Open Log for June

[barbarus]

Who: Damen and Open
What: Damen does various things with various people around Hadriel in June.
Where: Various places around the city
When: Any day between 6 - 14 June
Warnings: Probably violence, fighting monsters. Also please note my warning for potentially triggering material which may arise when threading with Damen - it's unlikely to come up, but just in case!

A: Training Regime

[ Damen has been imprisoned before. His attitude to that had been the same as it is to this place; to endure, knowing that if escape is not possible now, it will be later, and to survive until that point. Logically speaking, that's a wonderful idea.

In practice, it's harder. The influence of the gods makes it harder, because that kind of magic is something he's never had to endure. He wouldn't even have believed it possible. The influence of Rage had turned people against each other, and had forced Damen to face in battle a creature with powers that should have left him dead. Weeks later, he still doesn't know why it didn't. Then the dreams had come, and teased him with offerings of a world that might have been, and a future that may still be, if he can't prevent it.

These are thoughts he doesn't want to have. Thoughts that he blanks out every morning, when he rises early, and goes to the park, to the spot between the trees where he likes to train. He strips down only to his chiton, and puts his body through drill after drill intended to hone, keep him sharp, and keep his muscles ready. It's discipline as much as anything else. When he's done with the sword, he'll work with his spear, and then his shield, and combinations of the three. Ordinarily, he trains alone; but sparring partners will be welcome, particularly those with skill - or if you want to train along with him, he'll welcome that too. ]

B: Cave Exploration

[ Since Maketh and Hotspur drew up their rota, Damen has taken his turn to patrol the city. He considers this the most useful thing he ever does - one of the only ways to be useful here. When he finishes his shift today, though, another awaits. He doesn't go into the caves every day. They are frankly too dangerous for that. But the monsters there are strong, and allowing their numbers to grow is against his sensibilities. There are days when he goes out determined to thin that herd.

Or maybe it's just that there are days when he needs a real fight, when training won't quite sate the urge.

He goes there directly, his sword sheathed at his side. In his hand is a torch - an electric one salvaged from one of the stores. Damen is, as a rule, not fond of modern technology, but he's fond enough of this. Perhaps you're here for the same reason as he is, or perhaps you have an innocent interest in the caves that he's about to spoil. Either way, when he sees you, he calls for your attention. ]

Did you bring something with which to fight? You'll need it, if we're going in there.

C: Delight's Bar

[ He's in an entirely different world, farther from home than he could have imagined, and yet Damen has still managed to find a place offering good Akielon wine. This is the closest taste to home he can imagine, and honestly, it's better than good. Damen has no love for any of the gods here, but at least Delight has her priorities straight. He looks relaxed, which is a strange enough occurrence for him in this place, but the bottle in his hand is halfway to empty, and his eyes are heavier for it.

It really is good wine.

This, of course, makes him friendlier than usual. Even if he doesn't know you, you might find him talking to you as you approach the bar. ]

You know, I searched every one of those empty restaurants for something this good, and the best bottle I found would have felled a giant with one sip. Delight knows what she's doing. What's your drink? Sit with me a while.

D: Spire Four

[ The problem with living in a Spire, Damen had found, was the unceasing need to go up all the stairs. He and Laurent had are on the third floor, and Damen honestly can't fathom how anyone would have the patience to clamber higher. About the only good thing he could say about that is that it offers good exercise.

So does climbing three flights with a day's scavenging in tow, though. For once, he's not dressed in Akielon clothing. No, for the sake of hygiene alone, he can't do that all the time. That means he's forced into wearing what he finds here - which, for the record, makes him feel ridiculous, since almost everything is too tight, and many of the pants are too short. It's rare that he finds anything that fits perfectly, and today's ensemble includes a shirt that's missing its sleeves (because he tore them off), and is open at the collar (because the top three buttons won't close). His pants are made of stiff blue cotton, but rolled up above his sandals because they wouldn't reach his ankles if he begged it of them.

In short, he looks like a fool.

His haul includes several cans of indeterminate quality, some rolls of sweet-smelling bread, and something that genuinely looks like sweetmeats. He'd grabbed those as soon as he saw them. Now he's hauling them, along with another bag filled with weapons from the armoury, up three flights of stairs. He doesn't totally take in the person he comes across there, too absorbed in making sure nothing falls back down. ]

Do you live on this floor? If you could help me I'd be grateful. I've clearly brought too much.

