[open] then shall thy light rise up in darkness

[almaredemptoris]

Who: Jean Valjean (almaredemptoris) & YOU
What: Various activities as the city cools down
When: Throughout March
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): None


I. The Sanctuary

As the riots subside, diminishing from a wild blaze to glowering embers, and it becomes no longer necessary or practical to barricade oneself in his own home, Jean Valjean is quick to answer the call to help. It is not the blessing of Thesa he seeks, nor the bolstering of his reputation, but the soothing of his conscience. When before him are those in need, he feels compelled to lend what aid he can.

So, with a long list of components folded and tucked within his pocket, he sets out with a partner to replenish the ravaged supplies of the Sanctuary. Whoever accompanies him in this endeavor will find in him quiet company as they traverse the market district and the gardens to which the Sanctuary has access. He focuses on the task at hand, addressing occasional comments or questions such as, "Where do you think such an ingredient could be found?"

Later in the week, he may be sent out with a basket of medicinal potions and a list of addresses to visit. He is still learning the city's layout, so hopefully whomever he has been paired with is better versed in the twisting and narrow roads of Olympia, lest they end up turned around.

II. Rebuilding Olympia

When he is not under the direction of the Sanctuary, Jean Valjean devotes what time he can to the broader efforts to restore the city. Whether he is assisting Olympians and fellow refugees in repairing homes and businesses, or assisting in the collection of food, clothing, blankets, and other goods for the city's shelters, he works with a serious diligence. He brightens when he watches after the stray children of men and women hard at work, occupying them with stories and following along with their games. They are as dim shadows of his own Cosette, and he feels a bit more cheerful and a bit more melancholy at once.

He does not volunteer to supervise the cowed rioters as they carry out their sentences of cleaning streets and restoring the palace gardens, but as he carries out his own tasks he might be caught watching them with a countenance that is more pensive than contemptuous.

[OOC note: Feel free to reply in brackets or prose, I have no preference. PM me or use my comment on the plotting post (linked above) if you would like to plot. :)]

Comments

[braidedwonder]

Duo nods in agreement, a bit mused by the flowery way (as he would say) that he seems to speak. It sort of reminds him of when the Father would give him proverbs to go by about controlling his anger, making sure that he wasn't driven by jealousy or anything he may have learned on the streets of his dirty home colony. Bad habits were terribly hard to break after they'd been so ingrained, but eventually some TLC had...

Well, not broken Duo of his innumerable bad habits, but made him better about avoiding them or at the very least made him better at hiding.

The braided boy's reverie is broken by the hand on his knee, his attention immediately turning to the boy who so eagerly demands his attention with a grin. "Well, it mostly depends on what you're playin'..." He laughs, then looks between them all.

"Though, it's probably not fair since I'm taller than you guys and all, too." Not by much, considering Duo is a slight boy, still, but it's something to consider. "But if ya wanna get beat that bad I can do that."

The comment immediately raises a ruckus, the boy who'd offered puffing up his chest to declare that he'd still beat him and the lot. Duo flicks an eye to the older man, considering for a moment before offering him an escape hatch for watching over some kind of game for the lot of them. "I'm sure you're friend here had things he wants to get to as well."

[almaredemptoris]

Jean Valjean watches in amusement as the children clamor around the youth, interrupting each other as each rattles off what game they might play. Such is the nature of children, to be made of unbridled joy for life even in the wake of darkness. When Duo passes him a look, he shakes his head and answers, "No, play! I am content to watch." He suspects that the children's parents shall need more time to finish the repairs to their property, and so he is grateful for any help in occupying the children's scattered attentions.

[braidedwonder]

Duo laughs at the chaos around him, glad that for a little bit at least he's not thinking about darker things with all these loud, clamoring kids around him and at his ankles. It's light, after everything that's gone on, and he can at least appreciate that much.

"Well if you're not heart set on going back home or something.." Not that Duo didn't have things to do it's just.. well. He doesn't mind a little distraction. Duo shoos the kids on, happy to follow where ever they're going for the moment. It seems they've agreed on finding some kind of green space in which to play some sort of ball game Duo will have to find out the rules for.

"Maybe running some energy out of you guys will be the biggest help I give your parents today, huh?"