Free States of the Crescent

[Through the Living Hope]

10 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

"Oh. It probably won't help much then." Mark shook his head. "I'll take it to her, but you probably won't see her back for a few days. Could you show me where the Light is? if you're okay with me taking it, of course."

Rashi nodded and took him to it. 

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

On 6/24/2025 at 4:02 AM, The Stormfather said:

Mark slowly begins walking back to his house. 

It takes a lot longer than it should have. He takes a route specifically to go around the places where he had recently fought or been captured, eventually making his way back to his (And maybe Astra's idk) house.

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YES Astra lives there too  

She's changed quite a bit, I'd imagine.

Far more reserved. Maybe slightly insane. Spends most of her time alone. Let's say she's been into writing for herself recently, which would explain the isolation. She writes about her late relatives, and oftentimes, she writes about Aeryn... who's twin sister Amyra Ay died in the Stormlight Hunger Games all those years ago.

I'm sure Astra still has an indirect hand in the black market scene. Perhaps she visits the casinos-- In disguise, of course. Smiling at the world she helped rebuild itself. More than everything else, she loved watching. Watching what had become of the other tributes. Watching the suns and moons rise and fall. She wanted to create something. Writing, for the most part.

On 6/24/2025 at 4:51 AM, Spark of Hope said:

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K. If/when Lotus responds, just count that as this night and we’ll move forward 

 

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whoops sorry man my bad  

 

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, Lotus Blossom said:

 

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So you can just respond to SF, and it’ll be the night before 

 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

16 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

 

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Astra's a Willshaper, right? I remember she had some kind of investiture, I think.

 

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

44 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

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So you can just respond to SF, and it’ll be the night before 

 

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wait what happened

did mark come into the room astra was?

30 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

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Astra's a Willshaper, right? I remember she had some kind of investiture, I think.

 

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yes yes she was

 

[Through the Living Hope]

4 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

 

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He went by her house 

 

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

On 6/24/2025 at 4:02 AM, The Stormfather said:

It takes a lot longer than it should have. He takes a route specifically to go around the places where he had recently fought or been captured, eventually making his way back to his (And maybe Astra's idk) house.

Astra got up from her chair, quickly looking over Mark's injuries.

"Hey, where were you?"

[The Stormfather He/Him]

59 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

Astra got up from her chair, quickly looking over Mark's injuries.

"Hey, where were you?"

"Uh..."

Wait I forgot to explain any of this to her.

"So there was this group, called the Marksmen, who were harassing and assaulting the Steeles. I kinda figured out that they were an organized group to annoy, and eventually kill, the old tributes who had started the revolution. Then, a bunch of well-equipped people came down, straight towards the house, just down the road, where we all kinda meet up. And..."

Mark's Blade fell into his hand.

"They didn't have a great time. Marewill and I went to a place we thought was some kind of headquarters of theirs, and then pretty much got ourselves captured. Very easily. We managed to escape, after a while. Headed to the police station."

Mark looked down at his bloodied clothes. "It looks a lot worse than it is. I had some stormlight when we went in, which did a lot to help. Marewill, though, she got hurt pretty bad. Not to mention the fact that we pretty much drove an automobile at top speed into a police station."

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

16 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

"Uh..."

Wait I forgot to explain any of this to her.

"So there was this group, called the Marksmen, who were harassing and assaulting the Steeles. I kinda figured out that they were an organized group to annoy, and eventually kill, the old tributes who had started the revolution. Then, a bunch of well-equipped people came down, straight towards the house, just down the road, where we all kinda meet up. And..."

Mark's Blade fell into his hand.

"They didn't have a great time. Marewill and I went to a place we thought was some kind of headquarters of theirs, and then pretty much got ourselves captured. Very easily. We managed to escape, after a while. Headed to the police station."

Mark looked down at his bloodied clothes. "It looks a lot worse than it is. I had some stormlight when we went in, which did a lot to help. Marewill, though, she got hurt pretty bad. Not to mention the fact that we pretty much drove an automobile at top speed into a police station."

Astra's eyes seemed absent minded, though behind them she spun with worry.

She pressed her hands against his wounds. "Do you need more stormlight? I have stormlight- here-"
She pulled gemstones from her pockets and placed them in his palms.

"Where is Marewill?" She said, suddenly. "I need to help Marewill. Will the police be after us? Is the automobile retraceable to you?"

She brushed her hand over his face, trying to see behind his eyes. "How long has it been since you rested?"
She pulled her short hair back with pins and pulled a jacket on. "Are you and Marewill the only ones who are hurt?"

"You should change your clothes," she said, glancing down at the dark red cloth, "Although I do love that color, it can't be too comfortable."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 hour ago, Lotus Blossom said:

Astra's eyes seemed absent minded, though behind them she spun with worry.

