( closed ) february catch all

[baguablade]

Who: Cain (baguablade) & various
What: quests and February events
When: all throughout February
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): none at the moment

Individual starters below. If you want to plot something out, contact me at idelva.

Comments

percival; ghosts of the past

[baguablade]

[ There was no question of setting out to answer the Orbiter's call in the aid of their fellow refugees. The only decision to be made was what to bring and when to set out, a when, not an if. They'd shouldered packs and made their way into the jungle — and in the process, lost Vane along the way. Cain's confident that Vane can take care of himself, at least, even if he worries over the knight's sense of direction. But that leaves him with Percival as they guide a group of newly crash-landed refugees back towards Olympia, and Percival's in as dire a mood as one might expect with the revelation that the crash came about from El Nysa's natives shooting the shuttles down.

Cain has his own thoughts on the matter, ones that he's been dwelling upon even as he's been keeping up a steady stream of chatter, distracting Percival. Keeping Percival's ire focused on himself instead of the people they've rescued. Percival isn't really responding to him, but that's fine, he doesn't expect the knight to.

The voice (a voice that no one else can hear, even if he doesn't realize it) that interjects is so familiar that for a second, Cain doesn't even realize he's heard it, just answers on reflex, laughing at the thought: ]

No way, Leo-nee would have given all of them a good scolding—

[ But then it registers. Percival hadn't said that. No one else did. And that voice... That voice shouldn't exist, not anymore.

He whips around and freezes right there in the middle of the path, perfectly in the way. The man standing before him, smiling, so familiar that it makes his heart ache has Cain blanching. His face goes deathly pale, the smile falling right off his face. ]

[tzaraisen]

[ It was a perfectly reasonable reaction for the increasingly paranoid El Nysa natives to treat the mystery aircraft with suspicion. A brash action on their part, but with the climate the way it was, could they really be blamed too much? The rationality of it doesn't stop Percival's ire from rising, though it was really just extreme concern over the newly awoken refugees' safety.

They've done all that they can for the moment, and thankfully, there didn't seem to be any casualties. But while he is considerably calmer on the trek back to their home, the distance he's keeping between himself and his traveling companion is fairly obvious. He keeps mostly quiet, only answering when directly addressed, and telling Cain (in some unkind words) to shut up before every monster found them.

Percival doesn't hear the noise Cain has apparently fallen into a trance for, he only has the realization that the sound of Cain's footsteps have stopped from behind him. ]

Cain? We do not have time to dally around the wilderness—

[ He turns around, and seeing Cain completely devoid of a smile, instead staring ahead with what looks like terror, is right up there in terms of unexpected. He fears an enemy, at first, but there's nothing there.

He rushes to him. ] Cain?!

[baguablade]

[ He barely notices Percival, only has the faintest sense that Percival's beside him. How could that matter? How could anything matter but what he's seeing before him, that impossible, impossibly dear figure—

He's in shock, he thinks distantly, but that doesn't change what he's seeing. His brother, standing, smiling at him. Alive.

It's not possible. He'd searched for hours among the pods on Thesa, hoping, so desperately wishing, and not even then able to find his brother's sleeping body. It can't be, and yet...

He takes a step forward, brushing past Percival, ignoring him completely. His brother's name tears its way past his lips, a pained, heartbroken gasp as he lifts a hand, reaching for the spectre. ]

Abel—?

[tzaraisen]

[ It quickly becomes evident that there is something very, very wrong going on here. Seeing such an expression, such a tone of worry and shock, on Cain's face is utterly foreign to him. It makes Percival drop everything he's doing, dropping even the supplies he had in his hands, in favor of rushing back towards Cain and attempting to drag him back to reason. ]

Cain?! What do you see?! Who's Abel?! [ Somehow, he doesn't think he will reach Cain this way, but he has to try. What's happening, and why is he suddenly speaking to things and people who aren't there?

Just to make sure, he spares a glance behind him. There's nothing but the occasional tree, and the sight of rolling hills on the horizon. ]

Snap out of it!

a2; danger from above

[baguablade]

[ Cain's the inquisitive sort; when he feels eyes on the back of his neck, he tries to find those eyes, figure out what's watching him, be prepared for the attack. Unfortunately, that's exactly what spurs this particular attack on. He has a moment of calm, taking in the small speck in the sky, some sort of bird — he doesn't realize it, but that gaze is enough to look it in the eye.

