Settling In
Jun. 16th, 2024 03:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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vivala-1: The Vault, The Port-
If you enter the Vault, the only real way to do it is via submarine. So whenever a new sub pops into the Port, there's usually a fair amount of interest. Maybe there's some new books for the library! Maybe there's a supply of luxury goods from Elysium! Maybe there's a batch of new recruits.
It's the last one, this time. After some informal cooperationthe TDM, they finally had brought Ziel back to the Vault, as they had promised. If anyone in the Corsairs could help him, it would probably be someone here, so he had reluctantly decided to hang around, at least for a little while. It probably wouldn't go anywhere interesting.
Somehow, word had gotten ahead, and there was a small crowd waiting to see if it was true who was on this submarine. Surely not THE Ziel? The youngest leader of the infamous monster hunter school known as the Dawnwings? Who spent his life protecting the people of the Empire from monsters, and who had killed a behemoth when he was 15. He was practically a living legend!
The main who emerged from the submarine somehow didn't live up to the hype. He still looked young, but moved like an elderly man. His clothes were filthy and in tatters. He trudged like he had the weight of the world on his back, dragging his massive warhammer behind him like he didn't have the strength to hold it properly.
After a moment, he realized there were people staring at him and slowly raised his gaze to actually see what all the fuss was. He saw a dozen pairs of hopeful eyes, but they were tinged with doubt. Well, that was only fair. He knew he hardly cut an impressive figure anymore.
Ziel looked back down at the ground and kept on trudging along the dock, amid a cloud of whispers. Surely THIS can't be the hero of the Dawnwings, can it?
-2: The Vault, upper reaches-
The Empire likes to consume ether crystals en masse for its power sources. It's a very profitable way of gaining ether, but it's hardly the only way. There are older methods that have fallen out of favor because they're much slower. Most mages find they have an affinity towards certain fundamental elements, and a VERY old method of cultivating power was to meditate near a source of that element.
Ziel's magic was attuned with Force and Motion, and, well, there was a near continual source of force and motion just about anywhere in Bavrecht, if you were willing to take the risk.
In the upper most chambers of the Vault, the distant rumbling of the Empire's near constant weapons testing was louder than ever. Ziel sat with his legs crossed and eyes closed, ignoring the sound. The constant barrage was close enough here that he could just barely sip at the endless force above and gradually absorb it into his core ether reserves. It wasn't much, but it was about all his system could handle right now.
That he was sitting in a random hallway wasn't a big deal. Not many people came up this high, anyway. What were the odds that someone would actually come up here and trip over him?
If you enter the Vault, the only real way to do it is via submarine. So whenever a new sub pops into the Port, there's usually a fair amount of interest. Maybe there's some new books for the library! Maybe there's a supply of luxury goods from Elysium! Maybe there's a batch of new recruits.
It's the last one, this time. After some informal cooperation
Somehow, word had gotten ahead, and there was a small crowd waiting to see if it was true who was on this submarine. Surely not THE Ziel? The youngest leader of the infamous monster hunter school known as the Dawnwings? Who spent his life protecting the people of the Empire from monsters, and who had killed a behemoth when he was 15. He was practically a living legend!
The main who emerged from the submarine somehow didn't live up to the hype. He still looked young, but moved like an elderly man. His clothes were filthy and in tatters. He trudged like he had the weight of the world on his back, dragging his massive warhammer behind him like he didn't have the strength to hold it properly.
After a moment, he realized there were people staring at him and slowly raised his gaze to actually see what all the fuss was. He saw a dozen pairs of hopeful eyes, but they were tinged with doubt. Well, that was only fair. He knew he hardly cut an impressive figure anymore.
Ziel looked back down at the ground and kept on trudging along the dock, amid a cloud of whispers. Surely THIS can't be the hero of the Dawnwings, can it?
-2: The Vault, upper reaches-
The Empire likes to consume ether crystals en masse for its power sources. It's a very profitable way of gaining ether, but it's hardly the only way. There are older methods that have fallen out of favor because they're much slower. Most mages find they have an affinity towards certain fundamental elements, and a VERY old method of cultivating power was to meditate near a source of that element.
