thebastion | Day 151

Who: Zia, Zulf + the NPCs Nathaniel, Zanya, Zahi + YOU
Open: Open
When: Day 151
Where: Throughout the Bastion
What: Tension has fallen over the Bastion, and it's time to sort out truth and anger.
Format: Any
Warnings: Drama

A few days ago, some residents of the Bastion might have become aware of a confrontation happening at a certain Ura's humble abode. There was some yelling- although not clear- and the result was a very harried looking Rin Okumura forcibly dragging away resident Mancer Nathaniel. The next couple of days have been quiet, but today... Well, if anyone wants to ask about and see what the deal was, it seems like today is the day.

It seems like Nathaniel has finally quit his own self imposed isolation, if only so that he doesn't starve to death. Apparently anger can only sustain a man for so long. He can be seen storming through the Bastion, a thundercloud practically gathered about him, or at the eating area looking very much like he wants to be left alone.

Zulf has been less of a hermit. Anyone who has seen him since the argument has probably noticed his black eye and sore nose. He seems angry as well, although it's quieter and colder underneath all his civility. More noticeably, he's been hard at work building a few fences near the edges of the Bastion- mostly near his tent but also in other areas as well. They're not the best fences, but they're good enough, hopefully. You can approach him at the shrine, his tent, or anywhere, really... He's as available as he's always been. He might even approach you, just to warn about falling off the edge of the Bastion.

Seriously, this place has needed safety railings for ages now. Who's bright idea was it not to include safety railings? ~~RUCKS...~~

Anyone wandering by the Kitchens today will notice... Damn, that's a lot of yelling. And slamming of things. Should knives be used to chop that hard...? That's right, Rin is in a bad mood and anyone who comes near will immediately know it. The excess swearing is probably a good clue. Unlike the other two, she's unleashing her temper with wild abandon in the sanctity of her kitchen where no one will bug her. Well. Unless YOU bug her...

Of course, these three aren't the only ones noticeable about the Bastion today! It looks like the Ura residents are just coming out of the woodwork.

Anyone who's talked to either of the latest Ura additions knows that Zulf came in with Zia. While not involved with the row from a few days ago, she seems just as worried as Zulf seems angry. It's possible to see her wandering about with her pet Pecker chick. Might see her coming away after a discussion with Zulf, too... Maybe she knows what's going on?

There's also Zanya and her father Zahi who have been apparently a bit more sociable these last few days. There's apparently a subject they're both interested in which they'll approach people about, although they'll do so differently. Zahi will strike up friendly conversation, but Zanya will simply get right to the point: do you have any idea what happened?

Feel free to strike up conversation with any of them, or even try and talk to everyone if you wish.

[ooc: This is your characters chance to investigate just what the drama is all about! In such a small place as the Bastion, it's a bit hard to miss... Feel free to have your characters speculate or gossip with the Ura NPCs about what may have happened or if they caught onto a sliver of what happened (like Zulf and Nathaniel falling off the edge of the Bastion), or for them to go the more direct route by talking to either Nathaniel, Zulf, Rin, or Zia.]

[Long story short is that Rin went to get Venn's journal from Nathaniel. Upon realizing who exactly wanted it, Nathaniel went to confront Zulf. There was an argument on just who and what caused the Calamity... and then Nat punched Zulf in the face, they rolled off the edge of the Bastion, and Rin separated them after they got blown back up.]

[As a reminder! Mod Mandy plays NPC!Nathaniel and NPC!Zahi. Mod Jeni plays NPC!Zanya and Rin. Birdmod James plays Zulf. Helpful player Courtney plays Zia. We'll all get to you on our own individual time, and as soon as possible! Just make sure it's clear in your post who your character is approaching.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's okay. I like animals. They're often a lot easier to relate to than people.

[Colin reaches out and gently strokes two fingers over the Pecker's head.]

Any idea what prompted the fight?

[Zia chuckles and nods in agreement. Animals are easy; her Pecker doesn't care where she comes from, the Squirt will be friends with her so long as she feeds it, Tama-chan will not pry answers to questions about unfortunate situations out of her.

The Pecker's cheerful chirping quiets when Zia shrinks into herself at the question; leans forward, draws her knees together and her shoulders in.]

Zulf wanted to get the journal from him. It belonged to my father.

He said as much when I talked to him a before the festival.

[Colin keeps right on petting the Pecker, gently and soothingly. No need to panic the little guy.]

You feel like this is your fault? Or am I reading your reaction wrong?

[His tone is soft, curious. He's not going to push her hard.]

[Her eyebrows knit together and she tilts a corner of her mouth up. If only it were that easy, if only the journal was just a nostalgic trifle and Zulf went after it just for her. No, it's too much more than that.

