— 01 / open / past us is distant

[morns]

🧙 WHO: Kate & Anyone who wants to run into her
⚔️️ WHAT: In which our sullen heroine cleans up the city (After The Storm quest), fights with some bridge trolls (...Bridge... Trolls quest) and remains unsettled by her familiar.
🕒 WHEN: Throughout the month.
🗺️ WHERE: All over the place, really.
⚠️ WARNINGS: IDK I'll add to this as necessary.


— do you wanna get some more.

( the city isn't in ruins, but close enough. the storm battered everything it could, snapping branches from trees and sending anything not completely fixed in place several (hundred) feet away from where it started.

but this sort of damage can be fixed. buildings can be repaired, trees... well, she can't just sellotape the branches back on, she doesn't think, but those which are still standing should be fine. it's the ones which aren't standing that are the problem. such as the one Kate finds herself staring at, having already hefted the shattered branches and debris surrounding it into a canvas bag at her side. she exhales a breath and reaches a hand to her hair, just to find it remains neatly in the same tight pink braid it's been in all day.

this isn't happening by herself. so where...

ah! )

Oi!

( you, rando. ) You seen a saw?

— we just lost sight.

( there are people who'd disagree, whose eyes would widen in pity and shock to hear it said, but sometimes there are things which can only be solved with violence. and it seemingly doesn't matter what world you find yourself in, because these things do not seem open to negotiation.

violence for violence is the rule of the beasts, but beasts these things seem to be. and so, Kate ends up ensconced behind a (standing) tree, crouched and staring at the group of trolls as they lounge in the surroundings of several pilfered products.

(none of which are hers, thank you very much. she's not a total idiot... mostly.) )

Think you can get round the back?

( well, howdy, partner. we're trying a pincer formation here. any objections? )

— do you wanna go somewhere.

( she just. stares.

stares and stares, following Kate around the city with an unblinking gaze and a dress as white as moonlight. not that Kate even remembers calling for this ridiculous woman — familiar. whatever. somehow she ended up with the eeriest fucker in the lake instead of literally anyone, anything else.

(okay, so maybe she wouldn't exactly want a waste monster, but they wouldn't just stare at her all the damn time.)

in the middle of the city it all breaks down, and those who pass by will certainly hear the irritated tones of half an argument as the familiar answers each question in a monotone as unperturbed as her stare is unblinking. )

D'you have to follow me?

You... called me.

The hell I did. What're you supposed to be anyway?

I'm the washer woman.

... What.

( no one would blame you if you just moved on, but maybe you're a particularly kind soul who wants to stop someone fighting with their own familiar? or maybe you just want to poke the bear a little more?

i'm not your boss. )

— we only try to avoid it.

( wildcard option! write your own starter, or contact me at isanghae / isanghae#8071 and we can hash something out. )

Comments

[morns]

( good. this is good, and her eyes brighten at the answer. they might get this sorted yet. )

C'mon then. Lead the way.

( no time to waste! )

[monostich]

O-of course.

[And he will! Luckily, Kaede's memory is actually quite good, and he leads them to a blacksmith with no trouble at all. He hesitates outside, looking over at Kate.]

Well... Here it is.

[morns]

( well, it looks legit enough. guess they'll just have to knock and open the door a touch. )

Anyone here?

( her question, head poking in through the gap she's pushed open before she gives the door another shove.

goddammit, just what is stuck behind this thing? )

Gimme a hand—

( two shoulders are better than one? )

[monostich]

Right.

[...This is going to go horribly, he can feel it in his bones. But no point in giving up before they're already started...!

He steps up, bracing himself against the door.]

Right, so... Um. On three?

[morns]

( maybe, if she focuses, her kinetic magic can do something about this, but it's still new, still unfamiliar and unpredictable. she needs to find time to train it somewhat, but that might have to wait until after the city stops looking a tip.

so, countdown —

one.

two. )

...three.

( puSH, kids, push! )

[monostich]

[Push...!!!

The door creaks and swings open, which at least takes Kaede with it. He lets out a rather undignified yelp and stumbles, before just kind of. Flopping onto the floor face first.

Ow.]

...Did it work?

[It's muffled into the floor...]

[morns]

( well, they're in. sure, Kate stumbled when the door finally gave way, but she's still standing.

as for this kid... )

Yep. ( he's gotta get himself up, as Kate has locked eyes with the proprietor of the shop, a middle aged woman who stares flatly at both of them.

maybe she didn't want that debris moved yet. )

You got a saw?

[monostich]

[Just let him lay here for the rest of his life.

He does push himself up to his feet, and he stares between Kate and the woman. He raises an arm in a half-wave.]

We're trying to do some clear up, so a saw would probably be good, because neither of us can really do anything about it with magic, so if you have a saw and you could give it to us that would be really great!

[There's a twist to his words, influencing the woman to make her more agreeable. Kaede feels a little bit guilty for it, but...

It's for the good of the town, so that's fine, right?]

[morns]

Oh, well of course! Just wait a moment, would you? ( whether the woman would have said yes or no without Kaede's influence is a question they don't really need to look into, in Kate's opinion. when the woman says yes and produces one from behind a corner of the store.

having the blade in their possession is a relief, and she nods her head towards the woman, already turning to leave.

a nod is sufficient thanks, right? )

[monostich]

Th-thanks, ma'am!

[Time to leave before the old lady cottons on to what's happened-

Once they're out of the shop, Kaede sighs and his shoulder slump.]

...Well. We got the saw.

[morns]

( no need to look so relieved, kid, it was just a quick chat. )

Aye. Let's get to work.

( one tree will be cut into manageable, transportable, chunks and then they can move onto other parts of this clean up job. )

[monostich]

[Time for the manual labor part of this gig!

Which.

Wow.

Is actually the worst thing in the world???? Kaede is definitely not in good shape. He is trying very hard to make it look like he's not struggling, but he's kind of a terrible actor.]

[morns]

( oh.

oh dear.

she stops soon enough, staring at him for a long, hard minute. this is only the beginning, and one of the thinner parts of the tree at that.

where does she even start? )

You're not holding it right.

( that's taking way more effort than it needs to. )

[monostich]

[....................]

Ah... How do you hold it?

[He doesn’t know anything.]

[morns]

( there's a roll of her eyes, but that's all. no tsk, no impatient snapping, because... admittedly, she hadn't known what to do either when she first tried using one. )

Watch.

( she grips the blade slowly and deliberately, placing her left foot forward, her arm tucked against her side. it's all very neat. very proper. efficient. the product of hours of being yelled at in the training grounds. )

[monostich]

[He watches quietly for a moment, before nodding and going tk try again. He’s a quick learner, at least - kind of had to be, to survive as long as he had - and he looks up at Kate after a brief moment.]

...Thank you.