un: sieglindesullivan / video

[grunehexe]

[If you've ever seen an illegal cam recording from the back row of a theater, you are familiar with the style of this broadcast.

Observe, (as best you can), the players upon the stage. The stage being the cave in which many of them have taken shelter from the storm outside, specifically a large, flat rock, at which two fine male specimens you may recognize as Achilles, son of Peleus, and a certain McCree, locked in the midst of a fierce... arm wrestling battle.

Bare arm muscles flexing, beads of sweat dripping, jaws gritting, knuckles white and shaking, eyes narrowed in concentration and competition, testosterone veritably sparking in the air... as two very fit grown men have it out in a no holds barred thirst-fanning battle of the bulges. Arm muscle bulges.

You might catch glimpse of the lovely referee, (blond, very appropriately serious about judging this contest, thanks, Riza), and hear snatches of people rooting for a particular candidate, (the broadcaster herself seems to favor Achilles, if "steel yourself for victory, Achilles!" is any indication), but mostly this is about enjoying a good man on man test of strength.

Until, that is, a voice can be heard.]

- Are you recording that?

[The video sadly? and promptly goes black as the magitek jewelry is clutched to a bosom in scandalous retort.]

Is it not a sight worth sharing? For posterity, you see-

[And apparently she thought it best to post... for posterty. What? Any lady or inclined fella unfortunate enough to not see it go down surely wouldn't want to miss the show... ?]

Comments

[grunehexe]

Not one of these two?

[Or had he been challenged by another of their ranks? Perhaps arm-wrestling was far more popular than she could have thought... which was a bit disappointing, really, because full contact wrestling in the greek tradition was far more fun to watch, but-

Ahem.

Sieglinde crossed her arms, thoughtfully considering the opponents.]

I do not know this "McCree" well, but my money would still be on Achilles were I the betting kind.

[grunehexe]

Then it is a good thing I am not looking for a husband.

[Just... the father of a child, no need to make this weird...]

[grunehexe]

...

[SIGH.]

Please do not call any strange monikers if you actually need healing at some point- I shan't notice.

[grunehexe]

[Don't worry, Fiona. She's seen Things. (Or maybe that was cause for more worry.)]

I believe it is entirely pure in its desire to be a masculine contest of strength... Most pure.

[Pure, yes.

With effort, Sieglinde tore her gaze away to actually look at who she was addressing a moment. New?]</small. Do men not compete this way in your world?

[winces]

[ with his eyes closed, he will feel a small hand come upon his arm. it is a gentle touch, and should he feel prompted to look, he will see that she has calmed significantly. though the smile on her face is still watery, she only looks incredibly happy for him. ]

That's beautiful.

[whatshimadayou]

[The contact surprises him, and he opens his eyes to look at Olivia. The warm expression she wears now is startling, and he almost can't meet her gaze. Subjects as delicate as the heart is difficult to speak of, but she welcomes it readily.

Hanzo doesn't brush away her arm, but he is a little flustered.]

It is... simply the truth.

He is a good man. Better than I.

[winces]

Better than you, Mr. Hanzo? That must make him a great man.

[ hehe. she may be teasing him a bit now... ]

[whatshimadayou]

[Gently, he brushes her hand off now, and he frowns a little.]

It would be unfair to compare him to someone like me.

But I recognize your words. They are appreciated.

[winces]

[ the hand he brushes away settles for a new home against her cheek, head tipping so she can rest upon it. ]

Can I tell you a secret, Mr. Hanzo?

[ there is a small smile on her lips now, a bit muted, perhaps even somber.

her gaze shifts back towards the dueling men, settling specifically on the one she had been so passionately rooting for. the man so far beyond her reach. ]

I think I know how you feel.

[whatshimadayou]

[His eyes trail up to the pair foolishly dueling, entertaining the crowd. He turns back to look at Olivia.]

Is that so?

