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epidemiology2018-02-03 12:28 am
futurologists) wrote in epidemiology2018-02-03 12:28 am
Entry tags:
- ! plot,
- 2b (nier automata),
- 9s (nier automata),
- aleksandra zaryanova (overwatch),
- aloy (horizon zero dawn),
- arya stark (asoiaf),
- daenerys targaryen (asoiaf),
- finn (star wars),
- fiona (borderlands),
- giovanni (dogs: bullets & carnage),
- gorō majima (yakuza),
- inuyasha (inuyasha),
- jason grace (camp half-blood chronicles),
- keith (voltron),
- khada jhin (league of legends),
- kisuke urahara (bleach),
- kylo ren (star wars),
- laphicet (tales of berseria),
- lissa (fire emblem: awakening),
- lucina (fire emblem: awakening),
- odinson (marvel comics),
- rey (star wars),
- rhys (borderlands),
- scott summers (marvel comics),
- shouta aizawa (my hero academia),
- simon jarrett (soma),
- stiles stilinski (teen wolf),
- vaughn (borderlands),
- veronica lodge (riverdale),
- wylan van eck (grishaverse),
- yusuke urameshi (yu yu hakusho)
EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE
EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE  The royalty of Guild Ophelia has managed to hold an audience with Empress Nama of the Celestial Mountains, urging her to meet with the Empress of the Crashing Wave in the interest of finding an accord between their clans. In return, Nama requests that Ophelia take two letters to the Crashing Wave's court, where, as foreigners, they should be received better than any of her own people. The Empire of the Crashing Wave is a week's travel by foot from the Land of Celestial Mountains, through the forests and farms of the Flowerlands. There is no visible indication that this universe was once two, with even the road leading through the Flowerlands heading seamlessly toward the sea. The farms and villages in the outskirts of the Empire of the Crashing Wave are decorated in seashells and motifs of the sea, and the closer one gets to the city, the stronger the scent of the ocean becomes. Once the city proper is reached, Ophelia's magitek projects words in front of their eyes that only they can see: Location reached:The city is built right on the ocean's edge, with some parts of it even jutting out into the sea on bridges and piers. The castle, Peaceful Tide, is built high above the rest; guards will stop anyone at the gates and, if shown the correspondence from Empress Nama, will deliver the letters directly to Empress Youmi. Attempts to seek an audience with Youmi will be rebuffed for the time being, so you may as well take in the sights... ▸ A PROMISING DEVELOPMENT  Closer to the Beach, there is a boardwalk where young couples stroll alongside grandparents chasing after their grandchildren, electric lamps bathing the wooden planks in a warm glow at night. Fishermen haul in their daily catch in buckets and nets, trailed by a gaggle of hopeful cats. Beachcombers and pearl divers populate the beach as well, making it a clear place for work instead of play. A few days after Ophelia's arrival in sea clan territory, a bell rings loudly in the late afternoon, drawing citizens toward the castle. Guards stop anyone from getting too close, though the populace seems to know what to expect -- soon, a beautiful woman in an elaborate blue kimono appears in an upper balcony. When viewing the woman, Ophelia's magitek will tell them: » EMPRESS YOUMIThe crowd cheers at Youmi's arrival, only quieting once she raises her hand. She speaks clearly and confidently, her voice carrying easily across the assembly. "I have received a letter from Her Imperial Majesty Nama of the Land of Celestial Mountains. She informs me that their spring festival was interrupted by an attack from our own people, working without my knowledge or consent," Youmi begins, holding her hand up again when a displeased rumble begins to ripple through the crowd. It's unclear if they're perturbed by the ambush or by Nama herself. Once all is silent again, she continues. "She has detained the criminals, for that is what they are, and assures me she will not bring this to the battlefield. I will send her an agreement to the terms, but hear this: any who escalate this further will be slain by my order. I have spoken. The spirits of the sea watch over us all." Youmi then retreats back into the castle. While some citizens cheer their empress's decree, others mutter unhappily amongst themselves as they disperse and go about their business. ▸ BUT TROUBLE CONTINUES  As the sun sinks down, finding a place to sleep might be a good idea. There are hotels in the city, but for those who are trying to be a