Exhaustion (Ithea)

[Anastasia]

"Whatever, nothing ever happens here," Rukkig shrugs, yawning and closing his eyes. "Should take a nap too."

[Merc]

"Who says I'm not, and I'm just dreaming of you?" Ithea asks, sounding philosophical, but actually being truthful.

[Anastasia]

"That sounds stupid," Rukkig laughs after that, "What's with you today? Restless?"

[Merc]

"Hrm...a bit. Didn't feel like doing what I was supposed to be doing, took a nap myself, then woke up. Just...felt like walking around enjoying what we have here, y'know? It's such a beautiful valley, with so little trouble, right?"

[Anastasia]

"Yeah, nice and boring," Rukkig retorts, "So quiet you can hear the grass grow and the birds sing."

[Merc]

"Boring's nice, honestly. Don't put much stock into the stories of fighting devils being exciting stuff. Sure, someone has to do it, but why us?" Ithea asks rhetorically. She follows that up by pressing the pole end against the goblin's side and rolling him over. "Besides, I'm the one with weapon and magic training of the two of us, so if anyone was going to dream of excitement and fame, should be me, dontcha think?"

[Anastasia]

This finally gets Rukkig up, enough to dust himself off and give Ithea a dry look. "Sure, sure. Go save some princes somewhere," he says, "I'll leave that to the heroes. This here isn't bad. Got a house, got food, got a good time of it. Why ruin it?"

[Merc]

Ithea laughs. "Exactly! Even I won't see any princes, honestly. I'll probably end up just being some bored village sentry here and only have to deal with some bandit once in a blue moon. But that's not that bad!"

Ithea leans closer to Rukki, leaning down a bit since he's smaller and adds in a whisper, "Also, I think it's funny when everyone blames you for me not having bigger dreams."

[Anastasia]

"I'd say it means I gave you perspective," Rukkig grins back, whispering a little too loudly. "Who wants to be a hero? Right pain in the ass it is, and you end up camping out more than living a good, happy life."

[Merc]

"Yeah...but I'd still be a hero if I absolutely had to be. Not sure what or who I'd be saving... But if someone was relying on me? I'd get my act together, right, Rukkig?" Ithea asks, somehow unsure how it works with asking a question like that. Cat said they'd say what she wanted to hear because they weren't real...what was it she wanted to hear here, really?

[Anastasia]

"Yeah, I guess so," Rukkig finally amdits, "If you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice. Why, someone not giving you a choice?"

[Merc]

Ithea smiles at his response.

"Oh? Do I look particularly heroic to you right now?" Ithea teases before looking wistfully at the oak tree behind Rukkig. "Just thinking of odd stuff, and decided to bug you about it. I might just head back to practice at the school...or maybe I'll go bug my parents too. Don't really know yet."

[Anastasia]

"Sure you are," Rukkig smiles, "You're too young to be looking like that, you know. You look like some sad old woman who is missing her best days."

[Merc]

Ithea stumbles dramatically, clutching her heart. "How can you say such an evil, evil thing to a beautiful girl like myself? You...you monster!"

[Anastasia]

"Oh no, the goblin insulted you. You have no future," Rukkig shakes his head and grins, "How about we see if we get a late breakfast somewhere?"