From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
Decisions had been made – and despite the grimmest hope that he and Evie might be wearing their anointed crowns of avoidance – Wardenship lay along their shoulders again. Putting it off had only done bought some semblance of time, until the test of strength, of mettle, of determination, reared its head once more. Striving amidst pretenses of not feeling the insurmountable weight beginning to tangle and knot its way down the breadth of his spine, along the roll of muscle upon his shoulders, or intertwine amongst the many maneuvers and plots manifesting in his mind, once stones were cast, he settled immediately for the Council Hall.
Cordelia and Noah certainly hadn’t left it in shambles, but there was always something to do. Nodding towards those milling about, he figured he’d wait in the lobby for Evie and any others willing to assist, beginning to jot down notions and necessities, piercing eyes flickering back and forth along baseboards and wooden proportions, long strides sweeping in and out of various offices (pretending his wasn’t laden with dust…pondering if he could still mingle along the barracks as a personal threshold).
By the time the Sword returned to the entrance, the paper was relatively full, depending on how things went. And with a haphazard breath, he let the sentiments settle, cast off and away.
--
This is a PQ to establish the new Wardens in the Council Hall! Make your opening post and then we’ll carry on!
1. Deimos
2. Evie
3.
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
In many ways they had both hoped that this would not be the ending they had to face. Though they would both do anything for Halo and her people, Evie can only put her optimism to the test by hoping that the fact neither of them had wanted these titles would somehow prove them better able to uphold them. Neither of them power hungry, nor untested in these roles.
Nerves are not so much a nuisance as the weight of responsibility that hangs about her shoulders. They’d had time enough to sleep on the matter, but as time was in horribly short supply already, no more of it could be wasted on letting the new Wardens adjust. So it is that she finds herself in the Council Hall, grateful anew for the fact that those who came before her had chosen to leave the Palace empty in favor of more modest headquarters.
Deimos is there not long before her, so Evie sets about opening and propping the inner set of the front doors - best not to let the cold in by opening both sets - and dragging the coat stands out into the entryway in preparation of any who come to assist needing to shed their outer layers. Only then does she find no further use for her restlessness, and she returns to Deimos’ side to glance at his list. “Luckily it’s more housekeeping than overhauling,” she comments, grateful for any small breaks they are given. She lets their shoulders touch companionably, but they hadn’t talked yet about what each of them was comfortable with in terms of their relationship within their new roles, so she takes what she can from the subtle gesture for now.
He should have left on his circuit of the Tundra and Sea weeks ago. Every other year he would have already traded with several of the nomadic tribes and been on the way out towards the farthest reaches of Halo in search of the rest.
But War loomed. Inevitable. Inescapable. And with it, upheaval that the contrary courier had somehow embroiled himself right into the weave of. So this year 'Lexi had taken the team, with his aunt riding shotgun and a lighter load of trade goods while his sister learned the ropes, and Tal...
Talyson Seawright shuffled into the Palace Halls, fingers drumming anxiously on his leg as he wound his way to the council room and the new Wardens waiting there. In the 'warmth' of Longheat he wore a thickly-knit sweater but no coat, though his boots were heavy and padded. Pale eyes went immediately to Deimos, flicking over Evie only in passing as he cleared his throat and bobbed his head in subdued greeting.
"Heard y'might need a hand," he explained by way of hello, shoulders subconsciously hunching a little beneath the weight of the Eirachi's gift to Neron that surrounded them.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
Evie motioned in moments later, and there were some instances to stand in the designations and assignments with shared apprehension and determination alike. “Right,” was all he managed to slip out from a clenched jaw, parting a breath purposefully over her hair to watch the tresses waver and flick. There was some gratitude in that Noah and Cordelia both had kept everything together, the building included, until it wasn’t feasible anymore.
Talyson’s appearance didn’t surprise him, for the courier had always been helpful, but the anxiety from all of them seemed to linger on the tangible. Striving to rise above those dreadful endeavors with tenacity and obstinance of a defiant foot soldier, the Sword nodded, granting a small smile towards the messenger. “Your help is much appreciated.”
