heliodorianwings | And the sunlight hurts my eyes

[Eyes turn on the board. Grilled meat and vegetables, yes, and custard tarts and almond cakes. He glances at pieces of fried dough, each as long as his fingers, which are being plated before carried to one of the tables seating their men.

He looks famished - his stomach rumbles - but frowns at the board.]

Everything.

Ah. Good.

[Hendrik takes a breath and smiles, his good mood renewed. He cracks his knuckles like he's going to break something, when really it would be more appropriate to think about where his money currently is.]

Then we are of the same mind.

[A tab won't hurt, right? It's not like they're going to dine and dash, considering they are staying the night in the city. He flags down a different bartender to relay their food order to the cooks.]

[Fingers grace his coin purse, a leather pouch tied to his belt, threaded with twine and string. His mind shares the same thoughts as his friend - to settle their bill once the week is done. It appeals more to enjoy their time before worrying about finances, when he is responsible for accounting for the regiment's spending.

He looks towards the open table, shared by nobody but their fellow men. He glimpses a couple wander into the bar and immediately his thoughts turn towards the freedom of the open air.]

Indeed. Now, do we want a table or the joy of the ocean breeze?

...I think we will be kept busy for awhile with this amount of food.

[Hendrik has the grace to look a little embarrassed as he reflects on how much he just ordered, but it disappears as the bartender returns with Jasper's drink.]

So we best be comfortable wherever we choose to sit.

[That said, his gaze does linger towards the outer edge of the little establishment.]

Outside, then.

[Jasper closes his eyes, considerate of the environment and his calm, relaxed nature. There is something in being beneath sunlight that is rather fulfilling.

Which makes the decision less theirs and more his.]

I would rather enjoy the ocean view, wouldn't you?

I would.

[The response comes easily; he had been leaning in that direction as it was, with only a mild politeness holding him back. He oddly enough feels more of a need to be a bit more polite with his (generally) poised and proud friend. It's something that he's become more aware of in the years since returning from abroad.]

I suppose we will not be far from sight should they need to find us. Would you like to find a seat now?

[Feet head towards the outside. His mind is already there as he finds himself weaving between tables and chairs, imagining himself sitting beside the beach with nothing but the company of his friend and the company of a bottle. He is mildly curious about the local wine but finds himself too proud to outright ask about it - and resolves to simply order some later in the day.]

It would be nice to park ourselves somewhere and rest.

[That would be a yes.]

"Rest," says the one who was swimming as slow as a jellyfish.

[Hendrik smiles to himself as he thinks about the languid, almost lazy sight of Jasper in the water, but doesn't move to follow him just yet; he's going to wait until his drink is ready, though he didn't voice that at all.]

[Ears prick at the daring remark. Nerves fret and features frown - but he shakes his head and wanders out the hut. The scent of saltwater strikes between the eyes and he wrinkles his nose. Sunlight beats upon the sand, upon his face.

He stops walking; his throat feeling parched.]

Bring mine along once ready.

[That said, he finds a comfortable outside table underneath a parasol.]

[There is no grumbling or makings for a fight from Jasper for the joke. Though he knows Jasper to be capable of mean-spirited and crude language, it has come with noticeably less frequency in their young adulthood, even in the more private settings.

Maybe it would eventually come time to put away the teasing as well.

Hendrik waits at the bar, sighing in contentment when his drink is finished and he can carry both of the drinks away. Considering the amount of food that would be coming later, there will probably be time for a refill or new drink in the near future.]

Here you are. Something colorful befitting the setting.

[Jasper claims his drink without a grateful word. He takes it without ceremony towards his side of the table, musing over how long each of them have bathed in the sun.

His years away makes his time short in comparison. He decides to wait upon Hendrik to seat himself before asking a question.]

Did you drink this well often? When you were posted here.

[Hendrik sits down with a sigh, comfortable enough in his chair with his shorts having dried a bit from standing around talking to Jasper. The question comes as a bit of a surprise to him, and he glances over at his friend while chuckling.]

Nothing alcoholic, if that is what you are asking.

[He takes a drink - closing his eyes at the refreshing taste - and spends some seconds taking another swig. For far longer than one would deem normal, until he has almost finished the glass. Perhaps it's this heat?]

Figures. You are a stickler for rules and regulation.

Edited 2022-06-02 01:29 (UTC)

That is hardly fair.

[Hendrik shakes his head, but his eyes linger on Jasper -- likely because of that particularly long draw from his drink. He knows his friend to be more interested in alcohol than himself, though it's never come up in conversation as to why.]

Don Rodrigo watches his trainees like a hawk. If there was even a whiff of alcohol on any of the other boys' breath, the whole group was doing laps.

[No way was he risking it after suffering from others' mistakes.]

What about you? You make it sound like you were drinking up north.

[Jasper looks towards the beach: a world away from the frozen wastes of the northern hemisphere. He finds it easier to speak of those solitary years in this warmth. Feelings are shared because of alcohol. He dwells on them as he looks at his drink and finishes the glass.]

Not much as I would like. Not that I had the opportunity.

[He grumbles lowly.]

Work kept me busy. The need to keep a certain image. I am certain you understand?

A certain image. I suppose so.

[Hendrik finally averts his eyes from Jasper to focus on his drink, brows pinching together at the grumbling. He's also probably a bit surprised by how Jasper just slammed down that drink as if it was water.]

So what changed?

[The question wrinkles his nose. He pushes back his chair, frowning at his drink. His throat is already parched and thirsting for another. Something cool and refreshing.]

I met people who were true to themselves.

[He neglects to say some of those "people" were monsters.]

[His eyes are already flitting back to Jasper, surprised that it looks like he's going to stand up and leave.]

I do not understand. You say that as if many of the people you met were not true to themselves.

[If that is the case, what in the world is going on up in Sniflheim?]

[Eyes turn on his friend. He looks for a glimmer of understanding but finds nothing but questions. He swallows anger and annoyance, focused on enjoying this vacation.

It only serves to highlight how different they have become since they were apart.]

Do you suppose you were the only one to find it difficult to acclimatise to being so far from home? People had already made friends, Hendrik.

Of course some would make for faster friends than others.

[They did not become friends right away.]

But you are there to learn together. I did not know everyone who was sent to Puerto Valor either.

[He's trying to rationalize Jasper's experiences, but still finding himself woefully unable to understand his friend's comments.]

What does that have to do with being true to themselves?

They were honest in enjoying each other's company.

[He frowns at the memory of finding it hard. They both know he has an attitude that most cannot understand.
He looks around the beach at their fellow knights and finds himself curious.]

Did you make friends here?

[Hendrik stares at Jasper for a long moment, unsure what to say. He knows of course that his friend is pretty aloof and sometimes hard to get along with, but interacting day in and day out should have helped with matters like that, right?]

I did. After I was more confident I was keeping up with lessons and training.

[That makes Jasper pause. Was he forgotten easily? He looks around at the men his friend embraces and finds himself unable to enjoy their company as deeply. Is his company judged too dry these days? He finds himself moved to the point he looks back at the bar. A drink will surely help his mood.]

Good for you. I would not have wanted you to suffer alone.

[Perhaps it's how Jasper looks away and to the bar, or maybe it's his mood throughout this entire conversation, but Hendrik's slight frown turns stormy.]

That sounds rather insincere of you.

Edited 2022-06-05 06:02 (UTC)

There is no need to accuse me of insincerity.

[The accusation draws his attention: a frown of confusion that his closest friend accuses and points his finger.

Figuratively speaking.]

You know me better than that, surely?

And the sunlight hurts my eyes

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