tushanshu_logs | Event | Landfall | Bresilyk

Event | Landfall | Bresilyk | Markutte

Characters: Any and all!
Date: December 3 - 11, 2013
Location: Markutte, Bresilyk (landfall)
Situation: Tu Vishan makes landfall at the winterbound republic of Bresilyk!
Warnings/Rating: Please include warnings in comment subject lines

OOC Post | Approved Items | Special Gifts
Aihsohlow | Phorezton | Markutte | Countryside

The commerce town of the tried. Temperatures within the dome are kept at a lofty 18C (62F) year round and the population of Markutte dresses less in furs and more in linens obtained through trade. Their long hair is frequently shorn short in the current fashion and they are, on the whole, less hardy than their kin in Phorezton and Aihsohlow, but even more friendly as they are currently in the throes of the Harvest Haul, a festival that concludes their rare growing seasons and agricultural bounties.

Trade. That's the foundation of Markutte and there are three town squares that are home to transient stalls and merchandise from the country and all surviving areas of Konryu. Many kedan have made their way here and occupy the occasional stall space, selling their wares and exchanging gifts with the citizens as they grasp the nature of the festival underway. Once again, visitors that make the trek here are expected to donate a gift that will be regifted at random, earning access and a stamp of their tin visa that resembles the oblong crystal coin used as currency in this realm.

Police are on the lookout for financial crimes here and will demand visas of any they suspect to be committed fraud, short-selling merchants, or thieving in any way, shape, or form. There are three vistas, one in each market square, upon which heralds stand and announce the crimes and punishments noted of the previous day. Minor theft is common and the punishment is a brand upon the criminal's neck; major theft results in a loss of a finger for each item stolen; fraud here is punishable by death, but only twice will there be an announcement of an execution during the landfall.

The auctions here are quite lively and characters can expect a minor bidding war to obtain their items, but each item is in pristine condition and provided to them wrapped within a thin set of furs as a thanks for their purchase.

Customs | Settlement | Auctions | Harvest Haul | Other

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[The auctions weren't exactly the jolly fun she was expecting. When one of her dresses came up for auction it was a little strange but slightly amusing all the same. Thankfully, no one had found it interesting (or perhaps could fit into it) and she was able to retrieve it for very little. Her luck went down from there.

Then the auctioneer had pulled up a small, handsewn stuffed rabbit. The one her mum and grandmother had made for her. She'd nearly vomited on the shoes of the Kedan next to her after seeing the rough handling of her precious childhood toy. She'd elbowed everyone out of the way to rush to the front and try to grab it from the auctioneer. Thankfully, or unthankfully, she'd been too short to climb up on the stage and instead was forced to raise her hand and pay nearly a week's salary.

Next up for auction was an impressively rare book filled with impressive pictures of amazing places. It once belonged to an "Ellie Ravenwood" said the auctioneer and Clara's heart dropped from her chest. The starting bid was far too high. She looked around, desperate for someone, something to save her but nothing did. She left dejected and without her most precious book. Thankfully, no one else was able to match the price either, so back into the vault she went.

She sits with her stuffed rabbit cradled to her chest, unable to keep the dejected look off her face.]

[ Except that someone else is watching the bidding in Markutte, having found both his old lute and a bunch of plomeek already, cautiously optimistic of buying similarly sentimental (shh) objects from home if they turn up. He stands close to the back, tall enough to see over the heads of others, and finds his attention drawn to Clara, especially when a stuffed toy almost causes her to leap onto the stage. Waiting until the bidding is over, he heads over to the auctioneer and the replaced tome ...

It takes him twenty minutes to find her in the streets, a brown-wrapped Ellie Ravenwood book under an arm incognito from prying eyes; just another random purchase, for all intents and purposes. ]

Clara?

[ The toy rabbit gets a raised, inquiring brow. ]

[She hears her name and turns to the speaker and blinks at him for a few moments as she forces her mind away from plans about breaking into the auction house or possibly threatening the auctioneer. It's Spock. And she smiles in response. It's not forced. She's always pleased to see him, but it's a little more fragile than usually. She shifts the toy rabbit in her arms, holding it as though it's her most precious treasure but she keeps her voice as casual as a 24 year old holding a stuffed rabbit can.]

It's fun, isn't it? Going to land. Always something exciting. Last time there was entire ball at the end.

[A pause.]

I probably should explain the rabbit, shouldn't I?

Edited 2013-12-06 02:21 (UTC)

I would not call this 'fun', but it is a welcome change of pace. [ He offers over the wrapped book. ] You need explain nothing — I believe I have inferred enough to suffice an adequate explanation owing to your behavior in the auction.

Is this yours?

[She's stumbling to her feet and reaching for the book before she even registers the movement of her body. With the rabbit tucked firmly against her chest she takes the book in her other hand and opens it. It's all there. The inscriptions of "Ellie Ravenwood" ages 4-27 and "Clara Oswald" written under that in similar, childish handwriting, up until the age of twenty-four.

Tears prick at her eyes and she blinks.]

You really... Shouldn't have. It was expensive.

I work for both Wayne and Stark.

[ That's enough of an excuse not to mind the price too much; probably won't be buying lunch or dinner today, though. Not having opened the book himself, he looks up from the names in it to her face, concern etching into his brow. ]

If my actions have caused you distress, I assure you that was not my intention.

No. They haven't. They've made me happy.

Really happy.

