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deercountry2022-05-31 10:40 pm
hammerbearer) wrote in deercountry2022-05-31 10:40 pm
Entry tags:
End of May - June Catchall - Swap Meet! - OTA
Who: Gaia and others.
What: Working on the house, swap meet exchanges, psychometry shenannigans!
When: End of May and into June.
Where: Feed, Crenshaw, Various
Content Warnings: None Currently. Psychometry prompts may have various, will update as needed.
Housing Project - Feed - OTA
For months, Gaia has been living in a house that could, charitably, be called a 'fixer-upper'. Most would have said 'derelict'. But through the efforts of trading for services, lots of heavy labor involved in gutting the interior (with the occasional help from old and new allies and neighboring farms), and when you get right down to it, sheer teenage stubborness, there has finally been a turning point on the old stone house the young woman sheltered in at during her arrival in the harsh months of winter.
The exterior now has a proper roof, the stones have all been firmly fixed in place with new mortar (one can follow the 'old' and 'new' by the contrasting color of the mix laying between the old stones that has yet to be properly weathered). Windows and door frames are refurbished; no longer broken wrecks with missing panes or a series of boards covering a hole. The yard around the home is still looking very ragged but that's to be expected at any construction project in progress. But there's a fenced garden growing a little ways off and it looks like the surrounding area has had someone beginning to tame it. There'll be a proper pasture and yard soon. Small but obviously suited for a family. Well only one young lady living here now but that's beside the point!
There's many reasons to be traveling here. A visit for the few people that probably know Gaia well enough to have been given an address. Delivering a purchase? She'll have ordered fixtures, wires or even general goods that someone could be delivering. Or arriving to do some of the work that the teen (by herself or no) can't do in the construction. She's sure to have reached out to arrange for a project or two. One could just be passing by if they happen to have business in Feed!
A brindle-furred, on the larger side of medium dog is probably wandering, following the dark-haired woman as she moves from task to task. Some time in the garden at the moment; tomatoes are just beginning to ripen and she has made a promise to Sasuke to deliver some for his teaching. There's also the general weeding and watering care that any garden needs. Though Gaia is largely focused on the efforts of her work, she's not unprotected. The dog is clearly well trained and remains alert to the surroundings; most familiar with the Dog Keeper would probably recognize the look of one of the canines he's bred and sometimes given away. And there's a fair sized (for a fish) omen that appears as a crowntail betta swimming gracefully nearby. One or other of these will no doubt alert her of danger.
Swap Meet - Crenshaw - OTA
Some might remember near the beginning of May when Gaia talked over the network about arranging a place where Sleepers and natives of Trench alike could gather and trade in items they had in excess- for better or worse a swap meet.
But arrangements to make that type of event safe needed some planning and then there was the month of May itself with everyone dealing with transformations and flowery parasites. Was June going to be any better? Odds might be against but in Trench you couldn't just stop a plan forever because it was going to be dangerous or some horror beast was going to appear. Things just wouldn't get done.
Notices, signs and network announcements would be made, some by Gaia and others depending on the source. And there would be signs pointing directly to the venue from the Watch Tower Lamp.
When: For the month of June, held every mid-week day from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, with an hour's break at noon.
Where: Residents of Trench will be welcome to gather south of the Watch Tower in Crenshaw and engage in the exchange of items and basic services such as repairs and contracted work.
Rules: Spaces to set out wares are marked out and will be a first come, first served basis. One space per person. Everyone will be responsible for their own items and exchanges. There will be larger areas for 'standing room' exchanges.
Prohibited items include the trade of or services dealing in blood or that may cause a potential blood spillage on site. Livestock should not be brought to the venue but preserved foods and ingredients are welcome. Transactions considered 'monetary' in nature should not be conducted. The aim is to swap and exchange items and services for every day needs. For the safety of the district and participants, requests to remove other risk items should be followed promptly.
All exchanges will be the responsibility of the parties involved to agree upon and see through. Individuals are responsible for their own possessions. Security will be focused on keeping the peace and safety of the venue at large.
All participants are expected to disperse no later than one hour before dusk to for the sake of security to the Crenshaw district.