Ziel's magic was attuned with Force and Motion, and, well, there was a near continual source of force and motion just about anywhere in Bavrecht, if you were willing to take the risk.
In the upper most chambers of the Vault, the distant rumbling of the Empire's near constant weapons testing was louder than ever. Ziel sat with his legs crossed and eyes closed, ignoring the sound. The constant barrage was close enough here that he could just barely sip at the endless force above and gradually absorb it into his core ether reserves. It wasn't much, but it was about all his system could handle right now.
That he was sitting in a random hallway wasn't a big deal. Not many people came up this high, anyway. What were the odds that someone would actually come up here and trip over him?
1
Date: 2024-06-17 03:52 am (UTC)"Hello," their owner greets. "I think I'm supposed to show you where you'll be sleeping?"
no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 04:02 am (UTC)Instead of getting out of his way, the shoes started talking to him. Great, this was going to be a conversation. Ziel laboriously brought his gaze up to eye level.
"Hello." even his VOICE was dusty. "I think I would be okay with sleeping."
no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 05:08 am (UTC)The woman walks like there's no one in her way. As she's rather tall and firm, that swiftly becomes true. Soon wooden dock gives way to stone passage, worn in by countless footsteps to a shape like hand-worked dough...
Next it's into an echoey stairwell.
It's now that the welcome-wagon pipes up again. "It's easy to get lost, here in the Vault. If you do have trouble and need help, it's not a bad idea to seek out these stairwells... even if it takes a while, someone's bound to come in eventually."
She cranes her head to get a good look as high up as she can, and purses her lips...
"We can go up a few flights here, now, and you can go straight to bed. But, if we just go up the one... there's a storeroom not too far out of our way, with fresh changes of clothing..."
An anticipatory pause.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 05:40 am (UTC)Wait what was she saying? Something about stairwells?
"...Good tip."
The obvious implication was that Ziel's ragged clothes could be replaced with something better, but he shook his head. "Later. Need sleep."
He started climbing the stairs again, but stopped. "One thing...I need a place near lots of things that are moving. Not people. Machinery, or the like."
no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 05:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 05:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 06:06 am (UTC)Is it... something to do with the vibrations?"
no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 06:19 am (UTC)Where had that come from? That was more words than he’d said in the last day! The slightest opportunity and here he was talking like he was teaching a class back in…
“…but it doesn’t really matter. I think I’ll just find my bed.”
1/3
Date: 2024-06-17 06:34 am (UTC)In her opinion,
it had begun to sound like it mattered rather a lot.
2/3
Date: 2024-06-17 06:39 am (UTC)3/3
Date: 2024-06-17 07:07 am (UTC)"Four doors down, on the left! I don't think you'll be sharing with anyone, but please, don't quote me on it. What else... oh! The closest canteen is by the dock. We passed it, so you shouldn't have too much trouble seeking it out. Now, where did I put..."
She pats at her pockets like she's having to look for the right one, even though she knows the exact spot already. It's the little touches. After a moment, she 'finds' what she was looking for and palms it.
"Anyway, if you have any additional questions... You can always reach me on your ENC. Here."
Mystery object, now revealed. It's a small square of paper folded around the teeth of a key, probably with her ethernet address. She holds it out for him to take.
"...Really, you can ask whoever you want! But.. since you're not with a large group, there's not as much infrastructure free right now for a smooth onboarding... I was asked to see if I could help cover that gap."
no subject
Date: 2024-06-17 01:37 pm (UTC)Drinks later. He took the key, stared at the paper for a moment, then took that too and shoved it in his pocket. For a moment, Ziel searched for something else to say that didn’t feel trite and meaningless.
Eventually he settled on, “Thank you.”
Then, he slowly trudged on to his new bunk. It was probably marginally more comfortable than sleeping on the floor.
🎀 I will haunt you again soon enough ziel
Date: 2024-06-17 01:56 pm (UTC)Well, there he goes.
