forum At War // OxO // Closed

Started November 11, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Aron held out a hand. "Here. Let's play a game. I know you aren't up to sparring." he suggested.

Nik blinked, then nodded. "Sounds good. Checkers,or Chess, or cards?" he asked.

"Well…Lieze wants to play cards." Aron replied, his eyes studying Nik.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright."

Eclipse kept walking around the camp, finding himself on the Kevran side ignoring absolutely everything. I he were to be attacked, it would be two things. His fault. And a way to blow off steam. It would also be another reason for his father to be mad at him, but that was besides the point. He calmly walked by, ignoring the stares and glares of the Kevran soldiers as he walked back towards the main pavilion again.

They set up the game, Lieze studying Nik carefully. "You look tired, Nikky." She said with a smirk.

Nik rolled his eyes, and played a card. "Yes, I am." He agreed with a sigh. "These negotiations are going to kill me." Especially if it's all like today was. I don't know if I can handle that. He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he pictured the Tesh Prince again. Dark hair, taller than Nikolas. Something…something wild in his eyes.

Eclipse tugged up his hood as he passed through the camp, brushing a lock of his signature silver and black hair back behind his ear as he kept walking. Passing by another group of soldiers he ignored their stares and turned off towards the mess area, the one place where the most fights happened. He hummed softly as he observed the area quietly, making sure to stay to the edges.

Nik, Aron, and Lieze were seated in a corner of the mess tent. The two guards were cross-legged on the ground, and Nik sat with a pillow beneath the injured leg, his cards held carefully in one hand. He dropped his cards theatrically, grinning. "And it's dash." He announced, still grinning.

Aron swore at him, and dropped his cards in disgust. "I keep forgetting you learned to play on the front lines, Nik." He said with a good-natured laugh.

Lieze wrinkled her nose in disappoinment, and chucked an acorn at Nik's head.

Eclipse looked around some more, his eyes suddenly landing on the Kevran prince and two others. He looked to be playing some kind of card game, and to be…. happy? Eclipse sighed, since when were royals allowed to have any fun without breaking the rules? He figured that was just him, and he hated it. Once again he was hit with a wave of envy for the other. Sure, he was a cripple. But he seemed to have more freedom than Eclipse ever would.

Nik caught the acorn with one hand. "Lieze!" He exclaimed in mock anger. "That's assault on your future king!"

"Yeah, well my future king can shove it up his ass." Lieze replied, giving him the finger and sticking her tongue out.

Nik raised an eyebrow. "No thank you." He replied with another laugh. He set the acorns aside, gathered up the cards, shuffled, and dealt again. He hadn't noticed Eclipse's presence, though Aron certainly had.

The male guard's gaze was trained on the Tesh Prince, and he shifted protectively towards Nik.

Eclipse noted the guard's movement, but made no reaction, simply watching from where he was. He noticed how the Kevran prince played off having something thrown at him, and how he was having fun. He let out another long sigh, his posture stiffening when he saw his own guard enter the tent. The leader of the pair that "guarded" him, caught his eyes, and immediately left, knowing better than to draw attention to him when he wanted to be on his own.

Aron was still watching Eclipse when Nik elbowed him. "Hello? Focus!" Nik said.

Aron blinked, and turned to Nik. "Yeah, okay. The Tesh prince is here." He replied, picking up his cards.

Nik stiffened a little, but didn't turn to look at Eclipse. He knew the polite thing to do would be to offer to let the other play, but…he looked at the way Lieze's expression had hardened at that, and at the way Aron was sitting, and knew that neither of them would be able to enjoy the game very well if he did say that Eclipse could join them.

Eclipse noted the way everyone's attitude changed when his presence was acknowledged, and he began making his way out of the tent, figuring he'd let them have their fun, knowing he'd never be welcome in their group. Or anyone's for that matter. Sure, most people would love to be friends with a royal, right? Wrong. His father's reputation around the castle back home had withered any chance of him having frineds long before he was born.

But it's polite, and it'll help with relations between the countries. Nik sighed. He turned, and stood a little clumsily, and limped over to Eclipse, leaving his cane on the ground. "Would you like to join us?" he asked, a little stiffly, but politely in any case. His expression was careful, and while he couldn't be described as friendly…he wasn't being unfriendly, either.

