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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 17, 2023 1:56:02 GMT -5
The Prince's gaze felt like it might pierce through him. It was his imagination, of course, but he could feel the man watching him and he didn't like it. "This is provided by the Grand Duke of Ramberaht," he pointed out, making it clear he was asking if the Prince found it subpar. Of course it was largely simple leather armor with only a few metal guards. Hunt didn't like heavy armor, though he would certainly prefer more protection. But lighter, higher quality armor was not in his meager pay range. Even were his pay not being docked by the commander he couldn't afford even a generic set, let alone something custom and to his liking. He would have thought by his generally rough appearance and that he had been wearing much the same gear upon each of their meetings, that the Prince would understand he was speaking to someone not very well off. Hunt's horse looked better cared for than the man himself.
He nodded. A few weeks suited him just fine. In fact, the onger the better. Perhaps this would never happen and he wouldn't have to feel obligated. "Or met me in Wolvstadt," he pointed out. Mostly for the sake of his horse, not because he wouldn't make the trip. Though he almost hoped the King or the Prince would change their minds about this.
He began doing up buttons and straps. Then leaned against the bed to pull on his boots before his belt and sword. He hesitated with the cloak, not certain the Prince was done with him just yet
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Ollie
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Post by Jasper Rost on Apr 17, 2023 7:21:17 GMT -5
Leather armor could be fine in certain instances. It was light, more flexible than steel. It offered more movement but less protection. "If you're going to be my guard while in Lutra you'll need something more solid." Which meant getting him measured and suited up in something else. "Before you leave I should have someone take your measurements to make you a set." Clearly this one wasn't a question or request. If Hunt could make demands the Prince most certainly could.
Meeting him at the out post would probably be better. It would also give him a chance to see how the commanders were handling things and taking care of their men.
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 17, 2023 7:50:02 GMT -5
Hunt supposed he should have made equipping himself one of his conditions. A bit late now. He wouldn't entirely deny the man but he didn't have to be happy about it. Besides, he would admit more protection was better. If he didn't like how something fit or restricted his movements, he would simply not wear it. He stiffened a little at the notion of being measured, but kept that concern to himself. He wouldn't have to undress. At least he hoped now.
"Nothing heavy," he cautioned. The Prince might demand, but Hunt had his own opinions. "I like to be able to move." He'd worn heavier, much more traditional armor than this and it never quite felt right. But he'd never tried Manthiran made armor which was a bit different. He considered for a moment asking about a new blade. But that seemed to be pushing his luck. Perhaps as payment, he could get something more balanced made.
"The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can return to my men?" He asked, grabbing his cloak.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Apr 19, 2023 0:51:59 GMT -5
Jasper nodded at the notion of not having heavy armor. "That can be arranged." He said as he moved to the door. "As soon as your measurements are taken you may leave." He'd go ahead and have a servant grab his horse from the stables as well and bring it around. He stepped outside and asked someone to grab him some servants to take Hunts measurements as well as someone to grab his horse.
Once that was done he stepped in and gave the man a bit of an apologetic smile. "They're going to ask that you strip down to your underwear to get your measurements." It was mostly a way to get as accurate count as possible. Especially if the man wanted something that was light and moved more with his body. This wasn't going to just be an armor set anyone could wear. Jasper was getting something made specifically for the Captain.
This was a process Jasper had been through a number of times as he'd grown. Especially since he also preferred lighter armor. Not that he couldn't work with heavy armor but it was distracting. And made movement a little more awkward.
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 19, 2023 1:15:16 GMT -5
He felt better with both assurances. He already felt like he had been away for too long and had a whole day's ride or more ahead of him. Perhaps esp3cially because he found the notion of negotiating in this case silly, he wondered not for the first time why the Prince hadn't simply ordered him to accoplmpany him. Why he had even bothered to confirm with him at all. Had it been him, Hunt would have shown up and ordered his guards the day of. Or maybe the day before. Time to get ready, not time to debate. If he could just figure out why the Prince was so determined to be friendly.
