When Lance didn't say anything for a few moments, the commander took another bite and forced herself to continue staring at her food, though her chewing slowed. Had Lance been hoping for more from her? Less? Was she being too opaque with him? She supposed, like when she unbuckled her sword and lay down beside him in the field, it made sense that, in a lot of respects, she needed to be the one to initiate whatever she wanted to have happen. But also, initiating was... terrifying. She was still his commander, no matter how much she wanted to set that aside, and she didn't want him to feel as though he owed her anything. She certainly wasn't commanding him to stay. Each step along the way here had been a request, and Lance had treated them that way, right?
"I keep imagining what Evan must spend his time with her doing," Lance said, and at the sound of Evan's name, his first name, the commander's color deepened, though she continued chewing and staring intently at her plate. She had been trying to keep from imagining what her captain might be getting up to, but she had some kind of vague notion. Lurid was the word Evan had used. But before she could get herself into much trouble there, Lance continued.
"How any of us might spend our time there. There's plenty of stories to draw from, of course, but none of them make much sense of Evan coming back in one piece, much less as genuinely devoted to her as he seems to be." At that, Mizu had a number of simultaneous thoughts, among them that, despite the fact that the goddess--or something in her realm--had maimed Evan, he was devoted to her, to the point of thinking this whole situation was his purpose in life. That thought made something inside her squirm with uneasiness--she didn't like to think that Evan was somehow brainwashed into believing the goddess was... divine. But, Evan seemed lucid enough, and she didn't know him to be one to give up his agency easily.
"He told us volunteers that she will redefine how we think about pleasure," Lance added then, and the commander couldn't help but look at the lieutenant then, curiosity apparent in the slight raise of her eyebrows as she contemplated what that would mean.
Managing not to linger too long on Lance's face, Mizu turned to stare at the tent flaps as she said, "I'm not sure he's been in one piece. He's come back with injuries yesterday morning and this morning both," the commander said, chewing on her words.
Mizu/Lance
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Mizu/Lance
Lance was pleased that his last comment managed to pull Mizu's gaze from her plate, curiosity subtle but plain in her lifted brows. She shifted her attention over to the tent flap more quickly than Lance would have liked, and an uneasiness fluttered briefly through him as he perhaps read too much into why the exit had beckoned her attention.
"I'm not sure he's been in one piece," she said, and Lance allowed a bloom of disappointment to gently crest in his chest - he'd accidentally put focus on Evan after all - but at least he could console himself that more than the exit, perhaps Mizu's gaze had just been pulled in some vague metaphorical direction towards Evan, wherever incomprehensible place he may presently be.
"He's come back with injuries yesterday morning and this morning both."
Surprise lifted Lance's eyebrows, though as he chewed on that, he did manage to recall certain moments from today in a new light; Lance hadn't made much of it, but the captain had definitely been favoring a particular side. The impulse followed quickly to dismiss it - Rutliff was about as hardy as they came, far as Lance could tell - but, there had been moments. A gash or burn or whatever was one thing, but that wasn't what had rattled Evan when he'd seen Lieutenant Pemberley approach. Lance wondered whether Mizu meant more than just physical injuries already, or whether she even knew about whatever else. He also wondered whether it was his place to tell her, or if she'd even want to know. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell her - he certainly hadn't intended to come here just to talk about Evan, but, then again, Rutliff was a significant figure in both of their lives, and in some ways, it was nice to talk about him with more candor than usually could be spared.
"True..." Lance added hesitantly, his gaze having fallen back down to his plate. There was almost a slight pout to his lips as he chewed on what exactly he wanted to say.
"I guess I just mean.... like, I'd imagine someone to barely escape with their sanity, I guess, based on the myths as I understand it. More like Pemberley--" Lance winced a little, suddenly wondering whether he'd been a bit too crass just then. He shrugged as a reflex and pressed on. "And, I mean, there have been moments--" Lance's eyes flicked up to Mizu, curious about her expression, but a bit too shy to linger. "He's definitely wounded in more ways than one. But, he's still on his feet, in every sense as far as I can tell."
He shrugged again, hoping that was true enough. Sometimes it was admittedly a little hard to discern his own bullshit; was he just trying to tell Mizu a story? Maybe that sensation was just that he was talking like he was an expert on the subject of Evan, when in fact, Mizu almost certainly had her own expertise here, and Lance shifted his mindset towards curiosity about that, bringing his gaze back up to her a little more confidantly.
"Has he said anything to you about the less than pleasant stuff?"
