( 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

[adelphoi]

[ alisaie isn't terribly social but this poor guy needs a break and she's been stuck at home for so long now that the cabin fever is real. besides, if he's been out and about all day there's a good chance he might have some new information.. nya ha

so, after muffling a rattling cough against the inside of her sleeve she gestures toward the.. general insides of the house. make yourself at home, friend. ]

Of course. I'd retrieve it for you but I think it best that I limit contact with anything you might eat or drink.

[ you don't want this plague. ]

The kitchen is right over [ gesture ] there, please help yourself.

[competing]

Thanks...

[ a break is nice. actually, now that he thinks about it more, a break sounds really nice. his body suddenly feels heavier, gravity keeping his feet dragging, his movements slow and sluggish. hastily, he helps himself to a couple of glasses of water (washing his hands vigorously along the way), and takes back another full glass with him into the communal space. ]

I didn't actually introduce myself yet, [ he says, upon greeting her again. he smiles weakly, sheepishly. ] I'm Lance.

[adelphoi]

[ gosh boy KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED..

while he's busy watering himself, alisaie settles herself onto one end of the sofa, tucking her feet up beneath her and wrapping herself up in her blanket until she's more or less fully burrito'd, with the ice pack laid against the back of her neck. she'll dig into that sorbet in a moment.

lance.. why does that sound familiar? ]

Think nothing of it. Alisaie Leveilleur, it's a pleasure.

[competing]

[ HE FORGOT ;A; ]

Wish it could've been under better circumstances, Alisa—

[ waitaminute... alisaie? ]

[competing]

[ that name... ]

[competing]

[ it's... ringing some sort of bell... ]

[competing]

[ someone he flirted with once before? maybe?? ]

[competing]

[ no no he'd remember that, of course would ]

[competing]

[ WAIT HE'S GOT IT ]

[competing]

Alisaie! You're Prompto's— I mean Prompto's your—!

8/8 i'm sorry

[competing]

[ wait hang on make a good impression dangit ]

I mean hi! It's nice to finally meet you! I'm Prompto's partner in the Guard!

i don't think you are..

[adelphoi]

[ it's okay she will sit here and standby while he cycles through thoughtful emotion here, but then he's landing on prompto's name, and in a way that suggests that he knows that -

oh. it might be hard to tell because she has a fever, but alisaie is definitely blushing. she and prompto aren't exactly a secret, but she still gets bashful when anyone mentions it.. ]

Oh. Um. Yes, he's my.. yes. [ boyfriend isn't a bad word, alisaie!! ] But oh, yes, he's mentioned you before!

a lil...

[competing]

[ oh noooo she's so cute. just like prompto, who couldn't stop his traitorous fair skin from revealing all of his embarrassment. lance can't help but grin at the sight of it, feeling so thrilled for his bro... she's clearly just as smitten about him as he is. ]

Yeah? All good things, I hope. If not, then they're lies.

[ he laughs, moving to take a seat on one of the arm chairs in the living room. ]

unsure

[adelphoi]

[ no shutup.. she's not cute.. pay no mind to the tips of her ears which are currently on fire. ahem!! ]

Well, truthfully told he hasn't gone into much detail. But he is very fond of you.

im truth

[competing]

Ah, well. There's a lot to say, so I can't say I blame him for holding back.

[ eheheh he's great alisaie can't you see ]

Besides, I'm sure you guys have better things to do.

[ ........ ]

Like. Cute dates and stuff.

[ ah. ]

im dubious...

[adelphoi]

[ oh my god lance you're a menace. why did she let you in the door. this was a mistake on all counts. alisaie is halfway through opening her sorbet cup and immediately drops it right into her lap. ]

That's -

[ STOP her face is going to burst into flames. ]

I.. we both work quite a lot, there's not much time for such - such nonsense -

[ she's a really, really bad liar. ]

thats hurtful :'(

[competing]

[ look at her flounder... it reminds him so much of keith when he's flustered, except without the violence and/or anger. d'awww. ]

"Nonsense," huh?

[ NOW HE'S THE DUBIOUS ONE ]

B) oh good

[adelphoi]

[ it's cute that you think she isn't violent, lance.. don't let the fact that she's less than 5' and has an adorable face fool you.. ]

What? Why are you looking at me like that?

[ stop!! this is harassment ]

that fanart.........................................

[competing]

[ oh god... do sunshine boys just have a Type or what ]

Nothing, nothing.

[ he shrugs, leaning back into his seat. he'll take another swig of his water, just in case she suddenly decides he is no longer welcome to it for being a smarmy punk. ]

I'm just happy for him, that's all. Both of you guys, really.

yeah IT CUTE

[adelphoi]

[ apparently you do. someone has to combat that excitable disposition after all!! ]

Y-yes, well..

[ she's happy for it too, prompto certainly deserves to be loved but alisaie is still Aggravated And Flustered because yes he's a smarmy punk!! she clears her throat, however, and attempts to pick up the pieces of her spilled dignity along with the sorbet cup she'd dropped into her lap.

AHEM... ]

.. thank you.

[ >:T ]

yes... that.......... >///>;;

[competing]

[ spoilers, alisaie: there's no combating it. just accept this truth and let it into your life...

anyway, there's still traces of a that smarmy smile on his face as he watches her, but it grows a touch sober when the sight of the sorbet cup reminds him why.. she might want the cold in the first place. ]

...How've you been doing?

excuse are you OGLING

[adelphoi]

[ okay look............. that's true yeah, but you fools still need an anchor anyway.

back to heavier matters though, alisaie frowns, busying herself by unwrapping the little stick spoon thing that came with the cup. ]

As well as can be expected, I suppose. I will manage.

[ and walk into traffic in a couple days but i mean whATEVER. ]

How is it, out there? Have you any news?

nEVER

[competing]

[ how can you be the anchor when you're the reason they're walking on clouds uwu* ]

I dunno about news... [ he sighs, leaning back into his chair. his eyes have trailed to watch her progress with the sorbet cup, but his mind is elsewhere, not really seeing. ]

I'm mostly around the vendors these days. [ a self-imposed ban from all guard business outside of his patrols, given his perceived incompetence. ] All you really hear from there are just whispers. Rumors.

w o w

[adelphoi]

[ oh my god......... no ]

Well, rumors are a start.

[ yes, wood stick free she peels open the sorbet cup and digs right in. ]

Always to be taken with a grain of salt, of course, but most rumors tend to bud from a seed of truth. [ a sigh. ] And it is better than nothing, I suppose.

wait why does that offend you!

[competing]

[ accept it... ]

...I guess that's true.

[ he still looks somewhat hesitant, reluctant, but what she says is true: it's something, and something will always be better than nothing. even if this one is a bit more personal than he would have liked it to be.

he shifts a little uncomfortably in his seat. ]

I overheard someone say the commander of the Royal Guard is actually Wyver...