Thinking about it, did she remember to write a name on the paper along with the address?
Oops! Maybe it'll be fun to see how many interactions they can get through without the topic of one coming up. Will he pick up using her un-name-like designation from the net? Make something up? Avoid ever using one until one or both of them expire? The future truly gleams with potential.
She closes the door to the hall firmly, making sure she hears the metallic sound of the catch engaging again.
Good things come to those who wait
Date: 2024-06-19 01:04 am (UTC)He barely thought about the guide over the next few days, but the number was there by his bed, along with a vague memory that it belonged to someone who sounded friendly and helpful.
It's a start.
2
Date: 2024-06-18 10:54 pm (UTC)Angelika has a map of tunnels, a clipboard, and a red pen to mark any tunnels or entrances that have collapsed or need repairs. She also has clumsy feet. So congratulations Ziel, there is one person in the entire Corsairs who is able to trip over you in a random hallway.
"Ack!"
no subject
Date: 2024-06-19 01:16 am (UTC)After she tripped over him, Ziel eventually opened his eyes and focused on the real world again. Dammit, and he had felt so sure this spot was safe.
"Are you alright?"
no subject
Date: 2024-06-19 02:58 am (UTC)"I think so. I'm sorry I didn't see you, it's so dark up here."
no subject
Date: 2024-06-19 04:01 am (UTC)Help her to his feet? Why would he do that? She seems fine.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-19 04:51 pm (UTC)It's okay, she can climb back to her own feet. Her cuteness only slightly soiled by the red ink spilled on her cardigan. "Oh no, is this going to leave a stain? I mean, it's pink already but a different shade isn't good..."
no subject
Date: 2024-06-21 02:32 pm (UTC)That, or just not sit in the middle of the hallway. Either way this is annoying.
“If you’re that worried about staining your shirt you probably shouldn’t wear it up here.”
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 11:33 pm (UTC)She gathered herself and looked at him, a frown on her face.
"Um, why were you sitting in the middle of the hallway?"
no subject
Date: 2024-06-23 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 03:47 pm (UTC)Then she takes him by the hand. "You should do that over here, there's a much better place for it!" And she starts to drag him along-or at least, try to, because a 5'4" girl is rather lacking in main strength.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 11:40 pm (UTC)He did put the effort in, though. This wasn’t a great cycling location, honestly, and if there were somewhere to get closer, it would be useful.
“Fine. Show me.”
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 11:52 pm (UTC)After several minutes of walking through the dark halls, she pulled out a key and swung open a door that lead into...a space. That was really all that could be said about it. It seemed to be an empty closet, awkwardly crammed in where it would fit-except the ceiling was incredibly high. The room was at least five stories tall, and all that was in it was a pair of-no, that wasn't a pair of pillars, it was a single enormous I-beam piercing the floor and the ceiling both.
"This is one of the main supporting columns that hold up the armor and rock that protects all of the Vault. It actually goes down from here all the way to the deepest firmament we're built on, to disperse the energy absorbed by the armor layers above us." The girl was almost bouncing on her feet as she gestured up at it. "And it's not in the hallway!"
no subject
Date: 2024-06-27 06:46 am (UTC)He almost cared, for a moment.
It didn’t matter, in the long run, but it gave him something to do for now other than lie in his room staring at the ceiling.
“This is…better,” he admitted.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-27 06:37 pm (UTC)Right, vital piece of infrastructure. It might have been a foolish idea to bring him here-but she shows no signs of thinking this was a bad or regrettable idea.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-28 01:26 pm (UTC)“I’ll do my best not to break anything.”
no subject
Date: 2024-06-30 03:25 am (UTC)"Right, I need to go and work on my checks, but good luck with your cycling energy."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-01 12:58 am (UTC)Plus, if he sat down and closed his eyes, maybe he could get out of talking to people. It was exhausting.
2- d'you wanna keep their tdm canon?
Date: 2024-06-27 06:21 am (UTC)Accidentally get poked by Rezo's cane while the man is exploring the Vault and frankly rather distracted by the weapons testing overhead, yes. Rezo luckily stops short before he can do any further damage to Ziel, and mutters a mild oath in his own language before raising his voice.