With a shriek, the bird dives, plummeting down towards Cain. He yelps and throws up an arm to ward the bird off, and goes stumbling back as the vulture rakes its claws along his forearm, drawing long streaks of blood. ]

Ow... [ A soft mutter as Cain shakes the blood off, trying to get a better look at his arm. But a shriek high above alerts him; he looks up and only barely manages to dive for the ground to avoid the bird's next strike. It swoops again, circling. He's thoroughly pinned down and very much in need of a rescue. ]

[atwo]

[ op android is here to save the day.

sort of. getting hurt won't be too bad as it's not new to a2. she'll have her sword active and drawn, ready to strike when the vulture decides to have a go at her. so far, she has been lucky that its main aim is cain.

but, she can't let it keep harassing him. the second it seems to be going for cain again, a2 will make her move to at least try to get it. there's a screech as she manages to clip it, but it doesn't look like she's badly injured it. ]

You don't have a weapon on you, do you?

[baguablade]

[ At least A2's distracting the vulture, enough that Cain can scramble to his feet and throw himself behind a handy outcropping of rock for some cover. He scrabbles at his belt and pulls out a pistol, grinning ruefully at A2 as he cocks the hammer. ]

It took me by surprise. [ He lets out a regretful sigh as the vulture, undaunted by A2's attack, circles above for another run at them. ] I don't even know what I did to deserve this! All I was doing was looking at the sky!

clair; the play's the thing

[baguablade]

[ Acting isn't really Cain's forte; he's traveled far and wide, and he's practiced in the need to blend in and keep a low profile, but actually pretending to be someone else isn't a skill he's actually had much reason to exercise. Usually, he just dodges questions and gives evasive answers — but that's not an option right now.

Because right now, he's been grabbed, dragged backstage, stuffed into a comely, ruffly barmaid dress, had two apples stuffed into that to give the illusion of cleavage, and then summarily shoved out onto the brightly lit stage.

He squints against the glare to regard his co-star, a young woman dressed as the great hero Nithor, then glances down at the script that had also been shoved into his hand. Hmm. Well, nothing to do now but... act. ]

Oh, brave hero, don't go! [ Cain throws himself into the role — and across the stage — to land at Clair's feet, clinging to her with all the passion of his stage directions: Dierdre embraces Nithor with all the love in her young, nubile heart. He pitches his voice up as he wails: ] I can't live with you!

[cajolery]

[ Maybe Clair wasn't exactly destined for a life in the dramatic arts, considering how terrible an actress she really is, but that doesn't mean that she can't get pretty into this—it doesn't hurt that she gets the play the dashing hero, naturally, which involves a lot of sword waving and hammy soliloquizing. Both things that she does in spades even without a script.

Speaking of, she isn't actually following the script all that well, preferring instead to prattle on with improvised speeches about honor and knightly strength and foul dragons and so forth. So when she suddenly finds herself faced with a... hm... barmaid, supposedly, she falters and quickly breaks character. ]

Ah... I... [ Maybe now is the time to glance at the script... wait, she's supposed to engage in a torrid affair with this... person? Well, okay. It wouldn't be a good story without a little romance, she supposes. ]

Dierdre! Dear... Dierdre! My dearest. Please, get up! [ Unlike her partner, she recites her lines with all the nuance of a brick wall right now. Nithor helps Dierdre to her feet, then gazes longingly into her eyes. Which is just what she does, though the effect is somewhat ruined when she stares pretty blatantly at Cain's lumpy... chest. ]

You must know that my heart belongs to you—but not you alone. A beat. [ Wait, drat, that was the stage direction. Er... she does pause now, turning towards the crowd to throw her hand out, giving it a little flair. ] For my heart belongs more utterly to the people of this land, my home—fair and mighty Olympia!

[ And the crowd goes wild, etc etc. ]

[baguablade]

[ Cain waits a moment. And another moment. And another. He clears his throat, a delicate ahem. And then a cough. Finally, he's reduced to hissing: ]

My face is up here—

[ Hopefully no one heard that! But at least Clair's onto her next line and Nithor is no longer lecherously staring at the pure, virginal Dierdre's generous chest rather than gazing soulfully into her eyes. Really, this is ruining all the romance!

At least the crowd doesn't seem too bothered; Cain bets all the guys have Dierdre posters in their bedrooms. Some up on the ceiling— ew.

Patriotism wins the day, luckily, and Cain hastily checks his next line, moving to follow his next stage direction: Dierdre, overcome by passion for Nithor and Olympia, swoons in Nithor's arms.

...ah.

Well, he tries to swoon. He at least tips back a little, but he waits, to make sure that Clair is actually going to catch him first. ]

Oh, dear Nithor, I know all too well! It is my greatest sorrow and my greatest joy that you love our dear country as dearly as I love you! But if it were not so, I would not hold you so dear!

[ Who wrote this dearly dire script?? ]

JJ; a light to remember

[baguablade]

[ The palace grounds are beautiful in the daytime, but there's something ethereal about them at night, the darkness pressing in close, the gardens dotted by lanterns like stars in the dark sky above. Cain's struck by the sight — not because of its beauty, but because of what it stands for. All these people to be remembered, graves without bodies, loved ones being mourned.

He has his own lantern in his hand, waiting to be placed and lit. One more mourning light to carry his thoughts to the people he loves, sleeping in the sky above.

He's so lost in his gloomy thoughts that he doesn't notice JJ approaching him — JJ, who he'd agreed to meet here, as part of the celebrations, so they could light lanterns and go drinking together. ]

[underwhelms]

[ The mood is sombre as JJ treads over the palace grounds in search of Cain. It's enough to mute even his usual exuberant demeanour, but he takes care to be mindful of all the grieving families and individuals, watching them with a careful eye and feeling so grateful that he'd never felt the loss of a loved one.

He'd opted out of bringing his own lantern. It felt too much of a burden; too close to admitting that the day he sees his family might not be just around the corner. (Even though the engagement ring he'd given Isabella sits heavy by his bed back home, the implications too much to wonder.) Despite that, he'd still wanted to come, if only because it seemed like a part of Olympian culture he can actually appreciate, more so than the honouring of a historically dubious character.

He smiles when he finds Cain though, sliding up right behind him to put both hands on his shoulders and press his forehead into the back of Cain's head as he offers a sing-song greeting, ]

Hellooo.

[baguablade]

[ Cain only barely keeps himself from reflexively jerking away and spinning to face JJ, reacting like he's under attack. He flinches a little, a startle response, but he at least doesn't do something drastic like accidentally slam his head back and break JJ's nose, heralding an early end to their evening. ]

—JJ! [ A stiff moment before his shoulders relax and he laughs, turning his head to smile at his friend. ] You snuck up on me. Sorry, have I kept you waiting?

[ He's not sure how long he's been standing here, lost in thought, instead of searching JJ out. ]

percival; safe haven

[baguablade]

[ Retrieving lost citizens is a task that Cain would have been happy to do for free, but he's not going to say no to being paid for it — and more importantly, he's not going to say no to getting a glimpse at why Voss is so interested in all those crystals he keeps having people gather for him. That Percival had caught him on the way out the door on his way to the Temple and had insisted on tagging along is... well. Things are still a little tense between them, between that aborted confession, the way Percival had caught him bleeding out that one night, and the way Cain still feels a little raw with the memory of his brother pulled so close to the surface.

Still, he can think of few people he'd trust as much to watch his back, and for all his complicated feelings about Percival, Cain does still hold him in high regard. He hadn't put up nearly as much protest as he might have when Percival insisted on accompanying him, only handed off the peach crystal and tucked his own purple crystal into his pocket before setting off.

Now, he's glad to have the company. Facing this group of thugs by himself would have been trouble. Ten men on his own would have been a bit much, but with Percival at his side, he feels quite confident in stepping in front of the people they've been sent to rescue, lifting a hand in a cheery wave, and offering their attackers one last helpful bit of warning. ]

You really ought to surrender, you know. My friend's in a terrible mood.

[ Percival is in a terrible mood. But still, Cain trusts that Percival will hold back and won't actually kill any of these men, no matter how thunderous he may be. It's one of the reasons why Cain— holds him in such high esteem. Yes, that's how he feels about Percival, of course. ]

[tzaraisen]

[ Since the last time they'd spoken, things have returned to normal. As normal as matters can be, and true to his word, Percival actively remains cordial (just kidding when is he ever cordial?) but at a polite distance.

It's easy. He has, after all, always disregarded personal emotions in the face of performing a duty. They were only a hindrance.

