TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A
It's early, too early, but the man knows they'd have to get an early start to the day if they planned to get to their destination for the day. Night wasn't the time most people wanted to be driving, but especially when the roads were covered in Infected during the night, it made sense to limit most traveling to the daytime only. It's gotten warm enough within the past few weeks that Étienne finally got to sleep in nothing but his underwear again, no longer cold from the brutal winter nights. Yet a chill still sets across his skin as he throws the covers back, and a small grunt of complaint draws his attention to the massive wolfdog splayed across his bed.
Glasgow is still sleeping, if evident by the way his legs twitch occasionally — chasing a rabbit? A soft, sincere smile spreads across the Boss's face as he leans over to give the animal a good pat, before he stands up and gets dressed for the day. He dresses light, stuffing extra clothing into the pack that he slings lazily across his shoulders once he's done. By the time he's ready to head outside of the shipping container he called home, Glasgow was already awake and bouncing around near the entrance.
“Not today, I'm afraid,” he tells the wolfdog with a heavy heart, giving him another pat before he leaves his 'apartment', closing the door behind him much to the reluctance of the beast. Glasgow didn't like being locked up — and Étienne, likewise, didn't like leaving him locked up — but when he wasn't in the camp to watch him, there was just too much potential for havoc which he would then be informed of by his advisors and— It was a whole thing. The man pinched the bridge of his nose between fingers as he thought of it, but quickly shook the thought away and began to make his way down the rickety scaffolding that served as the pathway between 'apartments', his destination clear.
It didn't take him long to get to Ares's home — stopped only a couple times to be greeted by Eclipse members — and when he finally did, Étienne cast a long gaze over the doors before deciding to grab the comms device from his pack. He texts the younger man that he was waiting, rather than choosing to knock and potential disturb those still sleeping.
QuotePosted 05-07-2021, 10:28 AMThis post was last modified: 05-07-2021, 10:29 AM by Étienne Blanchard
Ares would have liked to say that he was not up that night, unable to sleep because of his racing mind and pulsing heart. That the pad of his index finger had not ghosted the words that flashed on his comm screen, a message flashing in his forest green eyes from one "Ettie". That he roused at slumbering Bandit to twirl the cat about the room, squealing in excitement over a seemingly innocuous private outing with the beloved boss of the Eclipse.
However, he would be lying to himself if he did.
His sleeping quarters were near the center of the Junkyard. One of the first to be erected, its age shown in weather-stained wood-and-metal walls. Despite this, it was on the smaller side. Two beds were present, one shoved in each corner far from the door. When Ares arose, he cast his eyes to the empty bed in front of him, sheets folded so neatly and unperturbed, it was eerie.
His heart would sink each morning he woke and found that bed hauntingly clean. Tabitha often rose earlier than Ares, but she never bothered to make her bed. The signs of life that tinged the room fell silent, weeping for her absence.
Though today, tonight rather, was different, thanks to a harmless little text that the other party must not have thought significant. He expected a rapt on the door, and the first thing he did was slip into his clothing and shoulder on his weapon holsters and ammunition. The looter had not slept what little hours the night could afford, and even as the stillness of dusk gave way to the screech of bats and song of cicadas, he had fidgeted around the room for hours.
Ettie's arrival came not with a knock but with a comm ping. Instantly, as if he had expected it every second in the past three hours he was awake, he dove for the comm and texted out "be out in a sec". Yet, as his finger hovered offer the "send" button, he hesitated. He feared he would seem too desperate, too evident of the effect that a mere text from Ettie had on him. So he sent the message, but waited a lengthier time than was perhaps unquestionable. Mussed up the hair he had spent a good twenty minutes gelling and combing into place. Untucked his shirt from his cargo pants. Told Bandit in a fierce, hushed voice, "Don't say anything."
He opened the door and feigned a yawn as if he had just rose from bed, stretching his arms above his head and rubbing his eye wearily. His other green eye was set on Ettie, though it was hard to keep the excitement from bleeding into his voice.
