( 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

[competing]

[ the man is wisely silent, but it's hard to tell if he's merely trying to summon up his anger and words again, or if self-preservation has begun to kick in.

it allows lance a moment to take a step closer to ermes, risking a hand on her shoulder. ]

He's just upset and scared. If it makes him feel better to yell at me then &dmash; then why not, right?

[kissintime]

...Man, I want to slap you just for saying that. [ she raises a finger, wagging it. ] I won't, but I'm just being honest here.

[ she looks over lance again to take a look at the man, her scowl still very much real. but lance's placating has started to make her cool down a bit. ]

Anything you got to say to him, you can say to me too. Go on, say it!

[competing]

[ he's seen how strong she is so.. he appreciates not being slapped. thanks, ermes...

but the man she turns to nearly jumps back at her shouts, for some reason still surprised by her ire, by her very presence. when faced with a target that could (and probably will) fight back... the man buckles and relents. easily. ]

I... I've got places to be anyway!

[ and he scurries off, his tail between his legs. lance turns to watch him go, but when he turns back to ermes, his smile is strained. weak. ]

...You're not gonna yell at me now, are you?

[kissintime]

[ she watches the man go off, quietly stewing still. the lance asks his question and she takes a big, and deep, breath-- ]

... [ -- and exhales. ] No. Think you had enough of that for one day, you glutton. [ she shakes her head, grinning a little. ] You don't need to let yourself get beaten up to make people feel better. That's pretty bullshit, man.

[competing]

[ lance shrugs again — an action that's been becoming more and more second nature at this point. ]

It's just words. [ spoken casually, as if they weren't ten times more damaging to someone like him. ] He just needed to vent a little... Besides [ and this is perhaps the crux of it ] it's the least I could do.

[kissintime]

I repeat: pretty bullshit, man. [ because who would just be totally cool with getting yelled at all day long? ] If you're feeling responsible for what happened, suck it up. Getting verbally ragged on doesn't help anyone. Not you or that crinkley ass.

[competing]

[ he puffs up a little, pouting in mild defiance. ]

I've been helping around, too, [ he feels the need to point out. he hasn't just been acting as people's verbal punching bag, thanks...

but that's also probably not really her point, oops. ]

[kissintime]

[ as the brackets say: ]

Not my point man. C'mon, let me buy you... a piece of fruit. A small piece. That'll cheer you up.

[ this is the most generous ermes' greedy-self can be, so take the small piece or leave it. ]

[competing]

A small piece, huh?

[ fortunately (?), lance doesn't understand the true depth of this gesture, and thus cannot properly mock or tease ermes for it. ]

Like what — a single grape?

[ still, he is in better spirits overall, seemingly just pleased that he will not have to endure any more berating... and that ermes has gone to such lengths to try and help him out in the first place. ]

[kissintime]

Heeey, I'm not THAT cheap! [ she crosses her arms, pouting. ] Unless, I mean, do you want a single grape? 'Cause I guess I could just buy a bag and give you one. I'll even make it a big grape, which is still pretty tiny.

[competing]

How about a tangerine? That way it's still a small fruit, but it's got many pieces inside so it'll feel like I'm getting more.

[ is he inadvertently teaching ermes how to swindle him. ]