She pressed her hands against his wounds. "Do you need more stormlight? I have stormlight- here-"
She pulled gemstones from her pockets and placed them in his palms.

"Where is Marewill?" She said, suddenly. "I need to help Marewill. Will the police be after us? Is the automobile retraceable to you?"

She brushed her hand over his face, trying to see behind his eyes. "How long has it been since you rested?"
She pulled her short hair back with pins and pulled a jacket on. "Are you and Marewill the only ones who are hurt?"

"You should change your clothes," she said, glancing down at the dark red cloth, "Although I do love that color, it can't be too comfortable."

“Marewill’s at the station. They’re helping her. I’m pretty sure they’ll take her to a hospital soon. I don’t think anyone got hurt other than us- except for the ones that have burnt out eyes. The police seemed accepting of what we told them, and they could see the people shooting at us as we drove the automobile. They shouldn’t be after us.”

Mark went to his closet, grabbing a change of clothes. “I think we might need to throw these out-“ he said, looking at his current outfit.

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

16 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

“Marewill’s at the station. They’re helping her. I’m pretty sure they’ll take her to a hospital soon. I don’t think anyone got hurt other than us- except for the ones that have burnt out eyes. The police seemed accepting of what we told them, and they could see the people shooting at us as we drove the automobile. They shouldn’t be after us.”

Mark went to his closet, grabbing a change of clothes. “I think we might need to throw these out-“ he said, looking at his current outfit.

"Ah, darn it, I was excited to cover up a crime scene," Astra shrugged. She was joking, but sometimes, it was hard to tell.

Astra gestured with her hand, waving away the clothes Mark had on to acknowledge their terrible condition. "How hurt are you?"

Doctors were taking care of Marewill. She smiled. Marewill would be healed. Not just healed enough. In the hunger games, there were no doctors. Astra still hadn't gotten used to people not trying to kill her. Although, working underground, many people still did... Insignificant people who lost bets, that is.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

4 hours ago, Lotus Blossom said:

"Ah, darn it, I was excited to cover up a crime scene," Astra shrugged. She was joking, but sometimes, it was hard to tell.

Astra gestured with her hand, waving away the clothes Mark had on to acknowledge their terrible condition. "How hurt are you?"

Doctors were taking care of Marewill. She smiled. Marewill would be healed. Not just healed enough. In the hunger games, there were no doctors. Astra still hadn't gotten used to people not trying to kill her. Although, working underground, many people still did... Insignificant people who lost bets, that is.

"It's just some scrapes and bruises. None of the bullets got me, luckily. I think they were more focused on stopping our escape than actually killing us. They... They seemed a bit hesitant, when they had us captured. They could have killed us at any point, but were waiting for their boss, who wanted to kill us. Even him, though, probably had never killed somebody before. He hesitated, for far too long."

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

2 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

"It's just some scrapes and bruises. None of the bullets got me, luckily. I think they were more focused on stopping our escape than actually killing us. They... They seemed a bit hesitant, when they had us captured. They could have killed us at any point, but were waiting for their boss, who wanted to kill us. Even him, though, probably had never killed somebody before. He hesitated, for far too long."

"Pathetic," Astra rolled her eyes, "No use being a villain if you're indecisive about it."

She kicked a chair over, offering Mark an optional place to sit.

"Did they try to get information out of you? I don't see the point of capturing you in the first place." She bit the cap of a pen off and wrote something insignificant on a to do list that was pinned on a plant pot.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

5 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

"Pathetic," Astra rolled her eyes, "No use being a villain if you're indecisive about it."

She kicked a chair over, offering Mark an optional place to sit.

"Did they try to get information out of you? I don't see the point of capturing you in the first place." She bit the cap of a pen off and wrote something insignificant on a to do list that was pinned on a plant pot.

"No, they didn't want any information. It wasn't... It wasn't normal. They were just people, I think. Not any criminal masterminds- Just some people whose lives have been destroyed by the revolution. I they said that they wanted to give their leader the privilege of killing us when they captured us. But... I don't think most of them really wanted to kill us. Not when they saw us there, stuck in a cell."

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

3 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

"No, they didn't want any information. It wasn't... It wasn't normal. They were just people, I think. Not any criminal masterminds- Just some people whose lives have been destroyed by the revolution. I they said that they wanted to give their leader the privilege of killing us when they captured us. But... I don't think most of them really wanted to kill us. Not when they saw us there, stuck in a cell."

"Anyone who isn't a criminal mastermind is a mind wasted." 

Astra started brewing herself tea.