The area in question is a somewhat wide grassy swath south of the Watch Tower's lamp location. It has a bit of landscaping and paths, generally used as a small common park for the district. Every Wednesday in June, volunteers and Hunters will keep a sharp watch on the area in case the gathering and noise attracts trouble. They will also firmly escort or request removal of anything that would bring undue attention, noise or risk to Crenshaw; not the least of which the aforementioned blood trading, but also very loud noises or commotions. But they're here for the safety of the district from the threat of beast and monsters and outright violence or incidents of blood corruption, not to serve as a policing force against theivery and fraudulent deals. Spaces to set up a table or lay a blanket to display one's offerings are marked out, leaving wide aisles to prevent clogs in any traffic of bodies. Natives of Trench and Sleepers alike are all invited to participate in the exchange of goods and services; the emphasis will be strong on daily necessities and trade over specialized products and monetary transactions.
Have a hoard of items you've picked up, collected or salvaged over the past few months and don't know what to do with the excess? Maybe your extra junk will be someone's treasure.
[OOC: Players are welcome to use the Swap Meet Comment as a place to put prompts or use this event in their own TLs. Nothing major is planned; this is meant as a form to help generate CR both old and new!]
Psychometry - Various Places - OTA
[OOC: This is a bit of a wildcard. Looking for encounters dealing with Gaia's Darkblood awakening to unbidden psychometry this month. For her it'll be an odd mix of accidental glimpses of both good and bad things mixed with an innate gift that's similar to it- see: FFXIV's 'the Echo'. HMU if you're interested in working out an encounter!]
What: Working on the house, swap meet exchanges, psychometry shenannigans!
When: End of May and into June.
Where: Feed, Crenshaw, Various
Content Warnings: None Currently. Psychometry prompts may have various, will update as needed.
Housing Project - Feed - OTA
For months, Gaia has been living in a house that could, charitably, be called a 'fixer-upper'. Most would have said 'derelict'. But through the efforts of trading for services, lots of heavy labor involved in gutting the interior (with the occasional help from old and new allies and neighboring farms), and when you get right down to it, sheer teenage stubborness, there has finally been a turning point on the old stone house the young woman sheltered in at during her arrival in the harsh months of winter.
The exterior now has a proper roof, the stones have all been firmly fixed in place with new mortar (one can follow the 'old' and 'new' by the contrasting color of the mix laying between the old stones that has yet to be properly weathered). Windows and door frames are refurbished; no longer broken wrecks with missing panes or a series of boards covering a hole. The yard around the home is still looking very ragged but that's to be expected at any construction project in progress. But there's a fenced garden growing a little ways off and it looks like the surrounding area has had someone beginning to tame it. There'll be a proper pasture and yard soon. Small but obviously suited for a family. Well only one young lady living here now but that's beside the point!
The Interior? +expand+
Glimpsing through windows might net someone the sight of base board and framework in the interior; it's still in that stage where the insulation and internal wiring needs to be placed before finished walls and flooring is considered. The only place that doesn't completely feel like a work in progress is the kitchen. Though it'll have its turn in time, it's clear that this is the primary living arrangements. A cot, belongings, a trunk and accourtemants one would expect in a common area or bedroom are as present as dishware, canned goods and cooking implements.There's many reasons to be traveling here. A visit for the few people that probably know Gaia well enough to have been given an address. Delivering a purchase? She'll have ordered fixtures, wires or even general goods that someone could be delivering. Or arriving to do some of the work that the teen (by herself or no) can't do in the construction. She's sure to have reached out to arrange for a project or two. One could just be passing by if they happen to have business in Feed!
A brindle-furred, on the larger side of medium dog is probably wandering, following the dark-haired woman as she moves from task to task. Some time in the garden at the moment; tomatoes are just beginning to ripen and she has made a promise to Sasuke to deliver some for his teaching. There's also the general weeding and watering care that any garden needs. Though Gaia is largely focused on the efforts of her work, she's not unprotected. The dog is clearly well trained and remains alert to the surroundings; most familiar with the Dog Keeper would probably recognize the look of one of the canines he's bred and sometimes given away. And there's a fair sized (for a fish) omen that appears as a crowntail betta swimming gracefully nearby. One or other of these will no doubt alert her of danger.
