Faq the Cold, Let's Drink! [Open to all!]

[Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem]

He hated the winter. He hated it more and more. Every year he swore it would be his last, but with every new season his roots ran deeper into Scotland's soil. Maahes loved this land, he loved it's people, but he hated the winter. The snow made his boots cold, his hair seem like ice, and his shoulder heavier than they were before. Someday, he swore he would pack his children up and show them the land without snow.

"There hasn't been threat of war now for years," Maahes heard the men saying beneath their breath, their desire to return home as deep as his own, and finally the cold wet day gave in.

"Go on. We've done what we can here." He sighed with his eye on the tavern, knowing darn well where he was going to end up.

[Ainsley MacKinnon]

"Doesnae mean we cannae keep practicin'. Do nae be wantin' ta let ye skills go ta shyte."

The voice piped up from just off to the right of the men. Threat of war made one aware, but no threat didn't mean one could just drop their guard. Being aware was what kept one ready incase that threat appeared again. Ainsley was one of those people. She worked hard to keep the men under her trained with her alongside. War or not she'd be dead before allowing their skills to rust. No, it wasn't proper.

"Ah be noticin' tha' ye sword skill was a might... lackin', General." The words were teasing as she trotted toward the tavern. Black leather boots moved over the ground quietly, as though she were a ghost, and her hands were clasped behind back.

Ainsley had forgone a gown this day. Instead opting to wear a dark green tunic, the golden arrowhead and feathers dangled from about her neck, and a pair of brown trousers that gave her an earthy look. Brown hair was pulled back in a tight braid that hung down her back. How odd it was to have been Captain for this passage of time, but she was pleased by it. Even more pleasing was the fact that her birthday was in only a couple days. Eighteen soon. Glorious time that would be. Her family would be coming to visit for the week.

Approaching the door before the General could she pushed it open with a grin,"After ye, m'lady. Might Ah buy ye an ale?"

She was still the sweet girl she'd always been, but Ainsley knew that since becoming an archer she'd grown quite a bit. Changing in small ways. Ones that might not make her Mother pleased, but that made her happier.

[Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem]

"You are asking for bruisen, cruisen for it." He was never very good at these sorts of jokes. The puns were often never in his favor, and despite his years of English now some things just would forever sound strange on the tips of his tongue.

"You even open the door..." He commented, before narrowing his eyes, and realized that perhaps his time with Miss Ainsley was at an end. Did she not wish a proper life? One a woman should have. She wore pants, she fought with the men, and now....spit jokes at him as if she had a set of bojangles between her legs.

"You are funny woman. And still a woman." He moved to take the door from her, his arms length much longer, and taller. Maahes didn't open the door, even for his wife, so this was a big step. In his homelands women didn't enter anything before the men. Even the children would be forced to wait outside in the rain if it meant the men could eat first, but these were different lands--and different times.

"Order what you want, and we'll see who gets under the tables first." The General gave a pat to his stomach, that was.....expanding to say the least. His years of being brute force without the added weight of married life was long since over.

"Then you tell me about the boy you been kissing on. And we'll see how well Brin takes it when he returns for your hand."

[Ainsley MacKinnon]

"Och, ye could nae bruise me over much. Jus' an old bear with a growin' belly. Need ta be workin' off all tha' padding ye built up hibernating." Ainsley grinned wider at Maahes and pointed to his stomach with one finger. "Will slow ye down even more in battle."

A good natured laugh came from parted lips as Ainsley allowed him to take the door, swooping inside under his arm, and gave a shake of her head. There were times that the young woman envied others of her gender. When they had the happiness, or in most cases acceptance, that could be found in marriage and children. It would make life that much more easier when it came to her own Mother yet that wasn't her cup of tea. The quiet life with stained apron that hid a swollen belly and bare feet as she called for other little ones to wash up for dinner was not meant for Ainsley MacKinnon. Or if it was she didn't want it. To have her feathers clipped and become a wingless bird in a cage? It would be torture. Did she desire children? A husband? Perhaps some day, but only if that husband could be accepting of her chosen career path for she would not leave it.

"Kissin'? What boy be this exactly?" One fine brow lifted above inquisitive eyes filled with all the fire that roared in her blood. She was a MacKinnon, a clan woman, and a Scottish lass no less. It wasn't only the men that carried the flame. In some cases the torch of the women was far scarier than that of the men, and while she might dress in what they called mens' garb, Ainsley was very much a woman. "Ah don't be kissin' boys, General. Least ways nae in front of eyes tha' can be speaking of it with their tongues."

Ainsley didn't abide by gossip nor desire to be apart of it. In fact, she would slap the gall out of anyone who dared to be opening their hole about her. Especially when it came to her love life, or lack thereof really. She was a good girl, mayhap partaking in the occasional kiss or petting, but that didn't mean those boys didn't try to overstep themselves. Of course, they knew to keep their mouths shut.

Taking a seat at a table, she held up a hand and signaled over a bar maid,"Two of yer finest ale." Once the woman was off she turned to eye the General,"Brin returnin' for mah hand? Hah. Not likely. How be doing good ol' Ya'ave? He's been off on business for quite awhile."

The bar maid returned only moments later with their ale. Slipping coin toward the woman from a small pouch in a hidden pocket Ainsley picked up her own and drew from it heartily. Oh, and she'd also learned to drink like a man. Though she'd put a few under the table herself.

[Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem]

A small series of sounds left the General that sounded half like a muffled mutter, and a bit of muted laughter. He was getting old, or older truly. But mostly he was growing tired.

"Don't know how much you know about me, MacKinnon, but a little padding is long over due. I'm looking to retire soon, settle in my valley, and spend my days with my children. I'll be looking for a replacement, someone I can appoint that all will approve of. Be the first of this nation to be able to do that. They all die so fast." He rolled his shoulders, and the sounds that escaped his tired broken bones was horrifying. Every scar in the lantern light made him seem like a tiger seated beside her. The one over his eye so deep it had nearly cost him his eyesight, but the long whip lashes over the back of his neck--his life.

"I've not heard from Ya'ave since they departed. I've sent missives now every month. It's rumored the ship never made it, and come Spring if I have still not heard back. I will consider them lost." He looked to Ainsley then, the little round faced girl from before having nearly all since become lost as she turned into a woman. A strong beautiful woman that any man would be lucky to call his own, but Maahes had to wonder.

"This," he started leaning back in his chair, the massive frame of the Beast making the wood cry out beneath him, "Hearing this, you might move on? Find you a husband?" It was all he worried about, like a good father should, but he often had to remind himself that she wasn't without parents.

"Children?"

[Ainsley MacKinnon]

"Well, General, when ye retire Ah wish ye happiness. Ah can nae say tha' Ah know e'erything about ye. Just what Ah've been witness ta or 'ave heard from others about ye. Tales carry through far off lands."

Ainsley had heard much of the General long before having even been brought to enlist by her Father. His skill, bravery, and prowess were practically legend. Many aspired to fight with him or become him. Though not a soul would begrudge the man the peace of retiring. He'd fought hard, and long, and won Skye much peace for a long time. In that time he'd still trained others to protect this land in his stead. Listening to the General's words about Ya'ave she nodded slowly then took a long pull of ale.

"Then 'ere's ta hoping tha' ye here from them." She raised her glass in a silent toast, a silent prayer, that Ya'ave and his men would return safely. That they would be heard from soon. Ainsley couldn't imagine where she'd be if not for the advice and support of the former Captain. There were days when she glanced around for his smile or imagined hearing his laugh. Then drank from it.

Coughing, nearly choking on some ale, she took a moment to catch her breath. Maahes had quite the way of throwing someone off or broaching topics bluntly. "Och, Ah remember speaking of this once before with ye. Ah be knowin' it was some time ago. Just Ah do nae think mah opinion has changed. Mah husband would 'ave ta be acceptin' of mah position, and nae many are. Ye be accepting of yer wife goin' ta war? In ta battle when knowing tha' death may be inevitable?" Even though women were allowed to do alot more in Skye, and was pretty progressive in many ways, it didn't mean all thought that way.

"As far as children, Ah really only be one mahself. Ah don't be thinkin' Ah'm ready." Ainsley honestly couldn't say whether that was in her cards even in the future. All that she knew was that her goal was to make her mark here in Skye's military. She'd worked hard to get this far, disobeyed her own Mother, and couldn't imagine just giving it over. "Plus Ah do nae be comfortable with tha' thought of leavin' wee babes behind with nae a soul ta look after them. If Ah should ever go ta war tha' would be a concern, but at the same time Ah'd feel guilty for nae doin' mah duty as a soldier for mah country, and those that be needin' protecting."

Maturity was conveyed in the words along with a sense of wisdom. All that she understood was what she felt in her heart. Love, family. . . it was wonderful, but not a life she was ready to be considering for herself.