Event Log: September, The Price of Revolution p1

[faileas]

Event Log: September, The Price of Revolution Part 1

I. The Freedom Festivities Behind the fortress-like walls of Dorchacht, what was once a gloomy, imposing city is lit up for the festivities to come. Septeril brings with it many mixed emotions for the citizens of what used to be called The Black City, though the overwhelming atmosphere is positive - this is a celebration of freedom hard-earned and prosperity hard-fought-for. The triple stars of the Resistance, now the current reigning party, feature heavily in decorations and in clothing: in pins, on hats, golden stars enchanted into fabric to dance merrily across skirts and cloaks. Stars light up the streets in decorative strings hung from lamppost to lamppost, flickering gently over the cobblestones. Mirrors, as well, feature into the decor, tiny round ones hung in multitudes from awnings and in windows like ornaments, catching the light and playing it across the otherwise-utilitarian architecture, lending it a sort of understated beauty. Much of Dorchacht has been rebuilt and repurposed by necessity since the uprising last year, and many new small businesses and restaurants are being featured at the festival - their goods or their foods on display in markets of street-side stalls or on the feast tables. Local handmade wares and crafts are out for sale for modest prices, and every sale helps out both the small business, many of which are started by former slaves, and helps the local economy, which is better these days but still recovering. The festivities go for six days, almost a full week, with feasting and bonfires every evening, and tours and tales of the city by day, as they display the changes for the better they have all made. And then, on the final evening, all are invited to watch a grand fireworks show that will be put on in the skies over Dorchacht, presided over by the Circle of Three themselves. Mirrorbound are welcomed warmly, whether they were present last year or not, and treated much like family - get ready to be pulled into activities and plied with food left and right. a. Join the Fun The children of Dorchacht are out by the dozens during the festivities, excited by all the freely-offered, special sweet treats and the magical sparklers and poppers being handed out by the fistful. The poppers explode when thrown to the ground in bursts of bright colors, completely harmless, and the sparklers are enchanted not to burn little (or big) hands if mishandled. Mirrorbound passing through may find themselves roped into elaborate pretend games of revolution by eager faces: the children name themselves either Resistance members or Mirrorbound, and 'do battle' with their magic fireworks against scarecrow-like constructions cloaked in dark bed sheets as 'the bad guys'. Depending on one's perspective, it may seem dark, but this is what these children have known very recently in their lives, and their caretakers or parents (there are more of the former than the latter, especially for the young Monsters) let them play as they will. If asked, they'll just explain that some of those kids even remember the fighting when it happened; this is just another way that they try to understand how the city has changed. More organized, family-friendly reenactment performances are also common, with several of the orphanage groups putting on small plays about the uprising, or moral plays about kindness and togetherness between Witches and Monsters. This includes a prominent set of performances by the Mirrored Hearts Home for Children - maybe you're helping out with their sets or costumes, or maybe you assisted with their scripts and songs. Those Mirrorbound volunteers will want to see the kids do well, right? They'll be heartbroken if you don't show. Of course, kids aren't the only ones doing reenactments. The newly formed Dorchacht Historical Society, dedicated to protecting Dorchacht's history going forward, puts on several - and may drag in passers-by to play different roles! Only the luckiest are begged to play the role of The Dragon, who valiantly rose up against their cruel former master, Morgana, and helped lead Dorchacht to where they are today. b. Forget-Me-Not While the overall air is celebratory, among the adults who are old enough to understand just what was lost as well as gained, there is an undercurrent of sombre remembrance. Many visit the burned-out Old Coven, left as damaged as it was when the fighting ceased, as a monument to how freedom fighters suffered and fought. Plaques dot the grounds and buildings there seemingly at random, until you realize that each metal plate bearing names is laid where someone died. To decorate these plaques, and homes and businesses as well, there are tables set up in the yard of the New Coven, heavy with a rainbow of small magical flowers called Forget-Me-Nots, and the supplies to make remembrance wreaths. In this new tradition, the flowers are chosen with a dead, missing, or simply absent loved one in mind, and woven together with glass beads, small wooden charms, and a spell written on a slip of paper. The enchanted fragrance of the Forget-Me-Nots allows whoever smells them to witness short, happy memories of the person the wreath was made for - whether they knew that person or not. The memories come from the wreath-maker, and are only short flashes (less than a minute long) or mere impressions, but all are pleasant or warming. With the spell woven in, they'll last for an entire year without wilting or losing their effects, a souvenir from the festival to take home. Mirrorbound are encouraged to join in, and make wreaths of their own, whether or not they lost someone in Dorchacht's uprising. It can be for someone who has disappeared from Geardagas, someone who died long ago, someone living they miss from home, anyone who is not currently with them.

II. The Uninvited Guests On the 25th, the final day of the celebrations, the partying lasts all day. Food and drink are abundant on every corner, upbeat music is played by street performers and over the radios that can be found in nearly every household and shop, and the bonfires have been enchanted to let the flames take fanciful shapes. Drinking games and dancing, storytelling and general partying all last clear into the evening, but once dusk falls, everyone gathers in the center square of the city for the fireworks show. The Three are there - the Witches Bryn and Hilda, and the Monster known as The Dragon, Starlight, or formerly Fafnir - with Nessie and Mhairi as guests of honor, and Hilda is the one to set off the first enchanted fireworks, after a brief speech thanking everyone for coming out to celebrate a year of freedom and independence with them. It's with bursts of colorful light in the night sky behind her that she seems to appear from nowhere: tall, dark and imposing, a sharp-eyed Witch that exudes power. Morgana Drummond is not alone, either, flanked by a dozen rough-worn Witches and a host of others. The chaos that ensues is immediate and violent. "All of this for me?" Drummond sneers. Attacks bounce off her, no matter how powerful - even Nessie's considerable spells. Witches will be able to sense the strong barrier spell close-fit around her body, and the others around her will not let Monsters get close. It's The Dragon who speaks, voice rough from disuse but loud enough: "How dare you return here-" "I built this city in all the ways that matter. I was never going to let you have it. You burned away my Dorchacht, so now I will make sure there is nothing left of yours but ashes." a. To Sleep, Perchance Unreachable, Morgana Drummond's form limns in a sickly violet light, the circle of a spell forming beneath her feet, steadily growing as her power gathers. So much magic gathered in one spot is bound to be felt by all the Mirrorbound, Witch and Monster alike, oppressive in nature as if it could steal the breath from your lungs. Perhaps it truly was a fluke that she was driven from Dorchacht, a happy accident caused by a timely distraction. The spell circle spreads, glowing, until it envelops the entire city, and it pulses once, blinding, before it sears itself across Dorchacht's streets and buildings in burnt lines and symbols. The fireworks continue to pop and burst overhead, casting shadows that seem suddenly sinister. Nothing happens for just a moment - and then all the people of Dorchacht collapse in waves. Next to a stunned Nessie and furious Mhairi, Bryn, Hilda, and the Dragon fall into a heap as well, the final three bodies to hit the ground. Mirrorbound and citizens of Aefenglom do not fall prey to the sleeping spell despite being in its area of effect. It happens in the span of just a few minutes, and then Morgana is gone in the blink of an eye, leaving her people to sow terror on the sleeping city. b. Battle on the Streets While she brought with her only a dozen Witches from her former Coven, she's collected a force in the Wilde. Blank-eyed rogue necromancers, mind controlled the way the Monsters of Dorchacht used to be, storm the streets controlling in turn their dead Monsters and creatures. A few even have with them dead Nuckelavee, which will require multiple fighters to take out. Wilders from Dorchacht gone missing on expeditions in the last year bear the signs of mind control as well - the ones who aren't dead, shambling around the necromancers. Maybe you recognize them, maybe you don't. Maybe you can help them, or maybe you can't. The mind control enchantments can be dispelled with a lot of effort or with the specific spells used often by the Resistance a while ago, for those who still remember it. In the slums of Dorchacht, the people who were convinced of Morgana's return, those who want to return to the days of slavery and terror, break free from the now-sleeping guards and failing wards that kept them contained and join the fighting, manic in their glee. The spell that put the rest of Dorchacht to sleep seems to slip right off them, perhaps sensing their loyalty to terrible causes. It is chaos, as the insurgents set fires and attack at will with magic, claws, weapons, anything they have. Mirrorbound will soon realize that they and the visitors from Aefenglom are not the only targets. The sleeping people of Dorchacht are ripe for the killing, unable to react or defend themselves. The fighting will continue into the night until the invaders are all dead or captured.

III. The Aftermath When the fighting ends, the work begins. An entire city deep in the throes of an enchanted sleep is a worst-case scenario that none of them could have predicted, even those who had a hunch Morgana didn't die out in the unexplored Wilde. Miss Nessie and Mhairi will remain on the scene helping to direct the aid efforts in the aftermath of the battle. Fires must be put out, corpses must be rounded up to be buried or burned, captured attackers must be secured and questioned, sleeping citizens must be whisked from the streets to safety and shelter, and buildings ensured to be safe in the meantime. Aefenglom's Coven are called in to assist, anyone who is available, and Mirrorbound help is more than welcomed. They will need everyone they can get to make sure not all is lost in this tragic attack. Nessie herself will ensure the Three are taken to safety in Aefenglom until the people of Dorchacht can be woken. Action needs to be taken quickly. Morgana needs to be found as soon as possible, and capable hands will be needed to search the Wilde far outside Dorchacht, the most likely place for her to go. More urgently, however, are the sleeping citizens. Nessie announces late the next evening, the normally-bubbly woman gone solemn and serious: "I believe I've found a counter-ritual for the spell that nasty woman used, I have. I will need your help, though, Mirrorbound. Volunteers only, of course, of course, as it's likely to be quite dangerous, though the Dreamers and I will take every precaution we can. Discuss among yourselves, decide if you're willing. Those who are, meet at the Coven at midnight on the 27th. It's not right to just leave them all like that, not right at all..."

Welcome to September's event log, Part 1 of The Price of Revolution! This event will continue in the TDM posted on the 21st, with a foray into purposeful dreamwalking. It will be a hybrid test drive and event that current characters will be allowed to top level on as well. Quests into the Wilde to search for Morgana will currently bear no fruit beyond small clues, but Part 2 in early October will deal with her whereabouts and her final fate. As always, direct your questions about the event HERE! And finally, for those who are wondering what's up with Dorchacht, we have a Setting update for you.

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Momo | IDOLiSH7

[yesdoubt]

[a: festivities]
(i. eat, drink and be merry)

[Far be it from Momo to miss a celebration ever, especially when it's one for a city he's rather fond of. Since the whole sport day Dorchacht put on earlier in the year, he's been in and out of here participating in similar kinds of activities and getting familiar with the local Coven and Wilders, so of course he's going to show up for what's looking like it'll be the biggest celebration Dorchacht has.

And, as ever, he's dragging everyone else into his shenanigans too. The moment he finds a good bar or restaurant is the moment he starts beckoning people over or literally dragging them if they don't look like they're going to take exception to that, entirely too ready to start pushing food on them (and drinks if they look old enough).]

Come on, the party's just getting started! What kind of food do you like? We'll find you something good!

(ii. forget me not)

[While the wreath creation is somewhat more somber, there's no shortage of people Momo misses from home, so he takes the time out to make one when he's not gently menacing people into having fun. He mainly hesitates on who to make it for, since it seems to need someone specific for the magic to work properly, but eventually he's well into the process, building the wreath with a surprisingly delicate hand.

If anyone seems to be having a bit more trouble or stalling on something, he'll lean over with a small smile.]

Need a hand?

--

[b: battle on the streets]

[Momo was done enough with the necromancers on their own earlier in the year. In the midst of all this, when there's so many people in direct and immediate danger and so many noncombatants caught up in it all, it brings out a side of him that's quite rare to see.

While the dead creatures are an obstruction to reaching their puppeteers, Momo is more than willing to give them something to think about, whether it's spikes of ice slammed into their face with his magic or a number of cauterised wounds (or a missing limb...or head) with his enchanted knife. However, they're not his main focus, and as soon as he gets a shot at the necromancers he's very clearly intently targeting - especially if someone else is at risk from them or their creatures - he strikes without mercy and an uncharacteristically rough and coarse roar.]

And what the fuck do you think you're doing, bastard!?

[For Momo, in this state, striking means hurling himself at them like ten tons of bricks and angry fists, a furious snarl on his face that exposes his lengthened canines and makes him look all the more like a feral dog. He sinks fists and sometimes feet into the head, stomach, anywhere that will put someone down quickly but then does not stop, following the unfortunate necromancer down to the ground to continue the process of beating them into a bloody pulp with his bare hands.

Someone might want to stop him before whichever necromancer he's dealing with this time ends up beyond being put back together again by healing magic.]

--

[c: aftermath]

[Despite all the feral throwing himself around Momo did during the battle, and the fact that he's clearly banged and clawed up from the fight, he doesn't stop once the battle is over. He begins helping to move innocents out of danger with an almost disturbingly single-minded focus, apparently not content to stop in any measure before things are over.

Perhaps he's carrying two adults, one over either shoulder, or cradling two sleeping children side by side in his arms in a very protective sort of motion. Regardless of what he's actually doing, he's so focused on getting people from point a to point b that he might almost walk into someone else transporting the sleeping Dorchacht citizens, starting visibly just before he collides with them like he just woke up from a trance himself.]

...Ah, sorry. Didn't see you there. [He manages a smile, well-practiced enough to at least look like it's not forced.]

--

[d: wildcard]

[[Feel free to hit me up at reviseleviathan for other plotting! Momo will be going on the dreamwalk as well when that goes up.]]

ii. forget me nots

[quintessent]

[Rememberance is a solemn thing for her, as there is much that she's lost, and many painful wounds that were only just beginning to heal, from the loss of her planet. More than once she's gone a bit glassy eyed while working on her craft, lost in her own memories and wondering just what ones are going to be infused into the wreathe when she's done.

Momo's voice cuts through, and she blinks,]

Oh, [She shakes her head. Less as an answer and more just as a way to clear her head.] No, I think I am almost finished with mine. What do you think?

[Her wreath is made up of mostly pink blooms, so much so that it almost drowns out the green leaves below. Even then, it looks nice, with lacy white flowers and small blue flowers to break up the swaths of color.]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo's ability to read the mood does him well in picking out who's here because they miss someone they've been separated from and who's here because they're mourning dead. So he moves a bit closer to Allura, not enough to invade personal space but enough to be a bit of a comforting presence so she doesn't get lost in her own head.

The pink flowers make him smile, but the overall wreath is skillfully done and he's happy to say as much.] I really like it! Pink and blue always go really nicely together, and the white is a nice addition. It's a lot more colourful than what I ended up with.

[He holds out his own, which is...extremely blue. It's actually impossible to see the green underneath in the parts of the wreath he's finished, the blue flowers are woven together so tightly.] But that suits who I had in mind, and that's important too, don't you think?

[His tone sounds more nostalgic than sad, so it's probably easy enough to peg that Momo's case isn't a death.]

[quintessent]

[She nods, expression lightening, although it’s a softer, more somber sort of happiness. This is much different from cheerfully dancing around a fire or goofing around in a iunerberry field.]

Pink is typically used to honor the dead, in my culture. [She explains, picking at one of the stems that is poking out at an odd angle. Largely confirming that Momo’s suspicions that Allura is here to mourn the dead to be true,] And it reminds me of my home.

[Her attention turns over to his wreath,} I think it’s lovely. And such a striking shade of blue! May I ask who it is for?

[She’s not so good at reading people, but she feels like that question is safe, at least.]

[yesdoubt]

That's a nice colour for it. [Momo is in no way biased about the subject of pink considering his pink eyes and pink piercings, clearly. Still, it does sound sincere. He's just wondering whether he should inquire further about her situation - he likes to know things, but doesn't want to rip open any old wounds - when she asks him about his and he visibly hesitates.

Then a small, hard-to-read smile creeps onto his face as he turns the wreath in his hands.]

An old friend. He was badly injured around six years ago now and chose to disappear, so Yuki and I didn't see him for a really long time. But recently we were able to meet again, and I felt like I was really getting to know him this time before I got pulled here.

[That is a huge oversimplification of the situation and the feelings Momo has tangled up in it, but at least none of his old recurring nightmares about the man are going to get woven into a wreath of good memories. It's true enough to say that he felt like he was getting to know him better this time, though, because this time Momo dared to think of himself as even close to the same level as him.] What about yours? Though only if you don't mind talking about it.

[quintessent]

[She smiles a little, picking up that his wreath was more for those who have been left behind. No less deserving of remembrance but it feels more bittersweet. When he asks about hers, however, her expression darkens and she looks down at the pink and white blooms.]