Swap Meet - Crenshaw - OTA
Some might remember near the beginning of May when Gaia talked over the network about arranging a place where Sleepers and natives of Trench alike could gather and trade in items they had in excess- for better or worse a swap meet.
But arrangements to make that type of event safe needed some planning and then there was the month of May itself with everyone dealing with transformations and flowery parasites. Was June going to be any better? Odds might be against but in Trench you couldn't just stop a plan forever because it was going to be dangerous or some horror beast was going to appear. Things just wouldn't get done.
Notices, signs and network announcements would be made, some by Gaia and others depending on the source. And there would be signs pointing directly to the venue from the Watch Tower Lamp.
Weekly Swap Market +expand+
When: For the month of June, held every mid-week day from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, with an hour's break at noon.
Where: Residents of Trench will be welcome to gather south of the Watch Tower in Crenshaw and engage in the exchange of items and basic services such as repairs and contracted work.
Rules: Spaces to set out wares are marked out and will be a first come, first served basis. One space per person. Everyone will be responsible for their own items and exchanges. There will be larger areas for 'standing room' exchanges.
Prohibited items include the trade of or services dealing in blood or that may cause a potential blood spillage on site. Livestock should not be brought to the venue but preserved foods and ingredients are welcome. Transactions considered 'monetary' in nature should not be conducted. The aim is to swap and exchange items and services for every day needs. For the safety of the district and participants, requests to remove other risk items should be followed promptly.
All exchanges will be the responsibility of the parties involved to agree upon and see through. Individuals are responsible for their own possessions. Security will be focused on keeping the peace and safety of the venue at large.
All participants are expected to disperse no later than one hour before dusk to for the sake of security to the Crenshaw district.
The area in question is a somewhat wide grassy swath south of the Watch Tower's lamp location. It has a bit of landscaping and paths, generally used as a small common park for the district. Every Wednesday in June, volunteers and Hunters will keep a sharp watch on the area in case the gathering and noise attracts trouble. They will also firmly escort or request removal of anything that would bring undue attention, noise or risk to Crenshaw; not the least of which the aforementioned blood trading, but also very loud noises or commotions. But they're here for the safety of the district from the threat of beast and monsters and outright violence or incidents of blood corruption, not to serve as a policing force against theivery and fraudulent deals. Spaces to set up a table or lay a blanket to display one's offerings are marked out, leaving wide aisles to prevent clogs in any traffic of bodies. Natives of Trench and Sleepers alike are all invited to participate in the exchange of goods and services; the emphasis will be strong on daily necessities and trade over specialized products and monetary transactions.
Have a hoard of items you've picked up, collected or salvaged over the past few months and don't know what to do with the excess? Maybe your extra junk will be someone's treasure.
[OOC: Players are welcome to use the Swap Meet Comment as a place to put prompts or use this event in their own TLs. Nothing major is planned; this is meant as a form to help generate CR both old and new!]
Psychometry - Various Places - OTA
[OOC: This is a bit of a wildcard. Looking for encounters dealing with Gaia's Darkblood awakening to unbidden psychometry this month. For her it'll be an odd mix of accidental glimpses of both good and bad things mixed with an innate gift that's similar to it- see: FFXIV's 'the Echo'. HMU if you're interested in working out an encounter!]
no subject
Please remember, dear reader, that Gaia is not a scholar. The teen grimaces. "Well you'll find out what's stronger once you practice." Native talent or blood type.
The knife is carefully placed on the table rather than handed directly over. Again that careful avoidance of touch. There'll be things taken out of the kit and the jar is also pushed closed to Nara'a. Also a towel. Whatever comes out, it's clear she's intent on making sure it doesn't hit the ground... or escape?
Is it really the cold that makes the miqo'te flinch though? Coldbloods are generally immune to temperatures, probably even their own blood's particulars. The intent expression Gaia's wearing clears and she seems to relax.