Hunt was relieved when the man left the room, even if he suspected it would only before a moment. He felt like he couldn't breathe when he was around. The look on the Prince's face made him frown even before he spoke. "My...?" He trailed off, not quote sure he understood the word but also very worried he had. His underwear. To be basically naked in front of total strangers. Once, that would not have bothered him, but now... "Is that not excessive? I just got dressed. You watched me just get dressed," he repeated the words, the first time confused and alarmed, the second time much more aggressively frustrated. If Imperial had formal and informal tense, he would have spoken as informally as possible, if just to emphasize the displeasure he directed at the Prince.
The captain folded his arms, making a point at not getting undressed.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Apr 19, 2023 1:48:43 GMT -5
Yes, Jasper could have very easily just ordered Hunt to join him. He could have sent in a letter warning of his arrival before he came to the camp and told the scout to grab his things and get going. But he didn't want to do that. He wanted the man to have the option. Just as any time they'd interacted before. He had the chance to leave. No so much now though. They'd made a deal and he wouldn't be able to back out of it now.
Though hearing his frustration at having to undress made the Prince raise his brows in shock. Not because of how he was speaking to him. Because that was the most emotion he'd given him since the day they met. Out of every annoying thing Jasper had done this was what got him? It was almost enough to make him laugh. But he managed to compose himself. "You did just get dressed and if you can do it once you can do it again." He teased with a more playful grin.
Watching him fold his arms and stare at him made him only smile more. If just because it was cute. Stop that. "If you want armor that is going to fit your body correctly to move easily and be light enough for you to carry with ease you're going to have to strip down." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 19, 2023 2:10:56 GMT -5
Hunt regretted this deal already. He composed his expression from frustration back to a more neutral frown. Especially at that glint in the other man's eyes. Was he laughing at him? Or was he excited about something else?
His expression and his posture didn't budge an inch at the teasing. In fact, it only made him more stiff. He deserved to be spoken too with more...consideration than that. Respect perhaps not, considering he wasn't using much in return, but he was not a child.
"I do not want anything, Highness," he grated. Why was the man smiling at him so much, especially after being so aggravating? Hunt didn't find any of this appealing. Even if the Prince wasn't here, he refused to remove all his clothes. Nothing short of a direct order from the Prince would convince him otherwise. Even then he would hate it.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Apr 19, 2023 2:30:44 GMT -5
Jasper could tell he was still frustrated and honestly he didn't blame him. It was annoying but if he could busy himself climbing out of windows and onto a roof undressing shouldn't hurt as bad. So he really saw no problem other than the inconvenience of taking off everything he'd just put on. The comment of how he didn't want anything made the Prince fold his arms over his chest as well. "I've cared about your opinion for more than a few things but this isn't up for debate." He said plainly. "My guards do not wear just old leather armor." At least not while traveling with him.
"If you can climb in and out of a window on your own I suspect you aren't in as much pain as you were last night so undressing shouldn't be an issue." There wasn't really playfulness to his tone anymore. Mostly because he assumed that they weren't going to get anywhere anytime soon if he continued being casual about the situation.
"If you'd like to get on the road soon to get back to your men and inform them and your commander you'll be leaving I suggest you hurry."
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 19, 2023 2:43:32 GMT -5
Admittedly he wasn't in a lot of pain, but that was always a subjective and relative thing. Was he in less pain than last night? Yes. But he hadn't drank whatever the nurse gave him for pain and while certain movements (like climbing into the window) made that spike higher, he could handle it. Dressing and undressing would not hurt. Relatively. Hunt simply refused to expose himself in such a way without good reason or an order. It was the principle of the matter. The blonde could ask all he wanted. Suggest. Imply. Threaten. Ignore his opinion. Make offhand comments about him never leaving. But he never commanded him to.
He narrowed his eyes as the man used the term 'my guards.' Hunt supposed that was an argument using his own words. But more than that, it was the casual and immediate ownership the man took of him. Was it supposed to be care? Probably, but Hunt didn't want this man's pity and attention.
"My pain is not the issue," he pointed out, matching the firm tone he was given. Hurry? Hunt grit his teeth, digging his fingers into his arms, feet still firmly planted. "And if I refuse? Will you put me under house arrest?" He asked the question honestly, if still frustrated.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Apr 19, 2023 2:59:36 GMT -5
It was care. The scout Captain may not have bothered to care about his own safety but the Prince did. Because someone had to. It wasn't pity or some ill intention of looking down on the man. It was concern for his safety and well being. Which the man himself didn't seem to care about. Though he understood that perhaps he was being a bit hypocritical. He was willing to be a hypocrite if it meant Hunt got home safe.
The question on putting him under house arrest made Jasper grit his teeth. "I refuse to hold you hostage like some disobedient child." Because he was better than that. At least the Prince hoped he was. The man just seemed intent on refusing every request he made unless he forced him. But he didn't want to use force. Maybe that was what frustrated him so much? Was the Captain trying to make him more of a hard ass like his father?
"You can either strip down to your tunic and your underwear to get armor made for you or you'll be given spare armor we keep that's heavier and not framed to your body. You will not be wearing that armor if you're going to be traveling with me." There wasn't a question or suggestion in that. Most people would have seen the Prince ordering custom armor made for them an honor. But Hunt had made it pretty clear that no interaction with him at all had been any kind of honor. Which was part of why he liked him so much. Frustrating as it were.
"Clearly that hasn't worked to protect you and if I'm going to trust you to defend me I need you to not go down in the first thirty seconds of a fight."
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 19, 2023 3:14:07 GMT -5
As much as he was annoyed with the idea, that frustration was fading. Now it was more his discomfort with putting himself in a position to be potentially taken advantage of. He was unfortunately quite good at that. Even with what he knew of the Prince, even after last night, Hunt didn't feel comfortable with the man casually having told him to remove all of his clothes.
At least it seemed his firm push back had gotten him somewhere. Tunic and underclothes. He would have preferred pants, but it was better than nothing. Given his two options, Hunt still wondered what else the Prince would do in the moment if he just stood there. He hoped but doubted the man would release their deal already. "If that is what you command, Highness, then very well," he grumbled, undoing the cloak at his neck and pulling it off in a slow flourish. He laid it back in the bed, leaning carefully against the frame to remove his boots. If the Prince thought him not in pain, all the better. It wasn't true, but he would rather not draw the attention.
Hunt undid the front of the uniform and pulled it off, then removed his belt again, but paused at his pants, catching his breath. Partly, he still wanted this to be unnecessary. But even if it were, his belt and boots had been one thing. Removing his pants was going to hurt and aggravate his injuries. He had slept in them on purpose.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Apr 19, 2023 3:24:39 GMT -5
As he finally relented Jasper let out a sigh and let his body visibly untense. He was still frustrated it had to come to that. But it seemed the compromise of allowing him to keep his tunic on worked well enough. He wasn't sure what the man was so upset about over stripping down to his underwear. He didn't seem to have such a problem with removing his clothes in his presence last night.
Though as he began removing his cloak and boots and belt Jasper looked away again. Just because watching him undress still made him think things he didn't want to. Hunt had made it clear he didn't prefer the company of other men. The Prince didn't want to rile himself up thinking about a man who wouldn't ever be interested in him. He was pretty sure the Captain didn't even like him.
He looked over long enough to see how Hunt had paused at his pants. Was there an issue with them. "Do you need assistance?"
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 19, 2023 14:22:47 GMT -5
The scout pointedly refused to look over at the Prince, especially as it became clear the other man felt like he had won in the situation. Not that Hunt really felt the moment was worth fighting, but it still made him uncomfortable. It wasn't even the blonde that made this particular instant a problem. He knew enough of the man's character to feel comfortable around him, at least shirtless. It was whoever else might show up to poke and prod and touch some marked length or twine or some such around his chest and down his arms and inseam.
He only vaguely noticed the Prince didn't look at him in return. But he clearly wasn't taking issue with privacy or decorum considering he didn't leave the room.
"No," Hunt said sharply. Glaring daggers at the man at even the thought that he might take another step closer and touch him. He looked up at the door that stubbornly remained closed and then let out a breath. He pulled himself away from the bed post, slowly sliding his pants down. His left side ached and felt rather stiff, but he moved well enough, forcing himself through the pain where he had too. The faint yellow tinge of his bandages belied his movement, a sign of the lingering infection. That would take a bit longer to fight off if he refused the tincture for infection as well, but he would bet that if he ate well enough and forced a fever and took it easy a day, he would be fine. No questionable drinks needed. Finally, pants on the floor, he folded him arms, expression dismal and expectant all at once.
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