11-02-2015, 02:38 PM
Fennick, for all his faults, was the Valley’s captain and Demian’s right hand for a reason. That reason had nothing to do with his pretty face and lack of tact. Rather, he’d earned his place despite those things. Seeing as they were considerable obstacles to overcome, he must have been doing something right.
So, when Lagertha approached, looking like a demon warrior straight from hell, Fennick groaned inwardly but tried to keep the expression off his face. This was going to be fun. Still, he’d come to the conclusion that Anguisette was worth it. All this was really just a compliment, if you were in the mood to see it that way. He would hazard a guess and say that was not the mood Lagertha was in.
Still, Fennick tried to remember what he had to gain as he smiled broadly, and very insincerely, despite his best efforts. Next time he was just going to send Cress to talk to people. She was the head of diplomacy after all. Fennick would just handle the resulting challenge. And, from the way this was going, there was going to be a challenge. Fennick groaned inwardly again. Did nobody respect his need for paternity leave? No, apparently not. Lagertha growled at him, and Fennick noted that it was a very impressive growl. He tried to hide that appreciation as well and rolled his shoulders in a casual manner.
“Am I?” He looked down, as if the border he had crossed would appear at his feet. He looked back up and smiled, his tone very cheerful.
“Now, before we jump to conclusions, it should be noted that I don’t have to do anything, and that I’ve been lost for at least two miles. If it wasn’t so hot I’d swear I was in the Tundra.” He grinned again, wondering if bad jokes would defuse the tension or make it worse. His money was on the latter. Whoops.
The guest of honor, Anguisette, showed up before Fennick had time to do any further damage. He decided it would be better not to anger Lagertha by seeming any more enthusiastic than he already was. He nodded in greeting to the girl and kept his tone friendly, but politely so.
“Ah, the princess herself. A pleasure, Anguisette. I’m Fennick.” He let the conversation die for a moment, wondering how best to proceed. He was still contemplating when a sound behind him caught his attention. He turned around, expecting to see a jungle cat or something equally nefarious, when Hestia appeared instead. His jaw nearly hit the jungle floor. After a moment of bewildered staring, his brain reactivated and he smiled in greeting and returned her nudge. Soon, any day really, their child would be born. Fennick briefly had visions of that child being born in the Jungle. That would be less than ideal. He smiled at her, very sheepish, but with a tinge of excitement.
“I guess the cat is out of the bag. I was going to surprise you.” He gestured at Anguisette.
“I’m bringing our child a friend, you know, to play with. Don’t you think they’ll have fun? Our little boy or girl, Namaah and Anguisette?” Fennick smiled again, but he was beginning to see the flaws in this flawless plan. Perhaps Hestia’s idea of friendship didn’t involve kidnap and theft. He looked back at Anguisette and Lagertha and sighed, wondering again why interpersonal relationships were always so blasted difficult.
“Perhaps, there is a way we can make this more fun for you two.” He paused, choosing his words carefully.
“I’m not going to give up my claim, but I’m open to a concession, for the sake of good feelings all around.” There, again Fennick felt very smug. At this rate he was going to de a diplomat after all.
So, when Lagertha approached, looking like a demon warrior straight from hell, Fennick groaned inwardly but tried to keep the expression off his face. This was going to be fun. Still, he’d come to the conclusion that Anguisette was worth it. All this was really just a compliment, if you were in the mood to see it that way. He would hazard a guess and say that was not the mood Lagertha was in.
Still, Fennick tried to remember what he had to gain as he smiled broadly, and very insincerely, despite his best efforts. Next time he was just going to send Cress to talk to people. She was the head of diplomacy after all. Fennick would just handle the resulting challenge. And, from the way this was going, there was going to be a challenge. Fennick groaned inwardly again. Did nobody respect his need for paternity leave? No, apparently not. Lagertha growled at him, and Fennick noted that it was a very impressive growl. He tried to hide that appreciation as well and rolled his shoulders in a casual manner.
“Am I?” He looked down, as if the border he had crossed would appear at his feet. He looked back up and smiled, his tone very cheerful.
“Now, before we jump to conclusions, it should be noted that I don’t have to do anything, and that I’ve been lost for at least two miles. If it wasn’t so hot I’d swear I was in the Tundra.” He grinned again, wondering if bad jokes would defuse the tension or make it worse. His money was on the latter. Whoops.
The guest of honor, Anguisette, showed up before Fennick had time to do any further damage. He decided it would be better not to anger Lagertha by seeming any more enthusiastic than he already was. He nodded in greeting to the girl and kept his tone friendly, but politely so.
“Ah, the princess herself. A pleasure, Anguisette. I’m Fennick.” He let the conversation die for a moment, wondering how best to proceed. He was still contemplating when a sound behind him caught his attention. He turned around, expecting to see a jungle cat or something equally nefarious, when Hestia appeared instead. His jaw nearly hit the jungle floor. After a moment of bewildered staring, his brain reactivated and he smiled in greeting and returned her nudge. Soon, any day really, their child would be born. Fennick briefly had visions of that child being born in the Jungle. That would be less than ideal. He smiled at her, very sheepish, but with a tinge of excitement.
“I guess the cat is out of the bag. I was going to surprise you.” He gestured at Anguisette.
“I’m bringing our child a friend, you know, to play with. Don’t you think they’ll have fun? Our little boy or girl, Namaah and Anguisette?” Fennick smiled again, but he was beginning to see the flaws in this flawless plan. Perhaps Hestia’s idea of friendship didn’t involve kidnap and theft. He looked back at Anguisette and Lagertha and sighed, wondering again why interpersonal relationships were always so blasted difficult.
“Perhaps, there is a way we can make this more fun for you two.” He paused, choosing his words carefully.
“I’m not going to give up my claim, but I’m open to a concession, for the sake of good feelings all around.” There, again Fennick felt very smug. At this rate he was going to de a diplomat after all.