thearena | Let's all haze the newbie.

Entry tags:

Let's all haze the newbie.

Who: Ruffnut and you!
What: Viking girl is having a hard time adjusting to the arena.
When: Week 2
Where: near the end of main street.
Notes: None yet but give it some time, I'm sure some monsters will show up or something.

Sometimes, it was the little things that got you through the night.

It had been a long week without proper food, a proper bed or a proper argument with her brother. Ruffnut found she kept turning to say something to him only to remember he wasn't there. And for the first time in a long time she had the strangest feeling in her guts.

Could she actually be missing him?

No of course not! That was stupid!

And so as the morning mist settled over the street, the eerie silence would be broken by the sound of metal on metal clanging together in an irritating fashion that was sure to draw someone (Or something's attention.)

The source of that noise was Ruffnut, sitting on the front stoop of one of the abandoned houses as she tried to pound a hole in the side of an old rusty pot.

CLANG CLANK CLONK!

Her mouth twisted into a crooked look of satisfaction as the nail she'd been hitting with a hung of broken brick pierced the worn and rusty metal. Turning the pot around she resumed her work on the other side.

Next to her say an over sized serving fork and a bent piece of pipe. Whatever purpose they served in the project would become apparent in time.

Because sometimes when nothing in the world made sense anymore you grasped for the familiar. And so in desperation she sought to at least replace a lost item that would make her feel a little less off balance.

Ruffnut was making herself a helmet.

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The noise is what had drawn her attention. Just who decided to make such a racket, and was it meant to lead a person into a trap? Either way, Sonja stayed on her guard. There was no telling what kind of vial, twisted person could be making that noise.

As it turns out, that "vile, twisted person" was just a young girl. What was with this place and bringing in youths?

Not that it phased her too much. But perhaps it should be more than a little worrisome? "What is it that you are doing?"

"Huh?" Ruffnut stopped mid swing and looked up to see the woman who had spoke. Setting down the broken brick and held up the half completed helmet to show.

"When I woke up in that place before they sent us here I didn't have my helmet, and my head feels weird without it so I figured I'd ya know...improvise."

Placing the pot on her head she held up the substitute horns on either side to give an idea of what she was going for.

"It's not a real helmet, but I figured it was better then nothing."

"Perhaps not." Well that was kind of adorable, admittedly. Moving to kneel down beside the girl with an eyebrow raised. Protection from armor was most certainly important, yes. However protection called for proper armor, not an imitation. And from the looks of that metal there was no way that helmet would do anything for her. Granted that Sonja had no clue what the metal was, so that did remain to be seen.

"What possessed you to make such an imitation?"

Putting the "horns" back down she took the pot off her head and began working the ends of the horns into the holes she had pierced.

"Well my head kinda feels naked without a helmet." She confessed "I wear one every day back home. And since it's bad enough I'm wearing these weird clothes I might as well feel a little better about what's going on...whatever is going on." She reasoned in her own roundabout way.

It wasn't the most helpful of reasons for doing this, but it would make her feel better hopefully.

"I'm Ruffnut." She added in introduction.

That was quite the reasoning she gave. But hey, so long as it does not become too much of a burden for the child, then let her have the comfort. It's not as though she was doing anything to offend or harm Sonja, or anyone else. If anything the red headed woman was more worried about the girl. The world is a dangerous place, and while there are those who would help -there are also those who may take advantage of one so young.

"And I am Red Sonja."

"Been here long?" Ruffnut continued her work finding it nice to have someone to talk to after so long. "I just got here when everyone else popped up and some guy smacked me around and put me through a wall." She explained tugging on her collar to show off some dark bruising around her neck.

"It was pretty awesome." She added with an unstable smile.

"To be injured before a battle is not "awesome" it is a drawback." Even the smallest wound could prove to be a great distraction. Who knows, a simple cut could turn infectious with puss. And before you know it, you are running a fever and you are one arm less. Not exactly something you wish to happen in a match to survive.

Ruffnut looked puzzled as though she hadn't considered that.

"Well I just meant like, he hit me really hard and I got back up again. This whole idea of ya know, fighting people forever. That's awesome! Who wouldn't want to do that?"

The point having been missed entirely.

A sigh, such innocence. "That was not the point."

"There are a few who would prefer to not fight forever. Though for a warrior to be granted entry to Crom's palace is a great honor." Granted that the god himself probably could care less, add to that he was not exactly one who was really worshiped, much less by Sonja. But at least others considered the notion pleasing.

"Crom?" Ruffnut tilted her head in further confusion and abandoned her helmet project for now. "I don't know Crom. I know Odin, Thor, Loki, is Crom like a cousin?"

Theology had never been Ruffnut's strong suit but she had the important ones down.

"Perhaps?" Neither has it been to Sonja either. But sometimes faith was nice. Especially when they actually stopped to listen -an event that was typically few and far between from her experiences. "He is an uncaring god who sits upon his mountain in the clouds, looking down on all. However he did give man courage and tenacity to overcome any obstical."

That was the only thing that he gifted man as well.

"Huh...well I guess you work with what you've got." She reasoned. An uncaring god didn't sound like the most comforting type of god but it was better then not knowing what lay beyond this world.

"Either way this place sounds like something the gods would enjoy. So it's like...I don't want to complain but at the same time I wish I'd gotten to keep my clothes...and my dragon. And I guess my brother to fly half the dragon." She sounded less enthusiastic about the last part.

"Indeed it does, most do enjoy a good bit of blood sport." Something that made the, seem a bit more human. With the main difference being that they probably make it out to be merely an entertaining game that mortals put on.

"However while I do find these clothes to be far more different to what I am used to. They do an excellent job a keeping one warm." That was all that mattered to her. Besides, they also had the added benefit of being softly more comforting. Not as many bugs in the furs, and the lack of leather to make sure things don't get too hot and sweaty.

Ruffnut shrugged her narrow shoulders and plucked at the fabric.

"It doesn't feel all that sturdy is all. I mean I'm used to the cold, Berk is always cold. But what if a wild boar came at me in this stuff? It'd shred like parchment." She tugged on it to try and make her point but found the fabrics were actually stronger then she'd anticipated. With embarrassment she tried to smooth over it.

"OK well...they still don't look as cool as studded leather and furs."

"Appearances may only be useful if the situation calls for it."

Really, this clothing is far more effective than that worn in Hyboria or elsewhere. Granted that she doubted the cloth could withstand the blow from a sword or arrow. It was still surprisingly durable and far more comfortable.

"Heh, who said anything about useful? I just like how it makes me feel." She chuckled to herself. Clearly practicality was not highest on her list.

"Guess it beats being naked, though that can be fun too." She added "Have you ever seen houses like this though? The wood is so thin! And some of them don't even have fire places. How do they keep from freezing to death? Or keep anyone from attacking?" Compared to the thick log cabins of Berk these modern homes seemed flimsy and dangerous.

This was becoming rather clear, rather quickly. But Sonja was certain that attitude would change soon enough.

"I have seen housing built similarly to this, but not exactly like it. There are no bricks or thick wood being used in their structures. Though I suspect that there is more to them." It did not seem very practical to build such a flimsy thing, after all. Like Ruffnut said, there was no way for these buildings to keep one warm, or protect them.

"More to them huh?" Ruffnut cast a wary glance over her shoulder like the house might suddenly come to life and lunge at them.

"Well I know that one had bugs in it. The big ones that wanna eat me." As for how she had gotten away she neglected to mention it.

"So what do you make of this place so far?"

"Horrid, filled with abominations that should never have been. As expected of the machinations of wizards." Sonja really, really does not like magic users, at all. The things that they do often defy nature and the natural order of things.

Granted that she could see the uses in magic. However should one succeed at the suffering of others? In her mind, no.

This had a surprising effect on Ruffnut as she slapped her forehead with force.

"AH! Wizards! Of course. Why didn't I think of that?" She explained looking relieved. With a smile to Red Sonja she added "I thought I'd died and Valhalla was totally different from what everyone was telling me. But if Wizards made this place out of magic then that changes things!"

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Let's all haze the newbie.

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