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( OPEN )
Who: lance (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
competing) & anyone!
What: catch-all for the first part of the october event
When: oct 1 - 15
Where: around
Warning(s): none at the moment! will update if necessary
market district | day of attack
[ he was along the outskirts of the market district when the explosion occurs, sidelined in his usual patrol by an overenthusiastic child regaling lance with his exploits during playtime of the previous day. one second laughing to the young child's uncanny imitation of his nanny, and the next lurching forward reflexively, protectively, when suddenly the ground shuddered and screams erupted in the air. tehro is already crying from his confusion, rushing out of lance's hold to crash into his mother's, who stood terrified nearby, eyes turned towards the sky. lance's gaze soon follows, feeling dread pool at the sight of a thick cloud of an unnatural purple waft into the air. he takes a second to swallow down his fear, before shouting for everyone around him to vacate the premises as quickly and calmly as they can. (spoilers: they only manage to do one of these things.)
he runs the opposite way, pace slowed by the throng of people eager to escape. by the time he gets to the scene, all he sees is chaos. ( 1 ) he rushes towards the nearest person on the ground, reaching out to help them back onto their feet. ]
Hey — I got you, I got you, it's alright—
[ ( 2 ) if you are one of the able-bodied, he might try to flag you down with a shout. ]
Over here! [ he's in the process of trying to lift a wooden stall that had overturned on its vendor. given his noodle body, he could definitely use some help... ]
around | days after
[ the next couple of days are kind of a blur. ridden with guilt, burdened by his dwindling confidence, lance winds up throwing himself into doing as much as he can for the people who lost the most that day. at any time during the day, you can find him doing any number of the following:
( 3 ) pushing around a wooden street cart, its sign and his wares changing from day to day. one day he could be selling produce from a local farmer, another day he could be selling questionable, ah, toys from another local business person. some days he might be accompanied by an npc (the vendor's bored child along for the ride, their grandparent out to make sure lance is marketing right, etc), but every single time he'll be out there, running that motormouth of his dry, trying to get everybody, anybody to stop and consider a purchase.
( 4 ) getting chewed out by a local, far too upset to realize he has long since stopped saying anything, and instead just stands there with his head lowered, nodding mutely to their angry accusations. this is all your fault, where were you, you should have been there, you think you can try to make up for it now, etc... he stands and listens to it all without protest. ]
shooting range/training yard | days after
[ he's stopped wearing the royal guard insignia. he's still dressed in all-black, though, but only really because it had wound up encompassing most of his attire anyway, but he hasn't actually been back near the barracks or the yard in some time. hasn't felt right, in all honesty.
but today he wanders close to the training yard, which bustles now with activity. everyone working double-time to try and find the culprits, probably, doing just about everything lance isn't — can't — which explains why he keeps his head low, avoiding any eyes.
he's got his rifle in his hands, but he doesn't seem intent on training with it. rather, it looks like he's trying to subtly turn it back in... ]
cyoa/notes
( if none of these prompts work for you, please feel free to work something else out with me! you can reach me at ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
ellipses, PM this journal, or my plotting comment!
also, please let me know if you'd like to know about the RUMOR that lance overhears, and i can work it into our thread somehow! c: )
competing) & anyone!What: catch-all for the first part of the october event
When: oct 1 - 15
Where: around
Warning(s): none at the moment! will update if necessary
market district | day of attack
he runs the opposite way, pace slowed by the throng of people eager to escape. by the time he gets to the scene, all he sees is chaos. ( 1 ) he rushes towards the nearest person on the ground, reaching out to help them back onto their feet. ]
Hey — I got you, I got you, it's alright—
[ ( 2 ) if you are one of the able-bodied, he might try to flag you down with a shout. ]
Over here! [ he's in the process of trying to lift a wooden stall that had overturned on its vendor. given his noodle body, he could definitely use some help... ]
around | days after
( 3 ) pushing around a wooden street cart, its sign and his wares changing from day to day. one day he could be selling produce from a local farmer, another day he could be selling questionable, ah, toys from another local business person. some days he might be accompanied by an npc (the vendor's bored child along for the ride, their grandparent out to make sure lance is marketing right, etc), but every single time he'll be out there, running that motormouth of his dry, trying to get everybody, anybody to stop and consider a purchase.
( 4 ) getting chewed out by a local, far too upset to realize he has long since stopped saying anything, and instead just stands there with his head lowered, nodding mutely to their angry accusations. this is all your fault, where were you, you should have been there, you think you can try to make up for it now, etc... he stands and listens to it all without protest. ]
shooting range/training yard | days after
but today he wanders close to the training yard, which bustles now with activity. everyone working double-time to try and find the culprits, probably, doing just about everything lance isn't — can't — which explains why he keeps his head low, avoiding any eyes.
he's got his rifle in his hands, but he doesn't seem intent on training with it. rather, it looks like he's trying to subtly turn it back in... ]
cyoa/notes
also, please let me know if you'd like to know about the RUMOR that lance overhears, and i can work it into our thread somehow! c: )
no subject
with their combined strength (more allen's than lance's, to be honest; raw strength had never really been his forte), they managed to lift and shift the overturned stall, allowing the trapped vendor to scurry out from under it. the man stammers over his thanks, gripping both boys' hands in his gratitude, before he turns and rushes away, calling names at the top of his lungs, likely meaning to check in on his own friends and family.
breathing heavily, lance turns to allen, briefly grasping the boy's upper arm. ]
—thanks.
no subject
The touch on his arm causes Allen to blink though (and if it's the left—well, that one is a bit weird right now with his invocation), glancing back to Lance and his gaze flicking for a moment to the insignia he wears. That symbol.. he was one of the guard, then?