"'Sup." He said, as cool and casually as he could muster. Yet his eyes glimmered, characteristically non-lethargic, and he grinned cheekily, "Never thought I'd see you up this early."
TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A
As Étienne settles back for a wait — he isn't confident Ares is already awake and waiting — he grabs a cigarette from his pocket and lights it up with his lighter. The smoke drifts lazily into the air as he takes a drag, letting the nicotine soak into his lungs and fuel him for what will potentially be a long day. A familiar ding from his comms device alerts him to a new message, and he tucks the cigarette between two fingers as he glances down at the screen. Be out in a sec... Good, so that meant he wouldn't have to wait as long as he initially thought.
While he waits, taking the occasional huff of his cigarette, Étienne's eyes wander over the rest of the Eclipse base as it slowly awakens and buzzes with life. He wasn't normally awake at this time, and it was interesting to see how most people started their day. The telltale squeak of the shipping container being opened hits his ears and he instinctively takes a step back — as much as the scaffolding allowed him to, at least — to avoid being hit by the door. He's immediately greeted by a sleepy expression, which morphs into a cheeky smile as the younger man greets him.
“Ah, right,” he comments offhand, pulling out a small case that he stubs out the cigarette inside before putting it back in his pocket, “you're used to seeing me mostly at night, aren't you?” The suggestion is there in his words, exaggerated by the leering grin he throws Ares, knowing full well the implication of his words. He finds it fun to tease Ares, never growing bored of the red flush he can draw out with just a few, simple words.
“Are you ready to go? It'll be a long day, so I suggest packing a few things to keep you going throughout the day,” he continues, already itching for yet another cigarette — but for the moment he resists the urge. There'll be plenty of time later once they hit the open road.
The comment got its desired effect. Pink dusted his cheeks, and he casted his eyes downward, taking a sudden interest in Ettie's boots, to try and hide the fact. He could feel the other's salacious grin on him and wondered if he could hear Ares' heart beating rapidly in his chest.
Glad at the change in topic, and an excuse to let the heat drain from his face out of his boss' piercing gaze, Ares disappeared from the doorframe for a just a moment, before he reappeared hoisting a backpack over his arm. It clanged and rustled, filled with typical looter supplies- dried, packed foodstuffs, a bottle of water, extra ammunition, a first aid kit, bandages, rags, a makeshift tarp amongst other necessities.
"Already taken care of, boss!" he exclaimed and proudly shouldered the pack on. Should an impressed or surprised look shadow Ettie's face, the looter would scoff and point a finger up skyward a-matter-of-factly, "Eclipse rule numero uno - always be prepared.". His own urges tempted him towards a smoke. What started as mimicry, borne from ideation, began an unhealthy habit for the youth, one he had not been able to shake off, nor intended to so long as Etienne Blanchard ran through a pack as quick a rifle's magazine.
The excitement of the foretold day was enough to curb that oral desire. He pushed passed Ettie, already jogging towards the garage. Whatever facade of weariness or indifference was gone, replaced by Ares' puerile anticipation. He turned to face Ettie, waving at him as he jogged backwards towards the compound. "C'mon! The cars not gonna start itself!"
TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A
There it is. The familiar blush dusting across nicely toned skin. It draws a darker smile out of Étienne, one that he doesn't even attempt to hide. He watches as Ares darts back inside inside his room, and the Boss settles back against the railing at his backside, assuming that he must have gone to get whatever he had packed for the day — or perhaps he had forgot, and was quickly rushing to pack now.
It's a pleasant surprise when Ares returns rather quickly, a loaded pack slung across his shoulder. Étienne raises an eyebrow in amusement at the younger man's words, and then chuckles as Ares explains himself further. It had been a while since they had last gone out together, and Étienne forgot how infectious Ares's attitude was. It really was a breath of fresh air to hang around someone that he had much more in common with — not like those stuffy advisors that nitpicked every decision he made.
