[Sandbox] Onyx Prairie - Western Quarter

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 06.01.1323 | Evening
Location: La Fleur sur la Vent, Onyx western quarter
Wearing: Dress shirt, dark trousers, black and white wraparound coat
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa Almentis | Hulta Elderfond, Marlowe Ashe
Notes: Heart to heart
“Did you set that up on purpose, or was I just dumb?”

Thessa gave him an utterly filthy smile - the kind that was both sugar-sweet and promised something savage to follow. “Can it not be both?”

Dari’s jaw dropped, his ears practically swivelling downward in affront. He blinked at her, once. And then he snorted, the laugh bursting out of him like steam from a pressure valve. Okay, he did deserve that one. And with that, things fell back to something blessedly close to normal - although Dari’s offer of a drink still came out slightly awkward. Thessa declined, though politely enough that it didn’t feel like a rebuke. Dari didn’t press her as he hummed over the menu board for half a minute, then ordered a tall, thin glass of brandy, prepared in the elven style by long, patient cask-ageing.

“If you change your mind you can share mine.” he suggested.

“To get your minds off things, you said.” he recalled after a moment. “What was bothering you?”

He saw her hesitate for a moment, but it was difficult to tell if she was reluctant or just considering her answer.

“Everything. Before we became Savaged, Gravity was sent to the village of Haymurk. We encountered a Hollow there called Anguish.”

Dari nodded grimly. “Ellie told me a bit about it.” And then she left. “Marlowe too.” He didn’t go into detail about Marlowe’s words to him while they both stewed in the infirmary after Pinewatch. Thessa might well know already, but Marlowe’s story was her own to tell, and he didn’t feel like slighting her twice in one evening. “It really messed with you all, huh?”

She moved closer, but this time there was no energy to it. She simply wanted to be heard over the music as she spoke low. Dari listened quietly, even when she pulled off her hair tie and began to pick apart her plait. It put him in mind of a Champion tugging apart the buckles that fastened their armour.

He took a sip of the strong, sweet brandy to gather his thoughts.

“I knew Ellie pretty well.” he began, “It was hard not to feel like it was me who’d failed as a friend when she told me she was leaving, and nothing I could say would talk her out of it. But it wasn’t anything to do with me, really - and nothing she said made me think it was because of you either. She just…needed to do it for herself.”

He tilted the glass upward in brief acknowledgement of his absent friend.

“As for the rest of the team…they probably were feeling whatever that Hollow brought out of them. But, you know…we’re more than just our feelings.” He shook his head, chuckling softly. “Yeah, easy to say when you’re calm, I suppose. One thing to say acknowledge your feelings and then decide what to do, something else to actually manage it when the Dark Brother’s in your head. I mean, look at me two minutes ago, I clearly haven’t mastered it yet.”

He stared at his glass for a moment, before defiantly raising it and downing half the contents with a flourish. “But I will!” He set the glass down gently on the bar.

“There’s one bit in the champions’ stories that I’ve been appreciating more since I got here. Not just the part where they win, but the part when they’ve lost and keep on going anyway.” He tilted his head, eyebrows flicking upward. “And even if it really annoys me to admit it, they made Thessa Almentis of Nosmar the leader of this new team for a reason. So if you’re not feeling like you deserve to be where you are, borrow my belief in you for a bit.”

He turned on his elbow to rest his back against the bar and look out over the dancefloor, where the tempo was picking up once again.

“And that’s kind of the whole reason me and Hulta were here too, so if you want to get out of your head for a bit…” He stepped away from the bar and offered a hand. “I’d be happy to blow your mind with my dance moves!”

End Scene

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name: Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 15.01.1323 | Early evening
Location: Edge of the western quarter
Wearing: Casual clothes, long winter coat
Tagging | Mentioning: Koko Gero
Notes: Lonely in the crowd
Dari let Koko pull him forward, her hand warm and firm around his wrist, but his feet slowed as they stepped past the boundary of the park and into the press of music, clinking dishes, and lilting elvish voices.

