Scadrial Thread

[+Sorana she/her]

3 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

So nervous, Nerin thought, looking at Attayl. She gave the girl - and she was a girl, Nerin could see it now that she'd removed her eye makeup - a calming smile. "I'll never turn down someone else doing the work around here," she said jokingly. "Stall's outside, there's a water pump and a bucket and soap. I think we might have another towel upstairs. Otherwise, you could use mine I suppose. It's a bit damp but it is mostly clean."

Attayl nodded and quickly slipped out of the kitchen. She would use Nerin's towel, not wanting to impose on them anymore than she already had.

The water was cold. So cold that she'd barely submerged herself and her teeth were clatterin. Still it felt good to get rid of everything that had happened yesterday and to wash her hair. Shivvering she hastily dried herself and put on the dress again. She liked it, but it felt wrong to wear it during the day. It hugged her figure, and while tame, usually she prefered a wide tunic to hide in, at least when she wasn't working. And there was a huge gap between a tame dress and a wide tunic.

When she returned into the kitchen she found it empty, but heard them talking in the main parlor.

"The parlor will have to choose. They can't pay both. And choosing the wrong side can easily end up with everybody dead."

She added to Nerin's explanation, stated it like a fact. Gang politic. That was something she knew about.

@ZincAboutIt

@Turtle373

[Turtle373 he/him]

4 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

Nerin pointed Attayl in the direction of the back yard and walked out in the main parlor with Rilen. She tugged a piece of bread for herself, spreading it thickly with butter and some jam. "So many questions," she said through her mouthful. "Sound like a conner. 'Where were ya last night?' 'Whodunnit, eh?'"

She swallowed her bite, then sighed softly. "I'm Nerin Falswell, I work here - well, I live here too. Obviously." Nerin gestured to her wet hair and dressing gown. "Farriers and Scarlets are two gangs. Scarlets have owned this part of the Octant for years - as long as I've been here anyway. The Farriers are a new gang - leader's got some kind of special powers, apparently. I think we met him last night; busted up my rusting window. He's..."

Nerin trailed off. What was Lance? A Mistborn? Something else? "Anyway, there was a big fight in Depot 9. We left before it got nasty."

@Turtle373

"I don't mean to be too invasive, I just don't typically have Dreams unless something big has happened, or is about to happen." Rilen trailed off, thinking about what it might mean for the future if nothing had happened yet. 

"You work here, so you're a soother?" He said as he narrowed his eyes at her, he hated soothers, this one had seemed nice, but you could never tell because she could just be making herself seem nice. He nodded to Aben and Attayl as they walked in.

[+Sorana she/her]

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Attayl asked calmly, stopping next to Nerin and gazed at him without any sign of nervousness. Be strong. Then people respected you. And he had a problem with Nerin, she heard it in the way he pronounced soother. Not with her. With those influencing his emotions. Be strong, find a place then keep it. Show your teeth or they would rip you apart. They had to sort themselves. If it happened now, then it happened now.

"She offered you a place to stay and you eat her food. You should sweep the floors and not talk to her like that."

@Turtle373

Edited June 1, 2019 by Sorana

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

8 minutes ago, Turtle373 said:

"You work here, so you're a soother?" He said as he narrowed his eyes at her, he hated soothers, this one had seemed nice, but you could never tell because she could just be making herself seem nice. He nodded to Aben and Attayl as they walked in.

Nerin felt her smile cool into something icy and mirthless.

Ahh, there it is. What are you thinking, then? That I've tricked you into liking me? You were keen enough to take up my offer of hospitality, eat my food. Suddenly, you're better than I am?

"I am." She said, tilting her head just so. Rilen's eyes were narrowed, a genuine dislike brewing there. 

Never forget this, Nerin. These people aren't your friends - they're your customers.

Then Attayl stepped towards her, defending her. Nerin blinked at the young woman, surprised. Hadn't she just looked at her with that same distrust last night in the alley?

The teapot suddenly began whistling softly, and Nerin gave Rilen a tiny, sharp grin. "Tea? I've suddenly got the craving for something bitter."

Edited June 1, 2019 by ZincAboutIt
editing reaction to previous post

[I think I am here. he/him]

Some people were talking when Brillin woke up. He was still in a chair he’d found in the main parlour area when he awoke. He heard the voices of a man, Attayl and maybe Nerin as well, and quickly he jolted upright in the chair, straightening his coat slowly and meticulously. No shirt stolen, thankfully. He’d have to check his pockets later. He felt as though he could trust these people, but you could never be too sure.

“Oh, Harmony,” he groaned quietly and pushed himself up from the chair. His hair looked a little more messy than it had before but he ignored it. He didn’t like people to see him like this, tired and sloppy, but that was the way it was and he wasn’t going to complain for having a place to sleep.

“Good morning, everyone.” He straightened his posture and put his arms behind his back. Looking at their expressions, it looked like there had been some argument? But Brillin didn’t want to burden his mind with contemplating things like ‘what’ or ‘why’ right now.

“You wouldn’t have the morning paper, would you?”

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Brillin's careful attention to his appearance put a little warmth back into Nerin's grin. His formal posture was at comical odds with his touseled hair and slightly-bleary eyes.

"Should be outside somewhere, boy comes by with them most mornings. I'll go look," Nerin said, getting up and sliding the bolt out from the front door. She walked down the steps, searching the street for the rolled cyllinder of broadsheets. Sure enough, it had rolled under one of the steps. Nerin fished it out and slid the twine off, unfolding it as she went back into the parlor. She gave the paper a good shake and handed it to Brillin, bustling into to the kitchen to get the kettle off the fire before it started screaming in earnest.

"Tea?" She called to the little group, fumbling for cups and scooping several spoonfuls of tea leaves into a large teapot. The water let up a great cloud of steam as she poured it into the teapot, and soon she could smell the sharp, earthy scent of brewing tea.

@I think I am here.

[+Sorana she/her]

6 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

"Tea?" She called to the little group, fumbling for cups and scooping several spoonfuls of tea leaves into a large teapot. The water let up a great cloud of steam as she poured it into the teapot, and soon she could smell the sharp, earthy scent of brewing tea.

"Gladly."

Attayl poured herself some and held the cup between her hands. Brillin had joined them, asked for the newspaper, his hair slightly messy, but his posture formal again. She inhaled the scent of the tea, but remained standing, her posture only for show relaxed. Her eyes rested on Rilen. He had challenged Nerin, and she had evaded. But she was the leader, she should have fought, showed him the line. So she did, careful to distribute her weight on her feet while leaning against a table, waited for Rilen to finish thinking about his words and her own.

[I think I am here. he/him]

3 hours ago, ZincAboutIt said:

She gave the paper a good shake and handed it to Brillin, bustling into to the kitchen to get the kettle off the fire before it started screaming in earnest.

Brillin accepted the paper with a nod of thanks and he sat down on one of parlor chairs. Unfolding the paper, he noticed that the conflict at the station was on the front page.

"Tea?" he heard Nerin call.

"Sure," Brillin said, frowning as he scanned the paper. Depot 9, destroyed, a masked man causing a battle to ensue, one of the first shows of power from what seemed like a new gang, but obviously the details were very vague. Brillin continued reading the paper, and skimmed past an interview with one of the seemingly few non-gang members who was there. He was just about to put the paper down when one line caught his eye. It lay, small and insignificant and at the bottom of the article, like it trying its best not to be seen.

The local Octant train station was also destroyed in the conflict, halting transport and business exports for an undetermined period of time. Local manufacturers are not happy about the prospect.

They weren't the only ones unhappy.

"On second thought," Brillin replied, his shoulders sagging as he set the paper down, his eyes looking into thin air, his voice quieter and his mind racing like one of those Roughs horseraces.

