thebastion | Let the Festival Begin [Day 143

Entry tags:

Let the Festival Begin [Day 143 | Day 144]

Who: EVERYONE
Open: Open
When: Day 143 & 144
Where: All over the Bastion
What: The first two days of the Harvest Festival
Format Any
Warnings: None

For the past week or so, it may feel like to some that the Bastion is gearing up for something. And not anything bad, either. Something good and oh so needed. It's not just the people, the Caels and the Ura that are aware of what the coming days would mean if the world was still intact. It's like the very Bastion itself has suddenly gained new life, and there's a power over it that's greater than any person, creature or Core.

Anyone who is still awake as dawn breaks over the Bastion may find themselves inexplicably tired for no reason at all, and unable to give in to an intense need to close their eyes, just for a moment.

When everyone wakes, and I do mean everyone, the Bastion will be transformed. Decorations, lights strung across every angle, wreaths, tables with colorful cloths over them, streamers and banners and so much stuff just seemingly out of nowhere! The entire Bastion, suddenly a vibrant, beautiful place for a celebration. And not just any celebration.

The Harvest Festival!

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[It took Pyth a few minutes to shake itself off from ramming into the wall and in that time, The Kid had swapped out his Hammer for his Carbine. You might be asking yourself how he might use a gun to avoid a bull, and that would be a valid question; but he'd thought of something sure as the sun rose and set. He waited once more for the bull to charge him, his finger on the trigger but never quite pulling it, waiting for the right moment until he brought the barrel up and fired from the hip. It was useless in the department of doing damage of course, but it produced one heck of a muzzle flash and quite a bit of smoke from the gunpowder; just enough to throw Pyth off as The Kid rolled past him and once again the bull slammed into another wall. It wasn't a question now of how long the Kid would last...but how long the Arena itself would.]

[Once he's a bit more steady, Zulf goes back to watching intently again. He's never really had a chance to see the Kid quite in action now that he's thought about it. Not like this, and not up close. It had been obvious that the Kid was talented with everything he managed to do. Now, Zulf could see for himself just how.]

[Everything just looked so simple, so smooth. Zulf thought back to his own experience with a weapon and snorted quietly to himself. He'd only look more foolish next to someone like the Kid.]

[The bull was back now, and it seemed more upset than ever as it vibrated in place; The Kid could understand that. The feeling of helplessness that drove his anger, it was a resonating experience for The Kid; he'd let the god's decide who's drive was stronger here. He tossed his gun to the side, letting it clatter in the dust as he began rolling his shoulders; his eyes never leaving Pyth, nor did Pyth ever move from its spot, only spouting steam from its nose every so often.

It seemed they understood each other just fine. The Kid took a stance and held up his hands in front of him; in the same motion Pyth's vibrations became more violent, their staredown more and more intense until finally the Bull charged for a third time. The Kid didn't move, he had no intentions of moving and with a mighty step forward, Pyth's horns crashed into the Kid's outstretched hands. The force pushed The Kid back a fair ways, but eventually he managed to dig his heels in to a stop; the Bull's body having never fully come into contact with The Kid's...now it was a match of strength between the two. Both of them stood in the center of the Arena pushing back at one another with their heads resting against one another; neither one of them seeing fit to give any ground to the other.]

Edited 2014-01-01 06:50 (UTC)

[...What is he doing.]

[Zulf raises up again to get a better look, brow furrowed and gaze flickering to the discarded gun. This seems almost reckless, and he's admittedly a bit worried. Also admittedly, he's not sure if it's more for Kid or Pyth. There's a look in the boy's eyes that Zulf can spot even from this distance. There's an even bigger hope in him that nothing reckless or sacrilegious is done.]

[When Pyth finally charges, Zulf wants to hell and it truly is halfway out his throat before his breath stops sharply. That... is a sight he hasn't seen through any of the matches. He mutters something under his breath in Ura, not even realizing he's done it, and presses the knuckles of one hand to his mouth as he keeps his eyes locked onto the spectacle.]

[It was anyone's game, now.]

[The Kid felt the hot steam against his face and grit his teeth as his muscles strained against the Bull pushing into him; it was putting everything it had into its charge, but the Kid refused to budge. Perhaps it was his anger...anger at being back here, at feeling lied to, at feeling left out when he could have helped. Maybe it was his stubborn pride, his inability to call it quits even when he probably should have...or maybe it was his hope that always seemed to show through. Either way, The Kid found solid footing finally under heel and surprisingly began to push back against Pyth.

The sound of straining metal filled the air along with a low, rumbling grunt that turned into a guttural battle cry. Slowly, painfully, anyone watching would see the bull begin to rise. The Kid's muscles straining against his skin as he put all of his anger, all of his emotion, and all of his hope into his actions until finally the Bull was being held vertically over his head; its tail pointing towards the heavens as The Kid held the Bull firmly in his grip.]