This one is for my mother. [Said softly,] After, I would like to make another for my father.

[The words weigh heavy on the air around them, she looks away,] They were both killed in a terrible war that took my planet from me. But I do not think I can make so many wreaths.

[yesdoubt]

[There's not much Momo can personally compare that to - he has juniors with dead parents, but not for such a catastrophic reason - so he just nods understandingly, a sympathetic look on his face. A memorial for even just a city takes time and a lot of people to create.]

Sorry for your loss. It must've been terrible to have your whole world taken away from you like that. [Humans like to go to war, but at least they haven't managed to wipe out any planets. Yet.] Was it connected to what you Paladins were protecting the universe against?

[He's heard fragments of the Paladin stuff from her and Lance, but not all that much about their enemies.]

ii!

[usurpers]

[ eren, if not diligently, awkwardly folds a string of syringa blooms into a nearly completed wreath— not that he's particularly bad at it, he actually works quite well after learning how to weave the braids in his hair right between the in and out of his curving crystal blue horns— all four of them. concentration has his eyes fixed on his work, and without seeing who it is, he responds with only an extension of his forked tongue in the direction of the inquiring voice. not someone he usually talks to, or has met in the flesh— but he's from aefenglom. ]

I'm covered.

[ perhaps the only thing making this difficult are how large his hands are, extended by dangerous talons, of the same crystalline texture his horns have, that have never been bothered to be shortened. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo shifts back a bit when the tongue flicks at him, though it's more just a personal space thing than an outright recoil. But his gaze lingers on where it was for a moment afterwards, because he's met a few dragons in his time here and he's never had one greet him like that.

He has, however, heard plenty about one who does greet people like that.

Rather than step out with the assumption, though, he nods a little and laughs good-naturedly.] You do the tongue thing to everyone you meet or am I just lucky?

[That said, the size of his hands compared to the delicate flowers doesn't go missed. Momo crafts his own wreath with very close detail - the blue flowers he's constructing it with are woven so closely together it's impossible to see the green underneath.] But if you need a smaller set of hands for detail or anything, let me know.

[usurpers]

You'll flatter yourself better with the wreath.

[ it's hard to tell whether he's carrying the humor along or meaning to cut it short— either way, he's still mildly flat in tone when he says it because everyone asks him that to some degree! it's just old and he's walking through the motions. blep, again.

he acknowledges the aid and tucks it away for future use if he needed any. and he does, eventually, returning with a string of little blossoms dipped in magic by another attending witch. he's braided them into the forget-me-nots (that does bring forward a flash when scented) and holds them separately from the wreath, only the size of a thin wrist. ]

My fingers are too big.

[yesdoubt]

[That gets a cheeky grin.] That's good, I don't want to flatter myself too much!

[Momo's taking it as carrying the humour and continuing to do so himself. He knows enough deadpan people for it.

While he continues focusing on his own wreath for a little while after that, because getting the flowers as tight as he's getting them is a little finicky and he doesn't want to be here all day, when the other man comes back he lifts his head.

The second he gets a whiff of the forget-me-nots and sees that flash of memory, it's hard not to recognise Mikasa and have his suspicion confirmed about who this dragon is, but for now, he just blinks it away as if surprised before taking the string of flowers gently. While he definitely has Questions about this wreath given that flash of memory, he'll at least leave them until the smaller chain is attached.]

How do you want it on there, just wrapped around it or something else? [He makes a gesture to indicate repeatedly wrapping the string around the wreath as he says that, just to be sure he's being clear.]

[usurpers]

[ it's the sort of detail that eren doesn't pay much mind to, and with a point done with a talon in a bit of a light hooking motion, ]

I just don't want it to loosen.

[ and fall off, that is. ]

[yesdoubt]

Alright, I'll see what I can do! [Momo figures wrapping is probably the best way to make sure of that anyway, and so he makes sure he can attach the end properly into somewhere in the wreath it'll be well-anchored before he starts working it around gently. Where he can, he'll see if there's other parts of the wreath he can thread it through on the way around so it doesn't end up loose between the anchor points, either.

That takes some time, though, and he's not terribly good at staying quiet for long.] Is this wreath for anyone in particular? I saw Mikasa when I smelled those flowers, but it seems odd to make a memorial wreath for someone who's still around.

