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!
09-11-2023, 07:39 PM (This post was last modified: 11-08-2023, 07:51 PM by Odd.)
Although he had gotten some ideas from Deimos, Noah was still committed to the idea of building a clinic in the Hollowed Grounds. It was a place that could benefit from such an establishment, even as the population of Ancients grew and grew. With the shadows of the Voice still etched into the twists and turns of this land, there was no established place for people who weren’t machine-wired to seek healing. Giving a place for doctors and nurses to work and see patients that weren’t people’s home would only benefit the area.
These ideas were given a set of determination when Noah found the broken down medical wing of the Temple. It was not at its ability to run at full capacity. He was glad that he didn’t need to gather people to build a clinic from the ground up.
Noah spent a few days scouting out a what needed to be repaired, gathering supplies and tools, and then the day before he was ready to start he posted a notice regarding his intentions. Taking one from Deimos’ book, Noah set up a small section of snacks (coffee and tea, and little cakes Cordelia made that were her mother’s recipe) as he waited for people to arrive.
This is a PQ to refurbish the medical wing of the temple!
09-12-2023, 01:57 AM (This post was last modified: 09-12-2023, 01:59 AM by Iskra.)
SPARKS WILL FLY THEY IGNITE OUR BONES
Iskra was not partial to Halo. He'd lived there long enough, and the kingdom was not without its comforts and grand features that he was grateful for. It could never be more than what he had made it though. It was his escape, his punishment for insidious thoughts and treacherous heartbreaks, and in that way, it was also his prison - how fitting it had its wardens.
This time of year was even harder to stomach staying in the winter wonderland. Born into heat, in love with the sand and the seaspray and the sweat that worked up under an unkind sun, Iskra was restless in the winter and traveled as much as he could from the depths of the arctic cage. Consider it rec time. Never so far as to leave his self-imposed bars; he would not set foot on his childhood home again, not when he was certain the memories would be his demise. Yet, he could wander on the edges and the outskirts, if only to lift the rock in his chest a bit higher.
Goose trailed at the man's side as they wandered the hillside. Luckily the dog enjoyed exploring nearly as much as he enjoyed rolling for hours on end in the snow, else he might have refused to leave the icy walls with Iskra. The dog panted lightly with their efforts, but his tongue drew in abruptly as his nose wrinkled at Noah's scent. His head lifted, thinking for a moment before continuing. Iskra picked up on the change and squinted ahead into the distance, spying the abandoned building and the forlorn man beside it. Another prisoner.
"Hey," Iskra yelled out in greeting as he and the dog drew closer. Goose was unbothered and trotted on ahead to rest in the shade. He'd smelled his man before around Halo, and similarly, though never formally having met the fallen king, Iskra knew enough of him. The woodcutter nodded in greeting when he was closer, appraising the state of the building quietly now that he could see the details of its disrepair. "Your notice," Iskra mentioned, having read the board in passing. Not normally one to butt into the business of others, least of all demi-gods and the deities they had pissed off, he was open to a new adventure to occupy his restless mind. Besides, there wasn't enough woods out here to keep him as busy as he'd like. "It's for this?"
Now I know there's no one I can trust - I used to think there was you can tell me that I'm cutthroat but I think you've got your eyes closed
Someone wants to fix up the infirmary in Bart's territory? Of course he fucking shows up. Doesn't matter that he could have (and arguably should have) done it first.
Like a territorial chihuahua, Bart storms into the place prematurely scowling and with bluster on his tongue. Except - and knowing his luck it's intentional - the two men already in attendance are fucking huge and gorgeous. Both unfightable and unfuckable.
Motherfuck.
"Aren't ye a fuckin' Halovian?" he barks as he marches in, aimed at Noah. The Forsaken is the only man whose name he knows, and only because everyone has their tongues up the asses of the demigods in Caido. "Y'better be doin' this outta the goodness a'yer heart, cuz I'm the only nurse in this godforsaken land." No employment opportunities available, no internships, no nurse managers. No-Noah. And sure Bart operates mostly out of his house because the infirmary is too damn big, admittedly, but he'll throw his measly weight around all the same.
Still, it's clear even with his folded arms and steaming ears that Bart is clearly here to help against his will - as evidenced by the well-stocked toolbelt around his waist.
Oops.
Feel the fear and swallow back the tears let weakness disappear
The hunter hadn't expected to people to come as quickly as they did, given the nature of this land. Most days the citizens seemed to keep more to themselves than to venture out to see others or even help them with things. He intuited that was the reason Darkeye had such a difficult time getting a foothold in this land after the Second War.