"Could I have some of that alcohol you guys sell?"

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Nerin stuck her head back out of the kitchen, his cup of tea clutched in one hand along with her own.

”Bit early for the hard stuff, Master Brillin,” she said smirking. She set down his cup next to the armchair and followed his baleful gaze to the newspaper. 

Frowning, she slid it off his lap and began reading, finally reaching the end.

”Ah,” was all she said, then set the newspaper back on Brillin’s lap before quickly crossing to the bar and pulling out a bottle of whiskey and a short glass. Nerin leveled a healthy tot into the glass and walked over to set it next to Brillin’s cup of tea. 

[+Sorana she/her]

Attayl listened to them, heard the shock in Brillin's voice, how easily Nerin agreed after reading something. Not for the first time she wished, that she could read, that she could grab the newspaper and see for herself what was wrong. Instead she depended on them - again. Just like she had the last couple of hours.

"What's wrong?"

She asked nervously.

"What happened?"

@ZincAboutIt

@I think I am here.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

“Apparently,” Nerin said, sipping her own tea, “the fighting at Depot 9 got a little nastier than we assumed. Someone blew up the place, damaged the working station and some tracks.”

Probably the Scarlets - Willet had a hand in almost everyone coming and going from this Octant. If he thought his turf was getting taken, he might just ruin it for everyone rather than watch the Farriers take it over.

[overlord stick]

Atmose was at the bar, getting ready for business, while Vena sat in a chair and listened. "They blew it up?! Man, now I wish I'd stayed..." Vena said.

[Turtle373 he/him]

Rilen realized what he was doing, already believing the stereotypes. Nerin might be manipulating his emotions so that he would trust her, but she had been more than kind to him and the others by letting them stay the night. "I apologize, I, it's just," he stammered, "it's just that emotions are powerful, and people that can control them typically abuse that power. But you seem like a good person and I apologize for any offense I may have given." 

@ZincAboutIt @Sorana

 

[John Flamesinger he/him]

John made his way out of the corner he had sequestered himself in. "Morning," He called to the rest of the room, which was full of activity. "Could I have some of that tea?" The thought of caffeine sounded good. Just no coffee. His father had been the one to drink coffee.

[+Ark1002]

Garth wandered in as well, standing next to John. "Good morning. How are you?" He scratched his back as he said this, and looked half asleep.

[John Flamesinger he/him]

"Tired. There is tea if you need caffeine." A beep sounded from John's clothes. He froze. "Where's the bathroom," he asked Nerin.

[overlord stick]

1 hour ago, John Flamesinger said:

John made his way out of the corner he had sequestered himself in. "Morning," He called to the rest of the room, which was full of activity. "Could I have some of that tea?" The thought of caffeine sounded good. Just no coffee. His father had been the one to drink coffee.

"Tea, coming right up. Any sugar?" Atmose asked.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

 

Nerin nodded to Garth when he entered the main room, looking tired. "Morning," she said. "There's bread, butter, jam, and tea." When John asked for the bathroom, Nerin raised an eyebrow at him.

"A bathroom? What do you think I am, some kind of highborn lord? There's a privy shed round the back, 'fraid that's the best you'll get in the Hollows."

@Ark1002 @John Flamesinger

[John Flamesinger he/him]

19 minutes ago, Emperor Stick said:

"Tea, coming right up. Any sugar?" Atmose asked.

"Yes please," John said hurryingly, making his way to the privy shed. He pulled out the square, and activated the screen on one side. "Leave me alone," was all he said. He made his way back to the building, accepting his tea. Maybe he shouldn't of spent so many recourses trying to buy that before he left Silverlight.

[I think I am here. he/him]

9 hours ago, ZincAboutIt said:

“Apparently,” Nerin said, sipping her own tea, “the fighting at Depot 9 got a little nastier than we assumed. Someone blew up the place, damaged the working station and some tracks.”