The memory of the injuries Cain had managed to get himself into are precisely the reason why he has insisted on going. He also has less of an interest in helping Voss, and much more in helping the people that are apparently stuck in limbo. The thought that people would turn on their own countrymen simply because said people were looking for somewhere less chaotic to live angers him on a visceral level.

His eyes flicker to Cain at that comment, quickly returning to the scene before them. ]

These people have done nothing to warrant being held prisoner like this. Step aside, or we will leave you as little more than ashes!

[ But he's not the only angry one-- two of the men don't take kindly to either of their attitudes, however different they may be. One draws their sword and lunges towards them with a cry of "Traitors! Traitors, all of ya!" The other fires a bullet, one that lands dangerously close to their feet. Percival doesn't spare a moment to think-- immediately, he has drawn his sword and stepped in front of Cain, defensive. ]

[baguablade]

[ Well. Cain's glad to have something between him and a bullet. He's significantly less glad to have it be Percival, and he frowns at Percival's back. Percival's very broad, capable back—

Ahem.

Percival's broad back, doing exactly what Cain had been afraid he'd do, being all noble and brave and shielding Cain out of danger. And Cain isn't having it. ]

Now, now, there'll be no burning people to ashes today. [ He elbows Percy in the ribs as he eels out from behind Percy — no murdering! — and makes himself a target again by waggling his finger at the very incensed man whose sword is currently tangled up with Percival's. ] Can't we talk this over? There's no need for any of this fighting.

[ The man with the gun gives Cain a disbelieving look and takes the opportunity for a shot. Cain has to hastily duck, giving the man a wounded sort of stare. ]

mikazuki; to kill a mockingbird

[baguablade]

[ The best thing about the task Cree's set Cain, in his opinion, is that he's finally with a partner who's not towering over him like some ill-bred, vegetable eating monster. Not that Cain has anything against, well... tall people. It's just that he's eaten his veggies and drunk his milk and practiced his sword play and he's still best described as athletic and that's totally fine but sometimes it's nice not to have to stare wistfully, you know?

So overall, having Mikazuki as his partner has Cain in high spirits. That they're headed for the brothel, not exactly Cain's usual haunts, doesn't put a dent in that, and he's dressed for the occasion, something a bit more nondescript than his usual flashy jacket, sword traded out for a more subtle knife secreted in his boot. A few quick words, some silver passed over, and a wink, promising more later, and they're in.

The supply room Cree's directed them to isn't eager to give up its secrets, but it's only a start. Cain crouches over the birds' dead bodies, using a handy bit of wood to lift a wing here, tilt a body up there, for a better look; at least they've been left untouched, it seems like, so they don't have to worry about tampering at the scene of the crime. It's the violence of the animals' deaths that has Cain sobering, a frown turning his lips downwards. ]

There area easier ways to get rid of animals. Whoever did this was angry.

[sparsity]

[ None the wiser for the bounce in Cain's step, Mikazuki is content to follow behind his lead for the time being. For his somber colors and unexceptional looks, not armed as well as even the most ordinary of Olympian citizens, he still has a pretty sharp air about him. Confidence downplayed by neutrality. Maybe it's the fact that he's in Olympia at all, feeling as though he has to play the cards that made him leave close to his chest. Neverminding that Cree had loyalty to neither city.

Either way — he knows this area. He'd patrolled around here when Ashti's stone still sat on his chest, when they were all new and just grasping for stability. This is a bit farther into the corners than he's ever been before, though. Hands in his pockets, Mikazuki watches Cain mess with the bodies. ]

A message for a message, probably.

[ These birds spoke in an unfamiliar language. Mikazuki gathered that much, being a regular at the Guilded Cage. However, the way they've been left is a violence he knows well.

Like a warning. ]

[baguablade]

[ A stone that Cain remembers well — he's just not going to mention it. That kind of thing makes partnerships awkward, and why ruin what's off to a good start? So far, Mikazuki is exactly the kind of partner Cain likes best. He follows along, lets Cain do what he wants, and doesn't try to scold Cain for sticking his nose into things at all. ]

A message for our employer, if so. [ His response is wry; that it's a message, Cain has little doubt. It's just what sort of message this is meant to be. Did whoever it was know that these birds are Cree's messenger birds? That seems the most likely, but he can't discount that with all the other strange things going on in Olympia it could be something else. Improbable, but no possibility is worth discarding yet.

