It's like christmas in july except just it's cold and everyone is stressed and there are no presents

[heiresy]

Who: [OPEN] Aymeric and you!
What: Catch-all for non-participants and early losers in the fuckening, but everyone is welcome! Come gloat if you like.
When: All day.
Where: In the guard barracks, outside the castle, Yenh's hut, the inn.
Warnings: Will update as needed!



I. In and Around the Castle
[For the entirely-too-manyth in a row now the weather has been getting unrelentingly colder. So much so that he could barely think as he did his duties. It would do no good to lose his work or the possible trust he had earned with his diligence over this, but the temptation to abandon his post became increasingly difficult. During breakfast, if you are a fellow guard, Aymeric will be trying to get your attention. Maybe there is something they can do about their uniforms...? If you are not a guard, he will try to catch your attention anyway. He has requests to make in his miserable state.]

II. The Village
[Once his terrible, miserable shift is over he will run around the village with increasingly conspicuous supplies. First a couple blankets, then some buckets, and eventually he will be rolling a wooden bath down a road. He comes to Yenh's shack and knocks on the door with his arms very much full.]

III. The Inn
[Much later now, he finds himself at his familiar watering hole. Sure, it cost a lot more than drinking with the other guards in the castle, but the illusion of getting out of the Mistress' reach was well worth it. Here you will see him finally changed out of his guard uniform, but back in the clothing he arrived in. Terribly ironic that he was able to acquire some new clothes the very week it was too cold to wear any of them. He's back to looking very over-dressed and out of place. If you sit near him, he will offer you a drink and a warm, weary smile.]

Comments

[heiresy]

[Estinien, you're killing him.]

This isn't about loyalty, Estinien. This is about your natural inclinations and willingness. So honestly speaking— perhaps you would be more quickly prompted if I were an object of your desires.

[This is embarrassing, but the information would be very much worth it.]

[dravanicide]

[Oh. Now he feels quite silly.

Letting out a grunt of annoyance, he crosses his arms over his armored chest, as if that would offer him some shielding in this suddenly awkward conversation. How did this come to be the topic at hand?

Estinien has half a mind to literally jump out of this entirely...]

You should know well that my object of desires is not so limited to something like that—nor of the same sense in which you speak. Maiden, man, it matters not to me, my desires are scant those of carnal needs, and whether you a man or woman would not make that particular call to arms any less daunting of a task.

[Which is accidentally insulting sounding, but this is Estinien, there's no soft way to put this.]

[heiresy]

[...]

[He knows Estinien well enough not to be too insulted. But it brings up something new.]

There are many men bound by duty whose desires still have pulse. Estinien... I... [A terribly uncouth question hangs on his tongue. He chews and swallows it.]

There is little point in this sort of activity betwixt men when there is little or no enjoyment. I'm not about to coerce you into bed for you to suffer me.

[dravanicide]

[Estinien lets a heavy silence fall between them for a good few solid moments. Feelings have never been a thing Estinien's been good at traversing, let alone things of this nature, and the sooner they can get out of this conversation the better.]

I would suffer much and more for your sake, Aymeric, and if we consider the situation we are in with this ice queen—enjoyment is of little import.

[But there's the question about this line of discussion, because it's sounding much and more like the request for aid wouldn't be aid, but something of the Lord Commander's desires. Which is a nugget of information that Estinien's unsure what to do with.

Which means he'll likely discard it soon after this conversation and pretend it didn't happen at all. Because that's a lot easier than entertaining the thought that Aymeric might have desires for him.]

Let us be done with this topic, I believe we have said enough.

[heiresy]

[And yet he feels like very little was actually sorted for how tiring of a conversation that even was. So Estinien liked both? Neither? He supposes that if he was ever faced with fuck or death that Estinien would come to his rescue.]

[More than that though...]

My apologies, Estinien. I have one more concern before we finish this line of thought. It is perhaps the most integral part. You say you would suffer this sort of thing for me, yet love-making requires... Your spear in its upright form.

[his cheeks burn with the stupidest thing he's said all day. It's not as if he regularly referenced his friends' dicks though.]

Are you... able-bodied... in that sense? If you want me to count on you, I mean.

[dravanicide]

[The questions get more and more baffling, and Estinien can't help feeling a ping of irritation.]

Of course I am, Aymeric! Why would I offer if I were lame in the loins?

[Now he's super done with this, and as such, he turns away from his friend.]

Enough. I will take my leave of you, ere I decide to rescind mine offer.

[heiresy]

Estinien! My dearest friend. Mine apologies...

[he catches him by the arm.]

I hardly meant to insult you so. I meant only to tease out a declaration of your attraction. I will allow you time from me, I just wanted you to know that.