspect you'll see me around sundown." With that, the soldier turned around, the smile on his face widening as he walked away.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan nodded to Gavin, his smile still wide and lopsided as he dropped his hand to his side and watched the soldier turn to walk away. A melancholy settled in Evan's chest as his smile relaxed; a spark of longing and a sorrow of saying goodbye. He swallowed and turned on his heel to start walking briskly towards Mizu's tent, irritation and embarrassment and guilt bubbling up to smother away that feeling. It didn't seem fair to Xavier, somehow, and it felt absurd to boot. Then again, some sly thought began slithering into his awareness that he wasn't exactly saying goodbye to Gavin, anyway, not if they both were going to the goddess tonight.
Evan stopped walking when an errant flash of pushing Gavin face-down on the forest floor briefly stole away his vision. His stomach turned over at the thought even as a fresh throb of heat flushed between his legs, and panic started to buzz in the center of him. Was he really being honest about what the volunteers were signing up for? Hell, was he being honest with himself about how much it actually fucking sucked to be taking other men to the goddess--his goddess--to keep her company while he finished out a godsdamned war?
The captain clenched his jaw and his fists, and took a deep, slow breath. The goddess wasn't just some dalliance he'd taken a liking to. Thousands had worshiped her long before him, and countless more would worship her after. But none of them, he liked to imagine--for several reasons--would free her from a king's ensnarement, save him. Maybe it was selfish to cling onto that, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to blend into the background just because the goddess would have new willing playthings.
With a sigh and a soft, irritated grunt, Evan pushed himself into motion again, trying to regather his thoughts towards his immanent report. He wasn't sure how irritated Mizu would be that he took so long, but he rehearsed his excuses just in case. Sure, he felt a bit guilty about the personal time he'd taken with Xavier, but at the same time, he couldn't say he regretted it; he just hoped that he wouldn't have to even try to justify it to Mizu, and they could just leave it at grabbing lunch and answering soldiers' questions--and, already having some strong indications of interest.
The captain took another slow, steady breath in front of Mizu's tent as he gathered a more formal posture, and then asked permission to enter.
---
((OOC: Continuing from Mizu and Serio's conversation))
Serio nodded solemnly when Mizu mentioned that word would get around. He knew not everyone would be happy--not even here in camp, much less back in Asphodel. But that was part of it. He smiled when Mizu went on to more or less write him a blank check, though, rather than ask for restraint.
He was surprised when she proposed delaying until tomorrow, but he recognized quickly that the surprise was coming from an assumption he'd never clarified: what if any actual deadline existed. In lieu of an explicitly-defined deadline, he'd gone with sundown, and shifted it in his mind to sunrise after speaking with the priestess. If the goddess hadn't given them any deadline at all, that did change things.
Serio nodded, but before he could formulate a reply, he heard Evan of all people asking permission to enter. Serio lifted his eyebrows to Mizu, hopeful that she'd both invite Evan in, and permit himself to stay.
Evan stopped walking when an errant flash of pushing Gavin face-down on the forest floor briefly stole away his vision. His stomach turned over at the thought even as a fresh throb of heat flushed between his legs, and panic started to buzz in the center of him. Was he really being honest about what the volunteers were signing up for? Hell, was he being honest with himself about how much it actually fucking sucked to be taking other men to the goddess--his goddess--to keep her company while he finished out a godsdamned war?
The captain clenched his jaw and his fists, and took a deep, slow breath. The goddess wasn't just some dalliance he'd taken a liking to. Thousands had worshiped her long before him, and countless more would worship her after. But none of them, he liked to imagine--for several reasons--would free her from a king's ensnarement, save him. Maybe it was selfish to cling onto that, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to blend into the background just because the goddess would have new willing playthings.
With a sigh and a soft, irritated grunt, Evan pushed himself into motion again, trying to regather his thoughts towards his immanent report. He wasn't sure how irritated Mizu would be that he took so long, but he rehearsed his excuses just in case. Sure, he felt a bit guilty about the personal time he'd taken with Xavier, but at the same time, he couldn't say he regretted it; he just hoped that he wouldn't have to even try to justify it to Mizu, and they could just leave it at grabbing lunch and answering soldiers' questions--and, already having some strong indications of interest.
The captain took another slow, steady breath in front of Mizu's tent as he gathered a more formal posture, and then asked permission to enter.
---
((OOC: Continuing from Mizu and Serio's conversation))
Serio nodded solemnly when Mizu mentioned that word would get around. He knew not everyone would be happy--not even here in camp, much less back in Asphodel. But that was part of it. He smiled when Mizu went on to more or less write him a blank check, though, rather than ask for restraint.
He was surprised when she proposed delaying until tomorrow, but he recognized quickly that the surprise was coming from an assumption he'd never clarified: what if any actual deadline existed. In lieu of an explicitly-defined deadline, he'd gone with sundown, and shifted it in his mind to sunrise after speaking with the priestess. If the goddess hadn't given them any deadline at all, that did change things.
Serio nodded, but before he could formulate a reply, he heard Evan of all people asking permission to enter. Serio lifted his eyebrows to Mizu, hopeful that she'd both invite Evan in, and permit himself to stay.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Mizu waited for Serio to mull over her suggestion, but before he could answer, she felt an enormous burst of relief when she heard Captain Rutliff's voice, though it was followed by another burst of annoyance and irritation at how long it had taken him.
She looked over at Captain Kade to gage how he would feel about Captain Rutliff joining their conversation. She sensed eagerness from him, but even before she had fully processed that, she determined that it would be best, if Serio were truly going to plan this ceremony, for Evan and him to have some direct communication. Evan had details that Serio would need to make this happen properly. And Mizu assumed that her presence would put pressure on Evan to give relatively straight answers.
"Permission granted, Captain." The commander waited for Evan to fully come in and take stock of the situation--namely the presence of Captain Kade--before she said anything further. In the meantime, she assessed Rutliff's state. He certainly looked much less tired that when the two of them last spoke, but he was almost as disheveled. His hair was all over the place--even more than usual--and there was a scent of sweat about him that suggested he hadn't gotten to the river since they last talked. She wasn't sure if she was pleased that he had come to see her before cleaning himself up or upset, but it was unreasonable to expect a high level of decorum from the fact that they were all, for the time being, living in and off the woods.
The commander let out a short sigh, pulling one wrist around the back of her with the other hand.
"Kind of you to join us. This conversation is relevant to you." Her tone was frustratingly consistent, conveying little information about her irritation. She didn't have time to berate Evan for his lateness, and his actions weren't egregious enough to warrant discipline in front of another captain. Captain Kade, after all, didn't know that Evan had done anything wrong.
"Have there been developments?" the commander asked Evan, her head tilting minutely to the left in the slightest tell of frustration.
She looked over at Captain Kade to gage how he would feel about Captain Rutliff joining their conversation. She sensed eagerness from him, but even before she had fully processed that, she determined that it would be best, if Serio were truly going to plan this ceremony, for Evan and him to have some direct communication. Evan had details that Serio would need to make this happen properly. And Mizu assumed that her presence would put pressure on Evan to give relatively straight answers.
"Permission granted, Captain." The commander waited for Evan to fully come in and take stock of the situation--namely the presence of Captain Kade--before she said anything further. In the meantime, she assessed Rutliff's state. He certainly looked much less tired that when the two of them last spoke, but he was almost as disheveled. His hair was all over the place--even more than usual--and there was a scent of sweat about him that suggested he hadn't gotten to the river since they last talked. She wasn't sure if she was pleased that he had come to see her before cleaning himself up or upset, but it was unreasonable to expect a high level of decorum from the fact that they were all, for the time being, living in and off the woods.
The commander let out a short sigh, pulling one wrist around the back of her with the other hand.