"I'm not sure he's been in one piece," she said, and Lance allowed a bloom of disappointment to gently crest in his chest - he'd accidentally put focus on Evan after all - but at least he could console himself that more than the exit, perhaps Mizu's gaze had just been pulled in some vague metaphorical direction towards Evan, wherever incomprehensible place he may presently be.
"He's come back with injuries yesterday morning and this morning both."
Surprise lifted Lance's eyebrows, though as he chewed on that, he did manage to recall certain moments from today in a new light; Lance hadn't made much of it, but the captain had definitely been favoring a particular side. The impulse followed quickly to dismiss it - Rutliff was about as hardy as they came, far as Lance could tell - but, there had been moments. A gash or burn or whatever was one thing, but that wasn't what had rattled Evan when he'd seen Lieutenant Pemberley approach. Lance wondered whether Mizu meant more than just physical injuries already, or whether she even knew about whatever else. He also wondered whether it was his place to tell her, or if she'd even want to know. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell her - he certainly hadn't intended to come here just to talk about Evan, but, then again, Rutliff was a significant figure in both of their lives, and in some ways, it was nice to talk about him with more candor than usually could be spared.
"True..." Lance added hesitantly, his gaze having fallen back down to his plate. There was almost a slight pout to his lips as he chewed on what exactly he wanted to say.
"I guess I just mean.... like, I'd imagine someone to barely escape with their sanity, I guess, based on the myths as I understand it. More like Pemberley--" Lance winced a little, suddenly wondering whether he'd been a bit too crass just then. He shrugged as a reflex and pressed on. "And, I mean, there have been moments--" Lance's eyes flicked up to Mizu, curious about her expression, but a bit too shy to linger. "He's definitely wounded in more ways than one. But, he's still on his feet, in every sense as far as I can tell."
He shrugged again, hoping that was true enough. Sometimes it was admittedly a little hard to discern his own bullshit; was he just trying to tell Mizu a story? Maybe that sensation was just that he was talking like he was an expert on the subject of Evan, when in fact, Mizu almost certainly had her own expertise here, and Lance shifted his mindset towards curiosity about that, bringing his gaze back up to her a little more confidantly.
"Has he said anything to you about the less than pleasant stuff?"
Re: Mizu/Lance
Mizu felt a little gratified at Lance's surprise; she was grateful that she wasn't giving him information he didn't already know. He took a moment fumbling with his words, and Mizu took another bite of food, not prepared to admit that she enjoyed when he was... rambling. Especially when he seemed confused and concerned about what to say in front of her.
"I'd imagine someone to barely escape with their sanity," Lance clarified, and Mizu nodded, remembering how Evan had said that many of the myths and stories about the goddess had largely been accurate. "More like Pemberley," Lance added, and the commander felt a pang of sympathy for the other lieutenant. She hadn't checked in with him directly--if Captain Bronwen hadn't been able to get much out of him, Mizu wasn't certain he would much appreciate the attentions of the commander--but she did wish him well. And, if even he was prepared to return to the goddess...
But Lance brought Mizu's attention back to Captain Rutliff.
"He's definitely wounded in more ways that one. But, he's still on his feet." Psychological injuries, then? Evan hadn't exactly been forthcoming about those, but the fact that they were visible to others in camp was uncomfortable. How much was Evan masking with her? A great deal, by the sounds of it.
"Has he said anything to you about the less than pleasant stuff?" The commander balked inwardly at the question, searching quickly for an example of something Evan said of that nature and coming up dry. She had made some assumptions about what was happening to Evan, but he hadn't given her anything concrete enough to repeat.
Finishing chewing her bite, the commander turned to Lance and started honestly, "No, he's been rather tight-lipped in his reports to me. Given the nature of his encounters, it did not feel appropriate to pry." The commander let a silence stand while her gaze flicked down to the table for a moment. "But, if I had to venture a guess..." She looked back at Lance, trying to assess how uncomfortable what she was about to say would make him. But, hadn't he been the one happily spouting out myths of the goddess around camp? Surely this wouldn't come as a surprise. "The goddess has almost certainly forced Evan and the others into actions they didn't wholly consent to." Mizu looked carefully at Lance's reaction, curious if this, too, would be a laughing matter for the man. "And, Evan has said that the goddess can... control him to some degree, though he has been vehement that he will not allow that to interfere with our goals." The commander looked toward her plate again. Was this really what Lance wanted to talk about? She supposed it made sense; Lance would be going with the other volunteers tomorrow night, and she did have the best view of the situation as a whole of anyone still currently in camp. She suspected that Lance had pestered Evan with similar questions already and didn't get much more out of him than she had.