Eclipse turned, he had been just about to leave the tent when Nik approached him. He was stunned by this, and as such, unable to hide his confusion for a moment. "I.. I'f you'll have me" he said softly, wondering if this was a trap. He quickly went over all the scenarios, and decided it wasn't a trap as he turned to face the other prince head on, "I would appreciate the distraction from boredom." he finished quietly.

(it's fine)

Nik nodded. "Come on, then." he replied. He led Eclipse back to the circle, still limping, and sat down again, putting the pillow beneath his wounded leg again. "So, your highness, these are two of my guards. Aron, and Lieze." Aron was tall and bulky, all muscle, with brown hair that flopped into his face and intelligent blue eyes. Lieze was slim, and about 5'6", with dark hair that hung down her back in a magnificent braid. Her dark eyes studied Eclipse warily, and she patted the dagger clipped into her sword belt. Nik caught the gesture, and his eyes narrowed. "Lieze, he is a guest. I know how much you hate the Tesh, but you don't get to touch him." Lieze scowled, but sighed, and dropped her hand from the dagger.

Eclipse sat down in the circle with a fluent movement, nodding in deference to both the guards, he noticed Lieze's wary gaze, and hummed softly, "I assure you, I would do nothing to jepordize the peace talks between our lands." he said softly, "And more so I will do nothing that could possibly give my father any more reason to be angry with me." he allowed a look of amusement to come across his face at the thought, before resetting it in a cool, emotionless gaze, something he'd perfected over the years of dealing with his father's strict policies.

Nik cocked his head slightly at Eclipse's last statement, but nodded. What did he mean by that? What would his father do to him? He wondered. He sighed, and pushed the thought away again. "You know how to play Sev'rin, right?" he asked, looking at Eclipse. "Because that's what we've been playing." He knew that Sev'rin was common in his own army, on their side of the front, but he had no idea if Eclipse would know it.

Eclipse nodded, "I've heard of it, but never played." he admitted, noting the other's reaction to the mention of his father's anger. He supposed he would explain that if the other asked, but only if. He hummed softly, examining how the cards already in play were set up, "I do believe I could pick it up though." he said, his gaze meeting Nik's evenly.

Nik nodded. "Alright. Aron, Lieze, please go easier on him, he's a beginner." The two guards both sighed, then started to laugh. "What's so funny?" Nik asked slowly. Lieze shook her head a little. "You're the one that's been whipping our asses, Nik. You're the one that needs to go easy on him." Nik smirked at her. "Alright, alright, I get it." he dealt out cards for Eclipse.

Eclipse hummed curiously at the trio's interaction, feeling like an outsider to the group. that's because you are one… he corrected himself, before pulling himself back into focus, watching as the cards were gathered up. He hummed quietly, wondering about just how much trouble he'd be in when his father figured out he'd ditched his guards, and was now playing cards with Kevrans.

Nikolas handed him a handful of acorns. "We're not allowed to gamble with real money because these two would lose everything they've got. Therefore, have some acorns to gamble with. The ones without caps are worth one, and the ones with caps are worth five. The caps are worth twenty." he explained, and looked at his own cards. He took up the most space of everyone, since his leg had to be stuck out for the pillow.

(btw, you're Eclipse's father now. I'm only going to commandeer him when they're in a meeting or something lol)

(Coolio, right now he's busy elsewhere, he'll probably come in about halfway through the game, sparking that fight)
Eclipse nodded, "Sounds fair" he said, making note of what he'd been told as he tried to remember the rules of the game as he examined the cards he'd been dealt, waiting for the first few plays before making his own.

(alrighty lol)

Nik nodded, and he and the two guards played with the ease of people who had played this together a lot, as if they already knew each others tricks and tells. Which they all did, and that was the truth. Nik especially knew the others tells; he had been observing them ever since he met them.

The game continued for longer than should've been possible, with Eclipse losing badly the first few rounds, before getting the hang of it and making a comeback. He was actually starting to have a lot of fun when everyone in the tent went silent. He looked up, his eyes meeting the cold gaze of Nightfang. He swallowed dryly, cursing under his breath.

Nik had his back to the entrance, and only noticed something was amiss when Lieze's hand flew to her dagger again, half drawing it as she sat up straight. He turned, grabbing his cane in case he needed to stand. His eyes landed on Nightfang. He heard Eclipse's muttered curse. "Good afternoon, King Nightfang." He greeted. "Here for some grub?" Inwardly, he winced at his word choice almost as soon as it was out of his mouth. "Grub". Spoken like any common soldier.