Glancing down over the list, he began to rotate through the first complexities and necessities. “We need to reinforce the baseboards,” jaw instinctively jutting towards a few out in the entryway that were already showing signs of bowing. “Collect files,” to which he wrinkled his nose because the loathing of paperwork was already immersed, “and rearrange a few of the offices, to start.” Eyes flicking back to each of them, he permitted options and choices. “You decide, and I will take the last.”
--
We need someone to:
- Collect files from the various offices
- Rearrange furniture in the offices
- Reinforce the baseboards
Given dice rolls, some of these may take a few rounds each! Pick and choose and Deimos will take whatever’s left! No post order!
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
He wasn't expecting a smile from his friend, and it startled the flash of a tight grin from the courier in return. Oddly that small gesture seemed to help a little; or at least, his fingers slowed their drumming on his leg to a less frantic pace.
Tal might have volunteered to sort files and reports in the Monster Hunter's Guild because those were interesting. For all he wasn't the scholarly type, he'd learned a fair bit about the dangerous beasts of Caido beyond Halo's borders through those pages. But much like Deimos he shied away from the paperwork of bureaucracy, quickly darting his eyes towards the floorboards and the furniture instead.
Yeah. He couldn't be still in the Palace. There was too much anxious energy and uneasiness in his gut to give the baseboards the attention they deserved so he headed towards the nearest office with a wave. "I'll get these straightened up," he called back, rolling his sleeves up to start pushing desks and chairs around to get a feel for the space. Tal goes to rearrange office furniture!
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
A small smile hides in the corner of her mouth as she feels his breath rustle her hair. It’s not going to be easy, but the reminder that they share this burden now makes the day’s tasks seem a little easier. Even more so when another comes to assist in the efforts - though it’s the childish young man who had exploded like a shaken soda bottle when presented with love advice. Ah well, hands were hands, and Evie had not been bothered by his histrionics before. Perhaps now would be a better day for his mood. Hopefully for all of them; a little optimism wouldn’t be amiss between the three of them.
Deimos’ distaste for the paperwork is evident, and Talyson’s avoidance secures it, so Evie laughs quietly as her hand rises to squeeze the Sword’s arm in a parting gesture of companionship. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle the files.” Her twin was a bookkeeper after all, not to mention the Wordsworth affairs she’d been taught to keep in order in preparation for her taking over the family estate. None of that matters now. It is all lost. But the skill and familiarity remains, and so Evie goes about collecting the folders and loose papers into roughly divided piles based on topic. All placed on the largest desk, so that all the other furniture could be cleaned out without losing something important.
- - -
Evie collects all the files onto the largest desk and begins to separate into rough piles based on topic.
09-08-2022, 10:05 PM (This post was last modified: 09-08-2022, 10:16 PM by Deimos.)
DEIMOS
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
They all relented in their own ways, prevailing even through the tension, dread, apprehension, and vivid memories. The Sword was eternally grateful, even if tightened features didn’t manage to show it all the time, because discomfort was a palpable thing. He watched as the others flickered and wandered to their stations, before presiding amongst the baseboards, analyzing, scrutinizing, and mending with Earthen intonations as he went along.
Until reaching a corner, and noting a slight sway to the wooden proportions. Crouching down, and lifting one portion up, he discovered there was already a rooted, rodent’s nest within, and likely still in use. With a slight frown and wrinkled nose, Deimos would find he’d have to tend to this before finishing anything else up.
The courier’s efforts in rearranging office furniture weren’t without their mishaps either. Initially, it’d been smooth sailing – cabinets exchanged with the help of some other workers, desks maneuvered to better angles or suitable lighting. But one table refused to budge or cooperate – perhaps as stubborn as the rest of Halo’s citizens. Could there be something in the way, or underneath, snagging and catching at a leg? Talyson would have to investigate further, or find another way to slide the object around.
And for Evie, notable and experienced in bookkeeping, to some degrees, she’d find the files well managed. Analyzed, placed, and noted in the comings and goings of Halo, from the most mundane to highly intriguing gossip, records were placed accordingly, in efficient organization.
