Welcome Festival | Day 06 | All Sectors | OPEN

[hazelwood]

Characters: You! And you! Even you!
Location: All Sectors
Situation: It's the sixth and final day of the Welcome Festival!
Warnings/Rating: To be updated if actual warnable material occurs.

OOC Details:
>Header threads are available for the major events of the day and anyone can tag into them, replying with others as they are interested.
>Our thanks go to everyone that volunteered their character for the special event today! Favrielle and Yue are the lucky two foreigners that will be "voluntold" for a grand demonstration in front of half the city.

FINAL DAY:
Five days of festivities have come and gone, but the sixth dawns as one final celebration across all of the sectors, with the tours of each day reinstated and the markets re-opened for all! The lanterns made during each previous festival day now decorate their respective sectors and are being lit throughout the day -- though each sector has a podium with the most beautiful of the foreigner-made lanterns on display, ready to be lit at sunset.

With five sectors and twelve active gangs spread across Keeliai, the Alderwood Commander has mobilised the entire police force to patrol all areas and enforce the laws where they have been broken. An eye has been applied to the exact deployment of officers, with the greatest congestion in the Fire, Metal, and Earth Sectors according to gang presence and criminal activity over the course of the festival. Given that the entire force is beating the shell, there are equal amounts of upstanding and corrupt officers spread about and a few juulan go the extra distance in dissuading the latter when one has crossed the line.

Evandau is again a constant presence today and he moves with such frequency through the sectors that he often seems to be in two places at once. Most of the honest kedan take his presence as a reassurance, but there is the portion that eye him nervously and avoid eye contact. There are rumours of a half dozen arrests overseen by him personally since dawn, but he has proven too busy to confirm that via idle chatter with civilians.

Despite the increased police presence, criminal activity continues to fluctuate. Many of the less savoury kedan can be seen employing their skills for their own betterment, so mind your purse and person anytime that you go into a crowd or off the main thoroughfares.

Once again, should two or more characters get into an large-scale altercation, be it with NPCs or one another, please advise Alex (reignsdown or gmail or aim) for intervention/dispersal.

PARADE:
Roadways have been cordoned off throughout all of the sectors for the sake of one parade to trace a spiral route out from the center of Keeliai to the outer walls. Preparations for this parade have been the most secretive of all events during the Welcome Festival, but it's clear by the costumes donned by dancers and acrobats meant to participate in it that no expense has been spared.

Scheduled to begin two hours after dawn, it has drawn many kedan to the sidelines to watch. They, in turn, have been encouraging foreigners to the very front and center, where many have gathered to see and follow the path of performers as they trek through the city.

Widely agreed upon as a beautiful way to mark the final day's festivities, there are few in Keeliai that realise the parade's start is about to be usurped by a demonstration far more powerful that the grand luxuries displayed over the previous five days.

Interrupted before it can begin, all ceremony is gone when the crowds are swarmed by members of the most powerful gang in the Fire Sector and two foreigners are taken hostage, dragged onto the stage bridging the street -- a planned platform for Lieuen to make a final festival speech from -- as the leader of the gang steps up to spread an entirely different, anti-foreigner sentiment while making a demonstration that no one will forget.

Comments

[sophos]

[Once Annabeth is in the crowd, she has to duck a bit -- she's taller than some, but not all, and her blonde hair is pretty standout. She catches glimpse of Yelena behind her and sighs with relief, but that's all she allows herself. She needs to focus on weaving through the crowd as quickly as she can without drawing too much attention.]

[But she's quick, too -- athletic and agile, able to avoid collisions with most others. She keeps her knife close at her side, even though the blade won't hurt any normal humans.]

[The crowd starts thinning, and Annabeth slows to a pace matching Yelena's. She steals a glance behind them; so far, not followed. But the next part of her plan -- the where to next -- requires a question she's not sure will get an answer. But she'll have a back up if denied.]

I know you don't really want to tell me, but what sector do you live in? I can come with you, and then get back to mine invisibly.

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena slows her pace only when Annabeth does, immediately picking up that they're trying to blend in now. Nothing's wrong, they weren't just fighting. No, of course not. She closes the switchblade in her hand, but doesn't put it back in its sheath, rather, she holds it in her hand, tucked against the inside of her arm so that it's there at the ready but not seen easily at a glance.

She looks over at Annabeth when she talks of going to Yelena's suite, and at this point she doesn't have it in her to be paranoid. They're safer together and while she doesn't know the other girl well, she has more reasons to trust her than not.]

It's fine, come on, this way.

[She doesn't say the sector aloud, but takes a turn and starts heading for Wood in an slightly round about way so that it might for the moment seem as if they're heading to the neighboring sector. Yelena wants more distance between them and the stage before heading home.]

You're good in a fight.

[sophos]

[Observant as always, and appreciating the mild detour, Annabeth picks up on the direction they're ultimately headed to. Yelena's too secretive to be absolutely direct in leading, and the lack of announcing it adds to the evidence.]

[She tucks her knife back into the belt at her side; it's easy to get out, and as much as it might simply look like two friends on a stroll, Annabeth is still on high alert from the skirmish, even if her posture suggests nothing more than the standard for what just happened on stage]

I've been training since I was seven. It's always been natural to me. [A pause, as she steals a glance at Yelena's hand where the switchblade is hidden.] You're not so bad yourself.

[tasteforpoison]

[For what it's worth, Yelena's secrecy is aimed more at protecting them from any kedan than protecting herself from Annabeth.

She keeps herself as at-ease looking as she can manage as she leads Annabeth to her suite, keeping casually aware of the people coming and going around them.]

Thanks. I have good teachers back home. They've been training me during the last year...[She doesn't have the same ease with it that Annabeth does, however. It's not as natural thing for her as it is for the other girl.] You haven't seen any shops selling weapons around here have you?

[sophos]

[Annabeth's not very used to not leading in some capacity, and she follows Yelena's path by walking beside her, trying not to step ahead; she doesn't realize she's doing it most of the time.]

[She nods at the response of training -- for only a year, it's pretty good. Good teachers indeed.]

I've seen a handful, actually. Were you looking for something in particular?

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena takes a shortcut through a smaller street, a bit less visible but safe as far as she's been able to tell. To Annabeth's question, she nods.]

A bow. Not the archery kind though, it's more just...like a staff.

[With the border of the Wood sector visible ahead, Yelena relaxes just ever so slightly, noticeable only to Annabeth likely.]

We're almost there.

[sophos]

[She ponders this, not quite sure exactly what kind of weapon it is. Quarterstaff?]

I've seen the archery kind, and the occasional regular sort of staff, too.

[Wood Sector. She thought so. As for the relaxing, Annabeth does pick up on it, even if she herself is still on complete guard.]

[Her voice drops a little.] I don't think we were followed. I haven't noticed anything or anyone.

[tasteforpoison]

[Pretty much, Annabeth. It's called a bow for god knows what reason. Apparently Yelena's author wanted to make things confusing because it's not described as anything more than a staff.]

I haven't noticed anyone either...

[Though noticing a tail isn't something she's the best at. She's only tried once before. Yelena heads toward the trees with two-floor suites.]

If you could show me where you found the staffs later, I'd appreciate it.

[sophos]

[She's seen the tree houses before in her own exploration, but Annabeth still can't help studying them over. Actual, livable tree houses. She's always wanted to see inside, and now that Yelena willingly showed her where she lived, there's a chance she'll see the inside eventually, too.]

Yeah, I can. I remember where they were.

[The two floored suites. She doesn't walk passed Yelena, but she knows for sure the end destination as they close the distance on it.]

[tasteforpoison]

Thanks.

[And they're at Yelena's now. She heads for the door, giving a look back at Annabeth.]

Do you want to come in for a bit? You shouldn't...do that thing where everyone can see it, probably.

[She's being cautious and...well, if she trusts Annabeth this far she can trust her inside her place and let her catch her breath for a bit.]