But, it was good to speak plainly with Lance. She might not have cause to reflect this way otherwise. Still, some part of her wanted to push all that away for a while. She didn't exactly want thoughts of Evan so near to thoughts of what else might come tonight once they finished what there was to eat, which was quickly approaching.
"What are you worried might happen?" Mizu couldn't deny that some part of her did want to see Lance squirm under her attention again, though she kept her gaze stubbornly on her plate as she took another bite and ushered the future closer.
"I'd imagine someone to barely escape with their sanity," Lance clarified, and Mizu nodded, remembering how Evan had said that many of the myths and stories about the goddess had largely been accurate. "More like Pemberley," Lance added, and the commander felt a pang of sympathy for the other lieutenant. She hadn't checked in with him directly--if Captain Bronwen hadn't been able to get much out of him, Mizu wasn't certain he would much appreciate the attentions of the commander--but she did wish him well. And, if even he was prepared to return to the goddess...
But Lance brought Mizu's attention back to Captain Rutliff.
"He's definitely wounded in more ways that one. But, he's still on his feet." Psychological injuries, then? Evan hadn't exactly been forthcoming about those, but the fact that they were visible to others in camp was uncomfortable. How much was Evan masking with her? A great deal, by the sounds of it.
"Has he said anything to you about the less than pleasant stuff?" The commander balked inwardly at the question, searching quickly for an example of something Evan said of that nature and coming up dry. She had made some assumptions about what was happening to Evan, but he hadn't given her anything concrete enough to repeat.
Finishing chewing her bite, the commander turned to Lance and started honestly, "No, he's been rather tight-lipped in his reports to me. Given the nature of his encounters, it did not feel appropriate to pry." The commander let a silence stand while her gaze flicked down to the table for a moment. "But, if I had to venture a guess..." She looked back at Lance, trying to assess how uncomfortable what she was about to say would make him. But, hadn't he been the one happily spouting out myths of the goddess around camp? Surely this wouldn't come as a surprise. "The goddess has almost certainly forced Evan and the others into actions they didn't wholly consent to." Mizu looked carefully at Lance's reaction, curious if this, too, would be a laughing matter for the man. "And, Evan has said that the goddess can... control him to some degree, though he has been vehement that he will not allow that to interfere with our goals." The commander looked toward her plate again. Was this really what Lance wanted to talk about? She supposed it made sense; Lance would be going with the other volunteers tomorrow night, and she did have the best view of the situation as a whole of anyone still currently in camp. She suspected that Lance had pestered Evan with similar questions already and didn't get much more out of him than she had.
But, it was good to speak plainly with Lance. She might not have cause to reflect this way otherwise. Still, some part of her wanted to push all that away for a while. She didn't exactly want thoughts of Evan so near to thoughts of what else might come tonight once they finished what there was to eat, which was quickly approaching.
"What are you worried might happen?" Mizu couldn't deny that some part of her did want to see Lance squirm under her attention again, though she kept her gaze stubbornly on her plate as she took another bite and ushered the future closer.
Re: Mizu/Lance
"No, he's been rather tight-lipped in his reports to me," Mizu responded after she finished her bite of food. "Given the nature of his encounters, it did not feel appropriate to pry."
Lance nodded, taking a bite of his own food to pass the time. He supposed he was disappointed, but perhaps it was actually expected that Mizu wasn't exactly Evan's confidant. Who was, then? Xavier, maybe?
"But, if I had to venture a guess..." Mizu added, and Lance's attention returned to her with interest, excited that she was at least going to speculate.
"The goddess has almost certainly forced Evan and the others into actions they didn't wholly consent to."
Lance nodded again, admittedly a little bit hiding behind the action of chewing. On the one hand, that certainly tracked with the stories, but on the other, there was something a bit unsteadying about hearing Mizu confirm it. Once Lance finished chewing his bite, he swallowed a bit heavily.
"And, Evan has said that the goddess can... control him to some degree, though he has been vehement that he will not allow that to interfere with our goals."
Huh, interesting. A little bit terrifying, but again, it made sense. Lance continued nodding, contemplating another bite as he tried to grasp what he was learning, or looking for.
"What are you worried might happen?"
Lance looked back up to Mizu, his eyebrow raised. Did he seem worried? He supposed he was, to some extent. Lance went ahead and took his next bite of food, gaze returning to his plate-- he'd already lifted it off the plate, and certainly didn't mind the excuse to take some extra time to mull the question over. He thought back on his conversation with Evan and Gavin earlier, specifically Evan's candid opening.
