[Closed]

[ready_to_bloom]

Date & Time: December 5, after returning from earth
Location: A VR room
Characters: Caspian and Kili
Summary: Two friends sharing drinks
Warnings: Drinking



[Caspian's sent a text to Kili, telling him to meet up at the VR room, which he's programmed to look like a pub. Caspian really hasn't spent much time in pubs, but he hopes it's something that will feel familiar to his friend.

He's got the drinks Ella gave him out on the table, as well as the gift of a pipe and pipeweed she created. Now all he needs is company.]

Comments

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili's a little late, caught up with his brother. But he arrives after a while, glancing around and smiling as he takes in the surroundings.]

Wow, this is nice.

[ready_to_bloom]

[Caspian grins at Kili, offering him a drink.]

It feels pretty real, doesn't it?

[kilimanjaro]

It does. [He takes the drink with a smile, wrapping both hands around it. He takes a long drink.] Cheers.

[ready_to_bloom]

[Caspian raises his glass and tries to think of an appropriate toast.] To no more zombies!

[Oh, right, he remembers the OTHER part, and pushes a wrapped package across the table to Kili. Early Christmas gift? Does Kili celebrate Christmas?] Here, one more thing.

[kilimanjaro]

Oh aye, I'll drink to that! [Kili laughs at that and drinks more.

His mirth fades to something more serious as Caspian nudges the package towards him. Surprised, he looks back at him.] What's this for?

[ready_to_bloom]

Well, it was something you said you were missing, so I thought... you would like it.

[Caspian does hope Kili will like it. He knows what it's like to miss the familiar things of home, and when Ella said she could create things, he thought it would ease that a bit for Kili.]

[kilimanjaro]

[Surprised and rather touched, Kili opens the packaging. His eyes widen and he looks back up at Caspian as he takes in the pipe.]

You...got this for me?

[It's...touching. He's not sure what to say.]

Thank you, I...thank you.

[ready_to_bloom]

[That's all he had to say! Caspian is quite pleased that Kili is happy.] You're welcome. Enjoy it.

[He takes a sip of ale, then changes the subject.] Are you planning to move down to the earth, now that we're free to do so?

[kilimanjaro]

[He smiles brightly, running his fingers over the pipe. It's nothing really special, but it'll do the trick and he's been dying for a good smoke.] I will. Thank you again.

[That makes him chuckle and he nods.] Oh aye. I've had enough of this place. And all that snow reminds me of home.

[ready_to_bloom]

[Caspian nods, rolling his eyes a bit, and the distaste is clear in his voice.] This place. Whoever thought living on the moon was a good idea? I don't care how much snow there is, it is a far sight better than here. [Zombies. He's never going to get over zombies on the moon.]

Oh, do you have that much snow in your world? We have snowy winters at home, but not quite so bad as down there. [A thoughtful pause.] At least not for a thousand years.

[kilimanjaro]

I agree. The moon isn't meant for living on.

[He smiles at that and nods a bit.] In Ered Luin -- er, the Blue Mountains in the Common Tongue -- the winters can be harsh. Snow everywhere, bitter cold. But it's home.

[ready_to_bloom]

Ered Luin. [Caspian repeats this carefully, trying to get the pronunciation right.] The Blue Mountains? That sounds like a lovely place.

So this is not that much of a change for you! Well, aside from all the other madness.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili can't help but smile at Caspian's repeating the name. It's strange to hear even just the two short words that his people gave the place on the tongue of another race, but Celebrian says it too sometimes and he's starting to get used to it.]

It's...beautiful. [He glances down, smiling softly.] Fili and I would go hunting in the woods, and Mother would make coats out of the skins we brought home. I spent my whole life there.

[Kili lets out a quiet sigh.] I miss it. It'll be nice to be back somewhere that feels sort of familiar.

[ready_to_bloom]

[He nods, because the look on Kili's face is something he understands.] I miss my home as well. I often hunted but ... my mother did make coats... [Well, his mother died when he was very young, so that's kind of awkward to talk about.]

We should hunt together when we get back down there! I've acquired a bow, and there is much to hunt, from what I've seen.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili's smile widens and he nods eagerly.] Aye, hunting with friends is always enjoyable.

[A pause, and he has to speak up again.] I did not know you had skill with a bow.

[ready_to_bloom]

I do! I was trained for years with it. I chose my sword as my weapon though - I think I am more skilled with it. Still, the bow is much better for hunting.

[kilimanjaro]

Aye. [Kili grins.] You should see my brother hunt. He can wield anything but a bow.

[ready_to_bloom]

What does he hunt with? A spear?

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili shrugs.] Anything and everything. He's a walking arsenal, my brother.

[ready_to_bloom]

A walking arsenal, hmm? [Caspian grins.] Sounds like someone I'd want on my side in a fight.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili nods and grins.] Oh aye. Fili's really something.

[ready_to_bloom]

And coming from a fighter like you, that is high praise. [Caspian doesn't forget how Kili fought against the zombies, even when injured.]

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili laughs.] Fili and I were trained from the moment we could hold a sword. We've just had lots of practice.

[ready_to_bloom]

I was trained too, when I was a child, but I didn't have any practical use until a few years ago.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili nods thoughtfully.]

Fili and I only ever put our blades to use in spars and such. And hunting. But now we actually have kills under our belts. It's a different experience, fighting for real.

[ready_to_bloom]

Oh yes, it is. I was trained by the generals in my uncle's army, to handle a sword, and I was considered very good at it. But when the time came for my first battle, despite all the training, I felt ill-prepared for what it was actually like.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili nods.]

Dwalin always made sure to make it seem as real as possible, but sparring with a friend and fighting for your life....it's different.

[ready_to_bloom]

Is Dwalin your uncle? [He knows Kili has mentioned an uncle before, but never by name.]

[kilimanjaro]

Oh! [Kili laughs, shaking his head.] No, no. I think he's my cousin, somewhere along the line. But he's close to our family and he's been friends with my uncle since they were small.