"Kind of you to join us. This conversation is relevant to you." Her tone was frustratingly consistent, conveying little information about her irritation. She didn't have time to berate Evan for his lateness, and his actions weren't egregious enough to warrant discipline in front of another captain. Captain Kade, after all, didn't know that Evan had done anything wrong.
"Have there been developments?" the commander asked Evan, her head tilting minutely to the left in the slightest tell of frustration.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
At least Mizu didn't sound irritated, but really that just meant that she wasn't outright pissed. Evan entered the tent a little cautiously, his eyes finding Mizu quickly to gauge her countenance, which seemed neutral. With hope, maybe this'd just be a normal, uneventful check-in, no excuses necessary.
The captain started just slightly when he noticed Serio off to the side. Somehow Captain Kade always managed to sneak up on him, even just standing still. He could swear he caught a glint of a smirk in Serio's eye when he'd startled, and Evan narrowed his eyes at Serio before returning his gaze to the commander. It wasn't that he disliked Serio all that much, but he was rather on edge at the moment, and he did often feel a bit condescended to by the spymaster. Maybe just something about how much Serio loved knowing more than other people did, Evan included.
"Kind of you to join us." Mizu started, and the hope in Evan's chest dissipated. The commander might be approaching this cordially, but she was irritated at his lateness, then. At least it seemed like she wasn't going to get into it with Serio there, though.
Evan was briefly struck with curiosity that drew his gaze back towards Serio, wondering what the captain and commander had been discussing that was relevant to him, but he returned his gaze quickly enough, determining that, obviously, it was likely they had been discussing the volunteers. Evan straightened up a bit to answer Mizu's question, and nodded.
"I've already started spreading word. Captain Dodd has at least one candidate in mind, and at least three other soldiers have expressed a strong interest to me. Two have told me directly that I can expect to see them at sundown."
Fingers crossed that was all good news for Mizu to hear. Maybe he was stretching Gavin's wording a little, but... Evan's intuition said that the soldier would be there. Gavin and Lance, probably Raccoon and Trevor, if not also Seth and Idel's soldier. There, over halfway done, and they'd only just started. Evan knew that optimism was a reach, though, and left his report at that to see what Mizu was interested in next.
Serio regarded Mizu and tipped his head back slightly, silently offering to fill Evan in on the ceremony idea, but not wanting to interrupt if she had further questions for the younger captain, or if she wanted to do the honors herself.
The captain started just slightly when he noticed Serio off to the side. Somehow Captain Kade always managed to sneak up on him, even just standing still. He could swear he caught a glint of a smirk in Serio's eye when he'd startled, and Evan narrowed his eyes at Serio before returning his gaze to the commander. It wasn't that he disliked Serio all that much, but he was rather on edge at the moment, and he did often feel a bit condescended to by the spymaster. Maybe just something about how much Serio loved knowing more than other people did, Evan included.
"Kind of you to join us." Mizu started, and the hope in Evan's chest dissipated. The commander might be approaching this cordially, but she was irritated at his lateness, then. At least it seemed like she wasn't going to get into it with Serio there, though.
Evan was briefly struck with curiosity that drew his gaze back towards Serio, wondering what the captain and commander had been discussing that was relevant to him, but he returned his gaze quickly enough, determining that, obviously, it was likely they had been discussing the volunteers. Evan straightened up a bit to answer Mizu's question, and nodded.
"I've already started spreading word. Captain Dodd has at least one candidate in mind, and at least three other soldiers have expressed a strong interest to me. Two have told me directly that I can expect to see them at sundown."
Fingers crossed that was all good news for Mizu to hear. Maybe he was stretching Gavin's wording a little, but... Evan's intuition said that the soldier would be there. Gavin and Lance, probably Raccoon and Trevor, if not also Seth and Idel's soldier. There, over halfway done, and they'd only just started. Evan knew that optimism was a reach, though, and left his report at that to see what Mizu was interested in next.
Serio regarded Mizu and tipped his head back slightly, silently offering to fill Evan in on the ceremony idea, but not wanting to interrupt if she had further questions for the younger captain, or if she wanted to do the honors herself.