There was a lot to take in - some familiar, some unfamiliar, and none of it he wanted to miss. The picnic ground itself was a broad sweep of grass, shaded by trees that were stark skeletons in the January sun, but all the same sheets and blankets were laid out in every direction - white and blue in the honour of passing midwinter and starting the climb towards spring. Children darted between the trees as if they didn’t feel the cold, teenagers argued in the local Johtan dialect, and an old woman at the buffet table handed out small pastries from a deep wicker basket, smiling at everyone who took one. On the serving platters he recognised unleavened bread, and steaming pots of onion soup, and rich chasseur sauces, and spiced vine leaves, and melon-feta salads, and even some of the stuffed dates that he had thought he could only find back home in La Havre.

Dari stood still for a moment. There were a hundred stories written around him here. Any one of these people might have crossed paths with Erevan de Cobassarez of Seabreeze. And for all his usual certainty, Dari had no idea what to ask them. Did you ever meet my dad? felt like a woefully inadequate conversation starter. His hand went to the ruby again, pressing the cold gem to his palm. He could feel the shallow tick of his own pulse as his fingers pressed into it.

Koko was pointing excitedly, and he realised belatedly that she had said something.

Dari lifted his chin and attempted a carefree smile. “Yeah.” he hedged. “I was just thinking…there’s a lot of ears here. Might take more than a bit of charm to get a story out of anyone.”

He followed Koko towards the feast, tucking the ruby away into the inner pocket of his coat. He could hear chanting from a small group of elves seated around one of the hibernating trees, a song of memory not unlike the one he had recited when he was helping Estelle with her Shimmer. It was easy to get lost in it. Dari felt a sudden tugging in his chest, like a hole had just opened up.

Rather than think about home, or how he was going to ask these familiar, strange elves about his father, he latched onto something else.

“Koko,” he asked, half turning to look at her. “What’s your dad like?”

[Rainbae]

Stats

Strength: 0
Stamina: 0
Speed: 0
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 0
Brawl: 0
Melee: 2
Ranged: 5
Preparation: 5
Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: Artic
Element Affinity: Lightning
Element Weakness: Fire
Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 01.15.1323 | Early Evening
Location: Edge of the Western Quarter
Wearing:  Her Usual Jumpsuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Dari
Notes:
Koko took in the scene around her in stride. This seemed like such a happy place. Even if all of these people had problems and worries they could put them aside to have a nice meal together and chat. The sense of community was something that was foreign to her, yet reassuring all the same. Some kids were kicking a ball around that happened to roll and hit Koko in the foot. They waved for her to pass it. Effortlessly she flicked the ball up onto her foot and kicked it off a few feet pass them. The kids clambered to get under it as it arched through the air. Koko stopped it with her shimmer right before it was in their reach. The kids jumped and tried to grab it out of the air before she let it go and laughed mischievously as they all went after it. A small, slightly sad smile crossed her face for a moment as she watched them play. Wistful eyes lingered before looking up at Dari as he got her attention.

She elbowed her friend playfully, “You don't gotta interrogate ‘em. If your opener was gonna be ‘I'm Dariaq have you met my Dad?’ I'd agree.” She shrugged. “But you know you can just get to know some folks.” She took a paper plate from nearby and started to fill it with various things in the trays. She wasn't picky about what, Koko had always been a food vacuum. Especially when someone on her team didn't feel like finishing their lunch. They were still walking when Dari asked his question. Koko’s face brightened up even further upon mention of her father. She almost immediately broke into her usual spiel on him when the words caught in her mouth. Dari could even hear a sudden stop as she started a “He- ” before stopping in her tracks. What was her father like? She knew what image she had of him in her mind. But just like Lolo had told her to stop pretending to be someone she wasn’t and lying to everyone she had to stop lying to herself too. She didn’t really have a solid answer to that question. She looked lost for a moment before just saying, “Let’s sit.” and moving off to find a picnic table or a bench that was free.