Noah saw the dog first, and a smile almost broke over his lips. For all his time in Halo he had come to appreciate the beasts for their loyalty and their ability to work hard in the harshest of climates. Noah bent down and offered his hand out to Goose, wishing he could pull at the canine's heart and mind as he once had as an attuned. Glacier eyes flicked up to the owner, and Noah gave a nod. There were shadows of familiarity from the man, but no more than any other Halovian. He stood and offered his hand to Iskra next, but was cut off from properly introducing himself as another man entered the Temple and brought a storm with him.
Everything within Noah wanted to growl at the man and push him out the doors. But he didn't. He stayed firmly in place, broad and tall and powerful, and simply said "I am doing this because it is the right thing to do, for the people who live here." His glacier eyes burned like blue fire despite the calm tone of his words. He turned his head briefly back to Iskra and gave him a firm nod, as if trying to give the man confidence to stay (whether he needed it or not, Noah didn't really see, but he offered it anyway).
"There is a lot to do. It doesn't look like this place has had any proper TLC in a long time." He kept himself from shooting Bart a sharp glance, and went on. "There is a lot of cleaning, some repairs to do, and I would also like to install a few new things."
The first round of tasks! Pick what you'd like to do and Noah will do the last. Please include a brief summary for me at the bottom of your post because I need it XD
No post order!
1. Deep clean the main area and waiting room
2. Deep clean the examination rooms
3. Repair the examination rooms' furniture
09-13-2023, 04:49 AM (This post was last modified: 09-13-2023, 05:21 AM by Iskra.)
JUST STARING AT THE SUNRISE ABOVE THIS HOLLOW TOWN BEEN CHASING EMPTY MEMORIES THE KIND THAT'S KEEPING YOU DOWN
Goose was distracted from his search for shade as Noah crouched down, which was always an open invitation for some much-desired cuddles or an opportunity to knock the taller men on their assess. With a rising wag in his tail Goose slunk sideways towards the demi-god, his tongue flashing a few licks to the offered hands, as much in greeting as in an attempt to taste the snack remnants from when Noah had set everything up. As Iskra drew up however the dog slunk away, following his nose to where the actual snacks lay assembled. With the men occupied in greeting, the dog's tongue curled towards a stray appetizer, careful to be silent.
Goose very well might have gotten away with snarfing down the whole table too if not for Bartholomew's boisterous entrance. Although Iskra was nearly drawn to noise like a moth to a flame, the undercurrent of tension in the exchange set the wandering woodcutter on edge at first. This was why he usually kept to himself.
"Aren't ye a fuckin' Halovian?"
Why yes, yes he was.
Iskra stiffened, the hairs on his neck lifting with a surge of adrenaline that came unbidden at the accusation flung his way. His hand slipped from the greeting with Noah, his head turning over his shoulder as "Iskra," fell by way of introduction from his lips, the conversation cutting off as Bartholomew breezed towards them. Iskra's body tensed with an old practice of preparing to defend himself, although he was certain if a fight did break out he'd get his ass beat. His fitness wasn't of much use under his lack of direction; the training his mother gave him in his childhood was a distant memory that only provided some fundamentals to build on, but nothing more.
Guilty, because here he was skulking away from his cell when his wardens had just asked for improvements to their prison, Iskra opened his mouth to speak. Thankfully he was saved from actually doing so (was that an apology prepared on his tongue?) because shortly after it became clear that the rugged nurse was focused wholly on Noah. Scratching at the back of his head absently, Iskra stepped to the side, just then catching his sneak of a dog. His features tightened and he closed the gap, batting away the mongrel who began to furiously devour whatever was within reach the moment he realized he'd been caught. "Goose," Iskra hissed under his breath, shoving the dog's snout away.
Hearing Noah's collected, if not tight, voice cut through caused Iskra to glance back towards the posturing affair. He quickly leaned against the table to hide the aftermath of the mutt's gluttonous rampage. Lest they get thrown out for lack of obedience, Iskra stuffed a cracker into his mouth, willing to take the fall if need be. With crumbs scattered in his beard, he nodded back at Noah, swallowing so abruptly that the cracker caught in his throat with a bulge. Unable to speak for a moment, Iskra grabbed for the nearest tool to get busy before he had to explain just what the fuck was wrong with him.
