( OPEN )

[competing]

Who: lance (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 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: )

Comments

attack: 2.

[illuminating]

[From tending to some minor injuries on a native, she hears him—ear flying back to the pull of his voice first, and then the rest of her following, racing toward him. She skids to a halt, watching him struggle to lift stall on his own. There's no time for hesitating, and although it might cause some alarm, she straightens from her short, observing distance, and cleaves the stall in half so it splits in two and collapses on either side of the person pinned.

There is no other indication that the stall will suddenly break in half beforehand. And sure, one could toss it up to the damage from the explosion, but the slice is so evenly split, as if some invisible blade descended out of heaven and cut into it like butter.

Unwavering and steady, keeping her own concerns in the pit of her stomach, she calmly begins moving closer to boy and vendor. There's acknowledging, appreciative glance to Lance, and then she's dipping down to the man on the ground, intent on seeking out any severe damage.]

[competing]

[ he had been calling for anyone, really, voice straining under his own waning strength. adrenaline could only take him so far, especially once panic had begun to settle in, and the vendor's cries and please were one of the only things he could hear ringing in his ears.

of course he'd heard of stories before where mothers somehow found the strength to lift entire cars off their children in times of duress, and while he wouldn't doubt his own mother could summon such strength to save any of her own children, he doesn't think he himself could have ever actually managed to break the stall on his own, despite how desperately he had wanted to help this vendor. so when it falls away under his hold, he can only stare in mute surprise for a couple of seconds, before the vendor's frantic cries of relief drag him back to the present.

he is not injured, and actually ignores amaterasu completely in his relief and gratefulness. the vendor reaches for lance instead, pulling himself up while the boy barely manages to keep standing. he keeps pouring thanks after thanks his way, even dropping kisses all over his cheeks (wet from his tears) before dashing off for a safer spot, leaving lance still stunned and standing.

it's only then that lance notices amaterasu, and though he still looks uncertain, there is a pull between his brows that begins to suspect. ]

...Lassie?

[illuminating]

[This happens all the time. To most, she's just a dog, and it's not common people put two and two together; and so she's neither hurt or dissuaded by him ignoring her in favor of praising Lance. If anything, he had been intent on helping, and if he hadn't called for someone, she may have never come over herself, what with all the surrounding chaos. She watches patiently, thankful Lance is there for him to have someone to thank, feeling he deserves it, thankful that they're both all right.

After the man's rushed away, she takes a single step, about to desert the boy to scout out someone else to help, to keep from idling, but the discontent about him as he tries to piece things together makes her stay. She keeps her eyes on him, waits for confirmation that he's all right, but—the uncertainty when he does at last notice her strikes her, and her ears fall immediately, she goes right into softening her expression, worried she's frightened him.

This takes her into tucking low, passive body language, wagging only the end of her tail against her thigh. A whine stretches out of her. It's all right, it's all right, she's trying to express, though he won't understand it directly, she still doesn't approach him, if only so he won't be startled, won't feel his space is being threatened by some potentially dangerous and unusual beast.]

[competing]

[ his suspicions are only confirmed by her reaction. of course, he always got the sense that she could hear him, understand him even, but he never once imagined to what extent... now, he cannot help but think back to all those times he could have known more, but had been too content to live on his assumptions.

slowly, he lowers down to a knee, getting down to her level. one hand outstretched, his expression softening to match hers. ]

Hey... Hey, it's okay. I'm not mad, I'm alright... I just.

[ he flounders for a moment. trying to make sense of it all. ]

I had no idea... I'm sorry.

[illuminating]

[He'll see she feels a bit reassured by the fact she doesn't lower her belly entirely to the earth, and her tail uncurls from its tight and nervous swishing to wave a little more freely, earnest.

Her whining trips over itself, appreciative and glad, while she wiggles herself up to him, and sinks the weight of her head against his hand. Lifting paw to drape, in this moment of acknowledgement, at the joint of his elbow. There's nothing for him to be sorry for, not a single thing.

And if he understands why she felt she had to take that measure to help him get the man free, she's even more relieved.

In any case, she's still her, Lance. They're still friends, aren't they? Huffing whimper, presently, while she tilts her face down onto his wrist.]

[competing]

[ when she nears, he'll encircle her in his arms, not even hesitating to draw closer and close in the gap that might have been left due to her hesitation or lingering reservation. he holds her close, ducking his face down to press his nose to her fur. the hug may or may not be 80% for him, too, in all honesty. it's been a long day. ]

Good girl, [ he says into her fur. ] You really helped us out there... Thank you.

[illuminating]

[She is thick furred, and huge, and a warm, obvious, mother-demanding presence. Even if the hug is for his comfort, she is willing and glad to give it, is brimming over with gratitude for the opportunity to give it. With her lacking arms, she holds him back. This is done by tilting into him, heavy, her cheek shifting against his hair.

A weighty huff of air blows out of her mouth, their shared relief materializing into this single breath.]