tushanshu_logs | [EVENT] ONCE MORE TO THE OPEN SEA

Characters: ALL
Date: Throughout August
Location: Hatal from 1st-16th, Keeliai all month
Situation: With Tu Vishan once more awake, hurried preparations are made for the departure from the continent.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings in subject headers as needed.

August starts much the same way as July ended, cold and stuck, but within a day or so a change is evident: at night, the bioluminescence of Tu Vishan's shell begins pulsing, in a bright, specific pattern.

Deciphered, the pattern counts down, pointing to the 16th. The citizens of Keeliai have that long to prepare, to finish their business and make any farewells they need to, before Tu Vishan resumes the itinerant lifestyle to which he was so long accustomed.

The waking of the turtle means, broadly, joy in the city, and also a bustling sense of busyness, as people who had grown comfortable in the patterns of Tavimbi-and-Keeliai find it's time to go their separate ways and rush to get affairs in order. For all that it's a departure, it's hopeful, coming as it does at a time when the state of the city is shifting as well, toward something perhaps more unified.

Tu Vishan is awake. The turtle moves.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Emboldened by the discord and seemingly disorganized state of authority in the city, criminals are having a veritable field day, even daring to commit crimes in broad daylight, or in open areas where they would not have considered before. Purse-snatching, muggings, and break-ins happen both day and night, and the Foreigners are as much a target as the kedan, especially if they aren't perceived to have any technological or magical means to defend themselves. (That doesn't mean those who do won't be targeted... just perhaps by the less intelligent criminals...)

Not everyone is happy about the prospect of this new government, either. Protests occur several times in the Courtyard of Public Opinion and sometimes devolve into violence, and with the Snakes stepping out of the peacekeeping role, it's up to whomever happens to be nearby -- and feeling up to intervening -- to keep things from getting truly aggressive.

Valdis had been certain to place a few of her officers at the Courtyard. Her reasoning had been 'just in case', but she knew that the kedan, like the humans in her world, could be foolish and emotions over politics and change often incited violence. The officers were there to give a show of unity and protect the peace, wearing the official KPD badges that Valdis had commissioned from the metal smiths of Hatal, signifying that they had passed the relevant courses and had the power to enforce the laws.

So far there had been only a few minor things and she was deep in paperwork at the Department when she sensed the spike in emotion at the Courtyard. Without a word, Valdis put down her pen, shifted and darted out of her office, heading toward the Central Sector. The Courtyard was in near chaos when Valdis arrived, with kedan shouting at each other and her officers trying to keep the peace. Valdis could sense the building rage and knew it would break loose before long.

That is enough! She roared, stepping into the courtyard with her hackles raised. This is a place for peace! Keep your anger in check and your fists at your sides or we will intervene.

Edited 2016-08-03 02:55 (UTC)

Chat had wandered over at the sound of the ruckus, too. The last thing any of them needed was a fight now. He can't say he's surprised the Snakes have purposefully kept themselves out of this. Probably making a point, he thinks. He was observing this mess on the roof, about to interfere when Valdis appears and does her thing.

He lands easily next to her, silent - like he'd been there the whole time.

"You might want to listen to her. She's got her game face on."

The alleys had always been safegoing for Yorda. She didn't really have a concept of crime - she had only just mastered the art of paying for things and (thanks to China's excellent instruction) getting discounts by looking very, very sad.

Having a small group of robbers try and snatch her little knit bag that she kept whatever ~~garbage~~ treasures she discovered was a wake-up call about the nature of currency and how easily one could be parted from it.

Yorda was having none of it.

She gripped her little bag tightly, and tried to worm away from the thieves, though in the ensuing struggle she cut her arm on one of their knives.

What dripped from the wound was like liquid shadow, and as soon as one of the Kedan thieves saw it, the knit bag and its contents were forgotten. They fled without even a second glance backwards.

A little too late, Ladybug saw the guys swarming around what appeared to be a young girl. A fierce look of disapproval crossed her face and she raced to put a stop to the banditry. But by the time she got there, they were already dispersing-- practically running away. That was... something. Ladybug blinked.

But that could wait. She turned to Yorda and gave her an apologetic smile.

"Are you okay? They didn't take anything, did they?"

Then she noticed the wound and gasped. That was definitely not normal-- and she's not sure what to do about it. But what surfaces isn't fear, it's concern. "You're hurt. Do you want to go to the clinic? I'm afraid I don't know a whole lot about first aid."

Yorda had backed away from Ladybug, quite skittish after what had happened. Though when she recognized the other girl wasn't going to try to rob her, she shook her head.

"No, they did not take anything. Thank you."

She rustled her bag and there was the clink of something broken. She was about to inspect the contents when Lady Bug pointed out the injury.

It didn't hurt - not much at least. She was still shaken and if there was pain, it just was not registering. But Lady Bug looked concerned, and Yorda did not want to worry this kind person.

She covered the wound with the palm of her hand, which grew just a bit brighter. When she pulled it away, the edges of the gash retained the glow and began to close up. The 'blood' on the ground was slowly dissipating in clouds of shadow.

"See? It is fine. What is your name? I am Yorda."

"Oh! Oh... good! That's good." It's surprising to watch, but once it's clear the wound will heal, she smiles. "I'm glad you're okay. Right-- you can call me Ladybug. It's nice to meet you Yorda... although the circumstances could be better."

She's not sure what got into those guys, but she's confidant they won't be coming back to cause her any more trouble. Especially not with her around.

Then she remembers the clinking noise and turned her attention back to the bag. "...did something break?"

"Lady... bug?" Yorda turned the name over in her head, and then gave a hesitant smile. "Is that a second name? Bakura calls me Bityket and says that it means Little Bee."

She rummaged through the bag, and picked out the cracked remnants of shells and a small, pockmarked rock. Likely the culprit for breaking the shells in the scuffle.

"It is just shells. I can find more. But I am glad they did not take this. See? The stone keeps the story of this world."

Yorda held it up for close inspection. The pockmarks turned out to be indents left long ago by ancient sea creatures and there appeared to be actual fossilized shells embedded in it.

What a cute nickname. Hers on the other isn't as simple, although she doesn't think it would be bad to explain it that way. After all, there was only one reason she had this name.

"That's right. Because Ladybugs are good luck, and-- well. That's my powers in a nutshell." Impossibly good luck, but that's what it was.

It was good they didn't break anything important, and that nothing was taken. Still... she blinked at the stone and tiled her head. "The story of this world?"

Looking at it closer, her eyes widened a bit. It was a truly beautiful stone, even without the significance of what looked like fossilized shells. "

[EVENT] ONCE MORE TO THE OPEN SEA

CRIME AND PROTESTS

Open!

no subject

open!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject