Take A Break

"Take A Break" is a BOTGD 2 Act 1 thread written on June 18, 2019.
==Summary==
Siri convinces Lila to step away from her work leading the Rebellion and have a night out with Siri. Siri teaches Lila how to flirt and Lila lands a one-night stand with a local girl.
==Full Text==
Lila Ericson: Lila hummed as she continued to por over the map in front of her, planning strategies for how to break into the Dungeon. At least she was out of the bunker and in her own house now, but even when she was on a vacation she was still working.
@asha-the-viking
Siri: Siri made her way to the Ericsons’ house. Someone had mentioned that Lila had returned from the bunker and was home and Siri simply had to see it for herself. She hadn’t seen Lila in quite a while due, but it had been even longer since they had a proper conversation. They used to be painfully close, but they had drifted apart due to various circumstances and Siri was determined to rectify the situation.
She knocked on the door and crossed her arms. Frankly, she would be surprised if Lila came to the door.
Lila: “Come in.” The Half-Breed called from the living room refusing to look up from the map as she moves pieces around it.
Siri: Siri rolls her eyes and she enters the house. Of course Lila wouldn’t answer the door. She stops short, however, when she sees just what Lila is doing.
“Seriously, Lila?” Siri asks. “You’re home and you’re doing map stuff? Really?”
Lila: Lila frowned at this. “Hello to you too.” She said as she looked up at her. “And yes I am doing ‘map stuff’ it’s important.” She said as she turned back towards the parchment.
Siri: Siri shook her head and walked closer to Lila. “You haven’t been home in forever, and you’re working? Why don’t you take a break or something? Have you even made an effort to say hello to anyone? The answer is no, because I had to hear from someone else that they thought they saw you. You couldn’t even come by to let us know you were alive.”
Lila: She leaned her head back and groaned. “Oh my God. I was doing important shit in the bunker too you know. Not like I was just sitting there in the dark waiting around for stuff to happen.”
Siri: “Might as well have been,” Siri replied, sitting in the edge of a table. “We’ve been missing you. You hid yourself away and I don’t want to hear otherwise. You can do important things and still have a life, still talk to your family. Did you know Katryn doesn’t really even know you exist? She knows she has a cousin named Lila who she’s seen a few times and that’s it. Not to mention, it’s been actual years since I’ve had a full conversation with the girl I used to call my best friend.”
Lila: She frowns and pushes herself away from the table. “Don’t guilt trip me with that.” She says as she heads into the kitchen, just trying to get away from this.
Siri: “Someone ought to, considering you’ve been a hermit for the last 10 years.” Siri replied, not moving from where she perched on the table.
“Look, I know your dad dying wasn’t easy and I know it hit all of you hard, but running away from your family who wanted to help you wasn’t the best idea. Especially the twins. And your mother. It was hard enough for them already and then you up and decided your work was more important than being together during a hard time.”
Lila: Lila quickly spun around and shoved a finger in her face. “Don’t you fucking dare talk about my father.” She said with an icy firmness.
Siri: Siri pushed Lila’s finger away from her face. “Why? Is it because I’m right?”
Siri stood up from the table and raised her voice. “If you took a step back and realized you weren’t the only one hurting you might’ve realized that leaving was selfish. You weren’t the only one who lost a dad, you know. Kettil and Jari did too. And your mom lost her husband. And my mom and Aunt Grey lost a brother. And I lost my favorite uncle. So stop acting like you’re the only one his death affected. Because it damn well wasn’t.”
Lila: Lila grit her teeth, smoke beginning to rise off of her, her foot thumping rapidly. She leaned in towards Siri, but then stopped. She closed her eyes took a deep breath and leaned back. “Was there something you wanted besides to berate me?” She asked with a frown on her face.
Siri: Siri also backed off then, hands held out in front of her. She didn’t mean to take it that far, and she felt kind of bad about it. But she wasn’t about to apologize, because she felt Lila needed to hear it.
“I wanted to know if you wanted to… like hang out or something. Like we used to.”
Siri bit her lip and then added. “I miss you, Lil.”
Lila: She looked back at her map and back at Siri and sighed. She hadn’t been called Lil in a long time. “If I do will you get off my back?” She asked.
Siri: Siri fought back the massive smile that tugged at her mouth, settling for a small one instead. “For a little bit, at least. You look like you need to have a little fun. You look exhausted.”
Lila: She sighed and rubbed one of her eyes. “Fine fine, where do you want to go?” She asked simply.
Siri: “Well,” Siri started slowly. “We could go to the tavern? There’s always people to watch. It’ll get you out of the house at least. And we can catch up over some drinks or something.”
Lila: Lila sighed and shrugged. “Sure I guess.” It’d been a while since she had a drink. She could sure use one.
