[open]

[uglybug]

Who: Mantis (uglybug) & anyone
What: April catch-all. March event aftermath especially.
When: April
Where: Wyver
Warning(s): Could be frank discussion of death and/or torture


i
[The courier had greeted her with a bow before bestowing her gifts upon her: a ring, an invitation, and apparently the undying appreciation of Wyver itself. Left stunned, Mantis had only managed to mutter a 'thank you' before the courier was gone. The ring itself not really in her taste, but it is finely wrought and given with gratitude (and imbued with magic) so she slips it on.

Of course it fits perfectly.

It isn't until she's attempting to run a few errands (or simply just enjoy the city) a few days later that she realizes it's significance.

And, really, she could have done with a first gift given her to be something other than someone's freshly hunted carcass. It is, at least, nicely field-dressed. They are very adamant, nearly shoving it into her arms as she tries to lean away from it and she's left holding it at arm's length while two young men shower her with compliments and flattery as they leave her there, in the middle of the street.]

Oh.

[Help.]

ii
[There are other, better perks to this whole thing. Her favorite drink is sitting in front her, given to her freely by the bartender who hailed her a hero of Wyver as she stared wide-eyed at him.

She's had to be just as adamanat as he about the mountains of food he'd tried to bring her.

She's not paying any attention to whomever might come toward the table, so if someone so much as pauses next to her table, she'll automatically give the answer she's beeing giving for the past hour.]

The drink is all I want. I'm really not hungry.

iii
got something else in mind? feel free to shoot me a PM or hit me up at n0teworthy Or just leave a comment here and I'll roll with it

Comments

[uglybug]

Perhaps. I do not know what else we might have done. Many refugees were taken, after all. [Who wouldn't fight to protect their own people?]

Where are you taking all of this? Can I help?

[kaleorbekaled]

They were, but so many refugees are from different places. So um...we kind of are going to rescue total strangers in a lot of cases. Maybe that's it.

[Both Wyver and Olympia seemed to have some appreciation for bravery and warrior spirit, at least, which suits Kale just fine. Those aspects of society, she can fit into. Fancy balls, not so much.]

Back to the apartment I share with my friend Misa.

[She's lived with Misa for a while. It's been nice. Misa's cheerful demeanour does wonders for Kale's self-esteem, as does being the "tough" friend. She'll leave being the brains of the operation to Misa, though.]

Do you want to visit for a while and have some juice?

[uglybug]

[Mantis makes a noise of assent; Kale is right. There are so many of them that, yes, strangers met each other even as refugees.]

I would like that very much.

[kaleorbekaled]

[Kale smiles pleasantly and tilts her head in the direction of her apartment.]

It's this way. Don't worry, it's not too far.

[She can handle the weight of all these things, but it's still awkward to walk around carrying. This is not a natural position to hold arms in for an extended period of time.]

[uglybug]

Oh. [She falls into step, uselessly hovering a bit.] Do you need me to take anything else? That looks... heavy.

[kaleorbekaled]

Oh...um.

[Kale doesn't want to sound boastful by saying this isn't heavy at all to her, but it's really not. She could have lifted something this weight when she was a toddler without difficulty.]

I can handle the weight. It was just hard to see over it all, and you've helped me with that already.

[uglybug]

[There's nothing boastful about it, at least not in Mantis' mind. People should be confident in their abilities. (Except, somehow, that doesn't quite translate to being confident in her own abilities.)]

I'm glad I could help. [And so she falls into step with Kale, carrying her part of the load. It's a lovely day for a short walk.]

Sorry for the delay!

[kaleorbekaled]

[It really is a nice day for a walk, and if not for the fact that they have plenty in their arms to carry and she doesn't want to chance more being added to it, Kale would suggest a longer and more scenic route. Perhaps after a snack.

For now, she leads the way to her front door, propping everything on one arm and balancing it on her hip as she unlocks the door.]

After you.

[uglybug]

[Mantis is quick to open the door and hold it for Kale after she unlocks it; Kale is the one with the bigger load, after all. After Kale steps inside, she quietly shuts the door -- out of respect; this is not her home, so why even accidentally slam a door? -- and turns to her friend.]

Where do you want this?

[kaleorbekaled]

[Kale leads the way to the small kitchen, setting everything down on the table carefully. Weird as this experience has been, she's mindful that these are gifts and she treats them with due care and thought. ]

Just over here on the table is fine, thank you.

[uglybug]

[Mantis follows direction and carefully places her (small compared to Kale's) load on the table. The gift giving is so odd to her that she takes a moment to actually look at them, peering at them without actually touching them.]

So many people seem very grateful.

[kaleorbekaled]

They are, and it's nice, but I'm not sure I understand why they're being so generous. Maybe because we volunteered to help without being paid for it?

[She mulls it over a little longer as she looks over the gifts. She's happiest about the gifts of food - those will definitely be used.]

The Guard in Olympia and the Knightryders in Wyver have orders on who they're allowed to help...whereas we don't.

[uglybug]

I don't know. Maybe? [Being paid for it would never have entered her mind.] I went because a friend had gone missing and I couldn't let someone else look for him. That's selfish, right? I should not be getting gifts for that.