Day 1, Night | First Watch

[Hadrian Martikova]

A calm had settled over camp as their tired team settled into the rhythm of the night. A rhythm that took the shape of surf breaking on rocks, a loud hum punctuated with the odd cry of fauna from the wood line, and wind whistling through the canopy. The night was full of dangers but at least he and Laila had a moment finally.

"So... can we talk about earlier?"

[Laila Bridger]

She half-smiled, adjusting the despised carbine a bit in her grip.

"Sure. Wasn't kidding, by the way, you're doing pretty well for this not being your usual scene."

[Hadrian Martikova]

He rubbed his neck, "Yeah... it's uhh, quite a departure from my normal work."

He let the matter hang for the time being and cleared his throat.

"Sooo... yesterday. When, uhhh, we were having a perfectly pleasant day. That, umm, kinda got cut short against my will ..." He shifted a little, "... I just wanted to emphasize that she was lying. I'm really not like that at all. We broke up and she hasn't gotten over it, full stop."

He exhaled, "Seriously, I... I just couldn't catch a break yesterday." He gave a resigned shrug.

[Laila Bridger]

"Hell, that wasn't... I mean, look, we were both pretty open about our intentions, so... Well. Anyway."

She scanned the treeline.

"It wasn't that, it was... people start swapping war stories, I start remembering my own, and... yeah. Drank myself into a stupor, so you didn't miss much."

[Hadrian Martikova]

He smiled, "Well... after you didn't show up I miiight have over indulged myself." He shrugged, "And anyway, had we met up my intentions would have only partially manifested." He sighed, "I may have been angling for repeat business. Or maybe I was just hoping for it."

He focused on a point ahead where he thought he saw movement. A short moment later the movement revealed itself to be Ambrose's bird. It would appear they're not the only ones on watch tonight.

[Laila Bridger]

"Oh. An optimist. Didn't realize there were any of you left. Makes me feel downright special."

Was she teasing him? Absolutely.

Was she genuinely a bit touched? Absolutely.

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Maybe I am," he teased right back while shifting a little closer, "or maybe I'm a glutton for punishment. Either way, I still want a night under the stars with just the two of us."

He was close enough to feel her warmth. Angled so they can keep an eye on both directions.

[Laila Bridger]

"What, this isn't good enough for you? So needy."

She trailed off for a second, trying to assess some movement she spotted.

Think it might just be that pissy scout.

"Uhm... banter aside. Think I'd like that. Someplace a little less bug-infested, maybe, but... yeah."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Well now who's being needy?" He whispered back grinning. "But you're in luck, I know a place. Best of all there's low light pollution. So you get the full stretch of the milky way. Plus-" the bird took flight again, "Ugh...fuuu, frikkin' bird, false alarm."

He laughed softly.

"But yeah, it's remote. So you know, when the time comes. Feel free to make all the noise you want. And I can enjoy making you make it. Win-win."

[Laila Bridger]

She was silent for a bit.

"Nice to have something to look forward to, not gonna lie."

[Hadrian Martikova]

As the silence deepened he'd began to wonder if he should amend his statement before she spoke once more. Clearly he was being too forward. Or maybe she saw something again? Either way, hint received. Focus on the job at present. Too much flirtation would lead to problems out here.

"We just have to make it out of here." He nodded. "Until then I've got your back."

[Laila Bridger]

"That's the first time I've believed someone telling me that in the past three years."

She glanced at him and winked.

"Mostly 'cause you were watching my ass when it wasn't in immediate danger."

Another pause.

"I'm, uh... sorry if that's a bit crude. If I'm a bit crude. Only etiquette they ever taught us was 'stand up straight, look pretty, speak only when directly addressed.' We were dreamed up to guard VIPs, not to talk to them."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"I mean you've got a fine ass, it's kinda hard not to." He teased reassuringly. "And while I realize I look like a sexy sophisticated gentleman of high birth." He shrugged easily, "The truth is I make wine for VIPs, I don't drink with them. I'm a nobody vintner, and my family doesn't technically own the land we steward... yet. But god knows I've been dreaming of changing that."

He sighed.

"It's not easy to do when your dad makes piss poor purchases, and even poorer decisions with the family finances. But for the time being the old fool is in charge of it all."

[Laila Bridger]

"Be grateful he's still around to fuck up."

She grimaced and turned her attention back to the treeline.

"My last words to my parents were harsh, and I'd give anything to change that fact."

[Hadrian Martikova]

Idiot! He thought to himself. Wincing as the pleasantness evaporated.

"Sorry, I forgot. I..." He sighed. "... I'm sorry."

He watched the perimeter as the silence deepened between them.

"I'm here Laila, I'll listen if you ever just want to talk." He leans back a little. "I don't know if it'll help. But I'm willing to try."

[Laila Bridger]

"I appreciate it, but there's not a hell of a lot to say. Some fucking nobles have a vendetta so entire planetary populations have to suffer. My family and I were part of one of those populations. Yay, us. So while I trot off to 'do my duty' like a good little soldier, my family gets ground up in shit that's barely mentioned as skirmishing in most of the after-action reports."

She spat onto the ground.

"So Duke Leto Atreides beheads Duke Prad Vidal so Elacca will get in line with the rest of Archduke Armand Ecaz's vassals, and Halleck sells us a line about killing Grummans instead of 'our brothers.' So off we fuck to Grumman, and do shit I'll see in my nightmares for the rest of my life, fighting Moritani forces and a few Harkonnens somebody invited to the party. House Vernius shows up to lend a hand, the goddamn Emperor turns up, there's a bunch of chatter, Viscount Moritani gets arrested and we all just... go home. What for? Your guess is as good as mine."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Assholes." He sighed, "No I... I meant if you wanted to talk about your family. Or you know, lean against me and let out some of that bitterness." He shrugged. "Not much else I can offer at this point. My wine is back in Cidrit."

[Laila Bridger]

"Boozing is almost as bad as screwing when it comes to being on watch anyway. Messes your mind up slightly more, but at least you're still wearing pants and might have a hand on your weapon."

She sighed.

"I... don't like talking about them. They- we were pretty ordinary. Dad worked with wood, like half the damn planet's population. He didn't carve it, he helped harvest it. Mom mostly made sure we didn't all kill ourselves running about, brought in a few solaris as a schoolteacher. I was the oldest of four. Only one out of the house by the time it all went to shit."

A pause. She shifted her position slightly.

"I can't really remember the faces of my sisters- Ianya and Amara -or my brother Idris. They run together. Eyes like mine, lotta red hair which we all got from Dad, and the usual scuffs, bumps and bruises that come from roughhousing."

[Hadrian Martikova]

He smiled, "Apple didn't fall far huh?" He smiled warmly. "You have to talk about them more to remember. Recall stories of them, and then their faces will shine through. Like Ambrose and Isaac, my youngest siblings. They both look the same, but Ambrose is more rough and tumble where as Isaac is the quieter and more reserved one. Kind of like how Bern and I-"

He stopped.

"Yeah, I know. It's- It's painful to talk family. But it's better that they're remembered." He gave a resigned shrug. "At least I think so. They're not just casualties in an after action report to you."

[Laila Bridger]

"Yeah, but I'm it. I mean... we lost more people on Grumman than we did in that abortive 'misunderstanding.' And naturally, naturally, the important part was our beloved Archduke being old and heirless."