“I taught you well,” he laughs, cocking his head slightly as the grin remains on his lips. While he had never been a direct mentor for the young man, it had been more than obvious over the years just how much Ares had picked up on his own mannerisms.
Now that they were both prepared for the journey ahead, Étienne adjusts the pack slung over his shoulder before he turns to head towards the garages. A grunt of surprise leaves him as Ares suddenly shoves past him, apparently intent on reaching the garages ahead of Étienne. It's a challenge, subtle, but there nonetheless and the Boss of Eclipse immediately picks up the pace, goaded on by the younger man whipping around taunting him.
Heh. Étienne wasn't so old he was about to lose this race.
“First one to the car gets to drive,” he informs Ares as he catches up to him, a sly smirk on his face — then he quickly reaches sideways and ruffles Ares's hair in a teasing manner, hoping to distract him before he takes off running himself in the direction of the garages.
His grin stretched wider as Ettie caught up to him. Ares had a plan- as soon as Ettie was an arm's and length away, he would turn heel and bolt, relying on his natural speed and trained endurance to carry him swiftly -and victoriously- to the garage. The offer of him getting to drive made his legs itch to run all the more quick, as whenever he and Ettie would go on patrols and missions the elder was given the privilege of the wheel.
Those plans were dashed to rubble when Ettie unexpectedly, intently, reached forward and ruffled Ares' hair with purposeful fingers. Ares froze, and memories flooded over him - those same fingers, pulling and teasing his brown locks as pleasure washes over him, overwhelming, suffocating and beautiful. That feeling tugging in his lower stomach, begging for release. When he could shake that vision from his head, he realized with horror that the other had made it nearly halfway towards the compound. Ares cursed quietly, shook his head as if to shake off those intrusive thoughts, and leapt into a sprint.
No matter how loud his heart pulsed in his ears, and how rapid the beat of his feet on the junk-littered dirt, Etienne was cozily settled in the garage long before Ares arrived. To his surprise, the looter was hunched over, hands on his thighs, trying to catch his breath in the cool of the garage. Odd. That never happened, for Ares was indefatigable.
He straightened and stretch himself, while displeased green eyes settled on Ettie. "Not cool," the other bit at him. But bad feelings tended to disperse easily from the frivolous youth and within seconds his eyes widened and his mouth stretched into a grin as his eyes drifted to the vehicle they were to take. He rubbed the hood of it with light, perplexed fingers.
"Wow..." Ares breathed. He flashed Ettie a toothy smile. "Boss Blanchard got an upgrade."
TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A
His plan to rattle the younger man is successful, and he takes off when he notices Ares's speed noticeably slack as deft fingers sweep through his brown hair. The grin on his face is evident, as well as the chuckle that escapes him when he confirms his victory over the other man. It's cheating perhaps, he knows what seemingly innocent actions does to the lovestruck puppy, but Étienne never said he didn't play dirty.
He gets to the garage a fair distance away from Ares, and he turns around so that he can lean back against the vehicle with his arms crossed over his chest, a languid yet cocky pose that he adopts. The arrogant grin doesn't slip from his lips, cool grey-blue eyes trained to Ares's rapidly approaching figure. His expression wavers only momentarily when he sees the younger man hunch over to catch his breath. One lone eyebrow raises questioningly, but disappears almost immediately at the soft grumble of complaint from the other man. He never agreed to play fair.
“Looks like we'll need to work on your stamina,” he hums thoughtfully, ignoring the way his own heart pounded in his throat — he wasn't out of shape by any means, but it was still early and his body had yet to catch up with the time of day.
“Clearly I'm not giving you enough of a work out.” There it is again. Seemingly innocent words dripping in lascivious meaning, his gaze and grin now dark. Sometimes it was just too fun to tease the other man... Especially when Étienne spent the majority of his time with his advisors who all seemed to have sticks up their asses. He could never play along with them in the same way he could Ares, and he took advantage of that.