With broom and scrub brush in hand, Iskra set to sweep up the top-level debris that the wind and weather had blown in through cracks and holes in the entryway. After that, he'd use his scrub brush to get at the grime and algae that began to fester in the cracks and the darkness. Although never his first choice, there was something soothing about cleaning. It was nice to see something brighter emerge underneath what you originally found. Each drop of sweat was an active effort towards that end. Sometimes, trying to make something better felt hopeless. It's not always as easy to see the changes, and it feels like all you're doing is smearing the filth around. It felt that way for him each day he went to the woods and poured every ounce of his misery into the tree bark. He didn't notice it because the changes in him weren't as tangible, but a year ago he wouldn't even get out of bed daily, much less contribute anything to value to anyone. Maybe he wasn't fully operating yet, but little by little, he was getting cleaned up too.
Having swallowed his Lunchables, Iskra stilled his broom to say "why here?" Admittedly, much as Iskra appreciated the aftermath of cleaning something up, the actual progress of it was a bitch. With only the three of them, this place felt massive, and his loyalty wavered for a moment, laziness nipping at his generosity towards this mixed bag of strangers. Then, just for conversation's sake as he leaned back into his bristles, "isn't it haunted with all the old souls that went untreated from the past? Might be easier to build something new and less uh, spooky."
(Hi sorry I might have gone on a few tangents here SOBS
Iskra takes a broom and scrub brush and starts to clean the entryway, #1)
THIS SENSE OF INDECISION AIN'T WHAT WE HAD IN MIND
THE DREAM THAT I ENVISIONED I AM STILL HOPING TO FIND
Now I know there's no one I can trust - I used to think there was you can tell me that I'm cutthroat but I think you've got your eyes closed
“Broad and tall and powerful” means nothing when you have the survival instincts of a rabid toy poodle and the luck of a cockroach, so Bart merely narrows his eyes right back at Noah, suspicious and finding no reason not to be. “Says the outta towners,” Bart grumble-bitches, “awfully missionary of you to come all this way just’ta help us poor, stupid Grounders.” And whether it’s just a parting shot or Bart feeling a touch guilty (a touch) for the way Iskra introduces himself, the nurse turns away and gets to work.
Not because Noah told him to thought. Just to give Bart an excuse to ensure they don’t go wrecking the place or getting sticky fingers.
Cute dog though.
Damn it.
He works on the examination rooms, because he doesn’t trust the two men as far as he could throw them (which, given his weenie arms and their general size, wouldn’t be far anyway). The work itself is nice at least. Work is all that fills Bart’s days lately. And it keeps literal walls between him and the two Halovians so he can do his best to play nice.
- - -
Bart cleans the exam rooms!
Feel the fear and swallow back the tears let weakness disappear
If Noah weren't a man forged by ice and self control, he would pummel Bart into the ground for the way he spoke to them. If he were half the picture of control that he was he might bite back on how he wouldn't have to be doing such things if the gods-damned people who worked and lived here chose to do it for themselves. But, alas, even with the name Forsaken hung across his shoulders, he was still an Olson and he would not stoop to the man and his biting tongue. His glacier eyes instead only followed him as he grumbled and set off to work in the exam rooms. Sighing some, Noah clicked his tongue against his teeth and followed him, though he branched off briefly to fix a broken exam table in another room.
At first everything seemed to be going well for Bart, despite his poor attitude about the situation he found the outsiders to be in with him. The dust came up easily and the cobwebs followed suit. Bartholomew would find that his exam room was not empty, however. Perhaps it was simply a misstep or it was due to a lack of focus and centering on frustration, but the broom the nurse chose snacked into the side of a cabinet with a half-hanging door. Inside, the Humming Bats stirred. Half a dozen bats made their way into the room and flew frantically around.
Iskra, on the other hand, found more luck and less creatures. Cleaning was not a difficult task in and of itself, but years of neglect created a build up of grime and dirt and gods-knows what else for the abandoned to contend with. It took some elbow grease, but it wasn't enough to hinder his conversational tone.
Noah caught Iskra's question only as he came out of the first exam room, the table's leg repaired. Thankfully it was only a few missing and rusted out screws to be replaced, rather than needing to create an entirely new leg (which the hunter did not have the skills to do). "I've been tasked by Vi to help bring renewal to this land." He said, as short of an explanation he could manage that still gave purpose to the Forsaken's choices.
"You okay in there?" Noah called down the hallway to Bart's exam room, unknowing of the circumstance the nurse found himself in. Shrugging, Noah turned to Iskra and asked, "Help me move some of these supplies to the storage room?"
Iskra is successful in his cleaning! Noah has asked him to help move supplies to the storage room. Bartholomew woke up some Humming Bats! What will he do?
09-21-2023, 04:55 AM (This post was last modified: 09-21-2023, 04:57 AM by Iskra.)
