kingdomcomes | Surrounded by heresy

Who: Ciaphas Cain and you!
What: Orienting himself while also feeling sorry for himself. He is a multitasker!
When: Late August, midday
Where: The castle grounds.
Warnings: None yet!

[ Having declared himself a guard and being given his new uniform to change into, Cain worries that he made the wrong call. His gut did say that this would put him in a better position to avoid getting killed, but- well, being branded with the heretic's mark wasn't fun, but he's taken more dangerous paths than this in the name of not getting his soul torn in two. He just hopes that he didn't invite the daemonhost in while trying to keep it out. ]

[ But outwardly, Cain resolves to put on a good show. ... not a sexy one, though the nature of the uniform makes that kind of unavoidable—especially if you're into 2 meter tall middle aged men with ample muscle and a good measure of body hair. But no. He's quick to assume the calmly confident but quiet role of a rank-and-file guard, standing straight and stepping aside for anyone who looks especially important. That he has the comforting weight of his chainsaw-bladed sword strapped to his hip helps keep his insides from eating themselves in sheer terror.]

[ Once he's assigned his shifts and his bunk and given leave to do whatever he wants for the rest of the day, Cain spends it exploring the castle grounds. You could assume he's poking around for trouble— which he kind of is, but it's that or fuss over his thong for hours. Better to know exactly what he's in for and who, if anyone, might be a valuable ally. ]

[ He tries to give everyone a politely wide berth (especially apprentices), but inevitably, he'll be caught in a narrow hall, or in the library, or some part of the training yards, and... well, he'll be so convincingly friendly, you won't even know that he's hollering internally. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Éowyn is in the training yard herself. She isn't on duty, but why should orders be the only reason to train? She's standing near the corner of the yard, a heavy wooden shield on her arm and a sword in her hand, running through drills, when she spots the newcomer.]

[Lowering her sword, she shakes sweat-damp hair out of her eyes and starts towards him, leaving her cloak folded on the ground where she put it to get it out of her way.]

I know your face not. Am I mistaken, or are you newly brought to this land?

[He had hoped the woman would be too caught up in her training to notice him paused some meters away, but Cain only offers her a cordial smile and a lift of his hand in greeting.]

Not mistaken at all. I was just set loose a few hours ago.

[At least she seems as normal as one can hope for. Or as normal as one can be while wearing an outfit that Cain is fairly certain that he once saw in an erotic holopict.]

Then welcome. [She smiles, pulling her hair back.] I fear it is a shocking place to come, yet it is not so terrible.

They call me Éowyn. I have been here a few months now - if I can aid you in settling, I shall be glad to.

[Cain gives her a neat nod, holding his hand out for a handshake.]

My name is Ciaphas Cain. [Remembering that the other guards had first accidentally and then very intentionally called him by his given name, he follows up to clarify.] -but just Cain, please.

And that is an extremely kind offer. I may just take you up on it—assuming you weren't just being polite? [He asks it very kindly.]

[She hesitates a beat, then shakes his hand firmly, her grip strong and her hand well-calloused from work.]

I would not offer so freely aught I did not wish to give.

Besides, I fear there is little else here to take up my time. I have never felt myself so unneeded in my life.

[He'd had the idea that she was a proper warrior and not just a pretty lady swinging a sword around, but the callouses certainly help confirm his suspicions.]

Do you mean that we're more meant to be... ornamental?

[Be still his heart. He manages to at least look mildly perplexed instead of doing the jump and heel-click that his heart so desires.]

Alas, I do.

[She doesn't disguise her distaste at the idea. She's had quite enough of being ornamental, thank you.]

[Shaking his head, he lets a chuckle escape his lips. For the briefest moment, he let himself look at that glimmer of hope that his combat days were definitely over, and not just reinstated under some sorceress' twisted games.]

[But, even if this woman is true to her word and doesn't deceive him... knowing his luck, war would break out and they would be cannon-fodder anyway.]

I've held a lot of different duties in my military career, and I confess that "look pretty" has only been mine once or twice. [He's joking, probably?]

[She merely looks dour, pursing her lips a little.]

Then you have been most fortunate, to have found yourself ever with truer purpose.

[Ardyn always enjoyed it when a new person showed their face within the sordid world they lived in. Now, it seemed the Mistress had chosen a strong, handsome man as another guard. The Chancellor offered the man a coy smile before approaching him carefully. Guards and Apprentices weren't often the best of friends.]

Greetings. You must be the latest newcomer to the land of depravity, hm?

[When the other man approaches, Cain puts a smile on his face that would imply a more natural and casual "oh good" rather than the sarcastic "oh good" in his head.]

It seems so. [He feels too fresh in the situation to have any kind of stable footing to judge this man on, so Cain opts to go with conversational and with an edge of his true confusion shining through.] Is this normal?

It depends on what your version of normal is. This place harbours lewdness and filth on another level entirely to what I've been used to. But, in a word, yes, this place is quite normal.

[Sex was just an everyday thing here like breathing.]

Once you get used to the lack of clothing and promiscuity of the place you'll fit right in.

[He doubts it, but betrays not a bit of the actual tone of his sentiment—Instead, he just offers a surprised look and a shake of his head.]

I can't imagine. Not to be a prude, I've certainly had my own romps in my time, but this is... quite a lot more of it all than I'm used to.

[And it puts him in mind of a certain hedonistic alien cult that he quickly puts back out of mind.]

Surrounded by heresy

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject