I told myself that I was not at all alone

[bearshermark]

WHO: Eleven and Archeval
WHEN: Soon after this
WHERE: Farmhouse
WHAT: A late night, friendly chat about things.
WARNINGS: None for now



The hour was growing late, but with the prospects of going into town for the fifth time the next day, Eleven elected to seek out Archeval before he said his prayers for the night and went to sleep. Finding the man was a relatively simple matter now; the touch of his energy familiar when he wasn't trying to hide it. Similarly, he suspected his presence never came as a surprise.

"How are your plants coming along?" he asked in lieu of greeting. "The leaves should be about done growing by now."

Comments

[bearshermark]

Eleven tried not to smile. It wasn't funny, really, but it was just enough levity to prevent the worst of his worries. That amusement slowly faded as he thought over the rest of what he'd said.

"Uncomfortable compromises," he repeated, eyes lowering. His fingers trailed along the edge of the desk, then pressed with intent as his voice grew impassioned.

"I can't- we can't, with Unhalad. We can't." As though he needed to convince Archeval. "If it came to that, I... I really don't think I could go along with it."

[darkeststars]

"I don't expect that is really in any danger of happening," Arche shrugged back. There was a hard glint in his eye as he spoke the words.

"I have not noticed anyone that eager to shack up with the one who planned to make a meal out of all of us in the first place. And in my personal opinion, the practicalities of pretending to do so in order to double-cross him are quite beyond this group. Political backstabbing requires subtlety, discretion, and a good knowledgeable read on the surrounding situation. We have, for the most part, none of those things," he observed with another wry glance.

"There's no real reason to even consider it. If even one person drops the ball in a game like that, then the deception is revealed for all of us, and in a group this large someone is going to have a moment of butterfingers. I imagine anyone who takes a moment to think about it would come to this realization sooner or later. It's a tactic that could work well for integrating a lone operative, not so much a large motley group of untrained half civilians."

Perhaps it would perturb Eleven to hear the other man object mainly on logistical grounds, but then they'd spent enough time around one another by now for El to know something of what Arche was like. The Sith looked fairly calm about the whole idea, apparently confident that their little group was going to come to the right decision on this in the end.

"I truly think there is nothing to worry about. Majority rule, in this specific case, will lead us to the outcome we all agree upon -- that no one here wants to be friend to our kidnapper."

[bearshermark]

Eleven's brush of temper waned, the suffusion of cool logic steadily settling his heart rate. It was a stupid idea, he known it was a stupid idea, and Archeval had a bulleted list of pointed reasons why beyond even the potential risk factor.

He breathed, straightening, and withdrew his hand. "That's good to know."

And it was. He could trust that Archeval would be prepared to shoot down any such notions with far more effectiveness than he could manage himself. There would be no ill-conceived alliance with Unhalad. They would be fine.

"Thank you."

[darkeststars]

Archeval gave another blink, looking a little surprised once again by the gratitude. He cocked his head slightly at Eleven and paused a moment to simply take El in again before he spoke.

"...You're welcome," he said slowly at last.

"Though I don't know if it needs a thanks. Those are simply the facts of the situation. Perhaps you should be getting to bed soon?..." He frowned as he reached over to start gathering up his things.

"Not that I'm running you off if you still had some question, but you seem more fatigued than I'd expect, and I don't relish having to play nursemaid again because you were pushing yourself too hard." He gave a little sniff as he pointedly met El's eyes again. Arche did not, as a rule, seem to express concern for others out loud very often, so perhaps El could take the familiar line of grousing in the spirit that it was intended.

[bearshermark]

They were friends; that hadn't changed. They still stood on the same side. The tension in Eleven's shoulders eased. He yet had a number of allies. There was plenty of strength in that. He could take heart even Archeval's thinly-cloaked concern.

His smile shone softer now, more genuine.

"That was months ago," he returned lightly, stepping back. "But I suppose I never truly promised otherwise. I'll take my leave then- if only to avoid your bedside manner."

He turned away just before his expression broke into a grin, though Archeval had surely seen it waver. He stifled a laugh even as his voice bled amusement.

"Good night."

[darkeststars]

"You think I haven't seen you around here? I'm fully confident in your ability to get in over your head a second time even with someone right on your heels at all hours." The dryly humorous drawl followed El across the room as he turned to go, Arche shaking his head at the other's retreating back.

"Until the morning then."