[sophos]

[She's about to go invisible right then and there -- she does it often enough in front of people and monsters back home, though it's usually in the midst of a battle. Then she pauses at the offer, a little surprised but not showing it visibly.]

Sure. For a second. It might be better that way.

[Because it would be, and she's got the chance to keep that card a bit longer up her sleeve, in case anyone's watching. So she'll take it.]

[tasteforpoison]

[With a nod, Yelena leads her inside.

It's a two-floor suite, built into the trunk of a large tree. If Annabeth has seen the suites before, she'll note that Yelena's done next to nothing to personalize it. With the exception of a thing or two out of place, there might as well be no evidence that anyone lives there at all.

With the door closed behind them, Yelena slips her switchblade back into her pocket, down to the sheath at her leg, and then awkwardly looks at Annabeth.]

You can sit for a while if you'd like.

[sophos]

[Immediately, she's distracted by the interior. She tries not to be terribly obvious about her scrutiny, but it's probably not as subtle as she'd prefer. When it comes to architecture, Annabeth is the opposite of subtle.]

[Though she notes the lack of apparent personalization, that's not what she's really paying attention to. It's the structure itself that's holding her attention.]

[With a bit of a delay and longer than should be considered polite conversation, Annabeth remembers Yelena speaking. But she missed what the words were.]

Sorry -- I missed that. What did you say?

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena raises an eyebrow as Annabeth seems lost in her examination of the building. Not one to interrupt, she waits, and then decides to pull a glass from the cabinet to get them both water. By the time Annabeth resurfaces from her thoughts, Yelena's bringing the glasses over to the sitting area.]

I said you could sit for a while, drink some water, if you wanted.

[Leading by example, Yelena takes a seat in the corner of her couch and gets comfortable. It's her favorite seat in the room, aside from the arm chair to the side.]

You've never been in one of the wood sector houses before?

[sophos]

Oh. Thanks. [She doesn't sit just yet, her brain still partially in defensive mode; but she does accept the water, walking over and taking one of the glasses. After a sip, she shakes her head]

I haven't seen the interior of any of the houses, except for the ones Metal.

[No big deal. She'd planned on telling Yelena where she was staying eventually]

[She takes another sip in sync with another glance, this time more at the ceiling structure.]

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena nods, with acknowledgment of the thanks and Annabeth trusting her with her sector. She drinks from her water glass, watching Annabeth look over the house. She noted in her a curiosity not unlike her own, though the focus was definitely different.]

Buildings interest you? Or is it that it's built inside a tree?

[sophos]

Both? I study a lot of architecture.

[And design cities for gods, but w/e w/e.]

[But she does tentatively smile thinking about it all, in combination with her examination of the house.]

[tasteforpoison]

Do you plan to build things yourself?

[One nice thing about Ixia? More equality for women during the last fifteen years. Architectural design is no longer just for men. It's for whoever has the skills to do well with it.]

[sophos]

[Her smile becomes something less tentative.]

I already was, back home -- at least, the designing part more than the actual building. It's been put on hold, even before I got here -- it's a little complicated. But in the future, too. Yeah.

[tasteforpoison]

[Yelena's smile is genuine.]

That's incredible, you must be really good for them to give you such responsibility already.

[And being from a territory that recently runs more like a meritocracy, Yelena truly believes it.]

[sophos]

[She beams with pride.]

The offer took me by surprise, but I could hardly say no.

[tasteforpoison]

What is it they're letting you design?

[She's not expecting much but anything would be interesting.]

[sophos]

An entire city?

[She tries to sound humble about this. Really, she does. But she's still overwhelmingly awed and pleased by it.]

[tasteforpoison]

[...]

An entire city?

[Her eyes are a bit wide.]

You must be very good at what you do.

[sophos]

[She can't help the grin that slides onto her face.]

It was wrecked in a war -- had to be rebuilt. I sort of, well it was kind of a reward that I was chosen to design it. It's a long story.