Day 1, Night | First Watch

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Ahh fuck the archduke." He sighed, privately lamenting his inability to find the right words. "The nobles will always play their games, and us smaller people can only stay out of their way. I can't change that or the world. All I can do is build a world of my own as far from their orbit as possible."

He looks at Laila.

"You sound like you want to fight them."

[Laila Bridger]

"Well. I can't deny that kicking the everlasting piss out of everyone who thinks they're in charge just because of which cock they were shot out of has some appeal. But at the same time... most seem content to just go along, so who the hell am I to argue?"

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Yeah tell me about it." He sighed, "But unless you have money, you don't have power unless your one of those fortunate few."

[Laila Bridger]

"Well. The Guild and the Bene Gesserit seem to manage by being fuckers of a different sort, but yeah, that's the essential problem."

[Hadrian Martikova]

It was never his lot to give two figs about politics. But he understood that politics and all parties involved were in someway culpable to her grief. It didn't change matters that he only knew a bit about the former, and even less about the latter.

"So what's your solution?"

[Laila Bridger]

"I've been trying heavy drinking for the past three years."

She sighed.

"It doesn't really work."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Well, if you ever want to give building a try, I can show you the ropes." He scans the tree line. "And this is just me speculating... but, I can say confidently that there's joy in being a tradesman. If it were me, I think it would matter less that someone tore the world apart; than that while I were alive, and had the power to make it so - there was a place for you in it."

[Laila Bridger]

"Not sure I relish the thought of building something up just so some asshole can knock it over. But I'll admit, my experience has been... limited."

[Hadrian Martikova]

A smirk, "Then build it in such a way, that any asshole that tries will be punished ten fold for their attempt." He held out his hand, "May I?"

[Laila Bridger]

She blinked.

"May you what? I don't mind a bit of canoodling, but not when we're on watch..."

[Hadrian Martikova]

He smiled, "Yeah? Find me when our shift ends then. But in the mean time gimme your hand for a second."

[Laila Bridger]

She extended her hand, while checking the treeline again.

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Hmmmmm, surprising..."

He said taking her hand gently. The difference in size was to be expected, his hands are rough and callused. Better equipped for woodworking, gardening, & mechanical work. Heat takes a moment longer to register, as do nicks and scratches. His are hands that might grip a keg one handed. What do hers feel like?

[Laila Bridger]

Laila's hands are strong- no big surprise there- and callused, but very specifically- a different pattern from a variety of tools and labor. Her calluses are all the result of sustained knife work. There's also a bit of wear about her knuckles- not quite a callus, but the skin has definitely been damaged and healed a few times.

A small catalogue of years of violence, bound up in one hand.

[Hadrian Martikova]

"I think I could work with this," he said running his thumb over the palm and fingers, "but this side might be a challenge." He said rounding the hands and feeling her knuckles. "Do you enjoy fighting?"

[Laila Bridger]

"No. And yes. I hate a lot of what I've done, but I can't deny... I'm good at it, and when I'm doing it, my problems become a lot more manageable."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Huh, maybe I can work with that after all." He pressed her hand gently before releasing it. "It's more boring, but generally you work yourself so hard you don't have time for nightmares."

[Laila Bridger]

"Boredom 's a hard one for me..."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Oh yeah?"

He gave a glance up just in case there were mantas prowling in the sky. Then went back to the surroundings again.

[Laila Bridger]

"Yeah. Too much time to think."

She gave a wry grimace.

"Bad at it, but it doesn't stop me trying."