E: Create your own!

Prompt Damen! I can be contacted on Plurk at halfbloodly for plotting if you would like.

Comments

E: Unexpected Neighbours

[stepford_smiler]

Hakuryuu! Please wait!

[There is a long and loud kyuuuuuuuuuuu! coming down the stairs of the spire followed by quick footsteps coming behind it.

A small, dirty white dragon goes flying through the hallway, letting out cute, yet distressed noises as it darts away from his master.

Hakkai lets out a frustrated huff as he chases after the dragon with what looks like a washcloth in his hand.]

Hakruyuu, you need a bath. You're filthy!

[barbarus]

[ Honestly, when Damen hears that sound, he doesn't pay attention to the human voice accompanying it. Instinctively he draws his sword, assuming only that one of the creatures from the caves has gotten inside. He prepares, planting himself at the foot of the stairs.

This is not a good place to fight anyone; the height of the stairs will give the monster an advantage. But if it's what must be done, then it must be done. He hefts his blade -

And a small flying creature comes into view. He's still staring at it in startled disbelief, when a far more familiar face follows it down.

Now Damen straightens, his intent at once refocusing. His jaw sets, while his muscles brace for a fight.

(You'll lose, just like you lost before.)

But he'll fight, either way. ]

You. What business have you here? Is that thing - [ Nodding at the dragon. ] - yours?

[stepford_smiler]

[At the sight of the sword, the small dragon lets out a startled "Kyuuuuu!" and decides that the washcloth in Hakkai's hand is a lot less intimidating and flies over to him, landing on his shoulder.

Hakkai stops in place as he sees the man that he...uh...yeah...

His eyes are wide from the surprise and he stiffens a bit noticing that the other man is ready for a fight. He shifts from one foot to the other and folds his arms over his stomach in a passive gesture.

The expression on his face is world's different from the nearly emotionless expression he held when they first met. If "meeting" is what one could call it.]

Ah...well...I live...

[He motions up the stairwell.]

And yes, he's mine. I was trying to give him a bath and he decided that he wasn't going to have any part of it.

[Hakkai's voice even sounded a little different from before. It wasn't nearly as icy, either. It was even gentle.

Maybe they could just...talk about his pet dragon and he wouldn't need to find the appropriate time and way to apologize. Even though he still felt really guilty for what he did.]

[barbarus]

[ One creature flies to another, and Damen stas between them both. His last encounter with this man had certainly not included this little one, and the friendly nature of it now throws him off balance. It would be easier, he thinks, if they were fighting again.

He'd woken on the floor of an unfamiliar beating with no explanation. He should have been dead. That might have been easier. ]

You live where?

[ Suspicion in his tone. This creature lives here, in his spire? He hadn't known. The thought of it makes him feel vaguely ill. ]

[stepford_smiler]

[Hakkai can feel the tension in the air and hear the suspicion in his voice.]

I live on the floor right above this one with my roommate.

[It would have been easier if they just decided to hash it out again, this time with less malice on his part, but he doesn't have the desire to fight him at all. He doesn't understand why last time merely seeing this man breathing made him feel like he needed to get rid of him.

The mere memory of that feeling makes his heart twist.

His hands drop in front of him and lay on top of one another. He bends at the waist into an apologetic bow. The dragon flies off his shoulder so that he won't fall off.]

I apologize for my behavior the last time we encountered one another. I wasn't in control of my emotions at the time. I don't intend to cause anymore trouble for you if I can help it. If there is any way that I can make up for it, please do not hesitate to ask me.

[He chose his words carefully, but stays bowed until there is a reply whether it was forgiving or merciless. He didn't want to apologize for beating him up because that's just downright insulting.]

a

[wipedclean]

[He walks the city at all hours of the day and night, hunting monsters and keeping an eye on things in general. He doesn't need that much sleep, so sometimes he's out all night, or up very early in the morning.

He's seen Damen training regularly, but it's not until today that he approaches him.

Or rather, he approaches his training area, but keeps his distance, watching silently, though he's not trying to hide.]