"I don't understand how someone's life could've really been destroyed by the revolution. Losing some money isn't the same as destruction. Losing a child to the games may be. The revolution was progress."

She swiped her hair to the side with her hand. "Of course, it's a long way from anarchy, but gamblers will take what they can get in every way, I suppose."

She poured boiling water into a cup, and looked over at Mark. "Do you want some tea?"

She swirled her tea bag, seemingly hypnotized by her own doing. "Showing mercy-- or pity, whatever it is-- to prisoners... Is weak. Though I'm quite glad they did, else I'd have different problems right now."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

56 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

"Anyone who isn't a criminal mastermind is a mind wasted." 

Astra started brewing herself tea.

"I don't understand how someone's life could've really been destroyed by the revolution. Losing some money isn't the same as destruction. Losing a child to the games may be. The revolution was progress."

She swiped her hair to the side with her hand. "Of course, it's a long way from anarchy, but gamblers will take what they can get in every way, I suppose."

She poured boiling water into a cup, and looked over at Mark. "Do you want some tea?"

She swirled her tea bag, seemingly hypnotized by her own doing. "Showing mercy-- or pity, whatever it is-- to prisoners... Is weak. Though I'm quite glad they did, else I'd have different problems right now."

"Any form of progress will always be seen as destruction, I think. There will always be people who revolt against any kind of change- especially something like the revolution."

Mark thought for a moment.

"Progress or not, the revolution was bloody. We know that. Progress or not, there would be people, those who used to be higher up in the government before the revolution, who would be affected badly. It doesn't matter how many people you have on your side. A truly unanimous agreement is never going to happen. This time, it seems, we just happened to be too close to the outliers, the ones who didn't want that revolt." Mark nodded. "Yes please, I'll have some tea."

 

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

"Any form of progress will always be seen as destruction, I think. There will always be people who revolt against any kind of change- especially something like the revolution."

Mark thought for a moment.

"Progress or not, the revolution was bloody. We know that. Progress or not, there would be people, those who used to be higher up in the government before the revolution, who would be affected badly. It doesn't matter how many people you have on your side. A truly unanimous agreement is never going to happen. This time, it seems, we just happened to be too close to the outliers, the ones who didn't want that revolt." Mark nodded. "Yes please, I'll have some tea."

Astra handed him a cup.

"So did you say that this boss is after all the tributes?" She grinned.

There were few things that scared people more than the thought of losing blood or money. At the casinos, you often lost both. At the black markets, everything that people are willing to pay for is sold...

The revolution was dramatic, and now we see the rise of petty drama queens with guns.

This would be fun.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

8 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

Astra handed him a cup.

"So did you say that this boss is after all the tributes?" She grinned.

There were few things that scared people more than the thought of losing blood or money. At the casinos, you often lost both. At the black markets, everything that people are willing to pay for is sold...

The revolution was dramatic, and now we see the rise of petty drama queens with guns.

This would be fun.

"Seems like it. He seemed more prepared to hunt down Marewill and I, though. He had some maps marked with places we were likely to visit. There must be others of those kinds of maps at their other operating centers. Thankfully, I doubt they'll be doing much right now. Their best fighters, and most well equipped, are already dead, and what seemed to be their only Invested."

"The police are going after them, although the police do move slowly, with all the new laws of investigation and stuff. They had only a few guns. Not sure how many, really. Didn't have time to count, but their not particularly ready to fight us, especially if multiple of us are together. Most of us are Invested, after all."

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

17 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

"Seems like it. He seemed more prepared to hunt down Marewill and I, though. He had some maps marked with places we were likely to visit. There must be others of those kinds of maps at their other operating centers. Thankfully, I doubt they'll be doing much right now. Their best fighters, and most well equipped, are already dead, and what seemed to be their only Invested."

"The police are going after them, although the police do move slowly, with all the new laws of investigation and stuff. They had only a few guns. Not sure how many, really. Didn't have time to count, but their not particularly ready to fight us, especially if multiple of us are together. Most of us are Invested, after all."

"Screw the police, they'll be useless for this. We'll end up having to protect them. Besides, I don't think they'll like me very much."

Astra sipped her tea, set down her cup, and drew the shades. Was it paranoid or clever?

"Anyway, do you know where their operating centers are? We'll need to investigate, of course. Like you said, they're probably weak. But we can't assume anything, in case they have any surprises for us. Let's try to stop incidents like this with you and Marewill. The less tributes they attack, the better."

She sat down. "But you already know that. So where do we begin?"

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 hour ago, Lotus Blossom said:

"Screw the police, they'll be useless for this. We'll end up having to protect them. Besides, I don't think they'll like me very much."

Astra sipped her tea, set down her cup, and drew the shades. Was it paranoid or clever?