After filtering through the crowd of people the pair of them found a place to sit. Koko was oddly quiet as she picked away at her food. Her eyes cast sidelong glances at all the happy families playing and enjoying the barbeque. “I uh…sorry ‘bout that. Normally I’d have an answer for ya but…I ain’t too sure lately.” She scratched at her head, looking for more words that would finish the very open ended thought. “Not that he’s changed or been acting strange or anything. No, far from it. I think…” She swallowed a bite and took in a big breath before letting it go slowly. “Maybe I’m the one who’s changed?” She looked up at Dari, almost as if he might have the answer to that question. “Shit, who knows. More likely is I just never knew him as well as I thought I did.” She shrugged again, for the second time in this conversation. “Guess we’re not too dissimilar on that part.” She offered a half smile and then offered Dari half of a samosa type meat pie she had taken from the offerings. She chewed on her food for a moment before saying more. 
"But hey I just realized. You know even if we come up short today you still got your Mom! If it boils down to it at the end of the day you'll have something for your stories, right?" She clasped him on the back, hoping the idea might reinvigorate her friend some. "She really never said a peep about him? Not even a word or two?" She inquired. 

[TheFluffyOne]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 2
Brawl: 0
Melee: 3
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 2

Terrain Affinity: Forest
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic
Element Affinity: Air
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: 06.01.1323 | Evening
Location: La Fleur sur la Vent, Onyx western quarter
Wearing: This
Tagging | Mentioning: Marlowe | Dariaq and Thessa (m)
Fingers threaded into raven hair, pulling her closer and forcing her body to melt against Marlowe’s. There was a need that rang through her like a bell. Chiming into her skull in a way that woke up that longing.  She wanted to feel her, all of her. But as fingers brushed over her spine, she felt memories bubble into her thoughts. While she was kissing Marlowe, all she could think of was the last time someone else had touched her this way. When fingers traced over her spine and then cupped her jaw while they watched her kneel before them. She blinked rapidly as she looked at Marlowe. How she was sweetly watching her, their foreheads resting against each other.

They should do this more often. Yet. All she could think of when Marlowe touched her was how Ares had done the same. She needed to cut that out. Like it was poison corrupting through her brain matter, she needed to burn it out. Hulta wanted him out and Marlowe in. To replace the feel of stubble with soft skin, rough fingers with Marlowe’s light touch. “We should.” Her lips brushed against Marlowes. It felt like a wildfire tearing through her skull. “L..Let’s go home.” She told Marlowe, knowing full well that these thoughts in her skull would need to be corrected before she could even attempt to be intimate with Marlowe. As much as she wanted to…right now, it wouldn’t end well. She would fling herself in headfirst to try and dwarf him from her mind.

Marlowe deserved better than that.

“I can show you some moves on the way home!” She tried to keep the mood light without being too close to them stripping each other on the dancefloor. Slipping under Marlowe’s arm, she tugged her through the crowd and fixed her with that sweet sultry smile. A way of showing her that she wasn’t ready for this night to end just yet…but that it might not end exactly how Marlowe wanted it to.

End Scene

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name: Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 15.01.1323 | Early evening
Location: Edge of the western quarter
Wearing: Casual clothes, long winter coat
Tagging | Mentioning: Koko Gero
Notes: Community
Dari followed Koko along the table, happy to see how enthusiastic she was about elven food but at the same time self-conscious that they hadn’t brought anything for the table themselves. When he said so, however, the elder elf hovering near the table waved away his cor with a smile. There was, he said, enough hardship in Onyx without worrying about paying your way at a community event. Dari began to regret that he hadn’t reached out to the elvish community in the city before.

Sure, getting into Hammer was my problem to solve, but it’s nice to have help.

Then he wondered if this same community would have extended their welcome to his neighbours, the Khans.

