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The little dragon had a big old shopping cart that he was trying to take towards the summer holdings, but damn if the poor soil conditions weren't making that quite a pothole-filled experiences. Boxes, large boxes, were on top of the cart, some nearly as large as Drake himself, which seemed to annoy him more on his way to find Gallowglass.
Gallowglass is waiting at the entrance to the hollow; his brows slowly rise as he takes stock of what, exactly, is coming towards him. "Oh boy," he murmurs, hopping to his feet to go and help Drake. "Where did you find a shopping cart?" His tone is affectionately amused as he moves to lift the cart, simply carrying it like an ice chest.
Drake let out a huff before shaking his head. "I took it. It was in the middle of the street like it had been abandoned. One of the wheels was locked, but that was an easy fix."
"I see," he laughs, leading Drake back across the campground and to his cabin. "We might hafta leave th'cart just outside th'door."
"That's fine. I had two presents for you."
"Presents!" His brows lift again, giving Drake the side-eye. "...If one of these boxes is a vinyl maid suit, Drake, I swear.."
"We decided on the butler one, remember? With the cuffs, bow tie, and pants that are only connected by buttons." The stripper outfit.
He gives Drake a dry look - or attempts to, anyway - and then gestures at the boxes. "Okay, let me get these inside," he replies, and begins the work of transporting things into the little cabin. It has an icebox now! He sets the boxes down on his slab table, stepping back to put his hands on his hips. "Do I just..open them?"
Drake goes to scurry up onto the bed, finding a good angle where he can point to the smaller of the two boxes. "That one first. Look for the stamp with the dragon's head on it, pull it out from that direction," bosses around the smol. He waits until Gal's able to break it open to peer at what's inside:
What sits here is a massive polished blade attached to a bracer. The metal has been given a reflective gleam as if in a mirror, with the edges made of a shaved silver to give a strong edge. The thing looks bulky, and it's got a weight to it that can stop someone in their tracks or deflect a massive hit.
Gallowglass does indeed obediently open his present! He seems awkward with it, both delighted and surprised at receiving anything. And then of course the box is open, and the Ogre just stares, lips parting. "Drake. You made this?"
"Yes," he agrees with a nod and a smile, hands working over each other. "I think you'd be strong enough. Do you want to try it on its own or see the other part to make the pair?"
"Make the pair?" He glances at the other box, then nods. "Let's see it all together," he decides, setting to opening the next box he is assigned.
This set is heavy but simple. And very, very large. Once open, it reveals A truly massive tower shield made entirely of mirrored metal that most could hide behind. It's be reinforced with layer after layer of lightweight metal alloys that ultimately make a bulwark that would be difficult to hoist for most.
"Holy shit," he breathes, one hand lifting to rub his mouth. He steps forward after a moment, sliding his arm into the brace of the shield to lift it. He does make a little grunt of surprise, nodding to Drake. "Heavy, but not in a way I think I'd get tired."
"It's so that others can't snatch it so easily. And it will hold if you plant it," says Drake with a grin. "It was... very awkward to get into the cart. I needed to use a hoist." He moves to open the door to the yard. "You should try them. See how you fit."
Gallowglass nods, taking up both items to haul outside. Once he's out there, he fits both pieces into place and tests them. He runs back and forth a few times, he lifts the shield overhead. He takes a few quick, savage thrusts with the blade to test the balance. "I can't believe you made this," he shakes his head. "This is...this is just..." His voice falters and he presses his lips together, nodding once.
The dragon was nothing if not critical in his view - trying to gauge just where and how the giant blade and hefty shield might be better able to work just the slightest bit better. Drake looks up at the big man, head tilted. "Do you like them? I know the first traitor is already dead, but you should be able to use them well. And maybe learn to walk out of the shield or let others escape through it if needed."
"There will always be other traitors, I'm sure," he replies, nodding. "And seems like she had really hurt some other people, and they needed t'get that justice. So it all worked out." He lifts the shield to study the surface, brows lifting. "The shield can be a door..?"
"With one of the contracts of Steed," says Drake with a nod. "The one to allow you to walk between mirrors. I've seen it used before, but usually by Beasts."
"Holy shit, that would be really useful," he murmurs, nodding in approval. He takes a moment to just look over the weapons again in silence; he is clearly moved, bordering on emotional. Eventually his expression crumples, and he drops into a crouch to carefully remove the brace and the shield. Once he's done that, he hunches his shoulders, rubbing at his face with both hands. "This is a lot," he manages.
Drake continues to stare the entire time, never really even blinking as he continues to study the large one. Then he moves closer ever so slowly. "A good lot?"
"Yes," he sniffles, nodding. "A good lot, just...a lot."
"... Are you crying?" asks Drake before reaching up to try to drag the other down.
"There's nothin' wrong with cryin'," he retorts, letting himself be moved around by the dragon. "I get emotional!"
Drake wraps his arms around Gal to haul into a long, firm hug.
Gallowglass sighs - maybe it's half a laugh - and sinks into it. His relief at close contact sets in, powerful arms enclosing Drake in an embrace just as tight. "It's just overwhelming sometimes, that's all."
A couple head pats come from the Lost. Very good at people, this one. When they pulled back, Drake smiles. "No need for tears. Murder more, tears later."
