SaDiablo Hall, Dhemlan, Kaeleer

[wwiii]

Training. Studying in Kaeleeran Court protocols, poring over any information that he could get his hands on regarding sanitary setups for new settlements in untamed territories, digging around for maps that could help Warren get a better idea as to where they were, and where they were trying to get... It was fairly safe to say that, when Warren wasn't busy running himself ragged in Kaeleer, trying to get budgets to balance and to work out supply options that weren't going to explode in his face, he was spending practically every waking hour training.

His teeth ground together as a stick whipped around, smacking him in the ribs with an audible crack.

Some types of training were easier than others, especially when he was running himself to the ground. He was tired, and it was starting to show. That wouldn't be so bad, if the person that was seeing it at the moment wasn't a sadistic Eyrien with a stick.

With a wince and a ruffle of feathers as he gasped to get his breath back, Warren straightened up and raised his stick again.

[For them what are in Kaeleer!]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"Emma doesn't count!" Karla said, giving him a panicky face that said, yes, he was exactly right. "That's--You're--Come on!"

She was torn between protesting more and kissing him for being tricksy.

[wwiii]

"She's wearing your ring, isn't she? That means that technically, she counts more than anybody else. She is in your court, after all."

So stick that in your creamed cheddar cookie and eat it, Karla.

[glacial_queen]

Karla was FILLED WITH SADNESS.

Also, sputtering. Karla was definitely sputtering. "Stop learning Protocol!" because that was helpful.

Why look, was that a barrel he had her over? Why yes it was! She should probably just count herself lucky that he wasn't pointing out that he also served, Court or not.

[wwiii]

"I could pick a few more people if you think that might help even things out," Warren noted. "How about Morton?"

How about, oh, pretty much anyone that they knew, at all?

"It won't be for long," he said, smiling slightly. "Just a few days. Enough time to get some sleep, unwind. If you're worried that you're not doing enough, you can help me go over accounts with suppliers through the island, to make sure that I haven't missed anything crucial on the orders I'm putting in."

[glacial_queen]

"You're mean," Karla pouted, tempted to drop the edge of her towel and derail the conversation for a little while. But Warren had that glint in his eyes that Karla was coming to recognize. Even if she did manage to distract him that way, he'd just circle back to this conversation while they were taking their second shower.

Damn him.

"...Though going over accounts and checking supplies sounds good," she said, actually listening while she sulked. "It would suck to have everything set up on this end and then have stuff be held up on Fandom's side."

[wwiii]

"It would," Warren agreed, apparently totally fine with being mean for the time being. "In fact, I was thinking of making certain that there are several different companies to turn to for each resource, just so that we know for a fact that if one hits a snag, at least we have other options."

That was very much Worthington logic, right there.

[glacial_queen]

Hanging around with Lucivar was clearly having an affect on him. Here she was giving him her best part and nary a wibble. Mother Night! Standing fast in defense of her best interests! Who did he think he was?

"If we go back to the islands, we're going back to the cabins," she warned as a last ditch attempt to dissuade him. "And I think we're still at the cold place."

[wwiii]

"I have a credit card," Warren cheerfully reminded her, "and there's a hotel."

Once again, a winner was Warren.

[glacial_queen]

...Karla had no real rebuttal for that. He did. There was. He was.

"You've been thinking about this for awhile, haven't you," she accused.

[wwiii]

"Since before we left," Warren confirmed. "I've met you."

He looooves you, Karla.

[glacial_queen]

"I have no idea what that is supposed to mean," Karla huffed.

Mostly because she was deliberately ignoring the obvious.

"Smugsy Mcsmugsalot," she muttered under her breath. Then, louder, "You're grinning. I can see you!"

What with the looking at him and everything.

[wwiii]

It took a hell of a lot of effort, but Warren managed to battle the grin down somewhat, into a very twitchy smirk.

That was an improvement, right?

"So, we're heading back for a bit?"

[glacial_queen]

There were some indistinct grumbles coming from Karla's side of the bathroom. They sounded like an affirmative. A very grumbly affirmative.

"If Lucivar agr--oh, who the Hell am I even kidding any more?"

[wwiii]

"You are kind of grasping at straws," Warren agreed, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning again. "And we'll still be working while we're there. It won't be as hands-on, but it's just as important, especially if other territories are risking war if they let themselves get involved."

Now he was going to logic at you, Karla.

[glacial_queen]

Keep biting, Warren. If you stopped, Karla might take the resulting grin as an invitation to do a little biting herself.

He did have a point, though. And Karla wouldn't mind a few days without getting beat on. While seeing her friends. Checking on the store. Attending classes.

"Can I still bring my books?"

[wwiii]

"I'll even carry them for you," Warren offered. "We can go over them together."

See? He was just making sure that she'd get some sleep from time to time!

And he was reserving the right to hide those books on her if she didn't seem to be relaxing, too.

[glacial_queen]

Karla eyes him suspiciously. "You're starting to sound just like the rest of the boyos," she accused. "All sweet and reasonable after you get your way. Have you been hanging around with Khary? Don't believe his story about the wall!"

[wwiii]

"I might have heard about the wall. Briefly," Warren admitted. "But you know, it isn't just my way. Making you rest isn't just for your good, it's for Glacia's."

But mostly for hers.

[glacial_queen]

"It was all his fault," Karla asserted. Completely unbiased, of course. "He started it!"

Karla had just ended it! With a wall. On his head.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER AT SHIELDING, OKAY?!

Karla sighed, stretching her neck and wincing when something popped in her neck. When he put it like that... "I'm being unreasonable again, aren't I?" she asked quietly.

[wwiii]

"Kind of," Warren replied, still smiling softly. "But that's okay. I'm pretty stubborn too."

He'd picked that up from her.

[glacial_queen]

"I noticed that," Karla said ruefully. "But then, I guess you have to be, dealing with me." She raised her face up for a kiss. "I don't mean to be, I just..."

She spread her hands, unsure how to word it.

[wwiii]

"You have a lot on your plate," Warren murmured, giving her that kiss and then settling in close with his arms around her. They were both soggy anyhow. It worked out. "Your territory, people you know... And you want to fix it all right now. We all do."

[glacial_queen]

She didn't mind his soggy wings half as much as he seemed to. Karla had no problems cuddling up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She felt so small like this; small in a good way. Small and safe, surrounded and protected.

It was a feeling she was seeking more and more often recently.

"What's the point of having all this power and stuff if I can't just fix everything?"

[wwiii]

"But you can," Warren replied. "It just takes time. Anything worth having doesn't come easily, does it?"

... It sounded good at the time. Even if the truth kind of sucked.

[glacial_queen]

"I dunno," Karla said with a small smile. "How easily did I fall for you?"