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

Yes. [For the first time since she's spoken here, Zia's voice is steady. There's not a hint of hesitation to her answer.

She knows, of course, every terrible secret in that book. And she doesn't regret learning it. If anything, she thinks better of the man her father was for it.]

Yes, absolutely.

[God damn it...

Rin shut her eyes tight, head tilting up as she let out a distressed noise through her teeth.

Wordlessly, she turned on her heel and stomped in to the pantry. A few seconds later something could be heard scraping across the floor until she came back out, hefting a very heavy looking barrel high in her arms. Not many other people would have been able to move it easily, which made it the perfect thing to cover the hole in the wood in the back of the pantry and keep people from poking around too much.

Not that it mattered now.

A second return to the pantry, and this time she came out with something much smaller - the journal, wrapped protectively in cloth.]

Nathaniel thinks... no one should have it. That it's too dangerous...

[Zia's just about to follow Rin when she comes back with the barrel. Before she can ask, she's gone again—and when Rin comes back, Zia recognizes the journal even all bound up and covered. Her heart skips a beat.]

Nathaniel also punched Zulf in the face, so I don't know about his opinions on what's dangerous. [It's an arduous effort to sound sassy, and it shows.

Her eyes are fixated on the journal. She holds her hands out—doesn't go for it; Rin isn't going to like it if she just tries to take it, but she's ready to be given it.

Her voice is a thin, thin whisper when she speaks.] It's all I've got, Rin.

[Rin doesn't hand it over immediately, but the comment about what Nathaniel had done to Zulf brought a rueful smile tight across her lips. She knows. She was there for it, and she got the hell scared right out of her for a moment when they'd both gone over the edge.

She'd rather not repeat that, if it could be helped at all.]

We've been together since the start. I trusted him. He's the closest thing to a leader we've had in this place...

[There's an aborted motion with the journal, but after a pause she follows through with it, placing the wrapped item in Zia's hands.

A sign that unfortunately, some of that trust had been broken.]

If some one had somethin' of the old man's... I don't care what story was attached to it, I'd want it, too. And I'd fight like hell to get it back.

[As soon as the journal's in her hands, Zia clutches it against her chest, breathes a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. But she doesn't relax; if anything, she goes more rigid, like the book's likely to be snatched from her grasp if she so much as loosens her hold.

The few things she knows about Nathaniel make her cringe just to think about it, so she doesn't comment on that. Anything she'd say would be likely to just stir the pot. He is her very last concern right now, anyway.]

Thank you. Thank you. [Tears threaten to start brimming in her eyes so she closes them, and breathes slow and deep to keep herself from getting visibly worked up.]

Thank you.

[Rin has no intentions of taking it back. It's out of her hands now, and she's thankful not to have that burden on her anymore.

The same can't be said for others wanting to get their hands on it... but she'll stand by her decision, regardless of what they think. And she'll defend Zia to the death if need be, just so she can keep a memento that means far more than the words written inside it.]

It wasn't right... to put you in that position. [It wasn't right to put Rin in that position either, but she won't say that] I'm sorry you had to get it back like this.

No, I'm just glad I've got it back. It's not your fault.

[After taking another breath, steeling herself, she looks up at Rin and smiles. It's shaky, but sincere.]

And...I won't let them know I have it. They don't need to. Unless you've gotta tell them. [At least right now, it doesn't matter—she has the journal, and she'll cross those other bridges about its content when she comes to them.]

Thank you, Rin.

[Rin let out a breath of air heavily, scrubbing hands over her face before letting them rest on top of her head. She should, but...]

I ain't gonna say anythin' unless I need to. That thing belongs to you and no one else, I don't care what Nathaniel says.

[The joy in Zia's expression steadies. She nods and, after some consideration, tucks the journal under her coat. It's not all that subtle, but better than carrying a book-shaped bundle back to her room. If she hustles, she'll be fine.]

Then I'll keep it hidden. Thank you. [She can't say it enough. Then, after a pause—] You're a real good friend, Rin.

[Things Rin wasn't expecting to hear: that.

Her mouth opens in slight surprise, and color comes to her cheeks before she closes it, letting out a heavy huff through her nose.]

Y-yeah well...

[Zia chuckles, but it quivers with the worry that she's said and still saying the wrong thing. It's not like friendship has ever come easy to her; she can't quite gauge Rin's reaction.]

Sorry. I just—it means a lot. It really does.

[Rin is in the same boat, Zia. Even in this place.]

I get it. Really. I... lost my dad, too. Before this place but... not that long ago. And my sister-- ... she didn't make it here, either.

[She reached in to her shirt from the top, tugging out a red, white and silver pin, somewhat tarnished and scratched attached haphazardly on to a stripe of leather as a necklace.]

I found this at her statue, out there. It was part of her uniform. I don't care if it had the secret to... like the biggest thing in the universe - if some one tried to take it from me, I'd knock their head off.

Day 151

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