[He doesn't sound judgemental, just curious. For the moment, at least, because he does try to give people the benefit of the doubt even if he's heard quite a few things from Mikasa already.]

[b: battle on the streets]

[getting_better]

[ And today on Bishop and Momo misadventures, Momo kills a man while Bishop watched. Okay well, nearly kills a man. The festivities at Dorchacht were a good distraction from everything that had been happening in his life, and that didn't change too much when the chaos started.

He suspected the this Morgana wasn't dead but the Wilde was too big a place, and she was clearly a powerful Witch. One probably out of his league, unless he cheated of course, but she wasn't the biggest priority now - the people were.

He finished disposing of some necromancers along with their ghouls and hiding some sleeping people somewhere where they'll be safe when he stumbled on the scene. Just another thing about Momo that surprises him, but oddly at the same time not. People are very complex and Momo was just the same. He waited until he saw the first drop of blood that came from Momo's hand and then he grabbed him by the back of his shirt to pull him off. ]

Okay, that's about enough.

[ He wasn't doing that carelessly, and if Momo in his crazed state took a swing Bishop was more than ready to dodge or block with the sheathed katana in his hand. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo takes one last swing at his original target as Bishop drags him back, but he seems to register quickly enough that he's been grabbed - after he's stopped laser-focusing on the person he was attacking, at least. His head turns sharply, but as feral as he might be at the moment, he can apparently discern ally from enemy, because he looks at Bishop for a long moment before shaking his head slightly, as if snapping himself out of something.]

Ugh. Again. [Momo mutters that with a somewhat resigned air, like he's used to this happening. He doesn't have time to get embarrassed about it right now like he often does, and instead raises his hands to check how much blood is on them. It makes him raise a brow slightly and give Bishop a bit of a measuring sidelong glance.]

You intervened pretty early. [Implying Momo usually ends up bloodier when this happens, but he sounds more surprised that someone reacted that quickly. He often ends up with people being too stunned to respond for a few seconds, and it's rare that a single person is enough to pull him off. Though he figures Bishop is likely a few steps further up the mercenary ladder than the hired muscle who tried to murder him and had trouble holding him down between three of them when he was already handcuffed.] You want help?

[It's pretty straightforward and roughly said, definitely more so than the last time they worked together. This is apparently a sufficiently serious situation to get Momo to put away the humour for the duration, and he could probably use a second head to intervene if he gets feral again.]

[getting_better]

[ He raised a brow in response. Clearly, this is something that's almost normal to him and that's something very concerning. Or it would be if Bishop was, well, concerned. Instead he just keeps his poker face and walks over to the necromancer. ]

A bit yeah. In the alley over there is a door, hidden by the shadows. It's opened. Help me take some of the unconscious citizens there to hide them.

[ He raises his katana above the necromancers head. ]

Prioritize the children, elderly, women, then the men in that order. If any more tangos show up, make a big scene. Draw attention. [ A beat. ] Did I say tangos? I mean target. Sorry. Military jargon, terrorist attack, brought up some old habits. You also might want to look away for this.

[ Indicating to the necromancer that's soon to be stabbed. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Moving people is definitely something Momo can do easily, and though he's extremely angry and would love to take it out on every enemy he sees, he lets out a breath and stretches his arms out, as if letting himself calm a bit.] Alright. Yuki'll probably make less of a fuss the less blood I come home with.

[There's a tinge of worry in his tone as he says that, but he's trying not to let it get to him. In a fight this chaotic, finding anyone was just about impossible, but he just has to hope the many skilled fighters here will be enough to protect his generally noncombatant partner.

He's just on the brink of heading off anyway when Bishop tells him to look away, and Momo's eyebrows threaten to disappear into his hairline.]

Wouldn't it have been easier to just leave me to it, then? [He does get the impression that Bishop has something of a "protect the civilians" attitude, though, so he waves a hand and turns around to scope out the sleepers in the area.] I'll grab a couple of the kids. Yell if you need me before I get back.

[For now, he scoops up a pair of children who look to be part of a family sprawled across the pavement and hustles off to find the door at an impressive pace. There's something to be said for his level of stamina in situations like this.]

[getting_better]

Easier, maybe but - [ He drives the blade straight into the necromancers skull before they even get a chance to beg. ] - my way is faster.