His chin dips, giving a light sort of nod in thoughtful acknowledgement. Of course. ]
There might still be others trapped. [ If the sobs and sounds of distress as the market still reels from the blast means anything.
He might not be one of the guard but he'll help, he means. ]
no subject
all around them, people still run around, attempting to make sense of all the chaos, to find something tangible and familiar to hold onto and ground them. lance nearly sways in his spot, but somehow manages to stay upright. ]
Right, [ he says after a moment, breathing the word out. he nods, squaring his shoulders. ]
If you've still got some energy left in you — we could use the help.
[ "we"... he wears that insignia, but in that moment, he doesn't refer to the guard, or any other sort of affiliation. in times like these, they're all on even grounds, aren't they? ]
no subject
He smiles then, something so gentle and reassuring, and rests a supportive hand on the other boy's arm as well. Don't worry, it's with his right, human one. ]
Yes. [ Warmth and certainty. Speaking as if he knows this for a fact and is absolutely convinced. Even if of course he can't be. ]
It'll be alright. Everyone is looking to you for reassurance right now, aren't they? [ It's so effortlessly gentle, one might almost overlook how shrewd that observation is, how he skirts the matter a bit. We're both here and he'll support you, but you're the person they want to see be strong right now. The person they'll see more as a part of them. ]
So they can believe they'll be alright too.
no subject
Right.
[ right. get your head in the game, lance... ]
Let's keep going, then.
[ till their legs give out beneath them, if they have to. ]
let me know if you need/want me to edit!
It's important these people look up to you. Someone who's part of their guard who obviously cares a great deal for people and feels something like this strongly. So he'll smile and clap you on the arm gently before they run on to the next person they hear: a woman sobbing on the ground, she can't find her child...
No one was injured in the blast surprisingly—nor was there really any damage from whatever released the gas... ironically, it seems all the chaos and damage there is is from the crowd trying to flee. The rampage of mobs.
But they'll stay here with these people and make sure they head somewhere safer until they're sure of that, ne? ♥ ]
it's perfect no worries c: i fast-forwarded a bit too so lmk if this is ok!
once the district was empty, lance makes a final walk-through it, spotting allen hanging by the street. recognizing him instantly, lance lifts a hand in greeting, walking over. ]
Hey... Thanks for your help again back there. Sorry, I never got your name? I'm Lance.
perfect! :D yay for storytelling speed
So he also looks a bit relieved when Lance comes up again as the two finally depart. Incredibly recognizable he always is, yes, though he's also a lot less strange-looking than before. No glowing cloak and mask, at least not since it became clear there wasn't an immediate danger, and a left arm that seems just like a left arm now instead of such a wicked claw. Well, other than the fact he's wearing gloves. Almost like that had been an illusion...?
But he seems quite brightened when he sees it's Lance again and gives a nod. ]
I'm just glad everyone was able to get out without being badly hurt. [ It's — not something he's used to or what he had braced himself for when he saw the smoke. Or... well. Let's enjoy the momentary relief before the reports of symptoms start to come in. This still beats an average day in his world. Let them have their brief window of thinking everything is going to be alright. ]
It's 'Allen'. [ there are a great many weird and complex ways to introduce or explain himself, but: ] I'm one of the aides at the clinic.
[ one with a demonic looking claw for a left hand and the strength of someone not terribly human, shhh logic ]
/o/
not that it'd be the strangest thing he's seen in his life, but it would certainly rank pretty high up there.
as it is, he just gives the other young man a grateful smile and nod. ]
Well you really pulled through for us there. [ he's still got his shoulders squared, still putting on the face of someone they can look up to, as allen had advised. ] But... yeah. I hear you. [ he spares another panning look around, his expression crumbling a bit. ] This kind of thing.... it's crazy.
no subject
It's sad. [ It's a gentle sort of observation. Genuine remorse, if quietly so. ]
Attacking people like this —
It just makes everyone desperate.
[ And desperate people do dangerous things. To themselves included. ]
no subject
...Do you think it's gonna happen again?
1/2
And Allen seems a little sheepish at the question. He didn't mean to be depressing!! Because Lance looks a bit like a kicked puppy. ]
Ehhh — I'm afraid I'm no good at conflict like this. [ he really isn't, he hates this.
but ]
2/2
So instead - I think I'd just like to be grateful for everyone that wasn't hurt and be ready if it does.
no subject
Yeah... Yeah, I guess you're right. [ truth be told, lance is usually more inclined to think on the bright side of things. always preferring to look at the silver lining, usually because those around him often fail to. but this one hit a little too close to home, shattering what frail confidence and bravado he typically musters up. this happened in his district, under his watch, and so naturally he cannot help but turn it all inward, blame himself.
but it's easy now to forget a little bit of that, if only because allen himself looks so convicted in his optimism. lance returns his smile, nodding. ]
Thanks, man.
1/2 I'm sorry for the delay!! I was laid off and had to panic hunt for a job for a while..
? [ "man"? well yes, he is one. so is Lance in theory. is that some kind of saying??? ]
2/2
At least, for now. While he must. "I recited those words like a charm..." ]
Mn. [ It's bright. Polite and congenial, always. ]
Have you been a member of the guard long?
omg pls don't even worry about it!! ;; i hope things worked out for you in the end
Oh, uh... no, not really. A couple of months, maybe? I'm a refugee too, from Thesa. [ he realizes belatedly he should have been a bit more careful with that, but ah well... ]