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]

[Such hard laughter nearly makes him worried, hand going to her back to help her get it all out... and also just to be there in case she starts to choke on her own breath, something he's seen happen.]

[He said it to make her feel better... He just didn't realize she'd find it that funny.]

[hellpyre]

[But getting her to laugh is a sign that it did make her feel better! Because he's right - she doesn't stand out here. Her tail and pointed ears and powers don't make her any more strange than the blue deer-like alien, the princess with the green skin or the giant dragon that likes to hang out in his own little field. She's a weirdo among weirdos, and she actually kind of loves that she is.

The target that was on her back for just being her is gone. She isn't hated just because she's related to Satan by no choice of her own.

It took the end of the world to find that sort of peace, but it's there... and she'll be happy with what she can get.]

S-sorry... just--... you're totally right!

[fuckthemancers]

Are you alright? You haven't choked or anything, have you?

[He needs to make sure of these things]

[hellpyre]

N-no! No. I'm good.

[The laughter faded out in to a chuckle, blue eyes bright for the first time in days.]

I didn't realize it... that I'm not so weird here. When everythin' changed for me back home it became this whole... thing about me bein' part demon and havin' to earn everyone's trust that I... I'unno, I stopped seein' myself as human. But I wasn't really a demon, either.

I had friends for the first time ever... but I still wondered where I really belonged.

[fuckthemancers]

You missed the fact that you now share your life with an enormous dragon? [Zulf gives a slight shake of his head.]

Well... The Bastion seems to draw in the misfits at the very least with the outright strange at the most. You don't have to worry about anything here.

...Well besides the basic needs of survival, at least.

[hellpyre]

...

[There's a strange silence from Rin, and for a moment it looks as though she's somewhere else entirely. In a memory that still replays in her mind, no matter how many times she tells herself she's not going to get the answer she wants...

A cage, a void in time and space she was locked in, screaming things to a barren sky, wondering if she even had the right to be alive. Until Shiemi showed up, and tried to convince her that she still had a reason to keep on living...]

It's... easy to get wrapped up in yourself, and not see what's around you...

[fuckthemancers]

Well... Hopefully this has helped open your eyes a little.

There's a lot to see here. It would be a shame if you were to miss things because the past was holding you back.

[hellpyre]

[As much as she wanted to move forward, there were a lot of things holding her back. Mostly all those unanswered questions, and the fact that she had been told straight up she was going to have to make a choice at some point. That might not have mattered as much here, where the worlds of humans and demons no longer existed, but it still bothered her...

Zulf had a point, though. Nodding, she straightened up a bit, putting on a smile.]

It has helped.

[fuckthemancers]

I'm glad then.

[A sigh as he looks out onto the void past the edge of the Bastion.]

Losing everything... everyone... isn't easy. But as Micia has taught me, that just means that now you have a new chance for so many other things. I understand how much it hurts from personal experience, but give the wounds time to heal. Mourn on your own time and then take your steps forward.

That's what I learned to do.

[hellpyre]

"I have to keep moving forward". That's... what I said, after Dad died. There wasn't anythin' else I could do. My other choices were to... well... die.

This isn't the first time I've had to pick myself back up again.

[Rin wraps her arms around her knees, following his gaze distantly.]

It's just a little harder this time, without Yuki. At least when Dad died we still had each other. She was one of the big reasons I didn't want to just lay down and let the Order finish me off.

[fuckthemancers]

Well... I hope some of us can make you feel better here. I know I'm still comparatively a newcomer to all of you, but I still want to help as much as I can.

[hellpyre]

[There's a noticeable grimace on Rin's features as he says that. She actually thinks about what she's going to say, considers not saying it, but in the end it still tumbles from her mouth with fairly reckless abandon.]

You've been more honest than certain other people have been so far...

[fuckthemancers]

[Zulf frowns a bit, breathing in through his nose.]

I was still dishonest, to some degree. I didn't tell you the entire reason for wanting Venn's journal, after all.

[hellpyre]

I know... but you didn't wait months to tell the truth, or have to have it dragged outta you by force.

I'unno... I just feel like this is somethin' he shoulda been honest about from the start. And now things are even worse than they woulda been 'cause he kept quiet.

[fuckthemancers]

[Well... Sort of by force.]

Everything will get sorted out soon enough. I'm certain of it. It might take some time, that's all.

[hellpyre]

[Not as much as it had taken them to get things out of Nathaniel.]

I hope so... I really don't wanna lose my home again...

[fuckthemancers]

You won't. [A dry twist of a smile comes across his face.] If there's anyone likely to lose their place here, it's me considering what happened between Nathaniel and I.

[hellpyre]

[Whoops now she's pouting]

I don't want you to go either!

[fuckthemancers]

Really?

[Whups he kind of feels surprised at this.]

[hellpyre]

Yes, really! Why would I want you to leave?!

[Rin befriends you hard or she doesn't befriend you at all.]

[fuckthemancers]

[Shonen protags, pls]

Well... I've only been here for a short while.

[hellpyre]

[this is your life now, Zulf]

So? We're friends... aren't we?

[fuckthemancers]

I... suppose so. I just haven't met many who've cared so much that quickly...

[hellpyre]

... is it weird? Tris said she was surprised I considered her a friend already.

[fuckthemancers]

Well... Perhaps a little. You should be careful, if you're too trusting, you can get hurt.