Siri: Siri blinked a few times. “…really?”
Geez, that was easy.
Lila: Lila quirked an eyebrow at first. “Or I could just not go and continue planning our raid on Castaway if you prefer.”
Siri: “No!” Siri said. “No, please come with me.”
Lila: “That’s what I thought.” She said as she headed out the door and towards the bar. “Now come on let’s get moving.”
Siri: Siri jogged a few steps to catch up with her cousin and they walked most of the way to the tavern in silence, before Siri broke it with what she hoped was a light hearted question.
“So… what have I missed? Have you been on any dates? Kissed anyone? Are there any secret romances I don’t know about?”
Lila: “Ya know there is actually someone I’ve been meaning to tell you about.” She says as she pushes the door to the tavern open.
Siri: Siri smirks and she enters the tavern behind her cousin. “Oh really? Well, tell me about them.”
Siri raises a hand in greeting to some people she recognizes as she walks up to the bar with Lila.
Lila: “Well, they’re kinda two dimensional but they always show me where I need to go.” She said with a smile as she sat down.
Siri: “I swear, Lila, if you’re talking about a gods damned map…” Siri shook her head as she sat beside her cousin.
Lila: She sniffs as she pretends to tear up. “I just really love that map okay?”
Siri: Siri rolls her eyes and snorts as she bumps her shoulder into Lila’s. “Damn it, Lil.” She laughs.
Siri looks at Lila, and more seriously starts with, “Come on, really? Have you ever been interested in anyone? Ever?”
Lila: She shrugs. “I mean I’ve been a bit busy running a rebellion in case you hadn’t noticed. Not much time for a love life.”
Siri: “Oh, come on.” Siri said. “You can find time for a love life if you want one bad enough. You gotta tell me what you’re into at least.”
Lila: “You’re gonna have to be at bit more specific on what you mean.” She says as she turns and orders a mead.
Siri: Siri also ordered a drink and then turned back to Lila. “Guys? Girls? Both? Everyone? No one?”
Lila: She shrugged as she tapped her fingers on the bar. “I mean… I’m not really picky.”
Siri: “Hm… same here.” Siri replied. “What else don’t I know about you?”
Lila: She shrugged as she took her drink and took a sip. “I mean… What do you want to know?”
Siri: “Anything! Everything!” Siri said. “We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. I know 13 year old Lila like the back of my hand, but 23 year old Lila is a mystery to me. I’m so far behind. Tell me everything.”
While waiting for Lila to respond, she glanced around the tavern to see if there was anyone there that might be worth Lila’s time.
Siri threw her hands up in the air. “Of course things have changed! They must have somehow! It’s been 10 years, Lila. We were kids ten years ago. Now you’re a proper grown up woman. Come on now.”
Lila: She leaned back from Siri. “Woah, take a chill pill hon.” She said. “Well I don’t know what to tell ya. Ask me questions, it’s easier to talk about myself that way.”
Siri: Siri laughed a bit. “Okay, okay. What’s your favorite color?”
Lila: “Blue.” She said as she took a drink. “Come on that’s too easy.” She said with a slight grin.
Siri: “Okay, how about what’s your favorite thing to do when you have spare time? Siri asked.
Lila: She frowned slightly as she thought of that. “I don’t really have free time I guess. If I’m not working on stuff for the rebellion I’m eating or sleeping.”
Siri: Siri sighed and took a sip of her drink. “Okay, well if you did have free time, what would you want to do?”
Lila: Lila was silent for a solid minute as she thought about this. She honestly didn’t have an answer. For most of her life she had been focused on one thing and one thing only, destroying Central. In all that time she had never considered what she would do after everything was said and done and they were gone for good. “I-I don’t know…” She answered honestly as she stared at the bar before taking a big drink of her mead.
Siri: Siri frowned. “You don’t know? You’ve never put any thought into it?”
Siri leaned over to give her cousin a hug. “Hey, that’s okay. We can figure it out. The Rebellion won’t last forever and you need to have… a life outside of it anyway. So you don’t drive yourself crazy. Let’s start with this: if you could do anything in the whole world right now, what would you do?”
Lila: She hugged her back and sighed taking another drink. “I don’t know. I haven’t done anything… Fun in 10 years…” She thought about it for a few moments and said. “What do you like to do for fun.”
Siri: “Oh honey,” Siri laughed. “That’s a loaded question. More like who at some points in my life. I do like to fly with my dragon and hang out with my friends and sister. Also, I hit up the occasional party. But sometimes, I just like to relax. You should try that more often.”
Lila: She frowns. “Training is relaxing thank you very much. And what do you mean who? What’s that about?”
Siri: Siri snorted into her mug. “I haven’t gone more than a month without spending the night with someone since I was 18.”