little more frugal, the Flowerlands is a good place to set up camp for free. Doro, the Lord of the Flowerlands, has heard of Ophelia's efforts in starting communication between the empresses as well, and offers rooms in his castle in thanks; if war were to start between the two, his land would suffer for it. During the night, those who accept Doro's invitation will hear a commotion very nearby, steel clashing against steel. Doro and his daughters rush out, weapons drawn, and straight into a skirmish between sea and mountain clan ronin. The warriors are fighting to kill, and in their fervor, someone's fire arrow alights a farmhouse on Doro's property. The farmers need to be rescued and the fire put out, and while the warriors will likely kill each other, they could also be subdued to prevent further damage. Please let the mods know with a link to the thread if your character is killing or capturing any of the ronin. After the skirmish, Doro must be brought back inside his castle, having been wounded during the battle. He pleads with Ophelia to continue to help, as it looks like a tentative truce by the empresses is not enough to calm the citizens. Since they were so successful in receiving an audience with Nama, he believes they can propose a way the two empires can live in harmony. Throughout the next two weeks, skirmishes between the clans are peppered throughout the Flowerlands, some leaving bodies behind and some leaving damage to farms and forest. It looks like Ophelia's peacekeeping mission just became a lot more hands-on: keep the skirmishes from getting out of control while still working toward a way to end the conflict once and for all. ▸ OOC NOTES This log will last for two IC weeks: the first three days will be free exploration, and day four is Youmi's proclamation and the skirmish in the Flowerlands. Your characters are free to explore for the next ten days, during which further skirmishes will occur. If you have questions about this log or the overall mission, please ask them on the dossier. Questions about Futurology in general should be directed to the FAQ. ▸ Coming next log: Peace proposals! Get your brainstorming started now. ▸ Activity Check is due on 5 February 23:59 UTC. We do not accept late submissions, so make sure you fill it out! ▸ Uniform Design Contest is open! Submissions are due 28 February 23:59 UTC. Gamewide voting will be in March. ▸ Bounty Board ▸ Items Page ▸ Exploration Group Planning ▸ General Plotting ▸ February Calendar |
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At what cost?
Her tastebuds apparently. It takes a moment for her to manage swallowing, but she finally gets it done and gropes for the water, downing that far faster... before she manages a trembling forced smile.]
What a smooth flavor... !
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Smooth is not the word I would use.
[ Hideous is likely closer to the truth. ]
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[She nearly chokes she downs the water so fast... then another mouthful for good measure, swishing it around in puffed out cheeks before she thinks she might finally have gotten rid of the taste.
Maybe she can consider it practice for Loki's teachings on lying, this valient attempt not to look intensely upset by that sake flavor.]
I can honestly say I have never tasted it's like...
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I would recommend the honesty over attempting to make smooth work.
[ The second sentence was more ambiguous, allowing for assumptions to be made. If Sieglinde was intent on finding something that could be interpreted as positive to say, it served her better. ]
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[And also go for a few more swigs of water, because by the goddess that taste was pervasive.]
And console myself later with my last sip of your birthday gift...
[It's almost been a year since then... but, she's been rationing.]
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If you wanted more, you could have asked.
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[It tastes like... whatever she wanted it to, and it's the only way she thinks she might ever taste the drinks of her own world, home brewed... so a sip there, a sip here... and she's kept it safe in her bag over the course of their missions.
But, wait-]
... I could have?
[Even though she thinks making such items must be child's play for bona fide gods, it still hadn't actually occurred to Sieglinde to just ask. Not for so selfish a thing... and besides, it had been a birthday present.
That made it special.]