Étienne finally uncrosses his arms as Ares takes in the vehicle they were taking, and the enthusiasm the young man has is infectious.
“Indeed,” he laughs and pats the vehicle's hood, enjoying the way Ares called him Boss Blanchard. “Jeep Wrangler, found last week in surprisingly great condition. The Blazing Suns have been hard at work this past week getting it into peak condition, and I figured it would be a good idea for us to give it a test drive.” He stops and considers something for a moment with a cocked head, before he suddenly digs into his pocket for the keys and suddenly throws them Ares's way.
“You know what, kid, I'll let you have the honours of trying her out first,” he chuckles, deciding to give the young looter the win after all.
"Clearly, I'm not giving you enough of a workout".
"Not true, Boss!" the youth protested adamantly, crossing his arms. "Just last week, I brought the most back from my raids. Just ask Deb-"
A blushed colored his cheeks, for the innuendo clicked and the salacious drawl of Ettie's voice, the deep, reverberating timbre pulled at something in Ares' gut. He laughed hesitantly and ducked his head to scratch at something on Jeep, as if he had found something suddenly interesting in the fine layer of fresh paint.
Eyes widened, instinct caught the keys launched at him. His mouth hung open, quite in disbelief as the keys that materialized in front of him. His eyes searched the other, as if trying to detect if it were some cruel, Etienne-branded joke or not, and the keys would be snatched or dissolved as quickly as they appeared in his grasp.
No, he was very much serious.
White teeth flashed as green eyes lit up, and he jumped to poise his other hand eagerly on the door handle of the driver's seat. "Wow, Boss! Thanks!" His eyelid flashed in a wink that was, in comparison to other, innocuous. "I won't let cha down."
He hastily threw the door open and slid into the driver's seat, regard for the maintaining the shining exterior and well-groomed interior lost in his excitement. The keys were grasped in his hand, momentarily forgotten, as tender fingers brushed the arc of the steering wheel. In his glimmering eyes reflected the dashboard of the car, an eclectic collection of buttons and screens that flashed to life as Ares stuck the key in the ignition.
It purred under his grasp. He rubbed the wheel, amazed at how hushed it felt under-seat, where the rust buckets that were delegated to him on occasion groaned and stuttered like they were about to fall apart.
When he heard the door shut beside him, and Ettie settle himself into the seat, Ares narrowed his thoughts to the systematic process of driving. The youth was a learned driver, though his movements in starting and driving the car were far from fluid and expert. He hit one of the blazing sun engineers over as he accelerated out of the garage, far from an easy and careful start. Ares looked back and waved at the disgruntled Eclipse, sopor dark under their eyes, and shouted,
"Sorry, Statham! Important business, can't wait!".
The expletives yelled back were drowned out by the rumble of the engine and the sound of the Jeep rocking as they ran over bits of scraps. Ares could only laugh loudly, like the power of a god were at his fingertips.
TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A
The flood of emotions that earnestly display across Ares's face — embarrassment, shock, and then best of all excitement — is a kaleidoscope of entertainment for the Eclipse Boss, and he can't help the chuckle that leaves him at how excited the younger man was to, for the first time, be given the honours of driving. It went without saying that when they normally went out on a mission, he was the one to drive.
But it didn't hurt his ego any to let the younger man have the chance for once, especially when testing out a new vehicle they fixed up. It wasn't like Étienne would be the only one to drive it — most Eclipse vehicles being available for use by anyone — and so a trial run with someone that wasn't as skilled a driver as him would be worthwhile.
The jeep purrs to life as he opens the passenger's side door, throwing his pack in the backseat before grabbing the handle at the top of the door opening and pulling himself inside. He buckles himself into the chair, combing fingers throwing his hair before he prepares himself to talk Ares through exiting the garage — but before he gets a chance to say anything, the metal beast roars to life and lurches forward.
He immediately regrets giving Ares the keys so early.