"That's Coldblood. It's very good for elemental magic and enchanting weapons." Gaia says with certainty. She points at the jar. There's a cap beside it that'll be good to seal it. Honestly it seems to be a bit excessive for a drop or two but still. Best to have been prepared. "Scrape it off and put it in here. You'll heal fairly soon but you should wrap that."
She looks relieved and it's probably around this point that she lets down her guard as she's passing items in his direction to make sure the 'bleeding' (such as it is) is properly taken care of.
6.1 spoilers
Nara'a hands it back over and starts to wrap his wound, but as the blood vial scoots across the table to Gaia, she'll find herself seeing something else for a brief moment -
the sting of spikes on his feet and legs, ripping through fabric, colorful ribbons bound up in the shape of a man, the sense of vertigo as he tries to regain his footing and the sweet relief of a spell binding up his wounds as he bounds to the side to avoid a strike by a sword -
and then it's gone, Nara'a suddenly standing up as he looks at her in concern, trying to figure out what just happened. Was that an Echo headache? But no, she doesn't have the Echo. ... Does she?
He's relatively sure she doesn't, but given her connection with Ascians it could be something that she'd developed. He's not sure what's going on - but at least his finger is wrapped and she seems to be back from... whatever that was.
no subject
What follows is a brief and sudden stillness about Gaia and a catch of her breath with a sharp gasp. Her gaze grows distant, seeing something not in the room. It didn't look like the headache Nara'a is familiar with. At least, it didn't look painful exactly.
Though she suddenly is intensely aware of the pain and vertigo and relief someone experienced. But that is different.
Would it be because of Gaia's Ascian 'heritage', or simply because it's something else entirely?
What does happen in the end is a sudden clarity. Gaia yanks her hand out of range of jar and the possibility that Nara'a might come in contact again. Thankfully she doesn't knock over the container in doing so.
"Stay back!" It's clear she's trying to ward off any concerned gesture the miqo'te might offer in the wake of whatever suddenly ailed Gaia. The intensity is somewhat lessened as she follows it up.
"...Please. Just... give me a moment." Though her hands to rise to gently touch her temples, Gaia doesn't appear to be in pain. If anything it's as if she's trying to reorient herself after a spell of dizziness.
no subject
"All right..." He breathes out, taking a bandage from the first aid kit and wrapping it in place of the towel that he'd been working with. His tail slowly smooths out and he watches her carefully. He sighs and continues wrapping his finger in silence, waiting for her to say anything or continue the conversation some other way.
no subject
Though perhaps it's simply because it was a mere brush of contact. The teen collects herself, lowering her hands and taking deep, steadying breaths. When she finally seems to have calmed, Gaia meets the miqo'te's gaze and speaks apologetically.
"I'm sorry I shouted. I've recently been experiencing visions. Memories or events that happened." Gaia manages a smile that looks like she's trying to be amused, though can't quite muster the energy. "I suppose you know about that sort of thing."
But she hesitates briefly after she says that, as if the words and knowledge were subconscious. After all it does make sense that the Warrior of Darkness would know about these types of visions... right? For a moment her conscious mind tries to struggle with the mental loops of having memories she isn't sure she has before clearing away the thoughts with a shake of her head.
"Well it seems to happen more often if I touch objects, particularly ones close to a person." Gaia's expression firms as she crosses her arms- a little defensively, a touch awkwardly- "At least don't get offended if I avoid hugging you or anything like Ryne might. Not that it's my style anyway."
no subject
The smile doesn't convince him, but he offers her a smile of his own. She's still new to this sort of thing, apparently. And it's not like he's an expert at it - though he knows better than most other people what it's like, it doesn't mean he understands it completely on a technical level.
(He can make guesses, but right now isn't the time to get onto a technical rant or train of thought.)
"You're right. I wasn't expecting you to, anyway." He remembers being a teenager, albeit one out in the wilds, not in a city. The mentality's different, but the urge to look cool and collected seems to be the same. He was never any good at that, though he tried... "Are we... is it good to save the blood? Is there somewhere we should dispose of it?"
With this 'blood pollution'... he doesn't want to add to it, though he's not sure what to do to stop it.
no subject
"Even a small amount like that can be valuable," Gaia explains. "As I mentioned, this place performs magic around the power of blood." But then she nods. "Though yes, if you dispose of it, you need to do it properly. There are ways."