"Anyway, do you know where their operating centers are? We'll need to investigate, of course. Like you said, they're probably weak. But we can't assume anything, in case they have any surprises for us. Let's try to stop incidents like this with you and Marewill. The less tributes they attack, the better."

She sat down. "But you already know that. So where do we begin?"

"I don't remember, really. We did steal the map, though, that showed where they were. It should be over at Marewill's house, I think."

"I'm not sure where to start. But they probably don't know what to do either. They probably expected that to end it, at least for Mare and I. What they have planned for the rest of you, I don't know. They were ready for us, though. The first group who attacked didn't even really seem to be a part of their plan. They were... Well, they had a lot of stuff set up as a contingency for if those people failed. They knew that we would be able to fight them off. Whoever leads them, and I don't think it was the person I saw, they know us. The maps pointed to all of the important places to us, where we were likely to visit, by their point of view. They have information on us."

"Watch your back, in the casinos. There very well could be someone waiting to put a knife in your back."

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

4 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

"I don't remember, really. We did steal the map, though, that showed where they were. It should be over at Marewill's house, I think."

"I'm not sure where to start. But they probably don't know what to do either. They probably expected that to end it, at least for Mare and I. What they have planned for the rest of you, I don't know. They were ready for us, though. The first group who attacked didn't even really seem to be a part of their plan. They were... Well, they had a lot of stuff set up as a contingency for if those people failed. They knew that we would be able to fight them off. Whoever leads them, and I don't think it was the person I saw, they know us. The maps pointed to all of the important places to us, where we were likely to visit, by their point of view. They have information on us."

"Watch your back, in the casinos. There very well could be someone waiting to put a knife in your back."

Astra laughed lightly and began in an old english accent, "Don't be silly, dear, everyone is waiting to put a knife in my back." She dropped the satire and shrugged.

Astra had finished her tea by now. Her eyes darkened. Or at least, got cloudier. "Let's visit Marewill's house. I'll take a look at that map, and we can check on her health. We're not dealing with amateurs, clearly. Even if they lack the courage to pull a trigger, at least they do their research on who it is they're attempting to murder."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

3 hours ago, Lotus Blossom said:

Astra laughed lightly and began in an old english accent, "Don't be silly, dear, everyone is waiting to put a knife in my back." She dropped the satire and shrugged.

Astra had finished her tea by now. Her eyes darkened. Or at least, got cloudier. "Let's visit Marewill's house. I'll take a look at that map, and we can check on her health. We're not dealing with amateurs, clearly. Even if they lack the courage to pull a trigger, at least they do their research on who it is they're attempting to murder."

"Yeah... If we do get into a fight with them again, they know our tricks at this point. We need to avoid fighting again. It's a lot easier to pull the trigger when the person you're trying to kill is stabbing a Shardblade at you."

You could also try to-

"Shut. Up." Mark whispered. He raised his voice back to normal. "Let's get going, shall we?" Mark asked, leaving his tea half-drunken (Drunk? Drank? idk) on the table.

[Through the Living Hope]

11 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

"I don't remember, really. We did steal the map, though, that showed where they were. It should be over at Marewill's house, I think."

"I'm not sure where to start. But they probably don't know what to do either. They probably expected that to end it, at least for Mare and I. What they have planned for the rest of you, I don't know. They were ready for us, though. The first group who attacked didn't even really seem to be a part of their plan. They were... Well, they had a lot of stuff set up as a contingency for if those people failed. They knew that we would be able to fight them off. Whoever leads them, and I don't think it was the person I saw, they know us. The maps pointed to all of the important places to us, where we were likely to visit, by their point of view. They have information on us."

"Watch your back, in the casinos. There very well could be someone waiting to put a knife in your back."

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Jsyk, it’s in her boot. All the info they stole is; she hid it there. 

 

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

10 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

"Yeah... If we do get into a fight with them again, they know our tricks at this point. We need to avoid fighting again. It's a lot easier to pull the trigger when the person you're trying to kill is stabbing a Shardblade at you."

You could also try to-

"Shut. Up." Mark whispered. He raised his voice back to normal. "Let's get going, shall we?" Mark asked, leaving his tea half-drunken (Drunk? Drank? idk) on the table.

"They don't know my tricks." Astra swung a satchel over her shoulder and opened the door.

"You've changed out of the bloodied clothes. Wonderful."

She closed the door behind them and smiled in her odd way of smiling. "Now let's go find this tribute. I haven't seen her in a while... I look forward to the reunion."

Edited June 29, 2025 by Lotus Blossom

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

10 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

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Jsyk, it’s in her boot. All the info they stole is; she hid it there. 

 

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is she still at the hospital rn or is she back at her house?