middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Actually, yeah. Way back in the day. I did some construction work. Also, my last place would get damaged pretty regularly. So we had to do repairs. A flood took out half the village houses, once. Damaged some of the public buildings.

[That was a difficult time. Soldat nods approval at the new angle, though, good job Inigo.]

[ Inigo can imagine that it might've been hard to deal with. Especially since it's not like you can just up and move - especially if their last place was in that place they often speak of. It didn't sound like the sort of place where they could just move their house.

So that means there wouldn't have been a choice other than to just repair it each time. ]

This is my first time doing any real construction work.. as you can see.

[ Since his form obviously isn't great if Soldat had to point that out to him. ]

I'm more used to clearing debris when we're trying to help out destroyed cities on missions. [ At least that's easy. Anyone who can carry stuff can do it. No brain power necessary. ]

I've done some of that, too.

[More often, though, they were causing the rubble....

They pause a moment, swallowing back the memory of digging through falling bricks and smoky air, knowing they'd caused the destruction and only now that it was over wondering what this ashen feeling in their chest was. It's not a new memory, so they can shake it away, for now.

Thankfully they're just holding a beam, not hammering, so the lapse isn't as obvious.]

There's rubble to clear here, still. If you'd rather do something more familiar.

I know, I just.. wanted to help even more.

[ There's some slight hesitation in the middle of the sentence, maybe since Inigo feels it sounds almost kind of pathetic to admit it like that. But it's just the truth, isn't it? Just clearing things out didn't feel like doing enough for the people of this city - not when they need at least temporary revisions to these ruined houses so they'll at least have a place to live for now after they all leave. Until they can fully rebuild.

Inigo is so stuck in the thought that - thankfully for them - Soldat's moment does go unnoticed by him, especially as he finishes hammer in another nail, and moves to grab the third one. ]

I want to do as much as possible as we can for the people here before we have to go. Especially now we've gotten an extra day.

Building them shoddy houses when you might be more effective hauling rubble, depending on your strength, really isn't necessarily helping more.

[Soldat doesn't critique this nail, at least.]

Just because you aren't as good at one thing. Doesn't mean the thing you're good at isn't helping a lot, too. Even if it's less glamorous.

[They pause a little, realize what they said and what it sounds like, then add,]

Not to say you're building shoddy houses. Just as an example. People seem to be really down on their own skills around here, is all. I've had to tell three different people. To be proud of what they can do, and not fuss about things they can't.

[ Thank Naga for that last addition, because Inigo's mind was sure just about to tumble into being even harder on himself territory. Especially since he knows he isn't doing too great of a job here, but he's just trying to help out with whatever he can do..

And while the seed of insecurity is still planted a little, at least it doesn't bloom all the way. Instead it more just peeks out its head a little, making Inigo grow quiet for a moment as he almost sinks away into his thoughts before he remembers to speak up. ]

W-Well, I'm just saying that I've never done carpentry before, so. [ Hah, thinking he's not good at things being a deeper seated problem for Inigo? Of course not! (Of course it is, but he's so not going to admit to it. Which is why he just tries his best to smile.) ] I know there are lots of things I can do. I fought a lot of demons during the mission and came out of it just fine. I'm like an invincible hero.

[Sorry, kiddo, the stutter gives you away, as does the exaggeration. Soldat feels a little bad, but they figure they can turn it around. They tilt their head against the beam, and offer,]

Would you like to learn more about carpentry?

.. I..

[ Inigo seems surprised, but at least this time it's not coming forth out of any insecurity or other negative emotion. It seems he just genuinely didn't expect their offer - evident by the way he moves to scratch his head with his free hand. ]

I never really thought about it. [ Carpentry wasn't exactly a necessary skill for a prince, so it's not like he learned anything about it when he was younger.. ] But I guess it couldn't hurt if we're going to come across more worlds like this one where it's necessary..

Then I'll help.

[Soldat props the metal arm under the beam so they can lean out a little more, gesturing with the flesh hand at the roof above them that they're shoring up.]

It's all in the angles. The beams themselves at the right angle and the right placement, the connections at the right angle to hold them most securely.

[And here is where we learn that the mun knows nothing really about carpentry :D ]

The Will to Fight: Conclusion

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject