Event | Landfall | Bresilyk | Markutte

[ironwood]

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

Comments

[aloadeddie]

"Hell if I know," Arthur says with a shrug. "I'm not exactly a save-the-world kind of guy, myself. If I was, I would've stayed in the army."

[epigrammatical]

"I wonder..." A pause. "Perhaps some of us have been brought here less on account of our own virtues, or lack thereof—but rather due to our position in relation to others who are also present."

He's thinking of Dorian—could it be that he has been brought here to fulfill some purpose with regard to Dorian Gray, at this point in his life? The prospect is, in fact, a little horrifying.

[aloadeddie]

"Might explain some of the people who are here," Arthur says after a moment's thought. "Assuming anyone bothered to put that much thought into it - whoever brings us here, I mean. But it doesn't explain those of us who are the only ones from our respective worlds."

[epigrammatical]

"Each possible solution to the mystery elicits a dozen other questions," Henry muses, his tone light. "Perhaps I shall put my questions to the Emperor one of these days."

[aloadeddie]

"Good luck with that," Arthur says with a snort. "She seems kind of bitchy and disinclined to answer really important questions."

Not that he has much direct interaction with the woman.

[epigrammatical]

"You think so?" A raised eyebrow. "I found her quite easy to talk to. But then perhaps I am all too accustomed to the formalities that smooth the way with difficult personalities."

[aloadeddie]

"I'm usually pretty good with people, but I'm also not inclined to talk to anyone styling themselves royalty. Er, no offense." Arthur shrugs.

[epigrammatical]

"None taken. And in any event, my brother wears the coronet, not I." Henry smiles. "I can thus afford to take matters as lightly as I please."

[aloadeddie]

"I've worked with a lot of people, but I haven't done royalty," Arthur points out thoughtfully. "Of course, I don't do personal stuff, so that might be why."

He's not about to chase down errant lovers or investigate someone's illegitimate child.

[epigrammatical]

"Oh, you are the better for it, I am sure."

Henry pauses and puts a hand on Arthur's upper arm—a casual gesture, only the barest friendly incursion into Arthur's personal space. "Incidentally, my dear fellow—when we are back in Keeliai, would you be free to dine some evening? Were it London, I would suggest an evening at the opera followed by a late dinner at the Savoy, but as we are not, we must forego the theatre and make the best of the dining."

[aloadeddie]

It comes as a slight surprise to Arthur - not that he minds in the slightest, their somewhat-flirty relationship has always been enjoyable - it's just that Henry is so very Victorian.

If he wasn't, Arthur would definitely make a quip about a date. But he is, so he decides to keep his mouth shut about that.

His mind goes to Ariadne, but she's gone, probably for good, and all that timeline crap he hears about? Besides, this is basically a dream, right? God knows Arthur's done some shit in dreams. Dreams, for the most part, don't count.

So he allows himself a smile and a nod. "That sounds great, actually. Dinner would be great."

[epigrammatical]

Of course, the concept of a date as Arthur understands it doesn't quite exist for Henry; to his mind, inviting a friend for an evening out is simply an ordinary means of socialising—though that doesn't mean that he hasn't found Arthur attractive, quite the contrary. It's simply that for him, the invitation bears little more unusual weight than it would were it extended to anyone else he likes—and while he is not precisely angling toward anything specific, he certainly wouldn't object to it happening, if Arthur were interested.

None of this context is at the forefront of his mind, however, when he beams in pleasure at Arthur's acceptance. "Capital! I look forward to it, then."

[aloadeddie]

"Yeah. So do I," Arthur finds himself saying, perfectly honest. If there's one good thing to come out of this whole turtle adventure, it's definitely been Henry.