But maybe, she’d notice the plants wilting nearby, from the corner of her eye. Perhaps previous tenants hadn’t been like the greenhouse keepers, or had forgotten the flora altogether. If anyone should be capable of nursing them back to health, it’d be the Evergreen…
--
Deimos has repaired most of the baseboards, but has been stalled by a rodent’s nest!
Talyson has rearranged most of an office, but now there’s a stubborn table refusing to bend to his wiles!
Evie has organized the files efficiently, and she can nurse some potted, but very sad looking plants, back to health!
No post order!
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
It’s a blessing that Cordelia and Noah had been so well-organized. Handwritten tabs on file folders are found to be correct, nothing is lazily stapled or paper clipped, and each packet is sorted by date. It’s merely a job of moving them all to the table at that point, ensuring nothing is lost in the ensuing shuffle of cleaning and repairs. It takes time given all of Halo’s current affairs, but blessedly less than she’d initially accounted for.
The plants, however, do catch her eye. In Halo, indoor plants were one of the only kinds to have before the greenhouse, but there was a certain luxury to keeping plants for aesthetic instead of a crop-bearing type. Those are the ones found in places like the Hall, and clearly their relative uselessness has led to a certain level of neglect. Crooning a soft noise most would make towards a pitiful looking animal, the Evergreen glides over to investigate, lifting drooping leaves and inspecting dry soil. And with each pot she uses a touch of magic to have them rejuvenating rapidly. Not that she ignores more mundane options such as bringing water to wet the soil, but admittedly magic would always do the trick faster. She leaves a trail of greenery in her wake, circling the room slowly, pot by pot.
- - -
Evie uses her magic to rejuvenate the plants, and then fetches water for each, moving around the room to each one.
For all that he disliked the Palace and had expected things to go absolutely dismally once they got to work, Tal was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the task started. Chairs that had been a little too small or too big for one space were shifted over to another and bookcases were placed to provide a little more insulation along outer walls without blocking the thick windows. Desks and cabinets that once would have been too heavy for him to shift on his own were now possible for him to push or pull without help, much to the courier's pride.
Of course, it never went that well for long.
The table defied him and Tal scowled at it, clearly tempted to kick it but holding his temper as he waved a couple of the helpers over. "Let's try an' lift it up an' over whatever it's stuck to," he suggested. "On three." Everyone grabbed a corner and waited as Tal counted up: "One... two... three!" Hopefully between their combined strength they could get it high enough to shift it over whatever was preventing it from sliding, and shuffle it to its new location.
Tal asks the NPCs for help in lifting the table up to try and free it, so they can move it to its new home.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
The Sword’s regards towards rodents nesting in the Council Hall was unimpressed at best – and it only took a few compelling notions in his Attuned bombardments for the rest of them to scurry – the predacious demands harsh and clear. Moments later he could snag at the remains of the makeshift hideaway, pulling away bits of debris, feathers, fur, and anything else the mice had managed to snag and entangle. Once that had been completed, he could move on to the rest of the baseboards.
Upon the courier’s instructions, the assistants and helpers worked together to forge a new path for the table, maneuvering it off to the side where it might be better suited, with some chairs and cabinets alike. Thereafter, Talyson might have noticed the amount of dust and debris settled over the area – an unfortunate impact of moving. Perhaps he’d be able to find an adequate means of cleaning up the newfound grime?
Despite the Evergreen’s inherent abilities and incantations, the plants lifted only slightly, as if too tired, too haggard, too withdrawn, and long since ignored. If one didn’t know any better, the flora might’ve even looked depressed and tired. Was there something else Evie could do – repotting, needing to be moved, or perhaps one more good dose of tender, loving care from those earthen enchantments?
--
Deimos has compelled the rodents away, cleared out the nest, and is now continuing to restore the baseboards.
Talyson has moved the table with assistance, and now has quite a mess along the office.
Evie’s plants are less than impressed – is there something else she could do?
No post order!
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
Tal knew very well that moving the table could have gone a lot worse and he breathed a sigh of relief when nothing worse happened to delay them further. He wasn't much for interior decorating, but he had to admit that it looked a lot better in its new location, matched with furniture of a similar color and style.