“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.”
A frown slowly started to form in Lance's expression as he chewed, his brow subtly drawing together as the memory solidified in him. He glanced back up to Mizu as he swallowed, and reluctantly gave his reply.
"Evan said his smart mouth got him in some serious trouble with her," he said with a shrug, figuring he needn't clarify that his mouth was a fair bit smarter than even Evan's. His body language remained fluid and nonchalant, but his expression betrayed a fair bit of genuine discomfort and concern as his gaze flicked back down to his plate.
"If I don't figure out what I offer her..." he gestured his his free hand to the side, a sort of spiral of nonverbal elaboration to buy time while he found the words he was looking for. "I may have some fair bit of unpleasantness in my future, I suppose."
His hand returned to playing with his food, letting a moment of silence settle in the air before he added,
"Evan did say that I should steer clear of the subject of the king. I should be able to manage that, at least."
Lance nodded, taking a bite of his own food to pass the time. He supposed he was disappointed, but perhaps it was actually expected that Mizu wasn't exactly Evan's confidant. Who was, then? Xavier, maybe?
"But, if I had to venture a guess..." Mizu added, and Lance's attention returned to her with interest, excited that she was at least going to speculate.
"The goddess has almost certainly forced Evan and the others into actions they didn't wholly consent to."
Lance nodded again, admittedly a little bit hiding behind the action of chewing. On the one hand, that certainly tracked with the stories, but on the other, there was something a bit unsteadying about hearing Mizu confirm it. Once Lance finished chewing his bite, he swallowed a bit heavily.
"And, Evan has said that the goddess can... control him to some degree, though he has been vehement that he will not allow that to interfere with our goals."
Huh, interesting. A little bit terrifying, but again, it made sense. Lance continued nodding, contemplating another bite as he tried to grasp what he was learning, or looking for.
"What are you worried might happen?"
Lance looked back up to Mizu, his eyebrow raised. Did he seem worried? He supposed he was, to some extent. Lance went ahead and took his next bite of food, gaze returning to his plate-- he'd already lifted it off the plate, and certainly didn't mind the excuse to take some extra time to mull the question over. He thought back on his conversation with Evan and Gavin earlier, specifically Evan's candid opening.
“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.”
A frown slowly started to form in Lance's expression as he chewed, his brow subtly drawing together as the memory solidified in him. He glanced back up to Mizu as he swallowed, and reluctantly gave his reply.
"Evan said his smart mouth got him in some serious trouble with her," he said with a shrug, figuring he needn't clarify that his mouth was a fair bit smarter than even Evan's. His body language remained fluid and nonchalant, but his expression betrayed a fair bit of genuine discomfort and concern as his gaze flicked back down to his plate.
"If I don't figure out what I offer her..." he gestured his his free hand to the side, a sort of spiral of nonverbal elaboration to buy time while he found the words he was looking for. "I may have some fair bit of unpleasantness in my future, I suppose."
His hand returned to playing with his food, letting a moment of silence settle in the air before he added,
"Evan did say that I should steer clear of the subject of the king. I should be able to manage that, at least."
Re: Mizu/Lance
The commander looked back at Lance as soon as the lieutenant began speaking, genuinely curious about the man's thoughts and fears. The frown on his face did make it clear to her that he was taking the whole situation and the risks associated seriously, which did reassure her somewhat. He wasn't headed into this blindly.
"Evan said his smart mouth got him in some serious trouble with her," Lance said to open, and Mizu immediately understood Lance's worry. Evan might be bolder in his actions, but from what Mizu knew of Lance, Lance was certainly bolder with his words.
"If I don't figure out what I offer her..." Lance gestured with his hand in a spiral as though to communicate something, "I may have some fair bit of unpleasantness in my future." Mizu nodded, looking down again. He really was concerned about his offering. She wished she could allay some of Lance's fears on that front, but her previous attempts to do so had only led them in circles.
"Evan did say that I should steer clear of the subject of the king. I should be able to manage that, at least."
The commander looked up at the ceiling of the tent, appreciating this last piece of information. Evan had mentioned that the goddess had been surprisingly eager to help them dethrone the king, but steering clear of the subject altogether was another matter, especially knowing now that Ponderance was the goddess' son as well as the king's.
Mizu took another bite of her food, mulling over her options. There wasn't much left on her plate. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stall just to put off being alone again.
She looked at Lance, studying him with narrowed eyes. She wanted to know how he would react if she asked him to spend the night with her. She wondered whether that was intelligent. If word got around... she feared she would lose credibility. But, then again, would anyone in the camp believe him if he told? Maybe.
She found herself wanting to touch Lance, to console him, she supposed, and herself. She imagined walking over behind him and beginning to rub his shoulders, but that seemed too bold. She imagined kneeling at his feet and rubbing the side of one of his legs, but that didn't quite feel right. What, then?
Easing up on her scrutiny, Mizu turned back to pick at her plate. "I can't help but wonder what the king and the goddess have to do with each other. I remember him talking about a woman he was spending time with, and he was sometimes gone for long periods without anyone knowing where he was. It's possible that the goddess and the king have a long history." Mizu debated her next move. If she was going to trust Lance with personal secrets, perhaps she could trust him with larger ones as well, especially since he would be leaving the following day. "They did, after all, have a child together."
"Evan said his smart mouth got him in some serious trouble with her," Lance said to open, and Mizu immediately understood Lance's worry. Evan might be bolder in his actions, but from what Mizu knew of Lance, Lance was certainly bolder with his words.
"If I don't figure out what I offer her..." Lance gestured with his hand in a spiral as though to communicate something, "I may have some fair bit of unpleasantness in my future." Mizu nodded, looking down again. He really was concerned about his offering. She wished she could allay some of Lance's fears on that front, but her previous attempts to do so had only led them in circles.
"Evan did say that I should steer clear of the subject of the king. I should be able to manage that, at least."
The commander looked up at the ceiling of the tent, appreciating this last piece of information. Evan had mentioned that the goddess had been surprisingly eager to help them dethrone the king, but steering clear of the subject altogether was another matter, especially knowing now that Ponderance was the goddess' son as well as the king's.
Mizu took another bite of her food, mulling over her options. There wasn't much left on her plate. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stall just to put off being alone again.
She looked at Lance, studying him with narrowed eyes. She wanted to know how he would react if she asked him to spend the night with her. She wondered whether that was intelligent. If word got around... she feared she would lose credibility. But, then again, would anyone in the camp believe him if he told? Maybe.
She found herself wanting to touch Lance, to console him, she supposed, and herself. She imagined walking over behind him and beginning to rub his shoulders, but that seemed too bold. She imagined kneeling at his feet and rubbing the side of one of his legs, but that didn't quite feel right. What, then?
Easing up on her scrutiny, Mizu turned back to pick at her plate. "I can't help but wonder what the king and the goddess have to do with each other. I remember him talking about a woman he was spending time with, and he was sometimes gone for long periods without anyone knowing where he was. It's possible that the goddess and the king have a long history." Mizu debated her next move. If she was going to trust Lance with personal secrets, perhaps she could trust him with larger ones as well, especially since he would be leaving the following day. "They did, after all, have a child together."
Re: Mizu/Lance
Yet another moment of quiet passed, and Lance returned his gaze to his plate, feeling a bit sheepish that he'd managed to steer them towards the very cloud he thought he'd resolved to steer away from. He poked at his food, starting to feel antsy; his heel tapped silently on the ground a couple times before he caught it and stilled himself with some effort. He felt Mizu's gaze again and raised his eyes to meet hers, and was a bit intimidated to find her studying him with narrowed eyes. Oh, there was a small thrill that twirled up from his gut as he recognized that her eyes were taking in his form, if among other things, but there was also a nervous flutter across his chest that she might disapprove of something she saw.
Thankfully Mizu looked back down to her plate before Lance quite got to the point of involuntarily fidgeting, though he was left with a wobbly feeling of embarrassment that he was quite so off-kilter.
"I can't help but wonder what the king and the goddess have to do with each other," Mizu said, and Lance felt a bit more steady with the shift of focus away from himself. "I remember him talking about a woman he was spending time with, and he was sometimes gone for long periods without anyone knowing where he was. It's possible that the goddess and the king have a long history."
Slowly, Lance's eyebrows raised as an understanding settled in. He'd gathered some time ago that there had been some kind of beef with the king and this particular goddess, but Lance had always thought of it as abstract and political, and he hadn't until this moment in time connected the dots with the realization that it might be personal.
Almost as if to solidify that connection, Mizu added, "They did, after all, have a child together."
Lance's eyes bugged slightly in surprise, his grip on his plate flinching just briefly. He caught it, but that didn't stop the fresh wave of embarrassment that jolted through him. Reflexively, he broke into a grin, the gesture preceding the impulse that followed.
