(no subject)

[ateratmods]

Who; Everyone!
What; Pulse log; REMEMBRANCE
Where; Throughout the City
When; August 8th - 15th
Warnings; Will update when and as necessary


In the days leading up to August 8th, the city is abuzz with activity. Businesses in the Merchant district have posted notices they will be closed the following week in observance of something called “Remembrance”. The Aspects are absent this week, though that doesn’t seem particularly out of the ordinary, and it’s easy to get caught up in what is quite a celebratory time in the city. Harvests and meats are being brought in from the outlying farms, the main square is being cordoned into stalls for food, drink, and performances. The guard is more present this week, keeping a close eye on the organization and watching for any miscreants.

As the time of the festival approaches, a quiet excitement seems to thrum through the others here, young and old alike, and on the evening of the 8th, a commencement parade makes its way through the market district.

The procession, filled with musicians, dancers, jugglers, and the like, make their way from the fountain square to the center of the market district, where a crude stage has been erected in the square at the center of the market district, in front of the guard headquarters. It’s nothing fancy, but it does serve the purpose of bringing to the attention of those gathered those who stand atop it.

A tall man in a Guardsman’s blue uniform climbs the stairs, steel plates glittering in the midday sun. He has a stern countenance, and there’s a stiffness through his shoulders that suggests he isn’t overly fond of public speeches. He takes a steadying breath before clearing his throat.

“People of Aterat, those of us who were risen from its ashes and those of us who have been gathered to kindle its flame,” he pauses here for a moment, giving his address an air of gravitas. “Welcome. I am Captain Orson Khannar, of the Aterat City Guard. I was a guardsman before the Fall and I can tell you we stand as a shadow of our former selves, but we do stand. Two years ago, today, the Aspects descended from the Fountain, all that remained of our once proud land, they saw the ruin wrought upon it, and they began to weave. There was little of us left, but what stands was reassembled because we Remembered.” A cheer rises from the collected locals, along with a few scattered cries of ‘bless the Aspects’ and ‘long may Halcyn reign’. Captain Khannar raises a hand to still the crowd and after a moment, their cheers and raised prayers quiet.

“But we did not remember enough. This year, the Creator has provided, and we welcome among us memories from other worlds. This Remembrance, do not forget their sacrifice.” His tone changes then, and his piercing gaze moves across all those who have come here from elsewhere. “Outlanders, I expect nothing of you, but I offer you a warning: we are not your captors but we are your neighbors. As such, we will hold you to the same standards to which we hold ourselves. I am the Captain of your guard, and it is my sworn oath to keep this city safe from miscreants. That said, those of you who are willing and able, I would welcome your aid. Surely by now you have seen our fair city has its share of problems. My office is just there across the square.”

And with that bit of business handled, he directs his attention back to the crowd. “A Happy Remembrance to us all!” The crowd cheers again, though less enthusiastically, as a few look around at those gathered from other worlds, uncertain if they share the Captain’s willingness to welcome the aid of ‘Outlanders’.

The rest of the week is a city-wide party. The taverns are overflowing with merrymakers, there is wine and food for all, music at all hours of the day and night. Performers come out in droves, there are artists, artisans, and the like. If you can think of a festival occurrence, it happens at some point, though all the shops are closed for normal hours. It seems it’s quite the holiday, and you are welcome to invent whatever you'd like for a scene.

The Captain remains true to his word, and the Guard HQ in the Market Square seems to be the only place operating normally. There are regular patrols throughout the events, but Captain Khannar can be found most days in his office, upstairs in the HeadQuarters, should anyone like to question him.

Comments

[brotherofagod]

"Huh?" Jacob turned to look towards Nida and for a brief moment, he had trouble recognizing him. "Oh." He shook his head, regretted it and closed his eyes to regain his sense of balance.

"Maybe. This wasn't the plan." Not that Jake really had a plan.

"I'll be alright in a moment."

Hopefully.

[skyward_eyes]

Geez, the guy was in a bad way, wasn't he? Nida sighs. He doesn't have many of these, so Jacob better be thankful.

Nida pulls a vile from his pocket, filled with a blue liquid that, when the cork was pulled out, would smell like soil and cloves, and would takes like cool spring water.

"Here. Drink this. It will help."