[She laughs softly and rubs at one of her eyes before stepping forward and wrapping the arm holding the rabbit around him. She's generally not a tactile person. She takes it when given and does enjoy the occasional hug, but she's generally not the instigator. But there's something about it that feels proper this time. Though for Spoke's sake, she keeps it brief.]

[ Oh, that's a relie— ah, okay, hugging. Hugging is happening! He raises his hands and gently squeezes her shoulders for the duration, arms falling to his sides once she steps back. ]

You are welcome. If I may ask, what is it?

[His response to the hug just increases her fondness for him ten fold. She wipes a few stray tears away as she pulls back. She's smiling now. Both from memories and from Spock's generosity. When he asks, her eyes dart downwards and she opens up the front page to the inside cover where the names and ages of "Ellie Ravenwood" and "Clara Oswald" are written. Her finger brushes the words. Some of Clara's written ages are distorted by water droplets. Her own tears from the funeral.]

It was my mum's when she was a girl. Always wanted to travel but never go to much. Then she read it with me. Gave it to me. So we could see all the places we'd go together.

[ His gaze softens slightly upon hearing that. ]

Then I am even more gratified to have delivered it into your hands.

Edited 2013-12-06 05:17 (UTC)

Thank you.

Really. If I hadn't been able to get it...

[She closes the book and clutches it to her chest as she trails off. She doesn't even want to entertain the thought of someone taking it from her. It's one of the few things she still has left.

She inhales and then stands up.]

I'm going to buy you lunch. It's the least I can do.

It is yours. No one else should own it. [ As for lunch -! ] It is not necessary, but you will find I am easily appeased by the vegetarian fare on offer.

It is completely and absolutely necessary and it's good you didn't say no or else I would have to drag you.

[She grins and starts walking, motioning for him to follow.]

I'm sure we can find something that suits your taste.

I suspected as much. [ He dates Nyota, enough said. ] I have been experiencing some trouble appeasing my dietary requirements. Anything simple would be preferable.

(no subject)

parallels - 2013-12-07 19:11 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

dow - 2013-12-07 20:29 (UTC) - Expand

[Ellie doesn't think much of the auctions at first-- they're not anything she's going to be able to afford. She was already roughing it pretty bad, to keep her money spread out for future eating out endeavors. But when she sees Clara, and then sees her reaction to the rabbit, and then the book. She realized immediately that those were of some importance.

And she felt kind of bad for her, to see her stuff auctioned off, even if she wasn't entirely sure how anyone's stuff got there. It was the point of the matter for Ellie.]

Hey... Everything alright?

[The voice is mostly unfamiliar and at first, Clara doesn't reply. Her head is buzzing with plots about how to get her book back and the terrible idea that she might not be able to. So when she finally looks up at Ellie, there is a few seconds of confused blinking before Clara does her best to smile.]

Alright enough. Sorry if I caused a scene back there.

Dude, you don't need to apologize to me. That belonged to you, right?

[she shifts awkwardly on her feet. That was a pretty big assumption, but Ellie was 99% confident that she was right after that reaction.]

I'd be pretty fucking upset too, if I saw something that belonged to me go to someone else.

Yeah.

It was mine. And my mum's before that.

[Clara tries to give the girl a reassuring smile, to let her know that it's not a big deal. Things are just things after all. But she can't. The smile falters and she holds the rabbit tighter in her lap.]

[she smiles instead, though her's falters a little bit too]

Did you know your mom? Or... is that all you've got left?

[she could only think of the note she'd gotten from Marlene, and her mother's switchblade. Both were always, always on her.

She rubs her nose a little bit]

'Cause if so...

She died when I was fifteen. So I knew her. Makes me luckier than some.

[Sometimes she feels that way. Other times, when she's feeling more bitter, she thinks it would be better not to remember much of her mother at all.]

What was she like?

[she pauses]

... Well, if you don't mind sharing. I know some people are kind of touchy about stuff like that.

[too much experience with trying to pry anything about Joel's past out of him. Anything about Sarah, or his life before the outbreak... He was only ever willing to divulge the most impersonal details. Which were great in their own way.

And frustrating in others.]

I don't mind. Nearly ten years ago, it's a bit too long to still be touchy about it.

[Clara gently traces one of the button eyes of the stuffed rabbit. The buttons used to make the eyes are mismatched and slightly loose. She's not touchy but there's always a sense of loss. She supposes that will be there forever.]

She was very clever. A teacher. Loved to books and would read to me every night. Loved music too. She was brilliant at the piano. A bit of a dreamer, I suppose. Always wanted to take me traveling once I got a bit older. And kind.

You'd think that, but I've seen people be touchy for longer... [she rubs her nose, but listens to what Clara says about her mother. She couldn't even relate to the memories, but it sounded nice. So, she was really glad that she'd managed to get the rabbit and it didn't go to some random asshole and his kids.

She'd seen too much of that back home, too many people who left impressions of what their lives were like, and she had no clue whatever happened to them.]

I'm glad you got that back then, she sounds like she was pretty fucking awesome, as far as mothers go.

Suppose everyone deals differently.

[She then laughs at Ellie's bluntness and swearing.]

I don't have much comparisons but yeah, she was pretty brilliant.

[she didn't even think about her mouth. Not anymore, and no one had ever called her on it. But she grins, all the same. She's glad that Clara seems happy enough]

Who cares? It doesn't really matter, as long as you think she was. That's what I think, anyway. Comparing people... phhhbt.

[she puts her arms on her hips]

Nobody's got time for that.

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