"And Fujiwara's babysitting him."
Honestly, that hadn't been the part of this that had truly tugged at Lance's expression, but in some ways he appreciated that there was an alternate gravity that he could hold up to obfuscate the first. Though, once he'd gone and said it, a slightly sheepish questioning entered his eyes and tugged at his brows--what about that particular gravity did Mizu even know? Lance would feel a little bad to have let the cat out of the bag on that one at this time of all times, when Evan and Mizu both had far more important things to worry about, and when Lance didn't even know for sure it was true; just had a strong hunch.
But, surely there was plenty of innocuous gravity there that Mizu didn't have to assume had anything to do with Evan at all. Lance shrugged slightly, summoning a bit more confidence back into his expression as he committed to a path.
"Am I wrong?"
Thankfully Mizu looked back down to her plate before Lance quite got to the point of involuntarily fidgeting, though he was left with a wobbly feeling of embarrassment that he was quite so off-kilter.
"I can't help but wonder what the king and the goddess have to do with each other," Mizu said, and Lance felt a bit more steady with the shift of focus away from himself. "I remember him talking about a woman he was spending time with, and he was sometimes gone for long periods without anyone knowing where he was. It's possible that the goddess and the king have a long history."
Slowly, Lance's eyebrows raised as an understanding settled in. He'd gathered some time ago that there had been some kind of beef with the king and this particular goddess, but Lance had always thought of it as abstract and political, and he hadn't until this moment in time connected the dots with the realization that it might be personal.
Almost as if to solidify that connection, Mizu added, "They did, after all, have a child together."
Lance's eyes bugged slightly in surprise, his grip on his plate flinching just briefly. He caught it, but that didn't stop the fresh wave of embarrassment that jolted through him. Reflexively, he broke into a grin, the gesture preceding the impulse that followed.
"And Fujiwara's babysitting him."
Honestly, that hadn't been the part of this that had truly tugged at Lance's expression, but in some ways he appreciated that there was an alternate gravity that he could hold up to obfuscate the first. Though, once he'd gone and said it, a slightly sheepish questioning entered his eyes and tugged at his brows--what about that particular gravity did Mizu even know? Lance would feel a little bad to have let the cat out of the bag on that one at this time of all times, when Evan and Mizu both had far more important things to worry about, and when Lance didn't even know for sure it was true; just had a strong hunch.
But, surely there was plenty of innocuous gravity there that Mizu didn't have to assume had anything to do with Evan at all. Lance shrugged slightly, summoning a bit more confidence back into his expression as he committed to a path.
"Am I wrong?"
Re: Mizu/Lance
Mizu heard a clink of Lance's plate, and she looked over at him, the surprise plain on his face. She crooked the slightest bit of smile. He looked ridiculous with wide eyes and half a mouthful of food. It didn't take Lance long to recover, though, and what he said next made it very clear how well he understood the situation.
"And Fujiwara's babysitting him." The commander chewed her bite more slowly. It was an odd way to phrase it, and it caught Mizu's attention. She had a vague notion that there was more to the comment than the simple fact that their army had custody of the child. She made note of that but decided not to give it much credence. She wanted to take this all in another direction.
"Am I wrong?" Lance asked, and there was another flair of that sensation, like she was something missing.
"No," Mizu said, shaking her head. Putting the last bit of food into her mouth, she let her curiosity get the better of her. She let herself assume, as seemed to be the case, that the goddess and the king had been in a relationship. A long relationship, going on long before Ponderance was conceived. Ponderance was born, then, and around the same time, the king ordered the destruction of the goddess' temples. Is that what trapped her?
Mizu swallowed and looked at Lance, wondering what he made of all this. She realized suddenly what she missed more than almost anything about Phantom was having a confidante. And that's what she was making Lance now. They already shared a secret in eating this meal together.
"Tell me," the commander said pushing her plate away from herself. She stood then and walked a few steps toward the cot in the corner of the room. "Given what you know now..." With her back to Lance, she unbuckled the sheathe of her sword and leaned her curved sword against the bed. Turning back around to face Lance, she finished, saying, "What's your best story about her?"
"And Fujiwara's babysitting him." The commander chewed her bite more slowly. It was an odd way to phrase it, and it caught Mizu's attention. She had a vague notion that there was more to the comment than the simple fact that their army had custody of the child. She made note of that but decided not to give it much credence. She wanted to take this all in another direction.
"Am I wrong?" Lance asked, and there was another flair of that sensation, like she was something missing.
