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

[winces]

[ in this moment, let us all be quite thankful that olivia does not possesses inhuman strength...

and that squidges are not actually made of bubbles...

because the sudden jerking movement that olivia makes with her hands, as well the the octave her voice reaches in that moment would have definitely broken something otherwise. ]

—T-Type?!

[strictdiscipline]

[That poor squidge...also Riza's poor eardrums. Thank goodness for poker face training.

The fluster comes as a surprise though, enough to elicit a change in expression. Her eyes widen and her voice lifts with genuine curiosity.]

You don't have a preference when it comes to men?

[She's not even going to couch this in more subtle terms.]

[winces]

[ w-wait... where is this conversation even going anymore...?! ]

U-Um. I mean — of course I do... d-doesn't everyone have a preference...

[strictdiscipline]

[Why is she so nervous about this whole thing.....gurl please.]

But yours isn't the two men in front of us?

[Why else would she be so surprised...]

[winces]

[ because! she's! olivia!! get to know her already gosh ]

I mean... Th-That would be inaccurate to say....

[strictdiscipline]

[Well stop being so olivia!! Gosh.

Also this is clearly getting the both of them nowhere, no point in mincing words anymore.]

Then what is your type?

[Spill the deets, sister.]

[winces]

[ wow??

but this is true, they are not getting anywhere, and olivia would probably be okay to do this song-and-dance for a good while longer but riza never really struck her as the patience time and even though she doesn't know riza very well, the idea of disappointing her is already kind of devastating.

and so—! ]

M-My type is some strong and kind and caring...!

[ ... but also: ]

A-And incredibly sexy too!!

[strictdiscipline]

[

The first half seems quite rote, the type of generic answer someone like Olivia might give. It's that last bit that really comes out of nowhere, Riza's eyes first widening in shock before crinkling at the edges in good humor. She doesn't laugh but her smile's completely genuine.]

That's a good type to have. And it looks like you've got two excellent candidates up there.

[Well, at least for that last part. (Little does she know....)]

[winces]

Y-Yes, we do... Perhaps one more than the other.

[ that last part, she mumbles a bit shyly to herself.

wait a minute, though. is riza implying—?? ]

D-Do you mean to say you're interested in one of them?

[strictdiscipline]

[Don't think she doesn't hear that, missy. She's not about to let this be turned around on her so easily.]

It sounds like you're more interested than I am.

1/2

[winces]

[ s-such deflection stats...! IT'S OVER 9000 ]

2/2

[winces]

Th-That's... That is... true...................

[strictdiscipline]

[just gonna....sidle a step closer and wait patiently for the rest




:)

:) :) :)]

[winces]

[ riza no... riza pls... ]

I-I mean... Achilles is — he's really amazing, d-don't you think?

[ ah ]

N-Not to say that Mr. McCree isn't...! He's great, too! But. Maybe... Maybe Achilles is more so........

[strictdiscipline]

[What an effusive compliment. There's something going on here. Riza's own interactions with Achilles have been limited, for the most part; if there's something about the man that makes him so great, she's yet to see it.]

Oh? What makes you say that?

[Sell your boyfriend's merits, Olivia.]

[winces]

[ olivia, for her part, can only return riza's curious look with one of her own. perhaps even tinged with a dash of incredulous shock. as if the answers to her question should be obvious enough. as if they were as glaring as the contours of every muscle the man so shamelessly displays right now.

it actually takes her a moment to get around to it. ]

I mean... look at him. [ for one thing!! ] And he is an actual hero from a very famous legend [ only applicable to certain worlds, though, ah ] also he's big and strong and brave but even though he seems really intimidating, he's also really sweet and gentle and tender and when he looks at you, he has this way of making it seem like you're the only person that matters and then there's the just way he talks—!

[ please.

please stop her. ]

[strictdiscipline]

[Wow. There's not much else to say save for that, really, because this long list of redeeming qualities does not quite match up to her experiences with the man (which have been, admittedly, few and far between).

But she does know Olivia, or at least marginally better than she knows Achilles, so she takes Olivia's praise and translates it to something she can better understand.]

He's very lucky to have you on his side then.

[She'd say it the other way around but ehhhh...]

[winces]

[ once again, olivia looks thrown. her eyes widen a fraction, and then she is glancing away, cheeks red with something other than embarrassment and ardor. ]

That's... [ generous. ] I'm the lucky one, really.

[strictdiscipline]

[That's the truth, insofar as Riza sees things. But then again, she's had little time for waffling and indecision of late (and has wasted too much time on those activities already).

There's no judgement on Riza's face as she watches Olivia for a moment, only patient expectation.]

You don't think he's lucky to have you?

[winces]

[ she just laughs, albeit a little weakly. ]

Miss Riza, please... [ she's nice. she's very nice. ] He was born of the gods. He's royalty. And I'm just a dancer from a traveling troupe.

[strictdiscipline]

[Her eyes travel back to the two men wrestling in front of them but her thoughts and gaze are elsewhere.

She thinks back to Nalanni and Ryba, and how they'd abused their power and disconnected themselves from those beneath them. The Fuhrer and his lack of compassion for his subjects, the homunculus - the closest things to gods back home - and their absolute disdain for humanity. Status has never been important to her.]

It's not always about status, Olivia.

[The words are murmured, almost lost in the shouts of the cheering crowd. Her mind flashes back to their first meeting and to the wounded deer they'd stumbled across in the forest. Most would have left it there; Olivia had sang to it, even checked up on it days after.]

You may be 'just a dancer', as you call it, but you've done more here than just dance. More than a lot of other people I've known, and a lot more than most gods and princes I've met.

[Here her gaze sharpens again, as does her tone.]

And quite frankly, if he can't see that, then he's an absolute idiot.

[winces]

[ she is struck by the intensity of both riza's words and her stare, so much so that she actually finds herself shrinking back in reflex. for a few moments, she doesn't even know how to respond, merely staring mutely at the other woman, mouth opening and closing as she struggles for words, looking like a dying fish more than a person.

eventually her own shyness gets the better of her, and she has to glance away. she stares down at the squidge in her hands, who peers back up at her curiously. ]

...Thank you, Miss Riza. [ and she truly does appreciate it. those words, that sentiment. the ferocity that had her expressing them in the first place. she doesn't want to discount the thought, the gesture. even if a part of her is still dubious, still unsure. she would like to believe in riza's words, of course she would...

but, as always, she is her own greatest enemy. ]

I-I guess sometimes it's just too easy for me to forget.

[strictdiscipline]

[In Olivia, Riza sees a little of the person she was years and years ago. The person she likely would have stayed if she hadn't been swept along in someone else's current.

She smiles quick at Olivia, a genuine upward curve of her lips.]

Then we'll just have to remind you often then.

[Achilles most of all, if he has any sense to him. Speaking of Achilles—a look back towards the main stage shows a clear victory in Achilles' favor and the two men already discussing a second round, meaning she should probably head back and wrap up her duties as judge for this first round. Sapphire gets a quick pet on the head and Olivia a quick wave as she steps forward again.]

Don't lose your voice cheering too loudly.

[winces]

[ there is no faking the smile that prompts that, shy but warm and tentatively hopeful. ]

...Th-Thank you, Miss Riza. [ she barely stifles a giggle. ] I'll try not to!