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I would not have minded. You do more than enough for so many of us.
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[She actually stops herself before she finishes that thought, forces herself to make sure she understands it before she turns it into words. There was a feeling she had, sometimes... a carefulness with Ahad, with Loki, that she did not display with others. Maybe it was the upbringing of a witch come face to face with true gods, but...]
You never like it when I thank you for things... and I would then thank you...
[She'd meant to ask him, once upon a time... what exactly their relationship was. Before she realized that with how cryptically he spoke, she should surely despair of a proper answer. Still... she looks at him sidelong now, as if she might find one there.]
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For you, I believe I could tolerate one thank you. As long as it does not happen with any frequency.
[ Ahad isn't one to open up without good reason. If Sieg wants an explanation, she will have to ask directly.
Not that asking directly guarantees a direct answer. ]
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But. She's had enough sake. And enough time beside him.]
Because we are "friends", or... ?
[That was the word Loki had used. Friends. But there are others just as good. As nice to be with someone else.
Any of them would do.]
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[ He could answer. They are friends, but...
What's the use of having friends, if you cannot tease them? He's curious about how she'll respond, in any case. ]
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[Sieglinde stares at his face for a long moment, struggling for the answer to that question with a slight flush to her cheeks. (It's probably all the sake.)]
Companions... ? Partners... ? Teammates... ? Allies... ?
[She hopes not the last two... they sounded so impersonal...]
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[ He knows he still hasn't answered the question, but now it's become almost like a game. How far can he push before she pushes him back? ]
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She reaches behind her blindly and gropes about until she finds another sake bottle and goes to fill their cups with something less foul tasting. At least- it smells like it will taste less foul.]
Well, which words would you use...
[She's trying.]
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[ He'll hold his expression still, but there's a sly grin waiting to come out. ]
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Bringing the full lessons she has been learning from Loki to bear, Sieglinde lets her expression fall slightly, shoulders cave in as if she has just heard most depressing news, pulling her sake closer with a depressed nod.]
Oh, I see... "colleagues". Of course. Very fitting.
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A single tear, trickling down your cheek, would add well to that.
[ and now he's smiling. ]
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Sieglinde tries hard, she does, shoulders hunching, bottom lip trembling, trying to force it... but as easy as she thinks it would be to cry if she let herself think about certain other things...
She isn't sad. (Right now, here, spending time with him.)
So she gives up to pout into her drink.]
Well I value you, so there-
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[ He may, in fact, be smiling. ]
I suppose that I must admit to valuing you, as well.
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Sieglinde perks up immediately, as if she had not been attempting to cry a mere second ago at all, sparkling slightly with hope... before she slyly scoots closer to him on the bench.
And closer.
And closer.
Smiling up at him with a bit of a smile and emerald eyes that prompts silently for just a bit more... while he's feeling gregarious! (For Ahad.)]
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He'll sigh gently, aware of what she's after. ]
You are my friend, Sieglinde. Valuing you is part of that.
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Sieglinde doesn't stop until she's practically hip to hip, and only then does she reach out to grab Ahad's arm... and practically bury her face against it.
(She might be a bit more intoxicated than she liked to acknowledge, but that might also be just an excuse.)
Mumbled, into his shirt,]
You know... of all the people I have known who yet live... I have known you the second longest of all.
[Her mother, the women of her village... they were burnt bones in the ashes of the lie that her life had been. Wolfram yet lived... but Wolfram wasn't here. The two who had come to take her from that place, they yet lived... but she had known them all of a week.
Ahad... Loki... before she knew it, they'd become the most constant presences in her life. Graham was gone. Ban was gone. Masamune was gone.
It has so much value.]
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After some deliberation, what he does do is lean down to kiss her lightly on the top of her head. ]
I did not know that.
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... Loki is second.
[Chantes seems so long ago, at times. How many of their number were even left, who had served that long?
It occurs to her that it might only be them.]
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