A hand instinctively grabs the door handle next to him and Étienne lets out a swear as the jeep lurches forward again, a bumpy ride for the occupants as well as whatever unlucky soul was just hit on their awkward exit from the garage. Étienne turns around to see who the poor Eclipse member was that they hit, but Ares's laughter draws his attention back to the driver. He's about ready to ask the younger man who taught him to drive in a snarky tone — but remembers at the last second that was most likely him.
“Wheeler, the whole point of driving is to ensure you don't hit things—” he reaches over and yanks the steering wheel sideways so that they avoid a large scrap of metal at the last minute, “and not kill anyone in the process.” His voice is stern, but there's a bit of amusement mixed in as well.
“Try not to hit the gate on your way out,” he sighs as he lets go over the steering wheel, giving the young man free reign again. He's not angry — Ares's excitement was certainly infectious, and it keeps the mood light between them, even if he's slightly worried now.
Ettie grabbed the wheel and Ares incessantly waved him off, insisting, "I've got it, i've got it!". He just got the keys and barely had a chance to prove himself!
He, in fact, did not get it and nearly ran another Eclipse over. The Jeep jerked and swayed, though miraculously Ares was able to weave them through the gate, which opened just barely in the knick of time. He could feel the heads behind them shaking in disapproval, but cared little about it once they were rolling along the makeshift dirt road. The moonlight settled in above them and Ares, who had gotten a better handle on the wheel, was able to steady themselves to a smooth, straight ride.
Ares relaxed back in his seat, exhaling as he had momentarily forgotten to breathe in the panic. He grinned and flashed his eyes over to Ettie to state, "Well. That wasn't so bad, was it?".
The sound of their ties crunching rocks beneath them and the purr of the engine sounded afterwards, in a comfortable silence that filled Ares with a calm that rarely came is such a perilous space. He felt safe enough to lean back and rest an elbow on the seat divider whilst steering from the top of the wheel with his other hand, green eyes focused on the trail beneath them.
"So, what're we expecting this time? Biters, rabids, spitters?", rattling off his informal names for the more officially known Infected. Ettie might have clued into the meanings, though Ares changed and switched terms frequently, as he himself was not certain on his own diction. He nudged Ettie suggestively in the side with an elbow. "Maybe we'll even see one of those Reapers."
For a moment he regrets giving Ares the keys in the first place, but once they finally manage to roll outside the gates of Eclipse, the chaos from inside calms down and they're on their way. Étienne doesn't even realize how hard he's holding onto the door until Ares suddenly speaks to him and grounds his thoughts. The Boss pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation before combing his hair with his fingers, releasing his other hand from its death grip on the door. He lets out a small huff of laughter.
“Well, you didn't kill anyone,” he replies with a statement, not confirming that it had necessarily been good either. Of course it was good Ares hadn't hit anyone, but he had just about sent the jeep back in for repairs, right before they were about to be on their way.
At least now that they were on the road — with nothing immediately in their vicinity that Ares could run over and maim — Étienne forces himself to relax, and leans back to fish a pair of sunglasses out of his pack. With it being so early still, the sun was low in the sky and bothering his eyes that were so used to night missions. He pulls out a couple bottles of water as well, sticking both into the cup holders between the two of them. Sitting back in his seat again, he turns his gaze questioningly towards Ares as the younger man suddenly begins to list off his unofficial terms for the Infected.
While Étienne was never quite sure what Ares was talking about exactly, he knew him enough to get a good idea of what he was talking about at least. He laughs when Ares nudges him and comments about seeing a Reaper — at least Ares was still young enough to be in good spirits about encountering Infected. Étienne, while he enjoyed the thrill of a good fight with them, was jaded enough to know they were never a good thing to run into.
“If we're lucky,” he emphasizes the word as he puts on the sunglasses, “we won't run into any infected at all. Besides, it's still morning and they tend to hide out until it's dark.” He glances out his passenger window; it was bright out for now at least, but he was expecting the mission to take the better part of the day. Perhaps they'd see some infected after all.