Lila: “Oh you mean sex.” Lila says simply as she finishes off her drink and ordering another one. She shrugs. “We could always try that I guess.” The alcohol in her system has loosened her up a touch, made her a bit more open.
Siri: “Oh my gods, this is too easy.” Siri mumbled. “Alright girl, does anyone in this room look appealing to you? We can make that happen. I can make that happen.”
Lila: She snorts. “Alright match maker.” She says as she looks around. “Errrmmm I don’t know, I’ve never done this before. Is there something I should be looking for?” She asked.
Siri: Siri takes the final swig of her drink and sets her mug back down a little too hard. “You look, my dear, for someone you find physically attractive. If you’re looking for love, physical attraction should be less of concern, but if you’re just hooking up, you should probably find someone you think is really good looking.”
Siri lowers her voice. “Have you ever slept with anyone before? Do you know how that works?”
Lila: She pushes her cousin away laughing a bit. “Of course I know how it *works*.” She laughs. “Though I admit I’ve never done it before.” She looks around the bar. “It should probably be a lady. I don’t have time to risk pregnancy.”
Siri: Siri snorts again. “Sweetheart, if you do it right with a guy, there shouldn’t be much of a worry about having a baby. I’d have so many kids right now if I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Siri shakes her head. “But, if you want a lady, we can definitely arrange that.”
Lila: “If leading a rebellion has taught me anything it’s that zero risk is better than little risk, so I’ll stick with a lady for now, thanks.” She looked across the room.
Siri: Siri rolled her eyes. “While you’re looking, I gotta ask: you said you know how sex works, but do you know how sex with a girl works?”
She bit her lip a bit as she looked back at Siri. “Uhhh… Now that you mention it… Not, really?” Her confidence breaking for the first time in a while.
Siri: Siri leaned closer to her. “Do you, uh, do you want me to explain it? Or are you the type to figure it out as it happens? I’ll be honest, I had no idea what was happening when I first did it and it turned out okay.”
Lila: For the first time in ten years, Lila looks a little timid. “Uhh… Could you… Could you explain it please?”
Siri: Siri laughed. “Okay, yeah. I’ll explain.”
She leaned over so she could whisper in Lila’s ear. She explained as much as she could.
Lila: She nodded as she listened intently, giggling a bit when her lips got too close and brushed against her ear. “Alright.” She said once Siri pulled away. “Mk, how abooouuut her.” She pointed at a barmaid with long red hair, her shirt done in a way to leave little to the imagination.
Siri: Siri shrugged and smiled. “She’s pretty, Lil. And she’s pretty popular with ladies and men alike. You up for the challenge? I think you got this, but it’s up to you.”
Lila: “Me? You said you could make this happen!” She said, now whisper yelling so as not to be heard as her foot rapidly beats against the floorboards.
Siri: “Calm down, Lila! I am going to help you!” Siri said in a harsh whisper. “I know her. I can introduce you and get you talking, but you have to take it from there. She’s rather forward and she’ll probably end up asking you, and you’ll just say yes at that point. I can’t get involved at that point.”
Siri glances at the barmaid and then looks back to her cousin. “Got it?”
Lila: She takes a deep breath and nods, her food slowing to a stop. “Okay… Okay I can do this.” She said. “Go work your magic cuz.”
Siri: Siri smirks at Lila before turning in her seat a little. She waves a hand and smiles at the barmaid, who comes over as soon as she’s able and greets Siri with a hug.
Siri knows this girl, they’ve talked a lot and done some things about as many times. Siri called her a friend, but they hadn’t seen each other in a while.
After a few moments of chit chat and catching up, Siri was ready to work her magic, as Lila said. “Hey Gyda, remember how I told you I had a cousin my age? Well, I finally convinced her to join me. This is Lila.”
Siri shot a pointed look at her cousin. She could do this.
Lila: Lila took a deep breath as she saw them come back over trying to calm herself. When they finally came over she put on a grin. “Hey there beautiful.” She said. “I just wanted to say, I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you the whole time I’ve been here.”
Siri: Thankfully, Siri had finished her drink or she’d have spit it out all over the floor. She wasn’t expecting that from Lila.
But she was pleasantly surprised when Gyda smiled in return and complimented Lila in return.
Apparently, Lila did have this under control. After a few more moments of back and forth banter between the two of them, Siri popped out of her chair.
“Damn it, I forgot I was supposed to watch Katryn tonight!” Siri announced. “I have to get going!” She had totally made that up. She was under no obligation to watch Katryn. But she wanted to give Lila and Gyda some time to… chat.
“I’ll see you two around!” Siri said before bounding towards the door. Before she left, she smirked at Lila over her shoulder.
She was going to be asking for all the details tomorrow.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act I
Category:Lila Ericson
Category:Siri Haralson