Koko’s story provided a welcome distraction. He took a bite of the meat pastry and savoured the not-quite-familiar spice blend for a moment before answering.

“You have changed.” he pointed out. “Last month you wouldn’t have let me help you get up in the mornings.” He nudged her arm to reassure her that it wasn’t a criticism. “It makes me wonder, really. They invest so much time in getting us to rely on each other, why do so many Champions decide to go it alone after they graduate?” He sighed, already guessing the answer. Too many Hollow, and not enough Champions.

"But hey I just realized. You know even if we comeup short today you still got your Mom! If it boils down to it at the end of the day you'll have something for your stories, right?" She clasped him on the back, hoping the idea might reinvigorate her friend some. "She really never said a peep about him? Not even a word or two?"

“Not that I can remember.” Dari shrugged. “And she’d get stern if I asked. Well,” he corrected himself, chuckling. “Stern is kind of her default. Once I was even tactless enough to ask Mum about it. She told me it was Mother’s story to tell, and she’d tell me when she was ready. I guess she was never ready.” He tossed the last piece of his samosa towards a pigeon who was strutting hopefully up and down near their space. “Or maybe I wasn’t.”

[Rainbae]

Stats

Strength: 0
Stamina: 0
Speed: 0
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 0
Brawl: 0
Melee: 2
Ranged: 5
Preparation: 5
Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: Artic
Element Affinity: Lightning
Element Weakness: Fire
Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 01.15.1323 | Early Evening
Location: Edge of the Western Quarter
Wearing:  Her Usual Jumpsuit
Tagging | Mentioning: Dari
Notes:
Koko poked at her food and looked a bit listless for a moment as she considered Dari’s words. She had changed, that was true. She hoped for the better. But who was to make that kind of judgement on all of it. There really had been so much. So many people had passed through her life and almost every one of them had an effect on her. Maria, Robyn, Ettinus, Dari, Lolo, the entirety of her team both old and new. And that was just scratching the tip of the iceberg. What was even more shocking to her mind was how many of them weren’t around anymore. For better or for worse. His question sounded off in her ears at the same time as she remembered Robyn’s words about this being a lonely life. She looked up to see the joy spread out around her at this picnic. Maybe these were the kinds of moments she was supposed to cherish though.

Koko looked over at Dari across the table. Statistically one of the two of them would be dead before the decade ran its course. Both of them wasn’t even unlikely. The thought didn’t really scare her though. She’d lived her whole life on borrowed time. From the day her Dad first cut into her and saved her life she’d been living on a clock stolen from fate. Worrying about when she was going to die just wasn’t on her bingo card. Still, imagining Dari calling out his last name like a dumbass for the last time wasn’t something she wanted to hear. She smiled and giggled as he spoke about his mother. Maybe having lasting relationships wasn’t in the cards for them if they did live on but things like Moms and Dads and childhoods, those were things they should get at the very least, she thought. She stabbed a meatball on a fork and pointed it at him like it was a deadly weapon.

“Hey now! Hold your horses there buddy. You’re talking like you’re never gon’ see her again.” She gave him a pointed look. “You’ll make it back to her someday, I’m sure.” She relieved him of her protein attack and instead turned the fork and shoved the food into her mouth. “And it don’t matter if you were or weren’t, this time you will be.” She smirked at him, mouth still full of food. “Cause don’t go and forget that you’ve changed too mister!” She took a drink of the slightly opaque milky like drink she had taken. It was oddly carbonated which she wasn’t expecting and had a tangy aftertaste. As with most elvish food she’d tried, it was incredible. She pondered a moment before she looked up into the leafs of the trees, letting her back bend a biiiit too far such that a normal person would’ve fallen off the bench they were sitting on. Being a squire Koko was able to hold herself with her core muscles though. “You know, I never asked my Pa about my Mom either. Never even though to really…guess I was too busy wonderin’ things about him. I wonder if…hmm.” She didn’t finish the thought.