[barbarus]

[ It doesn't take long for Damen to be aware of eyes on him. He lets it pass for a few moments, waiting to see if whoever it is will either introduce themselves, or attack. When they do neither, he swings around, eyebrows lifting expectantly.

He knows this man. This is the man from the video, the one who had looked after Steve so carefully when the fireflies had distracted him.

With interest, Damen puts up his sword and raises his chin. ]

Do you only mean to watch? When we spoke, it was of skill that could be shown.

[ And learned. But shown, first of all. ]

[wipedclean]

[He tilts his head, then approaches slowly, carefully.]

Yes. We did.

[He takes a few more steps, then stops.]

I wanted to see your skill first.

[barbarus]

[ Damen watches him approach, unmoving. It seems reasonable enough, he thinks, and probably something he would do himself if he were approached by a stranger like this. One of his eyebrows flicks up, inquisitive. ]

You've seen some. Certain ski.. oly reveals itsle around the best partner.

What do you think? Will you spar with me?

C.

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam and Barnaby have claimed a table in the center of the bar, with a clear view of everyone. On good night she gets someone to play cards with and occasionally con out of something, and the rest of the time there's people watching.

It's good to keep an eye on everyone. And this is a good place to do it, almost like home.

Miriam also may or may not have pilfered a bunch of colorful shot glasses from the bar, which she's definitely not hiding in her knapsack.

She brightens.] Damen! Awesome, you're here! Where's your boyfriend?

[Currently she's drinking a bottle of something sweet and fizzy, not unlike cream soda, and Barnaby is working his way through a bowl of ice cubs. Miriam doesn't like alcohol, but nobody else needs to know that.]

[barbarus]

[ Damen looks up. The sight of Miriam puts an instant light in his eyes, and he lifts his cup to salute her. ]

Miriam. It has been too long.

[ In fact the last time he saw her was inside his own head, when his dreams had shown her a version of his world better than anything that exists in reality. He's reminded of that all the more keenly when she mentions Laurent, calling him the name that never fails to make Damen cringe. ]

My lover, Laurent. He has no love for places like this. He rarely drinks.

[ Sometimes he does, of course. But it had only happened twice in Damen's memory. Laurent has not the taste for wine.

Miriam, on the other hand, seems to be getting into the spirit of things. ]

Will you join me? Tell me all you have been doing. I didn't expect to see you here.

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam wrinkles her nose. Lover sounds archaic and strange, the sort of thing you'd hear in a movie or maybe one of those stage plays that Gilly's friends would put on when they got drunk enough. Not something you would say and mean it. But here they are. She bounds over obediently, waving for Barnaby to follow.] Are you kidding? I love it here! You get to see everybody!

[barbarus]

[ Damen grins at the look on her face. He's entirely unrepentant; 'boyfriend' sounds ridiculous to him, a word inappropriate for intimacy between two men. He's confident Laurent would agree, and thus, he accepts the disapproval. ]

Everybody who comes. It's unlike the taverns I know from home. This...club. It's far more elaborate. But she serves good wine, and that's enough for me.

What do you drink?

[ His voice isn't exactly judgmental, but he's looking at her closely. ]

C (the 8th)

[casperdisaster]

[Noah is probably not the best company right now. Like he's his normal meek self, kind of on edge, and while he does listen in that sort of surprised-to-be-spoken-to way his drink appears before he can answer, and, well.

He downs a couple shots of what honestly smells less like alcohol and more like paint thinner. You were saying something about bottles that could fell a giant with one sip?

He coughs and wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand. They're red - they were red when he came in, like he'd been crying.]

Uh.

I don't know. It's strong, that's what matters, right?

[That is very much what matters to Noah right now. He pours himself another shot.]

[barbarus]

[ Damen had begun drinking when he was much younger than Noah, which makes him hesitant to be judgmental here. It's not that he thinks Noah is too young for it; it's that he thinks alcohol of that strength deserves a stomach hardened enough by years to take it. He doubts this boy has that kind of tolerance.

Damen recognises him, too. He's the boy he'd met on his first day here, when everything had still been new.

His eyes narrow with concern. ]

I would say taste matters more than strength. How many of those have you had? They smell strong enough to put an ox to sleep.