[longtempered]

Nah, it was with Ramir. We ended up having to call a tie, it was pretty funny.

[At the very least, it seems to be popular with these two guys plus one very enthusiastic Ramir...and by the looks of things it might just end up spreading, who knows?

Either way, Shizuo nods along slowly to Sieglinde's assessment, watching the two struggle back and forth in their current arm-lock.]

Ah, is McCree the cowboy guy? Never met him before either...but I'm thinking along the same lines. Pretty sure Achilles told me he's related to a god or something? So that probably counts for a lot of strength...

[grunehexe]

She is quite strong, as I understand it. Not many women can match a man's physical prowess.

[Er, in a generally 15th-century-style-sexism sort of way, she means. And she did sort of see him bend a fork once.

Though rather than her strength, Sieglinde appreciated Ramir's... similar interests in men.]

I do not know what a "cowboy" is, but apparently yes. - And that is right, his mother was a nymph.

[winces]

[ she nods slowly, smile a little sad. ]

We'll just have to try our best to deserve them, hm?

[grunehexe]

... No?

[Sieglinde blinked a bit rapidly in surprise, cocking her head.]

You wear quite similar clothing, so I thought...

[You were kind of... from that sort of situation...]

[grunehexe]

Men do not usually manifest the same abilities as witches... there are far few warlocks in our region.

[The fun that comes of a melting pot team...]

We bear no male children- there are ways to assure the child is female.

[grunehexe]

Especially in this place.

[Not that... she was wishing for a mission more like their past two.

But she definitely would have preferred staying in Oska.]

[grunehexe]

Admiring is likely the safest option in the end for most of the men here, it is true.

[grunehexe]

[Unfortunately for him, the look she shoots back is one that makes clear she isn't going to get it unless it's in words.

... Maybe.]

And that is a bad thing... ?

[sereneflame]

[She snorts in amusement and takes a step back from where she's standing so the men near her can't take too much offence as she murmurs into her bracelet]

They are something of a mess, aren't I? I've never been in company of so many people all carrying so much baggage.

[The pot is calling the kettle black, but she's never cared about being a hypocrite if doing so makes her feel a little superior]

[whatshimadayou]

[Maybe she does understand, to a degree. For a moment, Hanzo gazes at her carefully, the way she wears her smile. Faint, sad. Empathetic.

It would be impossible for her to understand why he feels as he does. But the fact that she has some issues with her own self-worth...

Hesitantly, he touches her wrist.]

I will never be worthy.

But I will try, regardless.

[ofobedience]

I'd say. I don't think I've ever been this bored.

[Though that's not strictly true-- unlike her he would prefer the violence of the previous mission, but this one has had it's own trials and tribulations. Opened wounds in him he didn't know he had.]

[heelies]

[To McCree's credit, Achilles is not so even of breath or unruffled of features as he was upon the conclusion of their first bout. It is rare that he must strain at the limits of strength, and this shows plainly as the sheen of sweat across his chest. When he stretches his arm and rubs at it, he seems surprised that it could feel so sore.]

I do not think my arm can withstand another round against yours, nor does it seem that yours can withstand another round against mine, mere flesh though it may be. Thus a draw is agreeable to me, McCree of the iron arm.

[Look, he even won a sweet nickname out of this.]

[strikingtwice]

I suppose that's good at least. [Because he doesn't much like the idea of children being harmed for how they were born.]

So... do you mean there are men with magic as well, but it's different? How?

[grunehexe]

I cannot say for sure, I was only told it was different- I had never met one, before coming here.

I had never left my village.

[evantuality]

[Oh he is way, way too close to having to explain the concept of porn to Sieglinde. This is not a position he ever imagined himself in, much less wanted to be in.

He takes one more swing.]

Look. I get that this... [he sweeps a gesture at the sweaty, grunting business going on right by them] that this is a show. But the players in that show have a right to dictate who sees that show, because it's their show, right?