“That is correct,” Brillin said, holding up the glass of whiskey and downing it in one go. Even with his Koloss-blood, it had an effect on him and he felt warm in the inside. Taking out his notebook from his coat pocket, he wrote a few more notes inside of it with a pen:

Stuck in Elendel. Might have to turn this into a double chapter.

“And that means that I’ll have to stay in this city, at least until they repair the station.” Which, he had to admit, didn’t seem it would be happening any time soon with the looming gang war.

He put the notebook away. “So I guess I’ll have to get more invested into the ongoings of the Octant if I want to survive. Two gangs, one of them has some sort of heightened resources, and its threatening to take over the Octant.” He thought for a second. “Is that all we know?”

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

2 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

He put the notebook away. “So I guess I’ll have to get more invested into the ongoings of the Octant if I want to survive. Two gangs, one of them has some sort of heightened resources, and its threatening to take over the Octant.” He thought for a second. “Is that all we know?”

"Heightened resources?" Nerin said, dipping her chin and raising an eyebrow at Brillin. "Attayl felt Lance burning two metals. I thought he was a Twinborn until I saw him dropping speed bubbles, but he's a Lurcher too."

She stood, beginning to pace. "He took down an easy half-dozen of Willet's nastiest at the Depot last night, not to mention, ah..." Not to mention crushing the Darksider boss into a fine bloody mess all over my shoes. Nerin squeezed her eyes shut and drank some more tea. "Even if he's not a Mistborn, which, by the way, I am not ruling out, he's worth at least six people in a fight. What if there are more? There won't even be a gang war if it continues this way - by this time next week we'll all be paying tithe to the Farriers whether we like it or not."

Out of habit, Nerin started Soothing the room. Anxiety, fear, overwhelm, not helpful, not helpful at all. She only wished she could Soothe herself, and instead began worrying a hangnail on her finger with her teeth. The pain felt good, helped her think a little clearer.

"There's really no contest here, we need to pay the Farriers. If we go now, we can ask for protection from the Scarlets - that is, if there's anything left of the gang to protect us from." 

[+Sorana she/her]

"So, we could start by finding out what is left?"

Attayl suggested.

"See how much power they have so that we can think about the consequences?"

[old man moomba he/him]

"Do we know where their headquartered?" Aben asked, cleaning his fingernails with his side knife. 

Quote

WARNING, RAMBLINGS AHEAD:

So I was thinking about the Caranda family's background and I decided I wanted to maybe do a thread set in the Westlands. I'd have to hone down the plot a bit, but would anyone be interested?

 

[I think I am here. he/him]

7 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

“There's really no contest here, we need to pay the Farriers. If we go now, we can ask for protection from the Scarlets - that is, if there's anything left of the gang to protect us from." 

“Protect us?” Brillin asked, sitting up straighter in his chair. There was no time for wallowing.

“As far as I can see, it’s just swapping one gang leading the Octant for another. And if we don’t do anything extraordinary to ruin their mood, I don’t see why we should need to have protection. Associating with what looks to be the weaker gang doesn’t sound like it’ll benefit us much.”

He ignored the comment on whether Lance was a Mistborn, they had discussed that much already and Brillin was not ready to believe that, even if Attayl had heard two Allomancy pulses. There were always ways to fake things.

[+Sorana she/her]

3 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

“As far as I can see, it’s just swapping one gang leading the Octant for another. And if we don’t do anything extraordinary to ruin their mood, I don’t see why we should need to have protection. Associating with what looks to be the weaker gang doesn’t sound like it’ll benefit us much.”

Attayl looked at him, her voice turning serious.

"There is no need for you to get involved."

She told him quietly. She liked him, he had helped them, had protected her, but there were other ways as well.

"You could leave the octant, you're a traveler. Rent a room somewhere, write your book."

Sitting down she closed both of her hands around her cup.

"I don't have a choice, right now I am standing on what seems to be the loosing side. There is no guarantee. But as you don't live here..."