Before he had a chance to rest on his laurels, however, he turned around to survey the rest of the room and realized just how dusty things had gotten in the past couple of seasons. Neither Noah nor Delia had been around much - and it showed in the neglect the offices had suffered. With a heavy sigh the courier headed out into the hall to find a broom and dustpan and some raggedy old curtains that he could tear up for cloths. Distributing those to his helpers, he began to tackle the floors with the broom while the soldiers used buckets of snowmelt to scrub at the grime on tables and shelves. "Are y'even gonna spend much time here?" he called over to the General - er, Warden - with a nose wrinkled against the dust being raised. "Mebbe it's better t'just... throw some of those white sheet things over the furniture and close the rooms up for awhile?"
Tal finds a broom and dustpan and begins to sweep, while setting his minions to dust and polish the higher surfaces.
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
They must have been rather neglected, because even her magic can’t seem to get them to do more than shift a little, perhaps turn a few hues. That’s okay. Evie is persistent if nothing else, and so she goes back to the previous plants she’d tended to once they’ve had a moment to soak in the water she’d given them, hoping it has made them more amenable to the idea of growth and repair. Once more she tries her magic, knowing that if it didn’t work, only time and daily care could save them entirely.
Though the question isn’t posed to her - noticeably, but Evie doesn’t truly mind - she interjects gracefully. “I’m sure Deimos won’t, but I will. We can close up the side rooms and clean them out as needed, I think that’s a good idea. Focus our energy in here for now.” Deimos still has his office in the Barracks after all. Evie would likely be the one turning this into her own form of office given her shop is rather ill-suited to Warden work. Soil and paperwork were not often friends.
- - -
Evie tries magic again after letting the water sit, and agrees with Tal on closing up the adjacent rooms.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
The baseboards adhered to the Sword’s incantations readily, and without another encounter of rodents, they were efficiently repaired, and permitted to remain with no need for further replacements. At Talyson’s inclinations and wrinkling of his nose, Deimos arched a brow, intending to outline intentions, when there was no need, for Evie filled in the explanation quite nicely. With a slight smile and a shake of his head, he called back over his shoulder before wandering into the midst of another office. “There are two Wardens, Tal.” And while they were both correct in that he’d avoid this council hall like another plague, greatly preferring his own quarters, the Evergreen had her necessities and requirements.
The other Warden settled in her abilities quite nicely this time, applying persistence, perseverance, and enchantments a bit more firmly in this iteration. The flora responded generously, sweeping upwards as if given new life (perhaps they had), palms turning outward, leaves snaking along and seeking out the sun.
And Talyson – alas, any good fortune had run straight out. Maybe it was the talking, or simply not paying attention, but one little trip over the end of a carpet would send the dustpan flying. Subsequently, the residue and debris did much of the same, spread out along the floor, rugs, and furniture all over again, as if content to stay there.
--
Deimos has taken care of all the baseboards, and has moved onto helping close up the adjacent offices/rooms.
Evie’s plants have sprung back to life under her care, and she can now move on to closing up adjacent offices/rooms.
Talyson, unfortunately, tripped and sent all the dust he’d just picked up…back onto the floor.
No post order!
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
He wrinkled his nose harder when Evie agreed with him, not sure how he felt about it. It was almost like Sah agreeing with him, but worse. He and Sah had more or less found a... a truce. Of sorts. He could handle the Thunder backing him up. Sometimes. But this woman was...
He flinched when Deimos called him out mid-thought and started to heave a heavy sigh. But just as he began to gather his words his trip over the carpet flung the dust up and it caught in his throat instead, sending him into a coughing fit. Leaning over one of the desks he hacked out as much detritus as he could, completely losing track of what he'd been about to say. When he finally straightened again it was with a painful wheeze and a woeful look across the re-dirtified room. "Fuckin' dismal," he grumbled quietly under his breath, wishing he had even a tenth of Deimos's magic to make the job go faster.
But if wishes were fishes they'd still all be starving because all the open water in Halo was ice-locked and no one could get at them anyways. So - without a sigh this time - Tal rolled his sleeves up one more notch and grabbed the broom to start sweeping up again.
Tal goes back to sweeping :(
