Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

[lynchpin_castle]

The servants are unseen and unknown. Residents are welcome to take over the Servant’s rooms or not, but it is not recommended. Likewise, it is unclear where the Master resides. Usually s/he will call a meeting of their champions and meet them within the reception all or Banquet room.

Meals are typically taken together as a group, and if requested--training times for the champions as a group may be arranged. Both of the mundane variety, and also recreations of challenge-zones, such as the Labyrinth and the Mirror Gallery. The castle and its immediate surroundings have been set to mimic Earth with its single moon and 24 hour cycle of time, along with a standard Julian calendar for convenience.

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

He swore he could hear his own heartbeat thump louder when she settled next to him. Her shoulder nudged against his. He'd been sure she would leave, and he wouldn't have blamed her. Or maybe she'd get annoyed--even if she was so damn controlled all the time. Which he'd leave, because he didn't want to be a source of annoyance for her.

Then her skin was against his and she was close again and things were too hot and his brain tried to go in too many directions at once. It didn't mean he didn't hear her words though, and now...now he felt guilty and ashamed.

Letting the pause hang in the air, before he sighed. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to make you feel that way. It is an absolutely horrible way to feel, and I know it very, very well." Trunks' own voice was small and soft, drawing his other leg up to curl his arms around it as he sat in the water.

"It's...honestly it's scary. In the short time I've known you, Ahsoka--I trust you. I haven't had someone I can feel this comfortable with, in years. I've had even less people I can count as friend, over my lifetime." Still quiet, and still soft, taking his time with the words. "I think the only way I won't worry, considering the losses I've had, would be if I didn't care at all about you."

Which was so far from true.

Then he's shaking his head, trying to regain some equilibrium. "It's...it's not about me though. But I wanted you to know. Why."

It wasn't hard, close as they were, for her to feel the deep breath he took. Chest and shoulders rising with the inhalation and exhalation, even if she hadn't heard him. "There is a reason you are here, Ahsoka. Every bit as valid as my being here. I don't view you as a burden. I haven't once."

[neveraknight]

She didn't mean to be a distraction. She barely noticed his reactions to her. At least right now. She wanted to sit beside him to let him know she wasn't upset. She sat there, one arm crossed over her chest, hand rubbing at her shoulder as if to work the pains out still, careful of the bandage.

"I trust you to, so you know. As much as I trusted any one of my masters." But even they didn't believe in her, in the end. So trust felt hard for her and yet not. "I understand worry, as well, even if I say I don't want to worry you. I was worried about you, the week before, when we were fighting droids and tanks. It's understandable. Worry is. I don't want to be the reason one of these challenges fail though. I want to make sure that you don't have to think you need to protect me. That I don't do something thoughtless and jeopardize the entire thing."

"I know there is a reason I am here, and I know I don't need to be stronger than you. It's never been a question of that. I just intend to be able to give it my all."

[light_of_willpower]

It was more than alright, if she didn't know she was a distraction. Mostly because he was viewing at his own issue--not something to put on her. Not something she had to accept or deal with, but on him. Just because he had come to realize she meant a lot to him in a variety of ways, didn't mean she had to deal with that.

"I think you already do give it your all." At least from what he'd seen, she had been. Like she'd said, it was a rookie-mistake--ignoring one combatant and then getting tagged.

"This...is also how you impress me." More quietly there, uncurling enough while still keeping himself in his own space, to be leaning back against her good shoulder with his. "You're wise. Much wiser than you think."

[neveraknight]

She didn't move much, just let her legs stretch out in the hot water, dark orange and warm. She was watching that more than anything. When he leaned into her shoulder in return she smiled more, face down still, but smiling.

"I don't know... you seem pretty wise to me as well. All my experience, and you can still talk me out of my worry easier than I can talk myself out of it." She nudged her head over a bit, bumping him a tiny bit before looking up and over at his face. "I promise. I feel better now that we've talked, and I wont over think things. I'm still going to try and be better than I am, but you can't fault me for that."

[light_of_willpower]

He was keeping his head down, face flushed and eyes staring at the water. But he moved with her nudging, and tried to relax some--mostly so it wasn't like sitting next to a rock.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Okay, there was a smile, eyes-turning to meet her own. "Besides, always easier dealing with someone else's problems than your own, right?" Did...okay, he was going to.

Summoning up some courage--which had never been an issue before now--and uncurling his arm. Reaching out, kind of like how she had done, to take her hand gently. Squeezing it, reassuring, silently promising.

[neveraknight]

When he took her hand and squeezed it, she let her fingers curl into his a bit, surprised by the move, but then warmed by it. She smiled, looking down at the hands. It was nice of him, and comforting.

"It is sometimes easier. Though right now I wish someone else could deal with my problem right now." She said, rolling her bad shoulder a bot and groaning, eyes closing a moment. "As soon as I can clear this up I will be happier."

[light_of_willpower]

"I'd offer first-aid, but you've already taken care of that I think." Still red, but letting her curl her fingers with his. Nope--totally not going to stop her. Not at all.

"Is the heat helping at all?" Honest concern, as it had to be frustrating for her too.

[neveraknight]

He might note she wasn't going to let go of his hand any time soon. It felt nice, under water and soft and strong. She was trained as a Jedi. There was a small craving for closeness and touch that she had never really experienced before. Hugs had always been the best things to her, mostly for that fact.

"It's helping. The burn helps. I'll need to bandage it again when we're done, but otherwise I'm just going to try and heal properly. Maybe try some force techniques. If possible. I was never good at speedy healing." She confessed, rolling her arm again and then letting her hand drift in water.

[light_of_willpower]

"If it helps, I'm not either." Definitely not letting go of her hand anytime soon. Not if she wasn't going to.

Not much to say otherwise, and as usual--he didn't feel a need to fill that silence. It was comfortable--holding her hand, having her there with him. Mostly comfortable--Trunks was fairly sure he would not be getting decent sleep that night. Not because of nightmares though...

More than willing to just soak and be company for her, with her.

[neveraknight]

"It does help." She teased a bit, and settled, closing her eyes and sinking a bit in the water, so her nose was above water and her lekku floated a bit more again. Ten more minutes, maybe. She felt nice and warm. Like it all sank into her bones as if that were what she needed.

Silence was fine too. She didn't feel the need for long conversation. And she was comfortable with him there. She'd think about the way his hand felt in her hand later. How it felt fitting to her slender fingers. Strong and comfortable.

She would curl up in bed and knock out tonight as well. With good thoughts for a change. He might not get good sleep, but she was going to.