JUST STARING AT THE SUNRISE ABOVE THIS HOLLOW TOWN BEEN CHASING EMPTY MEMORIES THE KIND THAT'S KEEPING YOU DOWN
The tension felt palpable. Not for the first time Iskra wondered what the fuck he was doing here. Two complete strangers to him, who were at complete odds, and here he was trying to dodge the argument as if it was mommy and daddy fighting. If he had to guess though, Noah was the daddy.
It was a bit too late to get out now though. He'd already picked up a tool and offered his help, and well he kinda wanted to see if eventually Bart would just jump on Noah. Whether a brawl or makeup sex, either one would be worthwhile to see.
Either because he was too far, or because no one else believed in ghosts, or because they were too busy casting glares at each other that were really bedroom eyes in disguise, no one responded to Iskra's attempt at haunted conversation. For some reason that skeeved Iskra out even more and he felt the need to keep looking over his shoulder and check for apparitions. Despite this, he did manage to get his section decently spotless.
Ready to hang up his hat and call it a day, go find a tree to nap under or some bar to forget all this in, he instead stilled at the sound of commotion. Goose raced in towards Bart's room, barking furiously at the unleashed creatures that Iskra remained ignorant to. He would have gone to investigate if not for Noah calling out to him. Dampering his curiosity Iskra swung into Noah's room, leaning his broom and brush against the wall as he said "sure." Tilting a barrel to its side, Iskra gently began to roll it towards the storage room. "I'd think Vi could renew this land well enough. Sounds like you're in the doghouse." Iskra continued to try and chat, even if it wasn't about ghosts and was instead about gods, a topic he usually skirted around.
The gods just seemed like extra powerful bullies to him. He'd prefer if they kept their noses out of everyone's business, or if they were going to go sniffing around, at least be helpful. Iskra couldn't recall the last time a god had helped him, or his family (most of whom were dead - thanks Mort).
- - - -
Iskra starts to move items to the storage room. Goose joins Bart and is barking at the bats.
THIS SENSE OF INDECISION AIN'T WHAT WE HAD IN MIND
THE DREAM THAT I ENVISIONED I AM STILL HOPING TO FIND
Now I know there's no one I can trust - I used to think there was you can tell me that I'm cutthroat but I think you've got your eyes closed
If Bart knows anything about himself - and his entire family line - it's that he has shit fucking luck. So of course he wakes up humming bats. Why wouldn't he?
The bats come busting out of the woodwork like a full bush out of the corners of a string bikini, except not nearly as sexy and with a lot more leather than a beach would call for. Bart yells half of every known curse he can think of on the fly, because that's about all he can manage for a reaction as he lifts his arms to automatically swat them away.
Then the cute dog is suddenly there, barking at the maelstrom, and Caido might not have telenovelas but maybe Bart needs to get into that business because what the fuck. Stumbling half-blind for the closest window, he yanks it open, and then swallows his nerves and uses his broom to try to bat the bats out into the open air.
And that's right around when Pious Prick calls out to him, and in his fluster Bart isn't nearly mean enough but he calls back, "We're fine! Fuckin' bats!" He doesn't want any extra company. The dog can stay - but she's on thin ice.
- - -
Bart opens a window and uses his broom to try and get the bats outside.
Feel the fear and swallow back the tears let weakness disappear
”I’m sure Vi could, as well. But part of the gods choosing mortals to do their bidding is actually doing their bidding.” Noah said, shrugging before bending slightly at the knee to help his back with the weight he and Iskra lifted. AS they made it to the room the box needed to be, Iskra seemed to have less control over the menial task as he thought. Thankful to the dice gods, the pair did not lose the entire contents of their boxes. As the corner of the box slipped from @Iskra’s hands, Noah was able to catch and stabilize it against his knee and thigh to keep it from falling back to the ground and tumbling its innards.
Bartholomew, on the other hand, was much more successful in ridding the room of bats than he was at cleaning. With his attention focused on getting the creatures out despite the barking dog, he was able to get the all through the window. Goose (Iskra) in his excitement, slid on some debris and skid across the room. The dog finally smacked against the counter along one wall, but his weight made the counter jiggle and for the various, dusty jars on top to come crashing down, littering the floor with broken glass. Now there was more cleaning to do between bat mess and dog mess.
”Oh, shit.” Noah said. ”You better go check that out. I’m going to work on resealing some of these windows.” He gestured to the windows along the east wall in the main area, though his eyebrows were lifted in some concern from the sound of shattering glass coming from Bart’s room.
Next round!
Iskra and Bart are to clean the room that the bats + Goose destroyed. Noah is going to reseal the windows!