“You wouldn't be able to outrun them anyway, with that stamina you showed me earlier,” he laughs as he looks at Ares, teasing the younger man once again for losing their impromptu race. “How's your shooting? You been practicing any without me?”
Ettie was always there to ground him. Despite the small huff of disappointment and the tight frown on his face, Ares knew raids always went better when there were less Infected crawling about. On the contrary to Ares' hopes, smart looters knew the less predators, the better. Less chance of being bitten, more of a chance of finding useful items for the compound.
And less of a chance of having a super rad story to tell.
Ares poked about the controls for the A/C. The grass was still dewy and the morning pleasant, though the early rays of the sun foretold another hot day. He probably should have asked Ettie about the controls, but the A/C dial was self-explanatory and soon a steady stream of cool air hummed at him.
A guilty look flashed over his face and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well... Jacqueline offered me lessons on how to shoot. Military style. How could I say no?"
Ettie had taught the youth most everything he knew. That's not to say he was not the only adult barking instructions at him- though he was the only person Ares was willing to listen to. That was until Jacqueline became an unexpected confidant on his clandestine mission to find his mother.
"She's really good, Ettie! She shot a bottle from, like, twelve feet away. Without looking!" Ares shrugged a shoulder. "I was hoping that, y'know, she would teach me how to be more... 'patient'."
Patience. That was a word Ares heard a lot in his training. "You have a lot of potential kid, but you're too damn hasty. Take time to aim a little more. Be patient.." He was not sure who said those words. After a while, his tutors all started to blend together, as they enforced the same, tired advice. Think More. Aim more. Talk less. Advice that Ares thought stupid until very recently.
A shy smile drew on his face as he admitted, "Though, it's not as fun as shooting with you.." TagÉtienne Blanchard
QuotePosted 06-08-2021, 01:41 PMThis post was last modified: 06-08-2021, 01:46 PM by Ares Wheeler
TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A
Étienne doesn't miss the flash of disappointed that filters over Ares's face, and he grins in response, even if he decides not to bring it up. He still remembered when he was the younger man's age — young, arrogant, and rather obnoxious in the way he threw himself head first into danger whenever he had the opportunity to. Anything to feel adrenaline, to feel alive. The past decade of being within Eclipse has taught him how to be smarter about things, all for the idea of self-preservation. That wasn't to say that he didn't still do stupid things all the time — that's why he constantly had advisors up his ass about his latest adventure.
Besides, it was no secret he often let himself get more carried away than normal when with Ares. They brought out the worst — er, best — in one another. Étienne nods and lets out a little hum of thought as their conversation moves on to Ares getting shooting lessons from Jacqueline. He laughs as the young man continues, bragging about how well the ex-Military woman was at shooting. Étienne considered himself a pretty good marksman — he often took a test run of new firearms procured by Eclipse to determine if they were worth saving or scraping — but there was nothing like Military-style training.
The bastards had spent nearly a century fighting the Infected, after all.
“Jacqueline certainly is something else,” Étienne muses softly with a grin on his face, thinking fondly of the woman. He had a rather good relationship with her, considering their shared fascination of automechanics. “I certainly recommend picking up as many tips from her as possible, it's always worth knowing more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. Eclipse and the Military both have their pros and cons in the way they fight,” he continued on. Étienne himself had only really learned shooting after he had joined Eclipse, although all members of the organization shared tips.
Blue-grey eyes turn to face Ares as the young man admits how it still wasn't as fun as it was shooting with Étienne, and the Boss lets a wry grin spread across his face, eyes hooding ever so slightly in thought as an idea springs to mind. Immediately he knows it'll be right up Ares's alley.
“Tell you what. Should we get there and it's crawling with Infected, lets you and I have a little competition. Really test out those new techniques you've been learning from Jacqueline,” he begins, a small laugh in his words. “Whichever of us takes out the most Infected, wins. Double points for clean headshots. If you win—” Étienne's gaze darkens slightly, a drop in his tone as something more lascivious is hinted at in his words now, “I'll do whatever you want me to do. And If I win...”
