Empires of Ashes Reboot

LI: It probably was not.

Justin: I'll be fine. Can't expect the men to do something I won't do.

Hakon: "I doubt it would be a secret then."

Diana: "They don't wear this much armour..." Her brow is furrowed with concern as she keeps finding more scars.

LI: *shrugs* maybe.

Justin: I kinda have to. Always in the thick of it, right in the deadliest fighting. Inspire the boys and all that.

Hakon ponders silently for a moment, then shrugs just a little. "I am going to take another walk around the walls."

Diana: "Then at least let me get you some more padding..."

LI: alone?

Justin: *smiles* if you insist

Hakon: "That was my intention. Unless you want to join me?"

Diana rolls her eyes, and starts undoing the silk ties holding her lamellar under vest on.

LI: if you so wish it.

Justin rolls his shoulders, the joints audibly clicking

Hakon shrugs, and turns back towards the city.

*dropping the second layer of armour on the cellar floor, she looks back at him* "Thats what you need."

LI watches him go, not sure if she should follow

Justin: what is?

*Ya boi keeps walking*

Diana: "Layers."

she lets him go

Justin: wouldn't dream of it. Only wear the reinforced stuff cause it's regulation.

Diana: "It's saved my ass more than once."

Hakon rounds the corner, taking a last patrol around the walls.

Justin: not the point. I don't wanna be more protected than the boys beside me.

Li goes and retreives her arrows that survived the shooting, then returns to the city alone

Diana: "By akali you're imposibllllle..." she leans back on the barrels behind them, giving him a reproachful stare. She's obviously quite drunk by this point.

Justin: I'm nothin special diana. Just another soldier like the rest of em, don't want any special treatment.

Diana: "You're special to me..."

his smile widens
"Thankyou"

"So don't die, alright." She points an accusatory finger.

Justin: Arenae's kept me breathing thus far. I'm sure I'll be alright a bit longer *winks*

"Good... I just got you back."

"Likewise"

She leans her head on his shoulder. "I missed you."

he puts his arm around her.
"I missed you too. Not a day went by I didn't pray to arenae that I'd find you again"

"Why were you so sure i was alive?"

Justin: I don't know. Maybe just a hunch. Maybe Arenae was telling me. Maybe....maybe I just couldn't face the idea you were dead too.

She closes her eyes and snuggles against him. "You're a good friend..."

he holds her close, but doesn't reply. his hand trembles a little.

She's quiet for quite a while, save for her heavy breathing.

"you know...you're the only family I ever had"

"...Really? No... real family?"

Justin: I was a street rat in the capitol. Never knew my dad. Mum went when I was...five I think.

Diana: "Glad we were there for you..."

Justin: well... i Say that...there was one guy. Before I met you, before is signed up, there was an old man. Ex legionary, been retired for decades. Appius his name was. Used to feed me whenever I saw him. Told me his old war stories. Kept me alive for most of my childhood. *Diana notices something. She's noticed it before, but she may realise the significance now. Justin's helmet, she recognises it as the same one he wore as a common legionary, just with a plume added. It's an older design than the standard issue one. She always noticed, but never really thought about it before*

Diana: "he... sounds nice..."

Justin: aye... he was

"Sounds kinda like my... how i imagined my father."

Justin: you never knew him?

She shakes her head gently. "Left for the army when i was little. Died... somewhere."

Justin: they didn't tell you where?

"Mother never did... I don't know if they told her. I always imagined him coming back home, telling us his old war stories... getting to see me and Vorenus all grown up..."

Justin: I'm sorry

"It's fine... Probably went down well... Mother always said he was tough... Said i got that from him."

Justin: would explain some things *smiles*

"Signed up cause of him... Guess you signed up cause of Appius...?"

Justin: *nods* the moment I was old enough. Literally. Stroke of midnight, i was a the recruitment office.

Diana: "I went after the harvest, Vorenus wasn't quite old enough to do it all, and mother was getting old."

As Akari watches Hakon walk past her vantage point for the second time that night, she sees the Prince open the door of the tower to her left along the wall. A bottle in one hand, and two fine glasses in his other. Still fully clad in armour, including helmet, with a sword at his hip, he walks over to the shogun's wife with confidence in his stride. "Masiti Akari, When i was told you were painting in the dark, i did not believe my source."

Justin: He never gave up on you, you know.

Akari is sat, cross legged, in that way samurai do, in her non combat clothes. They are a brilliant, striking crimson, managing to make the old woman look somewhat attractive. Her shining, silver hair is done up in a top knot at the back of her head, her katana at her hip. She is indeed painting, a very striking and vibraint painting at that, having perfectly captured the colours of the setting sun on her cavas. Her bodyguards, in full battle gear, stand between ket and her.
"I find the low light more relaxing, and challenging to my skills."

Diana seems confused. "What... what are you talking about?"

The young prince looks out over the desert stretching out to the horizon, the few hardy trees and shrubs, and the occasional flicker of movement, some nocturnal predator slinking in the dying sun's light. "The desert is indeed beautiful in the setting sun."

Justin: Vorenus. Never gave up hope you were still out there.

She nods silently
"Low light is more interesting to paint in. Everything is less clear. More vague and abstract."

"You.... you went to see him? Is he okay?" her eyes grow a little wider, and her speech more urgent.

Ket: "Appreciation for the fine arts has been tragically absent from my experience, i must admit."

Justin: *smiles* He's fine. Doing well for himself as a blacksmith now.

Akari: I had guessed as much.