The teen settles a hand to her chest and seems to be collecting her thoughts. After a moment she continues more somberly. "The power in blood also attracts beasts and monsters. Pollution happens when that power saturates an area. It can rot the earth and cause the monsters to be more aggressive."
Honestly, rather like too much aether in some respects by the way she's describing it. Her arms are crossed again, though this time as if in self comfort.
"Of course since you have to fight the monsters, blood is always going to be spilt." Gaia offers, gaze turning aside. "It also speeds the effects of corruption. Something about this place... over time, it can change a person. Turn them into.... something else. Apparently no one's immune."
Shadowbringers spoilers
It does sound like aether, in its own way - but he's aware that it's likely to be more different than it is the same. "So ideally you want to kill the beasts with something that's less likely to spill a lot of blood." And at a distance... magic is going to be a large help here, if that's the case. "But... no one? There has to be a way..."
It's not like even he was immune to the effects of Light. Some days he can still feel it under his skin, threatening to break free... but he knows that won't happen. He knows that's just his overactive mind scaring him. Still, the idea of being changed utterly... he's aware of the fear. He's aware of the fear of pollution, of contamination... he lived with that fear and with others with the same fear. The only reason he's still here is because of the sacrifice that someone made for him...
He's clenching his fists, and he realizes it when his claws start digging into his palms. He forces himself to relax and take a breath, to untense and pull himself from his thoughts and look at Gaia. "... There's got to be hope for this world. Not... an endless spiral into beasthood that no one can escape." He just has to find it...
no subject
"Well there's ways to stave it off. But it's a constant threat. The more you face the horrors here, the more it wears on your mental state. And that leads to the changes."
She inhales and lets out a sigh.
"But there's purification and ways to try and treat it. It's just the longer it's left, the harder it is to stop its progress, so I'm told." It's true though, that she's never experienced it firsthand.
Thankfully.
This time her smile is weak but quite a bit more genuine. And Gaia looks up at Nara'a as he professes the determination she's familiar with from the Warrior who did so much to save her world in recent years.
Well it's true Nara'a isn't really the one she remembers exactly, but she's willing to believe he's the one she's just forgotten a few... details about. Yes.
"There's a group in the Crenshaw district who are trying to make a place for the ones afflicted with growing corruption or beasthood. To try and... bring them back. They may be the ones you really want to talk to. The Hunters..."
There is a pause.
"They protect everyone and are determined to see Trench safe. But they don't exactly wonder if they should try to save someone who's turned into a Beast. And wouln't likely be kind to those in their number who tried."
no subject
It's just strange to have that feeling alone - or nearly alone. Gaia's here, but he's not going to force her into doing this with him if she's still focused on survival. The Hunters... he'll have to see what he can do with talking to them. There can't be only people focused on killing without discernment. Even if they're quiet about it...
"I'll help figure it out... once I figure out more about this place myself." Everything is a bit overwhelming. It's like when he was first pulled to the First - a lot of information at once, likely with a lot of missteps on the way. At least he has someone with him who's willing to figure things out with him.
"Is there anything that needs doing tonight that I can help with? I can at least help wash up..." He's got some water in his canteen at the bare minimum.
no subject
"The sanctuary only formed within the last moon. The Hunters... aren't wrong with their stance. Just because a cure might have been found doesn't mean it's going to work on those who've already become Beasts."
It's clear Gaia does want it to work. Who wouldn't? But for all her lacking memory, she's still much a child of the First and its hundred years of the sin eater threat.
"It's not like I don't hope this is a solution. I've even been there a few times." Gaia returns her gaze to Nara'a. "What I'm saying is it's probably still better to treat them like sin eaters."
The teen might be just trying to survive. There is that sense after all, with her actions and words. Not to mention the implication that she had been dealing with first 'Thancred' and Alisae returning to the sea and leaving her without people that possessed familiarity with her world of origin.
But.... 'been there a few times'. Perhaps she is starting to reach beyond what she needs to live. It probably helps that her living situation has become more stable after all. There was a vegetable garden outside. The house is obviously habitable and nearing completion. Gaia has the luxury of being able to look around her now.