"No," Mizu said, shaking her head. Putting the last bit of food into her mouth, she let her curiosity get the better of her. She let herself assume, as seemed to be the case, that the goddess and the king had been in a relationship. A long relationship, going on long before Ponderance was conceived. Ponderance was born, then, and around the same time, the king ordered the destruction of the goddess' temples. Is that what trapped her?
Mizu swallowed and looked at Lance, wondering what he made of all this. She realized suddenly what she missed more than almost anything about Phantom was having a confidante. And that's what she was making Lance now. They already shared a secret in eating this meal together.
"Tell me," the commander said pushing her plate away from herself. She stood then and walked a few steps toward the cot in the corner of the room. "Given what you know now..." With her back to Lance, she unbuckled the sheathe of her sword and leaned her curved sword against the bed. Turning back around to face Lance, she finished, saying, "What's your best story about her?"
Re: Mizu/Lance
"No," Mizu said, and a thrill vibrated through Lance as the confirmation opened a fresh curiosity about what all that meant. That weird little kid they were planning to put on the throne was half a god? Did that change anything? Even if it did, that was out of Lance's wheelhouse at this point, and he was awkwardly a bit grateful for that. He didn't envy Mizu and the others figuring out how in the hell to run a kingdom in the wake of all this.
"Tell me," Mizu said as she pushed her plate away from her on the table, and Lance glanced awkwardly to his remaining food. He'd gotten through most of it at least, and wasn't there something exciting about wrapping this up? Well, either exciting or disappointing, he supposed; only one way to find out.
Lance gently set his plate down on the table as well, tentatively following behind Mizu as she stepped away from the table and towards the cot at the corner of the tent.
"Given what you know now..." With her back to Lance, Mizu unbuckled her sheath and leaned her curved sword against the bed. Turning back around to face Lance, she finished, saying, "What's your best story about her?"
Another wide grin broke out across Lance's expression before he quite knew what to do with it. He'd traded plenty of stories about the Demon Queen at this point, but up until now, Mizu was a person he and his companions had typically tried to keep out of earshot. It made sense that she'd want in on it, though, especially having set their ranks aside. Still, it was a bit dizzying trying to settle on a story to tell.
"Well..." Lance started by striding closer to Mizu, entering into a bubble of proximity he wouldn't have dared with the commander, but still leaving a breadth between them to be crossed when the time felt right.
"It often starts with someone too cocky or stupid to stick to the path deep in the woods, venturing unwittingly into her realm. Or maybe on purpose, if they're really that full of themself--or I guess at the very least, that desperate to throw their lots."
He watched how Mizu reacted--to his approach, and to his start to the tale. Granted, she still seemed pretty opaque as far as he could tell, even as Mizu rather than Commander, but he'd at least keep an eye out for signs that he was heading in a direction that pleased her, or didn't. He wasn't sure this counted as the 'best' story about her, being general like he was, but he could narrow in on something as inspiration struck, especially if she gave him any kind of direction of interest; he still wasn't sure just how lurid or violent or harmless or grave she genuinely wanted him to get, and the options he'd collected on those axes at this point were nearly limitless.
"Tell me," Mizu said as she pushed her plate away from her on the table, and Lance glanced awkwardly to his remaining food. He'd gotten through most of it at least, and wasn't there something exciting about wrapping this up? Well, either exciting or disappointing, he supposed; only one way to find out.
Lance gently set his plate down on the table as well, tentatively following behind Mizu as she stepped away from the table and towards the cot at the corner of the tent.
"Given what you know now..." With her back to Lance, Mizu unbuckled her sheath and leaned her curved sword against the bed. Turning back around to face Lance, she finished, saying, "What's your best story about her?"
Another wide grin broke out across Lance's expression before he quite knew what to do with it. He'd traded plenty of stories about the Demon Queen at this point, but up until now, Mizu was a person he and his companions had typically tried to keep out of earshot. It made sense that she'd want in on it, though, especially having set their ranks aside. Still, it was a bit dizzying trying to settle on a story to tell.
"Well..." Lance started by striding closer to Mizu, entering into a bubble of proximity he wouldn't have dared with the commander, but still leaving a breadth between them to be crossed when the time felt right.
"It often starts with someone too cocky or stupid to stick to the path deep in the woods, venturing unwittingly into her realm. Or maybe on purpose, if they're really that full of themself--or I guess at the very least, that desperate to throw their lots."