He lets out a hot laugh, a promise in his words now— “Well, I'll think of something fun to have you do.”
Ares knew little of the one's that came before. Mom was always quiet about it, whether it was a lack of knowledge or something she did not want her son to know. The only other thing he knew of them, other than that they lived far and wide in the ruins sprawled out across the vast, unknown world, was that they liked to play games on little devices. He had snagged one in one of his patrols, a boxed mechanism with faded renditions of still-colorful figures on the side. The screen, which took up about a fourth of the box's front surface, was caked in dirt and the buttons, which took up the rest of the front surface, were sticky with what looked sap. A little fixing up with tools from the garage, however, left him a solar powered, working gaming system.
This is what it sounded like, spilling suggestively from Ettie's lips. A video game, where the highest score won. Ares returned the wry smile, eyebrows moving in such a way that suggested brazen interest in the idea. Ettie was a wizard, able to weave his words to seduce and entrance the young man.
"Are ya sure, Boss? Jacqueline's a pret-ty good teacher." He momentarily lifted one of his hands from the steering wheel to stroke the pistol at his side, resting in his gun belt. A breath of air escaped his nostrils, and he took a quick look from the hilly terrain to flash eyes too playfully arrogant for their own good. "You're going to regret that challenge once you're lending me this bad boy whenever I want."
The vehicle slowed as they neared their destination. Ares, with a fresh flood of excitement, tapped the steering wheel anxiously, eager to get on with their "game". His expression had turned, once puerile and jovial, now drawn in focus as he wanted so desperately to win.
"Alright. Clean headshots, double points." The car had not stopped yet before Ares had the grip in his hand. "Prepare to eat lead, zombies."
TAGAres Wheeler NOTES N/A “Are you suggesting I'm not as good a shot as Jacqueline? You hurt me,” Étienne comments playfully, as though insulted by the idea that Ares considered the woman to be a much better teacher than him. In truth, he knew of course that a lifetime of Military training would set someone up to have a much better skill-set than someone like him, that grew up for most of their life in the Inner Citadel. Still, he considered himself a fast learner, and on par with a lot of the best marksmen in Eclipse. There was a reason he trusted himself to teach Ares properly.
He sees the playful glance Ares throws him as the younger man 'threatens' him with the idea that he planned to win — and choose being able to take out the new vehicle whenever he wanted. Although Étienne remains silent, a sly grin spreads across his gaze as he turns his gaze back out the front of the car. Is that really what you'd ask for as a prize? he questions internally, even if he doesn't verbalize the question. Maybe he just had too dirty of a mind as he already planned out exactly what he'd have Ares do if he won — and it certainly wasn't anything that could be done publicly.
They draw near to their destination, and the Boss can see Ares is practically bouncing in his seat, clearly eager to begin their little competition. He laughs at Ares's threat, but promptly places a hand on the younger man's shoulder, pinning him to the seat in case he planned to dash out as soon as they were parked. Clearly he forgot the point of the mission.
“Easy there, kid. Did you forget why we're here?” He grins, but his gaze is serious as he turns it towards Ares. “The whole point is to try and get in, get the supplies, and get out without alerting any Infected.” Much as Étienne was the type to go in to situations, often without thinking them over first, he was still very aware of the threat that Infected posed — especially when they didn't know if there was a nest nearby or not. And nests spelled trouble: Reapers. Not to mention...
Étienne was much more cautious when he had someone accompanying him. His own life was often put on the line when on his own, but it was much different when the possibility of someone else getting hurt was there.
“Try to be quiet, first — but if we do encounter Infected, then yes, consider them as good as dead... Taken out by me, of course,” he winks as he teases Ares, squeezing the young man's shoulder.
Posted 05-07-2021, 10:28 AM
This post was last modified: 05-07-2021, 10:29 AM by Étienne Blanchard
I'm No Hero
