I just got back from my 12 hour drive from Battlemoor, which involuntarily began at 4 AM, so bear with me if it sounds like the rantings of a madman. I've been redlining on sleep for the last week. Also, this one is between me and you, DHS readers. Please don't spread it to the head of the CIA, as it's kind of personal.
I had three nights of work just before I left, so I had plenty of hours. Then I left and saw that my supervisors wanted me to do some bullshit petty corrections for them. Instead, I said fuck it and turned off the phone. I'd worked off the clock (which is illegal) for a day and a half between shifts. I needed to drink and fight to undo the damage that stress was doing to me. The drive was mellow, if long, and I ended up setting up my little pup tent alone in the dark. It was a mess, though it did eventually go together. Somehow I managed to get the tent poles wrong and the tent derped terribly, but it was temporary anyway. First night down.
The next morning I woke up and the rest of the barony was setting up around me, which was hilarious I had randomly chosen the exact site they were going to use, and I was camping with them. I went around and said hi to a bunch of folks. A couple of folks were mad at me, and let that be known, but there were far more people who were genuinely pleased to see me. And someone else being a dick to me doesn't necessarily reflect badly on me. Either way, I was friendly toward them regardless, as that DOES reflect me. And I hung out with Bran, getting munchies, because I thought I wasn't on the meal plan. And then I was and had a ton of extra food. Not the worst situation I'd been in. Also, Emma showed up and we were introduced by virtue of proximity. She was pretty awesome. Like, easily one of my top ten favorite people, and I've known her less than a week. Second night down.
The next morning I woke up and decided that, since the barony let me stay with them, despite having no obligation to, I had to fight on their behalf. And I armored up for melees. They only had a handful of fighters, and I think I might have been the only shield. Green team got steamrolled because no one was in charge. It was, for lack of a better word, pathetic. They were asking if we were ready, and our guys were still standing around bullshitting. We earned our asskicking. I got tackled, stomped, slammed, thrown, and actually pulled off a couple cool moves. But overall, it was a shitshow. Emma was there to fix my busted armor, tend to my many big-ass bruises, and we chatted over water and snacks. She encouraged me to fight in the consort tourney the following day (despite me lacking a consort), and I encouraged her to fight in the six foot spear tourney. I talked with Bran, and he encouraged me to ask her to be my consort, and I did. She seemed pleased. The party was fun, and I remember it, so it couldn't have been that bad. Third night down.
The woke up in pain. The melees had used all of my muscles way more than they were used to, and at such a high altitude. This also accompanied a massive beatdown, so I only did the tourney, which is weird, because I generally hate tourneys. Anyway, I fought, and Emma was there to help with straps and hydrating and glittery lip gloss, because my lips were chapped as hell. I beat ass at the tourney, considering my prior fighter practice had been about a year and a half ago. I first fought this little lady, who had the same skill level as myself. I basically cracked her defense open like a clam and shanked her in the face a couple times. She was pissed and wouldn't talk to me afterwards or when I saw her. Honestly, she needed to come for me when I was tired, which was often. Then I took on a glaive fighter, and I'm shocked I beat him, as he was really good. And then another glaive fighter, who beat me 2-1, so not too bad. I had one more loss until I was kicked out entirely, and I ended up fighting a knight, who had a gopro and beat my ass like it was his job. Afterwards, Emma tended some more wounds. At this point, she was growing on me like fungus on a sloth. Which was strange, because only a few days earlier, she was a stranger. And her soon-to-be knight was injured, so she tended to his wounds. She's just like that. I went to bed stupid early. Fourth night down.
The next night, I had no idea what was going on with her, as I was pretty enamored, but hadn't seen her that night, and I wondered if perhaps she reconsidered. It happens more often than you'd think. Either way, I figured I'd be mature about it. So I got ready for the spear tourney, because I had a goal. I suck with spears, but wanted to get good at grabbing other peoples' weapon hafts. We talked and I figured out that things hadn't changed, which was fine. And I DID grab weapon hafts left, right, and center. I died in every fight, and there were a few disappointing moments, but I had a weapon haft at least once each bout. I now have the confidence to do that more often. And afterwards, I did some slow work with Emma on dealing with shields, as she's apparently not too used to fighting them. She also got squired, which is a significant moment. But she's at about that point, and her knight is a great guy, so I was happy for her. When it was done, I had to fix my tent, and a wonderful gent named Andre held it down in a downpour so I could foolishly try and fix it. It did kind of work. Then Emma wanted me to hang out with her, and we hung out for the rest of the day.
Later that night, she packed down (even our cars were unwittingly hanging out in the parking lot). So we walked around the camps, hanging out with people a bit, but mostly enjoying each others company. And then we had a long talk, just us. I know it sounds stupid, because it's so early, but I really really like this girl. And it became apparent that she likes me back. Our conversation meandered all over and all-but got to the point where I asked her out. I didn't, but only because I didn't want the first month or so to be long distance. I want to do it in person. But, I think I was right. I had a talk with a friend, who kind of bragged about how he was sure he could hook up with her at the event, and after the first night, I told him that she was the kind you bring home, not to your tent. And through our conversations, it seemed that we have a lot of the same values and (most) opinions and history and desires (for relationships, anyway), though our personalities are totally different. And she grew up in the same podunk town my aunt and uncle live in in Colorado. Small world.
She amazes me. I feel like she would inspire me to want to carry my weight in a power couple. And that she would be able to do so on her own, naturally. And she expressed interest back. I want this. I purposely put it in such a situation that I have to get out there before making it happen. I'm going to defeat my own nature by tricking me into doing what I want me to do. Sounds trippy, but I know how I work, and what'll happen. I'm hacking my own mind. Also, she's the polar opposite of Lyndsie, and if I made it work with her (for a time) then I'm certain this one that comes so naturally would actually be a really good relationship. Like, one that could grow strong.
Anyway, my vision is clouding, and words are tumbling out. So, night all.