[ And infinitely more satisfying. Momo gets a firm nod from Bishop for both points, following right behind to pick up the mother and bring her to the opening of the alley and putting her down just when she's at the shadows. ]

I'll bring folks here to the half way mark to save up time.

[ He says loudly before rushing back to get more people. ]

eat, drink, and be merry!

[trulygifted]

( Nico isn't the type to turn down a celebration, either, having always been the kind of person who'll come up with all sorts of excuses to kick back and have a good time. A city-wide festival? Well, that has her name written all over it, and she's been working hard to get Worse Dragon back on an even keel following the refurbishment.

In her opinion? Yeah. She's earned a few days off. )

Hey, wait a second—!

( Shit, you know it's a good party when you're getting enthusiastically encouraged to eat, right? Nico laughs at the guy's jostling — and upon closer inspection, she gets the odd sense that she might've seen him around before. But where? )

Anyone would think you were the host, the way you're tryin' to get people to have fun.

( A broad grin curves Nico's lips as the guy pushes a beer into her hands. )

Now you're talkin' my language. Cheers!

( And she raises the tankard, waiting for him to grab one of his own and do the same. )

[yesdoubt]

[Momo grins, called out but unashamed, when she says he's acting like the host. It's something of a force of habit thing from back home, where networking was necessary to keep him and his partner at the top.

But at least he'll take a drink himself as well, being heavyweight enough to not be too fussed, and raises it in return. The beer here is much better than the borderline moonshine he encounters at the harbour on the regular, presumably because they don't want partygoers on the floor after one drink.]

Being the center of the party becomes a habit after a while. Cheers! [He clinks the tankard against hers and then...drains about half of it in one. When drinking parties are part of the work culture and people spent your first few years in the business competing to get you smashed, you learn a few things.

That said, he eyes her a bit curiously over his drink, because he recognises her as well and it bothers him a little that he can't immediately place why. It's a few seconds before he thumps the countertop with one hand and puts his drink down to make a cheerful observation.]

Oh, that's it! You're the one who took over helping out with Worse Dragon since Stiles left, right?

[He's a bit of a window shopper so far, but he does pop in to check for quests and see how the stock is changing. If nothing else, he doesn't exactly seem shy about the realisation of where he recognises her from.]

c

[wordsinthesoul]

[Thancred's looking a little ragged from the fighting, himself- a little from life, too. He rebalances himself and the person in his arms, blinking at Momo.]

It's all right. But have you been at this since the battle ended?

[yesdoubt]

[Momo nods, apparently not seeing a problem with this as he adjusts his grip on the two Monster children he's carrying. He keeps a convincingly positive mood, lower-key as if to just make sure everyone else doesn't get too worn down by the oppressively terrible everything about this situation.] Mostly. I went looking for my partner once things started to clear up, but once I knew he was okay I thought I should stick around.

[It's not like Yuki could rip into him for getting caught up in a fight that nobody was expecting, and then just helping to move people around. He's already taken any injuries he's keeping from the day, and that's what his partner tends to be most concerned about.]

[wordsinthesoul]

[…after everything they've just been through, he can't blame Momo for trying to maintain the mood. But at the same time… there's no denying things have taking a turn for the worst.

No point dwelling, though. Now… they have to figure out something to do about this mess.]

I'm glad to hear he's well. [It sounds like they're both used to trouble, really…]. I've no doubt they'll appreciate your efforts. How are you holding up?

[yesdoubt]

I'm fine. [It comes easily and naturally, with no apparent indication that Momo is anything other than what he says. He's always been extremely good at concealing his negative feelings - one day is nothing after years and years of it.] What about you? I'm sure this has been rough on everyone, nobody would've expected this to happen in the middle of a celebration.

[He's not sure what the opinions of the older Mirrorbound might've been on whether Drummond would come back at all, but this is a hell of a time to do it.]

[wordsinthesoul]

[He tilts his head, but- well, the truth is that there are still enough people in trouble that he thinks if they can manage, they should.] As well as can be expected, I suppose. Most of us thought Drummond had likely died out there, so it certainly wasn't expected.

[Perhaps- given the skills she had shown, they shouldn't have expected her to go so simply. Returning on the anniversary, too…]

It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. We can't afford to leave her a second time.