[This is absolutely blasphemous in some way. It's that or Kid will have Pyth's favor for the rest of his life. Zulf honestly cannot say.]

[He will no doubt be smoking for the rest of this round, however.]

[The Kid held the Bull aloft for a few moments, keeping his eyes locked with it as it shook and shuddered as if attempting to escape; though finally it came to a calm rest. With a groan, he set Pyth down gently and respectfully; he'd proven his strength to the God of Commotion and Order, that was all he needed and that was all Pyth seemed to need. The Kid rested a hand on its snout and whispered a small apology for bashing him one across the face before he walked over to retrieve his gun; holstering it with a sigh.

He felt calm now, he'd gotten his feelings out and felt those feelings in something else; however alive he could call a mechanical avatar of Pyth. It was good enough for them both, and with a nod, The Kid walked over to the wall and hopped up and over, taking a seat next to Zulf. He didn't speak, not yet...he just wanted to relish the feelings lifted off his shoulders for the moment.]

[By the time Kid has come back up to the stands, Zulf has already gotten his pipe out from somewhere and is taking in a deep breath of it. Nothing is said from his end, either. There's just the steady sound of breathing while smoke starts to curl and fill the air over their heads. Finally, he gives a sigh.]

You are one of the most amazing people I have ever had the chance to know.

Y'think?

[The Kid simply sat staring out at Pyth as it puttered about the arena, presumably waiting for the next person to challenge it; taking in the smoke from Zulf's pipe as it wafted past, it was better than taking a full hit and at least he got some of the calming effects in tow.]

What makes y'say that?

[Zulf just heaves a sigh out. It's not surprising that the Kid would say that, but still.]

Do you want to hear the long explanation, or should I merely stay with the simple manner of telling you that you just now lifted a heavy, metal, mechanical bull avatar of a God over your head?

Humor me...I did what I had t'do, dunno how that makes me special.

[He'd never viewed himself as overly impressive or amazing as Zulf put it; he simply did what he needed to do in order to stay alive. It was the most basic of human drives...surely nothing he did would be any more amazing than things other's did, he was just a kid after all.]

Even if it was what had to be done, that doesn't mean that people are always able to do it.

[Another deep inhale- Zulf suspects he'll rather need it.]

How many people would you estimate have been lost to the Wilds?

...No real way t'know. Wilds don't leave no trace.

[Everything in the Wild's got used once it was left behind, that included people to. If one thing didn't have a use, something else did until nothing was left...and it was a shock at first how quickly people could vanish without a trace.]

That's not surprising, but I'm not asking for a solid answer. What would you guess?

Thousands...hundreds of thousands prolly.

Yet, knowing this, you still went into them multiple times and came out of it all successful just as much.

Now how long have you worked on the Rippling Walls? And how old are you, exactly?

Seven years on the wall...I'm nineteen, why?

[He wasn't quite sure where Zulf was going with all these math related questions. He didn't like math, it never was his best subject.]

Seven? [Oh, Micia-] I've never heard of anyone doing more than five.

You take on one of the most dangerous and taxing jobs in the world longer than most, you regularly go into one of the most dangerous places here, and you're still comparatively young compared to other people who have done those things! I'm not even halfway done talking about all the things you've done.

Yet you talk about it all as if it's nothing.

It is nothin. 'S been my life fer 's long as I can remember.

[The memories he had of his early life weren't all that pleasant; just a whole lot of loss and the work he buried himself so he wouldn't have to focus on it.]

World don't care how old'r young y'are, all that matters 's if y'can keep pace. Ain't nothin' special 'bout that.

Edited 2014-01-02 06:21 (UTC)

[Zulf gives up. He sighs and shakes his head.]

Well, Zia and I think quite differently. We both think you're quite extraordinary.

[The Kid gave a small nod and reached a hand up to give Zulf a few pats on the shoulder; he wasn't used to all this praise, but for what it was worth, it felt nice.]

'M just happy I'm doin' right by you two.

...I will do my best to do right by the two of you as well.

[That's one thing he'd promised to himself, even going to pray to Acobi that he might keep himself to such an oath. It didn't matter how justified or not his actions had been then- they'd just brought about more hardship especially for the Kid and Zia. The Calamity hadn't been able to be stopped... But he at least wanted to help the Bastion do its purpose this time.]

Yer doin' a stand up job s'far.

[Without Zulf's words, he might have not been able to carry on as he was now. He was particularly bad at expressing himself and honestly this was the most he'd talked in ages to anyone...but he was thankful for Zulf's help...it was much easier to bear his burdens with an extra shoulder.]

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fuckthemancers - 2014-01-02 07:44 (UTC) - Expand

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