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 Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:40 pm
Ever's expectation was that he would be serving this duty alone, and it showed at a simple glance. Instead of his usually 'upscale' wardrobe of beat up jeans and a worn-thin t-shirt, he'd opted for comfortable pajama pants that fit him like a tent, a sweatshirt that mostly obscured just how thin he was, a hat over the somewhat-dirty mess of his hair. Under one arm was tucked a large volume: The Fellowship of the Ring, with a bookmark poking out from its pages. He'd heard underwater duty was monotonous: boring, and lonely, unless you went down with someone you really liked. In other words, it was perfect for sprawling out and reading a good book. Unless, of course, some random jerk was assigned with you.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:29 am
And some random jerk was assigned indeed, Claude thought, her expression looking less than impressed as usual as she entered after the other hunter. She stood by the entrance for a moment, just staring at him, taking in his appearance, and thinking that this was going to be a long shift. A really long shift. Thoughts of skipping said shift were strong. "Wasn't aware this was a sleep over." She drawled, announcing her presence.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:59 pm
Ever blinked up at her, startled maybe, before his own expression melted into an edge of frustration. Head cocked to the side and eyes somewhat tired, his mouth moved silently for a moment before he replied. "I thought I was going to get peace and quiet. Apparently, instead, I'm being punished."
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 9:12 pm
Claude clucked her tongue, and the wagged a finger back and forth from where she stood. "If there's anyone being punished here, it's me, Mister Librarian. I'll also remind you, that it was you to disrupted the peace in the first place." By kidnapping her books and taking them hostage and making threats. After engaging the other hunter though, her thoughts of skipping out on the duty lessened significantly. She let out a sigh, resigned now to just see this duty through
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:40 pm
"I dunno. I've done some spars, and I've never done anyone serious damage." He straightened with a puff of a sigh, juggling the book and pulling his sweatshirt in around him as he stepped toward the portal -- and Ever, at least, wasn't going to run off. All things considered, this wasn't a bad duty. Boring, yes, but he could mostly ignore Claude and read. "...no one on our side, anyway." They could head down together. Or she could run off and make both their lives easier.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:35 pm
"Because you've never sparred outside the buffer zone." Claude replied, her tone very much indicating she was stating the obvious. Duh. "It's for the best, really. If you stepped out of the buffer zone you'd get taken out by a gust of wind." This hunter really didn't look any better since the last time she'd seen him. Oh well. Claude followed behind him, deciding to seal her fate with him for the next few hours while they did underwater observation pod duty together.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:22 pm
For a long moment, Ever didn't answer: they could find their way down in relative peace while he stewed on the idea. Claim seats with a good few out to the endlessness of the ocean, and hopefully neither of them had any kind of claustrophobia. Ever could swim, kind of, but that didn't mean he wanted to test the idea. As he stretched out his legs, eyebrows knitted and book settled on his knees instead, his eyes slowly turned from the water back to her. "Are you trying to goad me into fighting off the training grounds?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:58 pm
This was Claude's first time down here, and she was thrilled about the fact she was going to be stuck in this small space with Ever. The view out the large glass window did make up for it though. The trainee came to a stop in front of it, and just peered out. She liked the sight of all the aquatic life...maybe not so much the dark shadows in the distance, but the fish near them? That was awesome. She heard his question, and waited a few moments before glancing over her shoulder at him. "No." She replied flatly. "We already established there'd be an unfair disadvantage if we sparred." Him being a higher rank and all. "But you like to overlook the fact that damage happened because we were outside a buffer zone, so I just need to remind you." She looked back out the window.
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:20 pm
"Not true. I don't overlook it, I just don't see how it makes any difference." He actually sounded a bit surprised, now: something in the distance passing overhead and casting a shadow across their conversation. "I've made stupid decisions in my life, but the fact I made a stupid decision doesn't counter the damage it does." It was, he thought, an important distinction. Ever cocked his head to the side, watching her profile.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:43 am
There was a pause in the conversation on Claude's end as her gray eyes followed the shadow that was cast in the room. She stared after it even after it was out of sight. "I think it makes all the difference." She replied. "One zone is safe, one is not." She stopped looking, and flicked her gaze back towards Ever before looking out the window again, snorting softly as she crossed her arms. "I don't think it was a stupid decision, plus she's fine, and still alive. Unfortunately. So the fact we're still talking about it I find pointless..." She also should have just let it go a long time ago, but she felt the need to stand up for herself against a stranger who didn't even know her...hrm. A bit of a smirk pulled at her lips as she stared out the glass. "I'm also not convinced thrashing me was high on your list of priorities...since so much time passed and it was me who crossed your path...so I do find it interesting you dig this up." She turned her head to look at him, finally. "You need more hobbies." This was said with an edge of a tease to her tone.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:11 am
His reply was a tip of his head, a level sort of look considering his reply to that. It was a valid point, except for his extenuating circumstances -- "I was in the infirmary for almost three weeks." He didn't tell her why, or what it had been for, but that was mostly due to his own discomfort with it, still. Ever was completely unaware of the way he wrapped an arm around his midsection as he said it. "Half of my hobbies were off-limits, and I blew through the rest of them..."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:29 am
Claude gave a short thoughtful hum in reply, and with this new tid bit of knowledge, took to evaluating him again in a new light. Three weeks in the infirmary was a ******** long time, especially with what she heard about weapon bonds speeding up healing. Now knowing this, though, it did explain a lot of things she had noticed about him in their short and limited encounters. It also most likely explained why he looked like s**t, and she did not miss the body language. "That explains a lot." She commented idly. "What kept you there?" It was only inevitable to ask after learning.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:36 pm
"Concern for my mental health." It was easy to say when he played it off with an edge of sarcasm: too casual, easy-going, Ever absently flipping pages with his thumb. He wasn't even reading, just staring at them as they slid by. A distraction. Easy to joke, but harder to meet Claude's eyes. He only looked up after a brief pause. "You can crack a joke if you want."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:15 pm
A soft snort of amusement echoed in the small chamber from Claude, who looked away from Ever to stare out the window again. A small smirk pulled at her lips again, and she stared for a while longer before glancing back at him. "No need to." She replied, and trailed off for a moment before adding, "It's also not as fun when I have your permission." Which she didn't need, her tone also implied. "Concern for your mental health." She echoed. "Seems too kind for a place like this." Claude mused.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:22 pm
Ever could have told her that was why he gave permission, a long-internalized defense mechanism. Make fun of yourself so no one else will. But, in truth, he wasn't introspective enough for that, so instead he shrugged in a crooked sort of way his eyes still on her face. Thoughtful. "We're not much use if we're not much use, though, so in that respect it makes perfect sense." He tucked the bookmark back into place, finally, and blew out a breath. "You have to eat, and sleep, so that you can get up and work, and fight. Anything that impacts the routine --" And Ever paused, expression stunned for just a moment. He sounded like Taym.
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