"My apologies."
Rezo tilts his head down in Ziel's rough direction, holding his free hand over an ear.
Yea. I guess I kinda left that thread not quite done
Date: 2024-06-27 06:53 am (UTC)He didn’t immediately respond, being deep in his cycling trance. It sometimes took a moment to return to the real world.
“Didn’t hurt.”
Who even was this? Ziel looked up vaguely annoyed, but smoothed his face out when he saw it was the strange blind healer from the other day. Not that Rezo could see his face, but he felt at least a mild urge to be a little more friendly than his usual depressed deadpan.
“Hello, again.”
no subject
Date: 2024-07-01 10:59 pm (UTC)"Oh, Ziel," Rezo says. He lowers his hand from his ear and gives the man a friendly smile. Internally, he's wondering if Ziel is high again- there had been a significant pause between Rezo poking him and Ziel responding.
"This is the second time I've accidentally prodded you, isn't it? I hope I'm not forming a habit."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-02 02:42 pm (UTC)Ziel started the process of hauling himself to his feet.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-06 07:41 am (UTC)He can vaguely hear Ziel getting to his feet, so Rezo holds out a hand for him to take or ignore, whichever Ziel's pride dictates.
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Date: 2024-07-06 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-11 12:30 pm (UTC)This is meant as an idle remark, not a suggestion- Rezo does realize that if that sort of thing would work for Ziel, Ziel would presumably already be off bashing in Imperial heads instead of absorbing ambient sound and fury.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-12 06:08 am (UTC)Actually, now that he thought about it, had he eaten anything today?
no subject
Date: 2024-07-12 11:54 am (UTC)He'd worked as a magic physician for several years under the Empire, and it had been rather depressing how many of the maladies he'd treated were clearly the cause of inadequate rest and nutrition.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-13 05:13 am (UTC)The tint of bitter anger in his voice was the first variation Rezo had heard from Ziel's normally flat tone of voice. Apparently he DOES feel things other than fatigue, occasionally.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-13 09:26 pm (UTC)"Indeed? That may be their own downfall someday."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-14 02:00 am (UTC)Ziel didn't have a lot of faith in the Crimson Corsairs, despite working for them. But a deal was a deal.
"...You're one of the outworlders the Corsairs freed, aren't you?"
no subject
Date: 2024-07-15 11:04 pm (UTC)It's probably for the best that Ziel asks a question before Rezo can pontificate on this. Rezo inclines his head and simply answers "That I am."
like a million year later
Date: 2024-07-29 12:37 am (UTC)"Do you want to go back?"
no subject
Date: 2024-07-29 12:52 am (UTC)No.
Rezo shakes his head, composing himself, and carefully says "I haven't considered the possibility."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-29 02:01 am (UTC)Leaving that cryptic and self-disparaging comment unexplained, Ziel turned to make his way back to the lower levels of the Vault.
"I've been sitting up here in the dark for too long. I'm going to get something to eat."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-29 03:10 am (UTC)He opens his eyes and confirms that indeed, it's not particularly bright up here. It's the one thing his eyes are useful now, a halfhearted gift from Esthere.
"A reasonable plan. And if it's dark then we're probably not supposed to be up here," Rezo remarks, not particularly concerned about the possibility.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-31 03:48 am (UTC)"Well, good chat." he said, intending to end the conversation there, but something else occurred to him. "...Do you need help getting out of here, since..."
Since the whole blind thing?
no subject
Date: 2024-07-31 04:45 am (UTC)On the other hand, he is a bit curious about Ziel, and Ziel's condition, and he suspects the other man could do with feeling useful. Sometimes, he reminds himself, it is kinder to let yourself be helped.
"Thank you," he agrees, holding out a hand for Ziel to slip an elbow into. "I think it will be easier with your escort."
He smiles. It's very warm and benevolent and he looks like he ought to be surrounded by gentle forest creatures and cooing doves of peace.