( 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]

[ lance seems to shrink back under the blatant scrutiny, even going so far as to lean back, away. ]

Not really, [ he lies. easily.

he holds up the nesting bowls again, like some sort of barrier between them. ]

They're called tupperware. They're for leftovers, mostly! Or you know, lunches to bring along...

[agradecido]

[Yeah, Zevran doesn't believe that for a moment, kiddo. Lance is spared his skeptical look briefly when he takes the bowls, inspecting them carefully. It's a neat concept, frankly.]

Better than a bucket, I suppose. [He lifts them in what's almost a lazy sort of hail and reaches for his purse.] You've made a sale.

[Then, quietly, as he's counting out the coins: ] How are you, really? You seem... [How to put it?] Overtly worried.

[competing]

[ he does perk up considerably when he realizes he's made a sale (this fourth of the day; it's been a long day), but at zevran's quieter, more serious question, he grows somber once more. at the very least, he has the grace to look sheepish about it. ]

It's been pretty hard for the people here. [ he keeps his words low, more a mumble really. ] I guess I've been pushing myself a lot too but. This was my district to patrol, you know...? I owe them.

[agradecido]

[Zevran gives Lance a small nod, listening. So this was what was up.]

You blame yourself.

[It's pretty easy to see, now that he knows what he's looking at.]

[competing]

[ lance meets zevran's eyes briefly, nodding mutely. really, what else is there to even say...? ]

[agradecido]

[And the truth comes out. He's sympathetic--of all the people he's met, here or in Thedas, Lance is one of the few who's probably never actually done anything wrong in his life. And here he is, letting this weight sit on his shoulders.

It isn't fair, but nothing ever is, really.

Zevran sighs.]

You could just as well blame the sun. From where I stand, there is just as much it could have done to stop this.

[He gives that a moment to sink in, tilting his head to the side.]

That you care so much is a mark of a good guardsman, not a poor one.

[competing]

[ it's funny, really. lance has so very often been on the other end of this, stopping at nothing to comfort or prop up a friend in need.

what's funny is how much harder it is to hear it — to listen — rather than give it. ]

What do you mean...?

[agradecido]

[Zevran gives him a small reassuring smile. Some people are determined to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, feeling responsible for things wholly out of their control. A decade ago, it was foolish to him. Now he knows that's what makes some people better.]

If you are to blame, so is everyone else: every guard, from the humblest man or woman on patrol, on up to your Captain.

[He shakes his head.]

These things...they are not something one can predict. If no one knows it will happen, how can they stop it?

Tell me, when it happened, what did you do? Did you do nothing, or did you rush to aid others?

[He's got a pretty good idea what the answer is, and it's not "Check primarily on people he cares about and ignore the rest," which is what he mostly did.]

[competing]

[ lance looks down at his hands, curled around the handle of his cart. ]

Of course I went to help others, [ he mumbles. rather than his typical boasting, he simply states it as if it were matter-of-fact. of course, how could i not? ] By the time I got there, most of the gas was already gone. [ which was fortunate, allowing him to remain well enough to help those who were more affected. ]

[agradecido]

[Maybe that was some of it, Zevran thinks, that Lance felt guilty missing the worst of it, and maybe even for being unaffected when so many were ill. He's not sure, and this is probably not the time to ask, so he continues in the same vein.]

You did what you were capable of in the moment. [He smiles.] In fact, I'd venture you continued unto exhaustion.

[Lance seems the type, anyhow.]

[competing]

[ he shrugs his shoulders. ] I was alright.

[ he did what he could till he couldn't anymore which, again, he has to figure most everyone else would do. especially in a time of crisis.

in any case, he's running a hand through his hair, giving zevran a sheepish smile. ]

...Thanks, man. [ he sees what you're trying to do. ]

[agradecido]

Heroic, principled, and modest! You're quite the catch. And I don't give baseless compliments, you know.

[Well, not to people he isn't trying to bed and then assassinate, at least. (He just won't mention that part...)

Anyway. Zevran switches back into sincerity.]

I simply mean to say, don't give up. You're one of the good ones.

[competing]

[ one of the good ones. lance's smile grows a touch more sincere. maybe even sheepish. it's so easy to believe it, when someone else is saying it. ]

Okay, Zevran. I won't.

[ he believes in you who believes in him ;A; ]

Sure you don't want any tupperware, though? I'll toss in a thermos?

if you like, we can wrap this up here?

[agradecido]

Good!

[Stepping closer to the cart, he looks over the assorted kitchen items.]

Which ones do you suggest?