There's little to be found from the birds themselves, though, and Cain sets his stick aside and straightens. He takes a picture of the bodies, just in case, then tucks away his phone. ] But these birds aren't going to sing anymore. We need to find someone else who will.

koltira; a day in the life

[baguablade]

[ Koltira, Cain's pleased to find, makes an excellent bodyguard. He's got the whole, tall, dark, looming figure thing down pat, which is really all that's required. It helps that Cain knows Koltira could back up the dour glare with exactly as much death as it promises, and that the intimidating aura pouring off of him can practically be felt. In comparison, Cain in his "borrowed" courier's livery looks sunnily cheerful, a bastion of friendship.

And someone that the servants and workmen are studiously trying not to notice as he and Koltira wait in the main room, lest they catch the bodyguard's watchful eye. It's a useful extra layer of disguise, one that Cain fully intends to make use of while the head servant — Harlan — is off seeing if he can contact his mistress to receive them. She won't be, of course; that's why they're here, now, a time Cain's chosen after researching her schedule to make sure they'll have at least an hour of uninterrupted time to snoop. ]

He said they were kidnapped, but... [ Low voiced to keep anyone but Koltira from hearing. Cain grimaces, looking around at the tarp-covered floors, the signs of construction — all the perfect places to hide a body. ] Let's hope for the best and see what we can find.

[ Hope for the best, but be prepared to find the worst. ]

[respired]

[ Koltira's hackles are already up, though that's hardly unusual for him. His head aches, and he felt a certain amount of contempt radiating from Harlan that made him want to choke the man right then and there. But he knows Cain would probably disapprove of that.

So he grunts; he nods; he keeps his mouth shut. Instead, he focuses on his other senses, sharp even in death: his delicate hearing, his keen smell. He mutters to Cain as they start their surreptitious investigation: ]

We should look for an office, first. Some place with records.

[baguablade]

[ "Cain would probably disapprove of that." Look at that, they're becoming better friends already, learning so much about each other! Cain would be proud; he is proud of Koltira's restraint already, because as much as he doesn't advocate violence, the way Harlan keeps eyeing them is already making Cain wish the man would scurry off and leave them alone to get on with poking their noses into all the places he doesn't want them to go.

As Harlan glances over at them, Cain smiles, his best totally innocent, nothing to see here smile completely pasted on.

He nods to Koltira once Harlan's glance has slid suspiciously away, back to dealing with some of the workmen. ]

An estate as big as this, with work being done, they'd still need to keep track of... whatever they're doing with the missing servants. [ He turns to get a better look at the fountain. Huh. He gestures at its missing eyes. ] That's an odd sort of centerpiece, don't you think?

yona; to kill a mockingbird

[baguablade]

[ The birds, unfortunately, have not flown the coop. That would be far preferable to what they've been asked to investigate: murder most fowl.

Still, if he didn't know what to be looking for, Cain might have thought nothing fowl or foul was afoot. The coop is empty except for feathers, no signs of blood, no little bird bones — is the floor even too clean? Where's all the bird shit? If he were passing by, he wouldn't have given the coop a second glances, might have thought it was just disused, if not for the lack of dust over every surface.

He pokes at the feathers, glancing at Yona, his partner in, for once, solving crime rather than committing it. ]

Huh. When we were sent to investigate someone killing birds, I thought there'd be some birds to find.

[ Then again, there still might be... ]

[cutefaced]

Ummm...

[This had seemed like it would be a rather macabre mission. Instead, there's... nothing to indicate that any of the animals were hurt here. She's not sure whether to be relieved to be spared the sight of the carnage, or worried about the prospect of what might be happening to them if they were transported somewhere else.]

Maybe they flew away when it seemed like things were getting dangerous?

[That doesn't seem right, though.]

Or maybe one of the merchants nearby saw something?

[baguablade]

Hmm. Let's ask around.

[ He stands, but doesn't head for the door quite yet. Instead, he paces around the room, looking for scuff marks, anything out of the ordinary. Still too clean, and finally he joins Yona at the door, looking dissatisfied. But before they step outside again, he pauses, bending over, examining something in the dirt right near the doorway. ]

Unfortunately, I don't think the birds went anywhere on their own.

[ Cain points, indicating wheel tracks — heavy imprints, indicating laden wagons, left behind in the dirt. Not the kind of thing you'd usually see so close to a coop. ]