heliodorianwings | And the sunlight hurts my eyes

[Weight presses down. Fingers scratch his scale as they scrunch his hair, pulling at his roots. His right arm lifts to search - and rises more than before, highlighting how different they became over a handful of years. Divided by time and more than one foot in height.

It hardly surprises anyone that he scowls. So many changes to adjust to since returning from his studies...]

Do you not think the men will gossip if I just up and leave?

Hm?

[Jasper's scowls are hardly unfamiliar, but they really don't have any place during this break time. His hand doesn't move, as if anchored by Jasper's own hand.]

Why would they? Some of them might even stop to join you.

[Fingers lift and pull, finding no purchase against a hand clamping down. He releases it furiously, pulling his arm forward instead, before thrusting back with the hope his elbow finds a stomach. His movements are serene not stern - a gentle exchange between friends.

Does he connect? Hendrik is stupidly tall, with a ridiculously long reach. But he tries.]

Oh, that sounds wonderful.

[An elbow to the stomach is still an elbow to the stomach -- or somewhat lower, given the height difference. Hendrik grunts and releases Jasper's hand to instead protect his stomach; having to take a moment to find his voice.]

You should-- You should do what you want to do. The only recommendation is not being thrown into jail.

[And that was only a recommendation.]

Jail? What man do you make of me, Hendrik? I am hardly some blind drunk fool.

[The grunt is enough to keep him satisfied, satisfied that he is the centre of attention. Should Hendrik mention his fondness of drinking, well, he is still close enough to learn his lesson.]

I am just saying what has been said to everyone.

[Maybe it's because of the elbow to the stomach, but Hendrik's starting to sound just as exasperated as Jasper.]

Very much so.

[Jasper bites down on frustration, scrunching his toes as sand traps between them. Uncomfortable.]

Do you not think I will remember to behave myself after a drink or two?

[Or after several hours.]

I do not know, Jasper. Will you?

[He might be a little surly at this point, but he gives himself a shake and scratches at his drying hair with a sigh.]

Have fun. When was the last time we had a break? The Princess' birthday?

[The words cut through his ego, leading him to shake his head. Memories of drinking in celebration - with his family - keep him silent. He smiles at his friend but cannot help feeling the outsider as he heads over. His hand is outstretched, hopeful of a friendly shake.]

His Majesty's if that.

[Hendrik meets him halfway, clasping his hand while the other comes down to clap Jasper on the shoulder.]

Precisely. Too long. You get so wound up and I swear that you would actually complain about needing a vacation if you did not like glaring so much.

[Jasper rolls his shoulder, shifting only to find fingers clamped onto his muscle. He sighs in resignation - defeated without conceding.]

I would literally have nothing to complain about if you actually got on with dragging me into the ocean. How long have I been anticipating your threat, now?

[Minutes? He recalls it easily.]

[The comment prompts Hendrik to raise a brow, and then laugh. The hand that had clapped down on Jasper's shoulder moves away as if in defense.]

You were expecting me to haul you into the water like one of the new recruits?

[As if they aren't barely out of the new recruit years themselves.]

Please, Jasper, I like having my hair intact. I know you would make me pay for the disheveling.

[Freedom. Jasper steps back immediately, taking a bigger look at the overall picture, at a friend who has grown much in the past six years. The frown darkening his lips fades, replaced with a neutral expression that cracks in the corners. A hint of a smile.]

True. I would not deign to speak with you for the rest of this vacation, if only that.

[He certainly isn't passive about showing his displeasure.]

And that would be tragic, given I do want to share a drink with you.

[The idea of carrying off Jasper has Hendrik laughing again, his relaxed state all the more evident when he reaches over to give the other young man another pat -- this time on the back.]

Well, that is a load off of my mind. I thought you were immensely stressed over something.

[Brows furrow and eyes widen in confusion. Jasper looks around the beach, towards young men enjoying themselves, without reservation towards each other's company. He presses lips together and looks at Hendrik. He smiles but hardly knows what to say.]

Only work. There is much going on these days, you see.

[While he doesn't catch that confused look from Jasper, he does see his friend's eyes wander back to the knights playing and chatting in the surf. Maybe Jasper just wanted to be included somehow? Sometimes he doesn't understand how he thinks.]

There will always be more work! The worst thing you can do is stress over it.

[It's a simple mindset, but it's what's worked for him somehow.]

My dear Hendrik, are you telling me to take it easy?

[Jasper shakes his head in amused disbelief. His gaze lingers on their comrades, chatting about everything but something he cares about. Their interests are different. Their personalities more so. Really, it is charming that Hendrik believes he might listen at all.]

Since when did you become my physician?

[Hendrik wrinkles his nose a bit at that "my dear Hendrik." He's still not used to it, given it wasn't something Jasper would throw out there when they were children. But it's clearly an endearment, even if he doesn't know why Jasper picked it up.]

Do I need to be a physician to tell you to relax?

[He goes quiet for a moment before flashing a cheeky smile.]

How about this? If you stress too much, your hair will go gray.

[Wrinkles spread across his forehead. Worries burrow beneath his skin and provoke him to scowl and frown - if only to avoid the terror in his eyes.

Once his nerves calm down, he looks towards his friend.]

I thought you were trying to lift my spirits, Hendrik.

[The smile slips when he sees Jasper react somewhat badly to what had been a joke, but he resists reaching out and shaking him.]

Oh, come on now. Do not tell me you are actually worried about that.

[The curious gaze changes mercurially; a frown becoming a scowl, anger turning dark as worrisome dark skies. He bites his tongue at calling Hendrik an imbeciele - he isn't that mad. Yet.]

I am now.

[Keep that up and Hendrik is going to have to turn a sad puppy look on him. At the moment, he just looks a little lost on how he should be reacting.]

Jasper, get those thoughts out of your head immediately. You are going to age gracefully!

[Jasper wrinkles his nose.]

Oh, yes, gracefully. With you beside me I should have no problem!

[His indignant anger - and its bemusement - hide an emotional reality at their core. That he finds this man's friendship only makes him stronger. Regardless, he should get it out of his head that appearances is the only arena where he has this man beat.

But he cannot.]

[Well, at least he's responding, even if it's in an angry way. It takes Hendrik a solid moment to realize that Jasper's words actually target him, a period of silence sitting between his friend's comment and his own reaction.]

What is that supposed to mean?!

[He's never been terribly focused on his own looks; at most, he's had to worry about keeping his hair trimmed and face washed.]

[Standing on the beach, beneath the warmth of the sun, feet in the chill of the ocean, Jasper finds he has nothing to worry about. Only this man before him and his odd way of approaching things. He wrinkles his nose and finds himself driven to smile - to take delight in having something over the other man.]

Only that I seem to receive the lion's share of attention.

[It isn't Hendrik the ladies are drawn to.]

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject