[WORLD ONE | AIMINTAS REBUILDING]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and the Palai
Where: Rebuilding the Aimintas marketplace.
When: Day 59
Open/Closed: Open to All
OOC Note: For Prompt A -- the egg claiming is closed to those who selected eggs from this thread! Anyone can use the prompt creatively, but please don't give your character an egg if they aren't listed in the above thread.

The initial setting information found here should be utilized for threads here.

There's no official OOC account for the Palai people. You're free to roleplay their actions and reactions on your own, as in depth as you want -- asking questions, hand-waved interactions, becoming best friends. The new world is your oyster!

Many efforts have been made to help rebuild Aimintas, which has become a little bit water-logged and bloodied after the confrontation a few days previously. The Palai are fully capable of rebuilding their own city on their own, but with coven members around and willing to help, hopefully the repairs that need to be done can be completed much more quickly. The marketplace is quite expansive, which is both good and bad when it comes to coven involvement. While the areas that need to be repaired are expansive, this creates the opportunity for most coven members to help rebuild in some way or another. With everyone taking responsibility for a task, the work can get done much more quickly. Aside from the repairs, many Palai are still in mourning. Because this incident happened during their mating season, many Palai are essentially shut out of reproduction or are going to potentially lay eggs a month from now without one of their previously supposed parents. The demeanor around the marketplace is glum for this reason, though the steadfast species is certainly not giving up. A ▢ Because some Palai families were killed in their entirety, the hatchery is being cleaned out. There is a big discussion in the marketplace with those responsible for taking care of eggs making sure they have the future Palai youth properly sorted. Those eggs that are orphaned have mostly been handed out to Palai family units, though there are some left over. Because the Palai trust the coven members as stronger and more capable to protect their eggs than they are right now, these eggs are being handed out to them instead of doubling up already child-bearing families. Are you willing to take an egg? B ▢ Half of the battle when it comes to rebuilding the marketplace will be the large quantities of standing water in certain stalls and enclosed spaces. Some of the Uvi's ocean masses burst or were used as a sort of liquid smoke grenade for defensive measures -- some water was absorbed into the dirt in outdoor eating areas, but a lot of it is stuck in businesses, suites and other rooms. The Palai have buckets, but they sure could use a hand getting this stuff out of here. C ▢ From slamming large sharks into the front of stone store fronts to stabbing down doors without barriers, the Uvi certainly did a number on Aimintas. Stone fixtures are certainly more difficult to repair, though the Palai have concocted a cement paste that they're using to help fill in seams. The biggest issue to deal with here is that water-logged and damaged wood needs to be hauled away or destroyed (safely!). At the same time, new wood needs to be installed to doors and stalls, and tables need to be rebuilt in order to return the majority of shops to well-working order. D ▢ Working hard isn't the only task at hand, either. There are Palai in restaurants and eateries that ARE mostly functional, hard at work preparing canteens and food sacks that need to be passed out to workers expending so much energy for their city. This also means the return of their energy drink (see TDM #2, Prompt E). This can cause hallucinations, power malfunctions and extreme giddiness and euphoria, for those who didn't experience this drink the last time it made the rounds. E ▢ Another "low-level" task focuses on keeping the younger Palai entertained and out from under the feet of those who are working hard to repair the city. The hatchery is being emptied for repairs, so one of the more untouched open-air areas of the marketplace is now a makeshift daycare. There are obviously Palai helping to attend to the children, but there are a lot of them -- some are more docile and easy to entertain, others scuttle out of the enclosure and try to help the coven with their chores. This may or may not go well...have you made a new little friend? F ▢ More detail-oriented coven members can help with the management side of things. These tasks can include restocking and carting a round food stuffs (produce, shrimp, other food goods), getting rid of damaged goods (some of these are only slightly damaged, so maybe you can get some discounted, barely working merchandise), and redecorating storefronts. This work is great for those who aren't as good at physical labor and still want to help. G ▢ Most of the Palai who were put up against the Uvi found themselves fatally wounded, though there were some lucky lizards out there. One of the other open-air areas of the marketplace is essentially a medic tent, which serves as both a makeshift hospital for coven members and Palai alike who are still nursing Uvi wounds, as well as a first aid station for any rebuilding-related injuries. Healers would definitely be appreciated! H ▢ Wildcard!

Comments

[talim]

[ there's a brief silence as jude takes the time to mull over 9s' words and process them. this is about their last conversation, undoubtedly. jude wasn't sure if it'd even be brought up again. ]

... Thank you. For letting me know.

[ he owes him that before anything else. there's another thoughtful pause before he continues, but he keeps his gaze locked on 9s' through his goggles. ]

I... I shouldn't have pushed you so hard. I know I can be nosy. I know I can get too involved in other people's business more often than I should. As much as I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, running around in circles isn't going to change anything. I get that.

But I meant it when I said I'm not giving up on you. I still hope that, somehow, I'll convince you to understand, and no matter what you have to say about it, I will never not consider us equals. If you're programmed one way, then, well... consider me programmed another.

[ jude ducks his head, breaking eye contact. instead, he slides his calloused hands across the table, offering them for 9s to grasp. maybe he won't get it, but he hopes he does. ]

And when it comes to personal matters... Whatever it is that you have to hide, I just want you to know that my door is always open. Again, I won't push, but whatever it is... I'd keep it between us.

[deem]

[The slight downturn of 9S' head choreographs his own change in focus, watching Jude's hands. They're waiting there, and he sees that. He also remembers that he'd held his hand before, and he's begun to associate such gestures with Jude's nature, simply some part of who and how he is.

He starts to move, lifts a hand, only to pause and rest it on the table. That last statement is prompt for him to look back at Jude's face again, tilting his head quizzically.

There's something else he'd like to say, in answer to those sentiments, but he just can't help asking—]

...You have a door?

[That metaphor might just be a little bit lost on somebody like him]

1/2

[talim]

[ jude can't help the light chuckle that escapes him, and just like that, the fog hanging over them has lifted. ]

It's just an expression. It means that I'll be right here if you do need to talk.

[ a little tentative — moreso than he'd usually be, but who knows what palai might be spying on them — jude covers 9s' hand with his own. ]

2/2

[talim]

... Perhaps I owe you an apology.

[deem]

[9S is aware of exactly three Palai in the vicinity. The one skulking about behind a bookshelf is cause for some concern, but Jude said not to worry about it, so he opts to ignore the presence rather than call attention to it.

More importantly, there's that last statement]

No, I don't think you do.

[But he's relieved that odd tension seems to have left Jude. That's enough for him]

[talim]

I pushed too hard. I made you uncomfortable. That's enough reason for me.

[ he can't help but look away again; he focuses on their hands, instead. ]

But... more than anything else, all I really want is your trust. You don't have to doubt me so much.

[deem]

[9S takes a moment to re-settle his egg with his free hand...

And then he's going to pat Jude's in an effort at reassurance]

I don't doubt you. That's not something you have to worry about.

[He doubts himself in some ways, if anything]

[talim]

[ jude can tell how hard 9s is trying. all for his sake. ]

The feeling is mutual.

[ he lets out a breath he'd been holding. ]

Talking things out like this has... it's helped.

[deem]

[At least they've got that much settled. The last thing he wants to do is hurt someone who's only ever been kind to him. And Jude's the first human to call him a friend, what's more.

Not to mention he perceived some strange weighted feeling when he made the guy look so sad]

I got to thinking I might've given you the wrong impression.

[That it was Jude, specifically, he was walling off. The matter was simpler with 2B: on some level, he's sure they're both aware that they each have barriers in place. Whether they're protecting themselves or each other, he can't say, but...

He can see that Jude's the type to rail against that distance]

[talim]

Well, regardless of what happened, I'd say things have been more or less cleared up.

[ he gives 9s' hand a gentle squeeze before drawing back. ]

So... do you want some company? I have nothing else to do and nowhere else to be.

[deem]

I've never really liked being by myself.

[It's something his operator had always been aware of, something he's sure others observed back in the Bunker. And it's a very small thing, but he thinks volunteering even a little seems appropriate in this situation.

There's a lot he intends to keep to himself, though he values Jude's kindness for what it is. That, at least, is harmless enough to share.

With that said, he collects the notebook beside him and offers it back to Jude]

You're gonna have to take this off my hands though.

[talim]

[ he thinks that very well might be one of the most personal things 9s has ever offered him, as small as it is. jude makes a mental note of it.

he narrows his eyes down at the stack of papers. right. those. ]

Ugh... don't remind me. Alright, hand them over. Least I can do.

You keep the drawings, though.

[deem]

Only fair.

[Dividing up the burdens of having a strangely invested fan following, that is. He doesn't quite have the heart to throw away something somebody put so much effort into and gave to him, even if it's so misguided.

And with the fanfiction-baton passed, he opens his book back up]

...I can update your data later, since you can use this information too.

[Speaking of—]

Any headaches or anything?

[talim]

Huh?

[ oh. right. the goggles. they're safe in his other pocket. ]

No. None. I haven't been wearing them anywhere near as often as you guys do, but I haven't run into any problems. Everything seems all clear.

[deem]

That's good. [Surprisingly so. Maybe their eyes were designed to emulate those of humans just closely enough. Maybe] But let me know if that changes.

[Because he doesn't want something intended to help to have the opposite effect, least of all on someone who's only ever been nice to him]

[talim]

Don't worry so much.

[ chronic worrier syndrome! ]

I will, I will.

[deem]

I'll take that advice when you do.

[That seems like the best way to settle this circular debate. They each have their own reasons for worrying, and he's gotten an inkling by now that they'll just keep asking each other to do something they can't.

Though they might also be unable to stop nudging each other about it anyway, he supposes]

Tall order though, huh?

[talim]

Fair enough.

[ and jude can't help but choke on a laugh at 9s' added comment. ]

Yeah, I'm thinking that if there's one thing we've learned, it's that certain androids can be just as stubborn as humans are.

[deem]

2B's pretty determined, all right.

[Of course, he knows who Jude's really referring to.

His smile betrays as much. No shame about being stubborn, not in the slightest]

[talim]

[ jude outright snorts at that. seeing 9s' smile makes him feel warm and content; he'd almost been worried he wouldn't be seeing it again. ]

Yeah. 2B never knows when to quit. I guess, in a way, we're pretty similar, 2B and I.

[ how would the actual 2b feel if she knew they were using her as a code name............ ]

[deem]

[Comparing androids and humans again... 9S still isn't entirely settled by it, doesn't know if he'll ever be, but he can roll with it. Jude is pretty stubborn after all.

Just like certain androids]

Androids aren't supposed to quit though. What's your excuse?

[Teasing? Yes he is]

[talim]

[ 9s, smiling and teasing? jude is more astounded by the minute. ]

Do I really need an excuse? After everything I've been through to get to where I am now, quitting would be a waste.

Humans aren't supposed to quit, either.

[deem]

[It's more likely than he might've thought.

...Though 9S is making some effort to show Jude that the things he keeps to himself don't reflect on how he regards him. He's quite sure he was believed, but even so, he thinks there's some benefit to it.

Like wanting to hear 2B call him Nines, even though she'd come to save him when he was in trouble]

Must be a long story, the way you say that.

[talim]

[ a rueful smile. ]

A long story is an understatement.

[deem]

That complicated, huh?

[Since he can't get into his own past too much, it's not his place to ask.

Even so, he can admit to himself that he's curious]

Hope you didn't have some unfinished business waiting like some guys around here.