[ He steps forward, hoping to discourage Noah from reaching for another one. ]

[casperdisaster]

[Noah quickly downs the shot he was pouring before Damen can take it from him, though he reluctantly allows the other to intervene before a fourth is done. Noah coughs quite a bit after that third one. Okay, the room is sort of doing a swimming thing. Good, he's on the right track.]

Um. Everything I had at home. Which wasn't much, just like... a couple shots worth of berry vodka. That tasted good.

[barbarus]

[ The speed of that shot being downed does little to alleviate his concern. Damen watches Noah cough, and orders a large cup of cold water from Delight. Clearly something is wrong - and just as clearly, this boy is unused to this volume. ]

If you're going to drink, then pace yourself. Drink this before anything else.

[ He pushes the cup of water directly into Noah's space, and sits down heavily beside him. ]

What's behind all of this? You have the look of a man who's drowning his sorrows.

B.

[fleshing]

[Fuck yeah, gonna hunt monsters. Krieg's good for little else, and he is pUMPED. Krieg bounds right over as soon as he gestures, abruptly raring to put his skills to good use. He hefts his buzz-axe in his hands proudly.

Look at this fella, all ready to kill things.]

Good for crushing!

[barbarus]

[ Damen, who would prefer an eager partner, grins in response. Then his eyes fall on that weapon, and he nods at it. ]

That's no normal axe. What does it do?

[ Though in fairness, provided it's good at tearing into the hides of the creatures i these tunnels, Damen will be content. He's waiting for Krieg to answer, but he also goes to the entrance to listen. ]

We're clear on the other side, if you're ready.

[fleshing]

[Krieg lines his thumb up on one of the sharp edges of the blade and gives it a spin.]

Spinny!

[Apparently "these are just how axes are on Pandora" is too many words so, good enough. Krieg saunters along after Damen. Yeah, he's basically just here to kill things and be damn good at it.]

Ready to smash some teeth!

[barbarus]

[ Well, that's crude, but certainly instructive. Damen's eyes light with some interest on that axe.

The monsters probably won't appreciate it so much. He grins, and hefts his sword. ]

That's good enough for me. Let's clear some space!

[ And then he's in, plunging into the caves. He's done this enough times within the last few days that he's confident with his path, at least for a while. A glance back over his shoulder to check that his companion is coming follows, and then he stops to listen. After a few moments, he points his sword to the left, and takes a pathway down which he can hear a faint sound. It's low and rumbling, like a growl, but deeper than that from any animal Damen knows. It sounds large. ]

b.

[ampliat]

[ Most days, Blue isn't out this early. Most days. Some days, she can't sleep so much that really it amounts to waking this early. She hasn't slept well since the dreams, always nervous they might come back. Hopefully Fear will warn them again if that happens. Like before.

She wanders, though. Mostly aimlessly. Sometimes purpose finds her while she's wandering about.

Today seems one of those days....

She stops as she sees a man dressed.... way down. But that's not what stops her. Not even his size stops her ( though he could easily crush her! ). It's how he trains. How he fights. She's not entirely new to all of this, but she's not witnessed a real warrior like that. It's hard to look away. ]

Did you grow up with that kind of fighting?

video

[barbarus]

[ When she speaks, Damen goes still. He turns, one eyebrow lifting as he considers the girl. She's short, but by no means intimidated by him, if her looks are any indication. Her hair is caught up strangely, and her dress is like nothing he's ever seen. She looks like she might have been dragged through something.

But she seems calm enough. He straightens, catching his breath, and he lowers his sword to look at her. He nods. ]

I've trained since my youth. It's expected, in my country, and it suits me well.

This is not what men do where you are from?

[ampliat]

Not in a few centuries. [ He looks like he was pulled straight out of Sparta or something, okay. ] And the ones that do train use guns. No one really uses swords anymore. [ Despite the fact that shes.... carrying one...

She shuffles a little. Tilts her head. ] Mind if I stay and watch?

[barbarus]

[ Centuries. That matches what Damen has grown to understand since coming here; these people see him as something from their history. His modern world is not theirs.

He’s not sure how he feels about that. His response, as with most things he’s unsure of, is not to think about it. Instead, he points at the blade attached to the girl’s hip. ]

So you’ll use that without training, will you?

[ He lifts his eyebrows, smiling slightly. She seems a little uncomfortable, but he’s unconcerned. ]

Stay if you like. Is watching all you want to do?