When in doubt, act petty and childish [Open]

[earthborn]

Who| Shepard, and probably Pruna, Sandy, Duck, and Pillow Fort, and OPEN
What| Pillow Fort!
Where| PILLOW FORT IN THE TRIBUTE CENTER LOBBY
When| Last week or so of the Arena
Warnings/Notes| Pillow Fort, harsh language, possible description of drug use and/or arena doings, Pillow Fort

It took an enterprising mind to understand the subtleties of this art-form. There had to be balance, and tension, or your structure would collapse. Even the most durable of available materials was squishy at best, and you always ended up wanting another inch of length on the roof, another few grams before supports collapsed, or bent. And nothing, nothing would just stand there and hold itself up.

In the end, they’d resorted to thumbtacks, hammered with a shoe or pressed in, to hold up the bedsheets against the walls. Even so, it was better not to lean too close to the stolen couch cushions on the opposite side, or the whole left wing might come down with a series of pops and pings. Well, it was probably fine, it wasn’t as if this were some kind of permanent arrangement, after all.

What? What is she doing? No, not doing, it’s all done.

Shepard has built, with a little help, a pillow fort.

Well, it’s more than just a fort, it’s a castle, an edifice! It took up nearly the whole of the Tribute Center Lobby with a riot of bedsheets, pillowcases, safety pins and couch cushions. Calling it a mere hidey-hole would not do justice to the thing. It’s art. It’s filled with pillows and snacks and safe dark places closed in away from prying eyes. Oh, and Shepard too. She’s an adult, after all, and this is what grown-ups do.

It’s got a door big enough for anyone to crawl right in, and a boldly written sign that reads “Abandon Hope All Who Enter Here” with “bring snacks” scribbled along a corner.

Comments

[sithcretapprentice]

At her initial comment, he can't help raise an eyebrow. He's getting the feeling that he finally managed to push her buttons enough to anger her, which is only proven when she continues. He doesn't shrink back or anything, but he does find it a little unfortunate. He hadn't actually meant to offend her, it had been an idle comment.

"You've made your point," he says after a moment, an edge to his voice. He doesn't appreciate being talked to as if he's a child. "I guess I worded my opinion badly. Building this just doesn't strike me as something a killer would do."

Starkiller holds his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Look, my intent isn't to get the wrong side of you. Obviously you are competent. If it makes you feel better, I won't mock your building."

[earthborn]

"Starkiller, I don't give two shits what you think of the stupid pillow fort. Grow up."

She had just spent the better part of a month starving to death on her own biotically-accellerated metabolism in a low-subsistence environment. The light show she'd put out under the influence of the masks had been something of a highlight reel for psychotic biotic killers.

And he... What had he been doing when he was out of the killzone?

"Your opinion isn't the point. You're in here, bitching about my downtime, and all I've heard from you is how you don't need friends, you don't want allies, you're such hot shit that don't need anybody. Add one more thing to that; you don't do research," she gestured helplessly at him, as if she were attempting to hold in both outstretched hands the sum total of her incredulity, "Turn on a fucking screen and watch the games this time around. Review what you missed, all of it, not just the evening news highlight reel. Consider it a homework assignment, or orders, whichever is most likely to motivate you."

[sithcretapprentice]

For all of hot arrogance and over confidence in his own abilities, her little lecture is enough to keep him quiet. She has a way of commanding your attention, even if she's tearing into you and Starkiller can't actually bring himself to interrupt her, even if he isn't particularly pleased with some of the things she's saying.

And he can't deny she has a point, either. Maybe it would be good to watch them. Maybe he really will learn something. Obviously he's hit a nerve by insulting her, so why not make up for it in some way? Even if it's a small one.

"Fine," he said. His voice is curt, not entirely pleased by the idea that she's ordering him around. But he's willing to let it go and compromise here. "But you're wrong," he added after a second. "I mean, yes. I was like that initially. But I've also come to realize that being alone isn't entirely the smartest choice."

He couldn't easily admit that he was wrong about not wanting friends, then again he had a hard time admitting it to himself, let alone Shepard. "I'm still adjusting to talking to people rather than killing them."

[earthborn]

"A little old for a grunt," she muttered, but subsided, in much the same fashion as a wary cat, having long ago mastered the ability to look less like she cared than that she was simply angry in general, as a matter of human nature.

After a moment she drank again, and let the silence stretch. What's the difference between a mercenary, an assassin, and a soldier? Money, pride, and duty. But everyone got paid, everyone did their damndest, and everyone had a job to do, even Starkiller.

"I'm serious about the homework," she could be calm, too, "I'll check up on you, too."

[sithcretapprentice]

Satisfied that he's managed to sort of smooth things over, Starkiller relaxes a little more. He eyes the bag of sweets for a moment, then decides that maybe it's alright if he has another. She clearly is more interested in her alcohol, anyway. o he reaches for it and takes another candy into his mouth, before setting the bag aside again.

He rolls his eyes lightly, but refrains from making any negative comments. Starkiller is getting the feeling that if he wants any peace, he's going to have to do what she said.

"Alright, alright," he says. "I'll do it. It could be useful, I suppose." After a moment, he shifted a little, moving towards the exit. "I'll... go start now, or something. I'm sure you probably want me gone anyway, considering how we often seem to butt heads."

[earthborn]

"Don't get your neck out of joint, you're not getting any special treatment," that's a damned lie, threadbare bald, but we must at least pretend to keep up appearances. For someone trying so deliberately to seem badass, Starkiller had a lot of feelings.

"Get out of here. We'll talk later."