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Post by Espen Varangr on Mar 24, 2021 2:28:28 GMT -5
"It will!" Espen agreed. While he had of course heard and understood the sarcasm, he wasn't about to recognize it. Especially considering ignoring her tone suited his purposes much better. To be honest, he wasn't sure he wanted to get drunk. Well, okay, he did. Espen was actually quite torn over it. On the one hand, he'd feel amazing and enjoy himself quite a bit. But on the other...he sort of wanted to kiss Eira again under less questionable circumstances.
Not that his impossibly charming and smooth invitation was doing him any favors. Maybe one or two drinks would help him relax a little...just...not as much as last night. "I have to check on a few things. I'll see you tonight, Eira," he said in parting. This more of an 'expectation that she join him.' Still not the personal invite he probably should be making. His awkwardness spoke volumes, at least to himself.
He left to see about a few of his friends from the hunt, laughing over the late night out and shared uncomfortable morning. Most of them wished him well or admonished him for not seeing about the preparation of his kill sooner. Espen had butchered the deer himself, but he'd left the salting to one of his other slaves. The hide he had no business handling either and one of those friends was a tanner anyway. He was assured it would be properly treated. Not in time for the ceremony, of course, but that hardly mattered. The point was hunt itself.
A few of the current Elder's greeted him while he was out, but otherwise they spared him their thoughts. That was what the ceremony was for, after all. His mother, on the other hand...she wasn't bound by the same rules. Annoyingly.
"Espen!"
He flinched and turned around to face her, opening his arms wide. "Mother, lovely to see you! How was your hunt the other day?"
She frowned and folded her arms, that knowing condescending look on her face. "More successful than yours, son of mine," she boasted. "Tell me, do you even remember most of yours?"
Espen had been waiting for the comment about not being able to hold his drink. IT wasn't the drinking she condemned, just how he handled it. "I remember well enough," he said, rolling his eyes.
"I expect Roan will be with you tonight?" As if that was a question. Even where he not the shaman and expected to take part, he was his brother.
"I expect he will be," Espen countered, narrowing his eyes slightly. Was she testing him? Honestly, he didn't know all the finer points of the ceremony, even if he should but of course he was going to make sure his brother was there. A bit strange or not, they were close.
She nodded. "And that woman of yours She'll be there too? When are you going to make her your wife?" She shoved him in the shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie more than a mother. Espen rolled his eyes and tried to hide the blush but she cut off any chance he had to grumble. "Eira is quite lovely. Wish she was more of a fighter, but you could straighten her up." It was embarrassing, having his own mother casually suggest he sleep with and potentially marry someone. It earned quite a few chuckles from those passing nearby.
"That's none of your business, Jarl Aex." He shoved her back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have formal...duties to...preside over."
She snorted. "Off with your 'presiding' then. Let's see it!"
The rest of the day was mostly about mentally preparing. And visiting his siblings. And not drinking. And finding better clothes since Eira had seemed particularly displeased with his current fashion statement, even if he didn't understand. And besides, he'd be shirtless half the time anyway.
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Post by Eira Olsen on Mar 24, 2021 10:11:53 GMT -5
"Eira!" The sound of a familiar voice caught her ear making Eira whip around to see the plucky blonde she'd been rather close to since she was fourteen. "Ingrid, always a sight for sore eyes," Though genuinely happy to see her friend her tone didn't portray it. Not that Ingrid took offense. She'd grown to understand it was better to listen more to her friends words most of the time as opposed to how she said things.
Eira picked up a wicker basket she'd made a couple of months ago. While most of the basket was green it had had intricate yellow patterns laced along the side representing the suns cycle through the day. She held it on one hip as the two walked toward a group of other gatherers who were picking fruits, vegetables, and herbs. "Are you going to the ceremony tonight?"
"Of course I am," Eira stated as if it were ever in question. Though it kind of was before. "I knew you wouldn't miss an opportunity to support your beau," Ingrid teased with a playful giggle. This only served to make Eira roll her eyes as she moved to gather more herbs. They were running low at the hut. "Master Varangr is not my beau," though her clarification didn't seem to dim the devilish twinkle in her friends eyes.
"That's not what I heard," Eira immediately paused at the sing songy teasing and stared curiously at her friend. "Oh? And what exactly have you heard?" Ingrid giggled again like a child who knew a secret.
"I heard you two kissed," That was it? Eira rolled her eyes and returned to her task. "Honestly Ingrid, you'd think you heard we eloped under the cover of night," The other womans eyes lit up as she immediately dropped her own basket. "Did you?!" Eira couldn't help but laugh.
"No, silly girl," She watched the woman pout as she picked up her basket again. "Don't tease me like that, Eira!" The whine in her friends voice caused her to laugh again though she sincerely hoped that was the end of that conversation. Luckily for Eira's sanity it was. The two resumed their chores and chatted about nothing in particular until it was time to get ready for the ceremony.
Eira returned to the hut to fix her hair and make sure Lise was taken care of before she left.
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North
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Post by Espen Varangr on Mar 24, 2021 14:10:15 GMT -5
If Espen 'eloped' with every woman he had ever kissed, he'd have had to convince his mother to forgive him for running away from the family more times than years he was old. It wouldn't have been a great look. Though he had considered eloping with Jesper's mother, he was glad he had not. He'd been young, they both had been, and while their relationship was a bit...strained, it was manageable and she was much happier with her current husband than she ever would have been with him.
As it was, Espen had never needed to apologize to his mother for such a thing. Even with having two children out of wedlock, as long as he was supportive and owned up the responsibility, there was very little the community had to look down upon. It was not very traditional, but he was doing his part. Besides, his mother was thrilled to have grandchildren.
He tried to stay away from the hut as long as possible, mostly because of the awkward parting with Eira and his lack of coming up with a better way to ask her. Thankfully, Roan had some preparations of his own to see to and he offered his brother a hand.
[End Thread, continued here]
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