But as far as the Hunters go, well... Gaia can only explain what's on the surface and from her perspective. What Nara'a finds out from reality probably is best experienced personally. It'll probably also be best to get a non-Gaia perspective on those points she's brought up. Did we mention she isn't the scholarly type?
But the meat of the conversation that needed to be had is at its end. It's nice to be able to turn to more basic things like... new living arrangements.
"I suppose I should give you a small tour. And you can pick a room. Even if the walls aren't up, it's at least a place to lie down." The house is actually two stories and an attic. Modern Earth standards (or the rich) might consider it small, but it's pretty damn spacious for one person from the First.
"Ah, but not the attic. There's a person that sometimes comes by to sleep. So if you see a very tall hume with pale skin, don't panic. That's just D." And not someone turning into a sin eater.
Rising from her chair after finishing off the mug of tea, Gaia takes on the air of someone with a task to do. Which is probably show Nara'a around, give him an idea of where the place is in its construction and also a few other things.
"I don't suppose you can cook? I only know some basics. But at least we've got fresh vegetables. The tomatoes are finally ripened. And I've got plenty of popotoes." And of course there'll be the pork she mentioned earlier.
no subject
Nara'a smiles at her as he finishes his tea, setting the cup down with a soft thunk. He rises as she does, mind whirling with possibilities. He can't exactly construct a familiar here - not without a lot of research - but he can at least meet with these people and see what they have to offer.
He follows Gaia as she shows him the house, tilting his head at the sound of someone else living there. "Hopefully he doesn't mind me being around - but if he's a friend of yours, we'll probably get along." She didn't say the word 'friend', but he's aware that there wouldn't really be anyone allowed in who isn't a friend of Gaia's.
The rooms are small compared to what he's seen in some places - mostly Ul'dah - but it's spacious compared to a lot of places he's lived. And there's a solid roof above, and enough walls to keep the wind and rain out. It'll work just fine. He sets his things down in one of the rooms on the second floor near the stairs - he wants to be able to get down quickly if something goes wrong. He takes his job stones and slips them into his pocket for easy access, just in case.
"I know some cooking, especially meat." While he and his family weren't settled in the same way that those in the city-states are, they were hardly savages. The meals were simple, but they were enough to be filling and healthy for young hunters. "It won't be anything fancy, but it'll work with limited ingredients." Popotoes and tomatoes are a good start, at least. He'll have to see if there's any more leafy greens around that are safe to eat. "I grew up in a hunting clan, so we worked with what we had."
no subject
"Hah! Well he's a bit stand-offish, but he's got his reasons. I doubt he'll care one way or another." Unless something really, really radical happens. Gaia might have not used the term friend but she's probably not the type to go for labels so easily. That she's made allowances for D and seems to think well of him is probably enough indication to suggest she's definitely holding him in good regard.
Fear not for the garden. When the tour gets around to the outside, it'll be obvious there's more than tomatoes present. Some leafy vegetables, vine beans, carrots, beets and a few other easy to grow items are in evidence though in varying stages of development. There's a border of herbs as well. It's obvious that the selection is beginner friendly as long as water and wedding is maintained.
"Well if you want to handle cooking tonight, you're welcome to do so. Use anything from the garden or what's stored in the pantry. Those will be safe."
Going out to just gather things seems to come with a caveat as well. Gaia then realizes something.
"Oh, it'll just be a meal for the two of us. Even if D shows up tonight, he finds his own food elsewhere."
There might have been a bit of a rush to the phrasing, but it should be fine. Right?
no subject
Oh, good. He nods at the garden, visibly impressed. Not only is it difficult to grow things in the first place, growing things in this place in particular seems another layer of challenge. She really has changed in a lot of ways. He steps over to it carefully, examining the plants and checking the soil. It's not as if he doesn't believe her, he just wants to see for himself.
"Got it. I'll be careful to not pick too much. But it looks like you've done a good job with these." His botany is... still pretty bad, but he knows what a healthy plant looks like in general. He carefully manages to dig up a few things for a good accompaniment to pork and heads back to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.