Day 151

[bastionmods]

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.]

Comments

[fuckthemancers]

[Zulf comes to a stop, just staring down at the counter for a moment, before he reaches into his pocket again. What he pulls out is the spare Lemaign bracelet that she saw him take at the Festival.]

Rucks. I honestly can't even begin to tell you all the things that ridiculous old man has been a part of.. Mason, certainly, but perhaps a trigger as well and who knows how many other things... But he was also a high ranking Mancer. High enough that he could have regular contact with that accursed weapon.

But it's not what Nathaniel believes. Not one of us- Zia, Rucks, myself- none of us wanted that weapon to be used upon anyone. Not the Ura, not the Caels.

[He turns back to look at her, eyes heavy with sadness and pain.]

We wanted to make it so that it wouldn't work. Not even simply to turn on for a maintenance check. Even if just for a short while... We wanted it out of commission.

[hellpyre]

He-- ... he was tryin' to--

[Fucking hell what is that word. Rin screws up her face a bit, but the word doesn't come to her mind and she eventually gives up on it.]

Break it on purpose?

[fuckthemancers]

Sabotage.

[A dry smile.]

That's right. It's.... a long and complicated story, but some time after I came to Caelondia on a mission of peace, I ended up meeting Zia. Together, through her father, we learned about what the Mancers had planned. We knew that, once they had the plans, delaying tactics could only work for so long...

So Rucks was supposed to sabotage it while I would go through the city to see if I could find anyone else to get on our side. It... wasn't very safe. Ura in Caelondia are rarely treated well, and it would have been easy to pin just about anything on me. But we wanted to find people who wouldn't endorse the Mancer's plans and would do something about it.

But then... I don't know. [His fingers curl into the bracelet until he feels the metal start to bite.] The next thing I know, the Marshals- the law enforcers of Caelondia- were after myself and Zia. All we could do is hide... and then the Calamity happened.

[He drags a hand across his face- the uninjured side.]

We were going to tell the rest of the Bastion this eventually... The Kid thinks we should and we both agree with him. It's just- not an easy thing to tell.

[hellpyre]

Yeah, that.

[Thank you for putting up with her stupid, Zulf.]

It'd be one thing if it was just your world, Zulf. But it was all of ours. I'unno how many Caels there were. How many Ura there were. But... my world? The place where Bon, Night and I came from?

There were billions of people. They're gone now.

And that's just one... just one'a the worlds that got dragged to this fuckin' rock in the sky.

[She slips off her stool, moving to his side.]

They deserve to know.

[fuckthemancers]

I know.

[His shoulders slump, and exhaustion is starting to come over his face.]

We were going to tell everyone soon, after the Festival... I suppose we're going to have to speak up all the sooner.

If you want to know the truth... I'm actually more worried about telling my fellow Ura about all of this than any of you.

[hellpyre]

[Rin is with you there. This has been one hell of a way to end a festival...]

But wouldn't not tellin' them be worse? I know sometimes there's reason for it, but you can't keep it from 'em forever...

[fuckthemancers]

It would.

[He rakes his fingers through his hair, messing up the normally tidy strands.]

Hopefully coming clean will help temper whatever anger they have, but... I'm still not looking forward to it. [A heavy sigh.] I hope I can convince them all to calm down and not leave...

[hellpyre]

[A scoff escaped the girl, arms moving to wrap around herself again. God she just felt... uncomfortable. She had worked so hard to make a life for herself in this place, to stick by her motto of "keep moving forward" even when she found herself in low moments. But now... what would happen when everyone was told? Was that all going to fall apart?

Would she lose her home for the third time?]

... where would they even go?

[fuckthemancers]

...The Tazal Terminals. Our home.

That's where I- [went] -would go. Zahi and Zanya could make it. Stuart and his daughter as well if they went along with them.

[hellpyre]

[Her mouth opened to say something, but hesitance brought her to a stop. Her jaw snapped shut with a click, muscles working tense beneath the surface of her skin.

God damn it.

She didn't want it to be like this.]

... at least they'd have some place then.

[fuckthemancers]

I'd rather they be here.

[He raises his hand, hesitates, and then finally lays it down gently on Rin's shoulder.]

It's too dangerous to make such a journey. And besides... The Bastion can fix things. We just need to stay united.

[hellpyre]

Don't you think I want that, too? We can't go back in time and make everythin' right again, so this is our home now, isn't it?

1/3

[fuckthemancers]

[fuckthemancers]

[UH]

[fuckthemancers]

[no you know what, no]

[just no he is not even going there]

Listen... Why don't we clean up the kitchen, and then I'll show you something, alright? I may hate the Mancers, but... I do have good memories of Caelondia. I wouldn't have gone there if I hated it.

[hellpyre]

[That's a good choice, Zulf. She can't take much more today, and you really don't want to see a half demon descend in to insanity.]

... 'kay.

[That much she can manage.]

[fuckthemancers]

[He starts to straighten out her messy clothes and smooth down her hair, giving the best comforting smile he can. It's... not quite perfect, but he is doing the best he can.]

I can't promise you too much, Rin, but I swear I will do my best to make sure things turn out alright. At least with this.

[It's the same promise he's already made to a few other people, and he's determined to do it or die trying. He's already nearly gone to see the Mother once before, after all. He's not worried about doing it again.]

[hellpyre]

[A faintly sad smile shows up at that, with it memories of a certain priest who would pat her hair and fix her clothes whenever she came home with a bloody nose or another bruise before sending her off to her sister to get patched up. He really had cared about her, even if those last years had been difficult for both of them to get through...]

I'm... not gonna just give up. I can't do that. Whatever happens I'm gonna fight to keep us all together.

[fuckthemancers]

...Thank you. If you need to talk to anyone, I'm always available- or Zia.

[But enough of that. He steps away and heads towards the broom.]

Now, let's clean this place up, shall we?

[hellpyre]

Thanks. I'll remember that...

[She also has Bon, too. For all their still-awkward, he is a good foil to her far more intense emotions.

Luckily, though, for all the destruction she wreaked on the poor kitchen, clean up doesn't go that badly. Some of the burned dishes may need more attention later, but for the time being it doesn't take all that long to get things looking like they had been earlier in the morning.]

[fuckthemancers]

[Hey, even the burned dishes aren't that bad, at least in Zulf's eyes. It's all about taking them apart. Some of the meat can still be used for a good stew. Sure, it's not a very fancy dish but Zulf has always found that it's simple and filling. With the end of the world, that's all you need.]

[Work is also a good way to keep him distracted, which is honestly what he needs right now. He's always spent enough time needlessly worrying when it's not helping anything.]

[With everything down, he steps back and pats down his skirts.]

There... That should do it.

[hellpyre]

[True. She's good enough at her craft that even a simple mistake can usually be saved by her. Most of the burning was just something getting over done in her distraction and not a result of her flames going out of control. There's still useable and edible food around here, for all the mistakes she did make today.]

Mhm! That wasn't so bad after all...

[fuckthemancers]

Well, there were two of us working on it. I suppose that made the workload seem simpler.

So, why don't we just step out of the kitchen for a while? Getting some fresh air might do us good.

[hellpyre]

True.

[That she can't argue with. She has kind of confined herself to the kitchen the past few days.]

'kay.

[fuckthemancers]

[That's not healthy, Rin.]

[...not that Zulf can talk or anything.]

[He holds open the door for her. Just looking out onto the rest of the Bastion and thinking of the fast approaching future is enough to make him feel heavy... But he'll try not to think about it for now.]