She doesn't say so. When she decides on an answer to give instead, she looks away from him.] Even the nicest Caelondians have grown up being told about how awful the Ura are, you know.

Actually, I don't. I can imagine, but I've never seen it here.

[There's that thing that drives him nuts, again... fortunately, he does get angry. He's just going to keep petting that bird.]

Racism is never fair. Did Nathan do something because you're Ura?

Edited 2014-01-23 04:36 (UTC)

Not me. [Nah, Zulf might actually murder Nathaniel if that was the case.]

Assumed Zulf was up to no good, 'cause Ura never are. And it escalated. [Just thinking about it all makes her nervous, and she draws even further into herself. The Pecker's head keeps twitching, unsure, but he's too preoccupied with all that attention he's receiving to be too concerned.]

[There's a frown, but Colin's very good at not being distracted by emotion.]

That doesn't sound like Nathan. But that's what caused the fight? Or did something else happen on top of that?

No, of course it doesn't sound like Nathan. [She doesn't suddenly snap from her curled-up position, but she does go rigid in it. The Pecker chirps in alarm and twitches his head in every direction, searching for a threat.

Zia has seen enough kids get off scot-free from old prejudices for being so perfectly amicable. There's not enough in her to be angry about it anymore; she's just tired.]

You don't get it. You really, really don't get it. Here's what you hear about the Ura in Caelondia, Colin: they're untrustworthy, they're up to something, they're selling out the city, they're uncivilized hole-people all scared of the sun and old stories.

[She is trying so, so hard to summon up fire from inside her, to be towering and loud and strong, but her voice shakes like the Calamity and her muscles are all stone-solid, unmovable.]

An Ura goes anywhere near an important-looking place and they're arrested. A Caelondian says an Ura's up to something and the Ura doesn't even get a trial, much less a side of the story.

[She stares hard at her lap, ducks her head down so that maybe Colin won't be able to tell that there are tears brimming in her eyes.]

That's how it is. There's never been a Caelondian in the city who didn't learn how awful the Ura were as soon as they could hear the words. I don't wanna hear about how he's actually so nice, Colin.

Did I say he was nice?

[Colin isn't put off by her outburst. He isn't worried about her rage. He's just trying to find out what happened.]

I said that doesn't sound like him. I don't know him any better than I know any of you. I'm trying to find out more.

May I give you a hug? You look like you need it.

[He's gently rubbing his thumb over the Pecker's neck, now.]

It's okay, little guy. Your mom's having a tough time of things... It'll get better soon.

[She wants there to be fire in her, she wants to scream until her throat is raw and he actually gets the point. But Zia has never been so brave.

It's exactly like him, whether he's nice or not; it's exactly like every Caelondian she's ever met.

...Bar one; the exception, not the rule.]

No. [In her better moods, she is friendly, but never very touchy-feely. Not now, certainly.

The Pecker, meanwhile, is chirping blithely, content with all the affection.]

It's okay. Some people don't care for it. There's a reason I ask.

So... Nathan went off on Zulf, and apparently it's pretty common for Caels to have that kind of view on Ura. How disgusting.

[He controls his voice marvelously. He'd probably be showing his disgust, except there's a baby bird here that doesn't need to be exposed to that.]

Believe it or not, Zia, I'm not looking to blame anyone. I'm trying to find out what happened so I can fix it. None of us need those two at each others' throats.

[Still staring at her Pecker instead of Colin, Zia nods.]

A stupid misunderstanding based on a real stupid idea. There you have it.

[For a moment, she's quiet, considering that last statement. Finally, Zia looks up at him.]

What makes you think it's up to you to fix it? [Her voice is inquisitive, not unkind. The scope of it all is so amazingly beyond him; she doesn't think he can.]

When it comes to stupidity, external sources are often required to fix it.

Besides, when a group is unfairly treated, everyone suffers. I can't stand when that happens. It happens with AI, it happens with clones, it's still happening with the Meklar and the Alkari... If nobody speaks up about it and works to make things right, everyone suffers more.

Why should I stand back and let it happen when I can take a metaphorical wrench to it?

[He smiles in an attempt to be reassuring, his hand still gently petting the baby pecker.]

The multiverse would be a better place if more people worked to make things pleasant and fair. Or at least stop the unfairness.

Edited 2014-01-24 20:04 (UTC)

[Sorry, Colin; the reassuring look isn't working. One of her eyebrows quirks at the word "stupidity," unsure about exactly who's the stupid one in this equation. Nothing he says after that soothes that worried look, either.]

Sure. [Most of the specifics on that last one went over her head, but she'll roll with it.] But why you, out of everyone? What makes you think you're ready to deal with this?

Day 151

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