He laughs at that, lifting the edge of his shirt to wipe his face. "Not sure how much murderin' I do, but fair enough. Thank you very much for this, Drake. I'm hopin' it means I can just..do more, make sure I'm earnin' my keep."
"... Why do you hate help?" asks Drake
"What?" He blinks, brow furrowed. "What do you mean? I don't."
"You talk about earning your keep. Feeling bad when people give you things or do things for you. People don't do these things because they pity you, or expect something in return if they didn't bargain beforehand," states Drake. "They do them because doing them feels good. I think. It's why I do things. If it doesn't feel good, why do it?"
He opens his mouth to argue, but his expression dims; instead, he shuts his trap and chews on an acceptable answer. Gaze averted, he scans along the row of cabins, over the trees. "Because that's weird to me," he admits quietly. "Ain't somethin' I'm used to. I expect people want somethin' in exchange, that nothin' is out of kindness. And sure, when I do things for people, it's because I like doin' it - but it's like..somethin' is broken where I can't accept anyone else would do th'same for me. A friend can bring me candy bars and all I'm thinkin' is yeah, but what's her angle." He gestures to the weapons. "I dunno what it is. This is all I'm good at. I hit stuff. I hurt things. And then I come back t'my cabin and wait until someone asks me t'do it all over again."
"Would a bargain make you feel pleased? We could settle on acceptable deals for things," notes Drake. "You're aesthetically appealing. If I invited you out for drinks one day, you could then be shirtless, and that seems like a fair trade. I get to stare, and you get to drink. Do deals like that work?"
"Unfortunately, that one in particular won't really work," he informs Drake, his mouth kicking up at the edge. "I don't drink alcohol. Unless you meant just, any kind of drinks, then your bargaining powers are incredible."
"Drinks, food, things of relatively equivalent value," says Drake. "A sensation for a sensation."
Gallowglass purses his mouth, head tilted as he studies Drake. "You know, you could just ask me out on a date. I know what a date is. No bargain required - it means I'd get t'spend time with you."
"A date is different from a bargain. ... Does that mean you want a date?" asks Drake with a tilt of his head.
"I mean...we've danced around th'topic for awhile now," he points out. "For th'most blunt person I know, you been real coy on that front. And that's fine - I don't wanna overstep. I don't wanna get fired." His grin tugs at his features, eyes lit with amusement.
Drake squirms just a bit. "I don't want to... overstep. You... are important."
His brow furrows with curiosity. "So are you?"
"No, but... you made things good. And made me start thinking again. I was... a lizard brain," says Drake. "It's still hard. Thinking like a person. It's easier thinking like a lizard. But if you didn't save me from lizard brain, I'd never..." He gestures about.
Gallowglass nods slowly, brow furrowed. "I get it," he replies quietly; he curls one big hand around one of Drake's. "But you helped me too, remember? You were the one I helped, made me want t'fix things out and about in th'world, even."
Drake reaches out the free hand to clink-clink pat on the mirrored one's hand. He looks up to Gal. "So you want to be dated? Assertively?"
"Could see how it goes," he nods; he rests his weight back on his hands. "And I ain't sayin' I gotta be your one and only or nothin'. You do you."
"No. I collect. I'm a dragon," agrees Drake with a smile. "Why would I do me when I could do you though?" he asks just casually before continuing on. "You have to say yes before I can plan."
His jaw drops in surprise, paired with a hearty belly laugh. “Right, what was I thinking? Yeah, of course yes.”
"Hmmmm... I will have to plan this." He points at the weapons. "Go, show them to people you know. Remind them that I am the best Artist in any Freehold, and find out how they work for you in combat."
"You got it." He nods, pushing to his feet; collecting his weapons, Jude stows them carefully back inside the cabin. "I'll make sure everyone knows that you are responsible, and the greatest, et cetera."
Drake follows along like a little puppy expecting and waiting for pets, his hands working over one another as he went with his hesitant smile. "Yes. Good. It's true."
"It is true," Gallowglass agrees. "What are you up to next?"
"I need to make more things, but... likely asking Varesh about dates," he admits. "Did you see there's art of you? Well, not of you. Inspired by you?"
"Of me?" He offers a puzzled expression, clearly tracing back where he's seen news about art recently. It takes a minute, but comprehension floods his features. "The mirrored glass piece...?"
Drake nods his head vigorously.
"I inspired that?" He looks briefly emotional all over again, but he keeps it together. "Drake, that was amazing. All that art that everyone did, it just...amazing. I dunno what else t'call it."
Drake's hands continue working over one another as he looks up at the other. "Is this... Does it make you happy then? I thought you protecting people's dreams made sense."
"Of course it makes me happy," Gallowglass affirms; he sets both big hands on Drake's shoulders and bends to press his mouth to the crown of the dragon's head. "I love t'think that's somethin' I could do for people, absolutely. I'm honored that you think of me this highly."
This seems to have the little dragon man brimming with energy. Enough so that he takes the chance and turns his head up, kissing... well, honestly the underside of Gal's chin, but the thought counts, right?
Then he's quickly scurrying away as if he'd gotten his praise and now as going to hide it away until such a time as he could savor it.
Gal leans in the doorway of his cabin, arms folded; he watches Drake scuttle away with no small amount of amusement before heading back inside.
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