Repairs and Waiting (open)

Nicholas sat in the courtyard, his eyes watching the birds in the sky as his fingers worked diligently in some minor repairs to his armor. The healer had strong, but smooth hands, which he was using presently to reattach the leather straps to the backside of a pair of gauntlets. His eyes moved over the fine work of Bekendorf and his cabin, noting a few scratches here and there that he had caused in battle himself. A frown crossed his lips as he thought about the battles that were to come.

It was at that precise moment, that Sera returned from her daily flight, the small bird landed on the armor and chipped happily at him. Nicholas smiled warmly and offered a finger. "I see you've had a nice flight today. Anything I should be hearing about?" He expected no answer, and got none.

His eyes moved down toward the strawberry fields and he merely watched the Satyrs as he awaited...

(Searcy)

Call me a romantic. But sword drills are not the way to impress anyone. Just saying. Today some idiot from the Ares cabin had tried to take my head off in practice. The ADHD came in handy, and I didn't die, so that was good, but then...

Take a deep breath and calm down Searcy. It'll be okay. I mentally enjoined myselfas I came into the circular area in the midst of the cabins. My gaze went to the beat-up cabin that was my hopefully temporary home- the Hermes cabin. I didn't feel like braving that. So instead, I sat down on the ground next to the forepit not far from where a kid was sitting on a bench, armor splaysd across his lap. I pulled my sword from my belt and laid it in my lap, running my fingers the length of the sheath.

A standard sword, with a standard history. Did it ever long to be something else, I wondered? Maybe it sometimes wanted to be a hawk. Or perhaps its ambitions extended only to a hammer or a gun. A winsome smile tugged at my lips as I considered the personality I had constructed for Adamas- Unconquerable- my weapon of war.

Nicholas' eyes raised, noting Searcy finding her way to the commons area between cabins. He smiled and nodded to her as she sat, not certain himself if she even notices him. His fingers traced over the repaired forearm armor, it was his right hand side, the one marked with the Caduceus as a symbol of healing. He set aside the armor, setting aside the thoughts of battle that accompany it, his eyes raised to look toward the girl and he examined her without speaking, looking for signs of wounding.

"Are you alright?"

(Searcy)

I looked up as somebody spoke to me. It was the kid on the bench...what was his name? Nicholas? I thought that was it. I gave him a little smile and nodded. "I'm okay. A little tired is all...and the Hermes cabin isn't the best place to remedy that." I added lightly with a little laugh.

"Oh no it isn't, I remember that quite clearly. Thank the Gods that Mr. D allowed me to sleep in the Big House after my Mother claimed me." He brushed back his hair with his free hand, standing for a moment and making his way over to her. He offers his hand and smiles.

"I doubt we've ever been properly introduced. Nicholas Cruz." His eyes were a startling Maroon, a color similar to a blood bag, but they held a soothing warmth, something that might just be able to calm a rabid hellhound.

(Searcy)

I too gracefully stood up as he came over, extending his hand. I took itand gave it a little shake. "Searcy Hall." I answered. I was right- Ncholas. He looked maybe a couple years older than me, and I glanced behind him to the hawk. "You keep a bird?" I asked. I tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear.

His eyes moved back toward Sera and smiled. "One could say that, though I've been asked a few times whether or not I keep her, or she keeps me." He let his hand fall after the shake, letting it come to rest on the pommel of his sword, the half crystalline half celestial bronze weapon resting neatly in the sheath at his side. He had tiny almost invisible scars along his arms, ones that seem to have been from ancient wounds.

(Searcy)

I laughed at his reply. "I hear that's how cats are, too." I said. I sat back down on the grass, folding my legs under me, then glanced up at him. "care to sit?" I asked, a bit timidly. My British accent came out just then, inflecting my words with the slant I'd learned in my mother's homeland.