Day 346- Day 352: OPEN

[bastionpc]

Who: Everyone in the Bastion
Open: Open
When: 346-352
Where: The Bastion in general
What: This is the calm before the storm. Any last conversations with NPCs? Any last things to take care of? Do them here.
Format: action
Warnings: none so far


When you make a thread in this post, please put the names of the NPCs you want to respond in the header of the first comment.

As a note, this is also your last chance to make any changes that will affect how endgame begins. All things that help or hurt the Bastion residents will be tallied up on September 18th, and the final post will go up shortly after that. So if you want to catch the thief, form any alliances with other NPC groups, or anything else, now is the time to do it.

Comments

OTA | Stewart or any other NPCs?

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko is easy enough to find on any given day, but you're not going to catch her resting. Any truce they have with the strangers is tenuous. She wants to be prepared.

She's kept up her heavier training regimen, and is up for teaching or sparring with anyone else who wants to. Kizuna is usually nearby, and feeding or playing with the little dragon accounts for most of Zuko's breaks.

Some of her time she spends at the forge, though she doesn't have the skill yet to make the weapons she knows from home. Still, it's at least one trade she feels she can apprentice herself to. Zuko no you were supposed to find hobbies]

Re: OTA | Stewart or any other NPCs?

[twinked_witch]

[Megaera, a couple days in, visits Zuko at the forge.]

... Hrm. An interesting choice of hobby, in the wider context of what's been happening.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko takes a step back from the forge to look at Megaera, although the heat doesn't really seem to bother her. Kizuna is stretched out not far away, clearly enjoying it.]

My sword master used to worked the forge, so I already knew a little about it. It made sense.

[It's just practical, okay.]

[twinked_witch]

Interesting, for sure. Just...

I don't know, I guess I might be worrying too much.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko isn't sure how to interpret this.]

You think it's a waste of time right now?

[twinked_witch]

More, I wonder if we're going to have a stable enough environment where you'll be able to continue to do it soon, with all that's happened.

... I'm not going to lie, I've been trying to prepare for the worst...

[daughterofursa]

We're prepared to defend this place. That's what we'll do, if we have to.

[twinked_witch]

True, but... If that fails... I want to be in a position to save as many people as possible, should the worst happen.

[daughterofursa]

Are you thinking of something?

[If Megaera has some plan of her own, Zuko wants to know about it.]

[bastionpc]

[Naturally if she's going to be at the forge, she'll be working around Stewart. He's not one for a lot of conversation, but he figures that suits a work-minded person like Zuko.

She's learning well, though, and that's something he's admittedly proud of. So many of these kids are doing everything in their power to help this place, and keep everyone safe. He respected that.]

You're progressing well.

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko is pretty comfortable around Stewart, generally. It's easier not having to make conversation.

She's not entirely used to praise, though.]

I have a ways to go.

[bastionpc]

[He's noticed that, which is why he continues to be encouraging.]

You'll have to give yourself credit for a job well done eventually. This isn't an easy trade to learn, but you've taken to it well.

[daughterofursa]

[Some part of Zuko is trying to figure out how to deny that, but if he's the experienced blacksmith and she's still learning, then his assessment is the one with actual weight.

Which means she's doing a good job?]

...I'll keep at it then.

[She would have attributed it to his teaching but that wouldn't be giving herself credit so she.. can't do that?? Maybe she should attempt to change the topic to make sure he can't keep confusing her with how well she's doing.]

I haven't asked. How's Anna doing after the other week?

[bastionpc]

[Exactly, Zuko.

At least you're willing to recognize that.

Stewart lets out a grunt, placing some of his tools back on the shelves where they belong.]

Poor child is still convinced there's gotta be some way to keep people from vanishing... but more than that I think she's just glad she didn't get in too much trouble for what she was doing.

[daughterofursa]

Her heart was in the right place, and no one got hurt. It's not something you punish a kid for.

[bastionpc]

It was, yes. And no, I wouldn't have, even if some one did by chance get hurt. She's a child, she really didn't know any better.

[He can't say he's happy with Zahi for putting the idea in her head, though.]

[amphibian]

[Aoi is a girl on a mission, and that is to get her favorite lesbian to be a little less...useful??? Babe feeding the dragon doesn't count as a hobby Zuko no

Dragon-feeding time is the best time to get a hold of Zuko, though, so Aoi is going to take advantage of ongoing dragon playtimes to sneak up behind her girlfriend.]

Surprise! [And that is the warning she gets before Aoi smooches her on the cheek.]

[daughterofursa]

[Girlfriend kisses! What a pleasant surprise. It's something that never fails to get a little smile out of Zuko, and Kizuna crawls across Zuko's shoulders to get closer to Aoi in anticipation of her rightly deserved attention.]

Hi.

[Wait. Oh no. With how busy Zuko's made herself, has she not been spending enough time with Aoi? Has she been a bad girlfriend? Well, Aoi's here now, she should fix this.]

What are you up to?

[darkshooter]

[Teaching or sparring? Whatever you've got to convey to her that can make her more useful in whatever trials lay ahead, she wants. Hopefully she'll have the good sense not to be pushy about it.]

[Not all of her time goes to Zuko, naturally. She'll find other things to do when their sessions are completed, whatever subject they concern...but Zuko, as a trusted friend, is someone she can keep coming back to. (You're a fellow warrior, after all, which does her heart good on several levels. You're a creature who shares a certain understanding...and, for a more personal measure, you actually help her feel safe. Well, as safe as she can feel right now, at least.)]

[She may even be willing to share a break or two with you, though they'll likely be solely for recovery - and not at all for fun or leisure.]

[daughterofursa]

[What are fun or leisure? Zuko doesn't know about these things.

But Kizuna does! She's attended more than enough of Zuko's training sessions to understand that her fighting with other people doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't like them. If she greets them and they talk then it's play fighting and they are great friends.

So when they break from sparring, Kizuna comes over to Ikuri, making a chattering noise in her throat and looking up at the girl expectantly. Do you want to pet her? Everyone does, because she's fabulous.]

Looks like someone wants to say hello.

If they're needed: apologies for all the assumptions in the last tag. :'D

[darkshooter]

[She looks down at Kizuna and stares.]

[Tilts her head, just slightly.]


[...]

[and then she sinks down to her knees, leaning over to the side once there, and flopping to lay on the ground like a large dog. Eyes and subtle aura alike project openness: if you want pettings or hugs, come on over.]

not at all!

[daughterofursa]

[Oh wow this is new.

Are you all right, new person? You fell over. Did her cuteness destroy you?

Kizuna comes closer to investigate, sniffing at Ikuri's face.

Zuko will just watch in amusement for the moment.]

thanks. :3b

[darkshooter]

[Her hand moves leisurely toward the dragon.]

[...Ikuri's index finger begins to rub the top of Kizuna's head, gently and rhythmically. Do you like that, little one?]

[After a moment she'll move the stroking down to the side of the head, and a little later she'll move again to the undersides of the dragon's chin and throat.]

[daughterofursa]

[Yes, excellent. You are good at this, new person. Kizuna stretches her neck out. If she were a cat, she'd be purring.

Zuko sits down crosslegged nearby.]

She'll expect you to do this every time she sees you now. Just so you know.

[darkshooter]

[A shrug, as though it didn't matter. Probably not, really. The affection continues.]

[She may not be aware enough to admit it, but this's actually providing some stress relief. Small-cutes are often good for one's nerves.]