He watched how Mizu reacted--to his approach, and to his start to the tale. Granted, she still seemed pretty opaque as far as he could tell, even as Mizu rather than Commander, but he'd at least keep an eye out for signs that he was heading in a direction that pleased her, or didn't. He wasn't sure this counted as the 'best' story about her, being general like he was, but he could narrow in on something as inspiration struck, especially if she gave him any kind of direction of interest; he still wasn't sure just how lurid or violent or harmless or grave she genuinely wanted him to get, and the options he'd collected on those axes at this point were nearly limitless.
Re: Mizu/Lance
Mizu felt rewarded when a wide grin erupted on Lance's face. She had given him permission, and she was grateful he was enthusiastically taking it. Mizu watched his approach as he got within a foot of her, and she inhaled a little faster than normal, hoping Lance did not notice. She really wanted to touch him, and she remembered the way she had touched his arm out in the field. It had felt right. She wanted another moment like that.
"It often starts with someone too cocky or stupid to stick to the path deep in the woods, venturing unwittingly into her realm." Mizu raised one eyebrow, not at all feeling like this was the opening she had expected, though she didn't exactly know what she had expected.
"Or maybe on purpose, if they're really that full of themself--or I guess at the very least, that desperate to throw their lots."
It was all disappointingly vague, but Mizu supposed she understood why. Lance was dodging to gage his audience. But, he had still approached her... and was doing what she asked.
"So, in King Ciric's case, too cocky?" Mizu asked, trying to give Lance a path to follow. She reached back then to begin undoing her chest plate, taking her time with the straps with an occasional, straight-faced glance in Lance's direction.
"It often starts with someone too cocky or stupid to stick to the path deep in the woods, venturing unwittingly into her realm." Mizu raised one eyebrow, not at all feeling like this was the opening she had expected, though she didn't exactly know what she had expected.
"Or maybe on purpose, if they're really that full of themself--or I guess at the very least, that desperate to throw their lots."
It was all disappointingly vague, but Mizu supposed she understood why. Lance was dodging to gage his audience. But, he had still approached her... and was doing what she asked.
"So, in King Ciric's case, too cocky?" Mizu asked, trying to give Lance a path to follow. She reached back then to begin undoing her chest plate, taking her time with the straps with an occasional, straight-faced glance in Lance's direction.
Re: Mizu/Lance
"So, in King Ciric's case, too cocky?" Mizu asked, and Lance gave a good-natured laugh.
"Oh, definitely," he replied smoothly, noting that Mizu was starting to undo her armor as well. He took that as a sign that it was high time he undid his own sword belt to keep up.
"Though I doubt the king ventured out into the woods--I've also heard that you can summon her, if you chant her name in the night."
He stepped yet closer to Mizu to set his sword down next to hers by the bed, rather expertly sidling right by her without quite touching, and then stepping back to the place he had been with an arrogant grace and comfort.
"Evan even confirmed that she likes the sound of her name."
Lance thought about saying it--vividly imagined leaning in by Mizu's ear to murmur it in a way that might give her chills--but he wasn't sure he could pull it off. The goddess' name itself wasn't consistent across the stories Lance had heard, let alone the way one should chant it, and if he was being honest, he'd dubbed some of the other soldiers' attempts over the past few days to be a bit lame--just about the last thing he wanted to be tonight.
"It would have been risky," he continued on in that case, "I've heard you can get some kind of drunk even just saying it, at least if you're doing it right, and she's not going to leave without satisfaction--and who knows what will satisfy her on a given night."
"Oh, definitely," he replied smoothly, noting that Mizu was starting to undo her armor as well. He took that as a sign that it was high time he undid his own sword belt to keep up.
"Though I doubt the king ventured out into the woods--I've also heard that you can summon her, if you chant her name in the night."
He stepped yet closer to Mizu to set his sword down next to hers by the bed, rather expertly sidling right by her without quite touching, and then stepping back to the place he had been with an arrogant grace and comfort.
"Evan even confirmed that she likes the sound of her name."
Lance thought about saying it--vividly imagined leaning in by Mizu's ear to murmur it in a way that might give her chills--but he wasn't sure he could pull it off. The goddess' name itself wasn't consistent across the stories Lance had heard, let alone the way one should chant it, and if he was being honest, he'd dubbed some of the other soldiers' attempts over the past few days to be a bit lame--just about the last thing he wanted to be tonight.
"It would have been risky," he continued on in that case, "I've heard you can get some kind of drunk even just saying it, at least if you're doing it right, and she's not going to leave without satisfaction--and who knows what will satisfy her on a given night."