[brotherofagod]

Jacob wrinkled his nose as his fingers loosely plucked the vial from Nida's hands. "What is this?" He'd never seen a liquid like this before but it looked like something Micheal might hand him.

He didn't wait for Nida's answer but trusted the man and downed the blue liquid.

His fingers moved in front of his mouth but he kept it down.

[skyward_eyes]

"A remedy," Nida answers, knowing it's got to be going through Jacob now, a sweet tickle through his body as it washed the poison of alcohol from his system.

"It should sober you up."

[brotherofagod]

His stomach settled and the world straightened out. He leaned back against the stone wall and exhaled. "Wow. I wish we had that back home... not that I usually drink this much." He looked up at Nida and flashed an awkward smile. "Thanks. I didn't know that the drinks here were that strong."

They didn't believe in light beers.

"I don't- usually do this. Sorry." Accidental or not, he felt like an ass and exhausted.

[skyward_eyes]

"It's not cheap back home. That said, I'm capable of making them," Nida shrugs. Can turn things into them and doesn't have many, but he can make them.

"I couldn't comment on the strength. I don't drink. But don't worry, I'm just making sure you get home safe."

[brotherofagod]

Jacob scratched the back of his head. "Maybe I can pay you back?" Somehow. He really didn't have a lot but he felt bad for taking something that Nida didn't have a lot of. For all he knew, the materials were impossible to get here.

"Thanks. I owe you."

He pushed himself off the wall and began to head in the direction of the gray building. "You don't drink at all. Can I ask why?"

[skyward_eyes]

"Don't worry about it," Nida promises, his voice gentle. There's no point. Nida buys supplies and turns them into this.

Oh, there's a loaded question.

"I have a history which means I cannot trust myself with the stuff," Nida admits. "Grief. Over the very reason you might suspect. And other things."

[brotherofagod]

"Ah. I get it. I drank sparingly before." He rubbed the back of his neck as he slowly made his way down the street. He was awkward but honest. "Just to relax. My medication didn't let me take too much but I haven't really had that since arriving."

He was a little on edge.

"Not drinking is probably good. I should do probably not drink so much." Though he wasn't sure what else he should do. There was a lot that he didn't forget but some of those dark memories remained safely locked away.

[skyward_eyes]

Medication. Ouch. This place doesn't seem to provide like those he's seen in the past. Which means Nida's got to offer.

"What did you take the medication for? I might... be able to do something to lessen the symptoms."

He has no clue how strong his healing magic is here. But he'll try.

CW: Alluding to mental illness, likely will continue through thread.

[brotherofagod]

"Um..." For the first time since they met, Jacob didn't say the first thing that came to mind. He folded in on himself and looked worried. "It's not really easy to talk about. Part of it is anxiety and um... depression and things like that."

It was easier to be vague.

"I'm not sure what you could do. A mage locked away a few of my memories for me... I can't remember what those are though. I haven't really dealt with it all yet." It'd been years since that night but it wasn't something that Jacob could easily handle and there were other memories... things he'd asked to forget until he was ready.

CW: Allusions from both of them actually

[skyward_eyes]

"Ah, yeah. Locked away mental trauma," Nida sighs. "Trust me, I know how that goes. Far too much. Between coming here with things taken from me, and the way my paramagic erodes at my long term memory..."

It's been a bit of a pain. But Nida tries to offer a gentle look, a kind one. Please tell him it's working.

"I'm not going to press. I know how it hurts. It can hurt, even if you just know that you're missing the details of why you hurt."

CW: Allusions from both of them actually

[brotherofagod]

Jacob felt awkward but he understood what Nida was trying to do. He was grateful, even if he wasn't sure what else to say in regards to the topic. "It sucks, right?"

Yup, that was all he had.

"I don't really talk about stuff. I mean, I have but this world is different and... taking it one step at a time. Maybe... maybe later? If that's an open invitation." He didn't know if it was and he understood if Nida would rather avoid the topic.

"And for you too. I don't really sleep or go out unless I get antsy. So I'm free. I'll find that carpentry job at some point." He was rambling now. God, he sounded like his sister. "Just- you got a friend in me."

Quoting a Toy Story song like a boss.... so smooth.

[skyward_eyes]

It's definitely an invitation, not one Nida knows how to take. He isn't ready to open up about himself. Not by a long shot. Vulnerability like that tended to get him burned.

