Stepping into the dark

[bearshermark]

WHO: Eleven & Archeval
WHEN: April 12th + 13th
WHERE: Salt Mines
WHAT: An excursion at full strength
WARNINGS: violence



[It's afternoon by the time he's finished with his unexpected errands of the morning and he can't find Xingchen. Which makes sense, really. The man likely has plenty else to be doing, even assuming he hasn't already left.

Eleven mulls it over as he pulls on his armor. There's still time, and he's likely strong enough to go it alone, but.. it would be pretty reckless. Still, he's spent too much coin this morning that he needs to make up for it.

He pulls a cloak over himself to hide the metal shine of his armor, then secures his swords. Perhaps he could ask someone else. If he can't find anyone, then he'll resign himself to enduring a grueling day at the docks.

Eleven casts a thoughtful glance over the servant's quarters, mind trickling through various possibilities, then grins as he spots a likely target]

Archeval. Are you busy today?

Comments

[darkeststars]

[ ...blink. There's a pause as Arche furrows his brow down at his bowl of broth, then flicks his gaze up toward Eleven's face, looking about as confused and baffled as he might if El had grown a second head in front of him. ...Actually, he might be able to deal with the second head a little better than this. ]

...well. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. This group will never get anything done around here if we don't make an effort to work as a unit, and of the people I could be working with you're certainly better than some--...

[ ah. He's said too much, he's making it weird. He scowls over at Eleven for a moment as though this is the other man's fault before picking up his wine again. ]

At any rate if you're satisfied then we-- may as well continue on the same way. [ muttering this into his wine glass before he takes another generous sip. ]

[bearshermark]

[Eleven's smile slowly widens until he's laughing muffled and softly echoed chuckles into his mug of ale. It's not a comment he'd expected Archeval would have difficulty accepting, and reminds him of his newfound knowledge of Hendrik's fear of insects: an unexpected facet.

He wonders if someday they might be friends]

Sure. [Lingering amusement as he turns back to his meal. He feels lighter. Warmth, hearty food, good company, and decent ale- for a moment, he soaks in those simple pleasures and finds himself content. It's a far cry from where they were when they arrived, and that counts for something]

I hope we can all learn to work together well.

[darkeststars]

[ giving a deep, disgruntled sort of sigh ]

I expect it's that or die horribly, so the rest had better start figuring it out soon.

[ he knows you're poking fun, El, but he can't call you on it or else he has to admit there's something to laugh about. Anyway he didn't say anything wrong. Or inaccurate. He doesn't have a problem you're just too nice and overly trusting. That's his story and he's sticking to it.

But he works on his own drink a little more slowly after that, enjoying the quiet while he can, because... he's tired and he's not used to this anymore. Spending every day surviving with not a single place of safety to be found. Perhaps he should actually thank his kidnapper before he kills them, because he hadn't realized just how inexcusably soft he'd started to become, surrounded by allies and armored in power and privilege. This place has certainly been a wakeup call. Being a Sith will never be safe, and there is no time when it's all right to relax, not even when you're standing at the top. Especially not then.

...but for just a moment, before there's no more time for rest and the business of surviving has to start right up again.

For just a moment, this is nice. ]