"Now why would I not give an open invitation," he says. Sure, he doesn't want to give out information, but receiving it was another matter altogether. "I'm here to help."

He does pause after a moment, thinking about Jacob's comment. The Carpentry one. Frankly, Nida wasn't touching the 'friendship' idea with a long pole.

"Have you considered just applying for a loan to start your own business? It's possible here. I could be your first customer. I have a thing I need made."

[brotherofagod]

"Huh?" Jacob scratched the back of his head. "That really isn't my thing. Being in charge." He preferred to fade into the shadows. It used to be easy, living so close to his family, but this city was different, he didn't have something to over shadow him. He generally tried not to call attention to himself.

"If you want something made I can make it for you." That was easy enough. "What are you looking for?"

[skyward_eyes]

"Well, given this place, there's probably a shop around somewhere. Probably better not to compete, right?"

Not that it didn't work out sometimes. His brother had been a blacksmith. Not-brother-brother. And more like became a blacksmith. Dammit, he hates the gaps in his head.

"I'm thinking about the guard. Floating a line on helping someone start a whole fitness and combat training thing. If that doesn't pan out I can do more with the guard. Or..."

Should he? Did he dare? Fire wasn't his thing but maybe he could...

"Or blacksmith. I could learn that. Spent enough time watching."

[brotherofagod]

"That's the plan." At least in theory. He just had to find a place and figure out what the application process was. At least this time he didn't have to fake a name or social security number.

"That sounds useful. I didn't know you were a fighter but-" Jacob glanced back at him. "It isn't too surprising." Nida was in shape.

"Blacksmithing sounds pretty cool." It also sounded complicated. "Why not do both? No reason you can't split your time."

[skyward_eyes]

Nida catches that look and tries not to laugh. Wss he just checked out? He was totally just checked out. It's so damn cute. He loves it. If he wasn't in a mood, he might have even flirted. As it was, he just nodded.

"I can't really do both guard work AND training AND blacksmithing. I'll have to find a balance I suppose."

[brotherofagod]

Jacob didn't mean to check him out but he did so subconsciously. It was impossible not too. Like many of the people Jacob found himself around, Nida was very attractive.

"It's whatever you want to do most. You can always alternate days and I'd think that training is kinda part of guard work, isn't it?" He really didn't know. "I'm not much of a fighter. So I'm not sure."

[skyward_eyes]

Awww, even a subconscious checking out was flattering, Jacob. Embrace it.

"From my experience, training and guarding go hand in hand. But if I wasn't there most days they might expect me to train in my own time."

Not a fighter. Yeah, there were no small number of those. Nida sighs.

"You don't have to be a fighter. Just have a will to survive. Speaking of, let's get you off the streets, just in case."

[brotherofagod]

"Right." He scratched the back of his neck before turning and heading towards the gray building that held his apartment. "I know some stuff. Like if I run into trouble... with a normal person. Normal being... relative I guess. My dad used to train me but I never really excelled." He wasn't a werewolf like his surrogate family or the Creator like his older sister.

"I'm more of a manual labor kinda guy." Though he didn't look all that strong.

[skyward_eyes]

"Defense is half about knowing how to run away," Nida offers with a shrug. And he does give a bit of a look over to Jacob.

"Don't forget that such things are their own strength. Your arms will be stronger when you get to work."

[brotherofagod]

Jacob grinned. "I'm very good at running away." He's had a lot of practice getting out of the way so that the rest of his family can face down any big-bad. The best he can do is not be a bother on his new family... to trust them.

"Yeah. I'll probably start running in the mornings." Or late at night, depending on when he slept.

He slowed down when they reached the gray building. "This is me or are you walking me to my door?"

[skyward_eyes]

"I could teach you," Nida offers. "Sometimes it's as simple as being willing to do something others are not."

Like go up.

"But it's a good thing for your health, running."

Nida is quiet for a bit, even as they approach the gray building, but his smile only grows. What a silly question.

"Am I? Huh. It seems I am."

[brotherofagod]

"Is that like a Mr.Miyagi thing?" He asked with a small smile.

Jacob never flirted on purpose but this definitely felt like flirting. He wasn't going to think too deeply into it. This was the second or third time he'd run into Nida, Jacob didn't remember for sure, but he was becoming more comfortable around the other man.

"Cool. Well I'm on the second floor. First room. So it isn't too far."