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Entry tags:
Winter, January 25th - Heroes never retire
Action - Fayren - Public
Action - Genessia - Public
[ Ayame has been in a great overall mood since the Christmas party. This is the first time she's felt happy and free in a long time. Probably even her entire life. The illusion of peace and a normal life has her consumed. Not out of ignorance, but rather she really wants to believe it all to be real. However, today seemed to serve as a reminder that she is not just a simple tailor. That she has talents in more than just making clothes. On the way to Fayren's fish market dressed in her most recent creation, Ayame got involved in a local dispute with a teenage boy beaten black and blue by an armed man and his similarly suited friends. Standing in between the boy and the more than a dozen thugs is Ayame, with her hand casually blocking the leader's fist.
With a simple push, she was able to make the rugged man stumble a few feet, while she turns to help the boy back up. Pride on the line, the man wouldn't stand to some foreigner undermining his authority over this street like that. A click of a sword being released from its scabbard alerted Ayame, causing her to groan. All she wanted is to get some wine and fresh fish for dinner. But stubborn bullies like this deserve a little lesson in manners. With a well-trained swing of his sword, Ayame blocks it with her umbrella without even looking. Standing back up, she slides the umbrella on the edge of the blade closer to the hilt, once again pushing the man back a few meters to collide with his friends. That was it. That was the last straw for these thugs. With their pride wounded, they begin to rush towards Ayame with swords and daggers. They have some training from the looks of it, and these merchants stand no chance against these bullies even if they want to. So Ayame's strategy was to make them attack each other, and humiliate them in the process.
She dodges and makes some elegant steps in between her opponents, strategically picking spots where they will be at a disadvantage. She flips the blades by their crossguards mid-swing while she essentially waltzes around and in between them, so that the flats of their weapons would be the ones knocking their own friends out cold. The dagger wielders were trickier to deal with, so Ayame uses the hook of her umbrella to manipulate their elbows and wrist, getting them to drop the weapons in their hands. Any incoming strikes from disarmed opponents, she uses another as a human shield. She even replicated a ballroom spin on one of them so they backhand slap one of their friends. Persistent, the group kept charging in twos and threes with the intent to grab hold of Ayame. But she kept flowing around them, moving in circles before they could even get close enough to grapple her effectively. Ayame repeated this until the group starts breaking off few by few, leaving their weapons and knocked out comrades on the ground.
With that over with, Ayame nods, turning around to see the townguards lined up and scowling at her, swords and shields at the ready should she resist. With a sigh, Ayame kindly puts her damaged umbrella on the ground and raises her hands in surrender ]
Gentlemen. If it's jail that's waiting for me, so be it. I'm willing to pay fines for any damage and distress. But please, take care of the boy. He's in need of medical attention.
[ Ayame's eyes scanned the numerous eyewitnesses, who all just stood there silent. Part of her is hoping someone would come forward to tell the truth, and reduce her sentence and fine that way, but she still did get herself involved. That's gonna have some consequences whether it was in defense of someone else. ]
Action - Genessia - Public
[ Now that deal with Fayren is behind her, Ayame can go back to her place and have herself a nice dinner. But of course, this day just wants to keep throwing curve balls her way. Walking down the sidewalk, Ayame spots a delivery truck that got stuck on a ditch. Genessia is snowing today, so the driver who is frantically standing by the side of his vehicle and having an argument with the towing service via phone. Ayame stops and stares for a while, conflicted on whether to bother or not. But since this is a small matter, she feels more compelled to actually do something. Sucking her teeth and releasing a sigh, Ayame crosses the road and simply walks towards the truck while the man kept having a verbal dispute on the phone.
One hand on the truck's under-ride bumper, Ayame lifts the rear of the vehicle with no effort, taking a few steps back to free the truck's front wheels off of the ditch like she's just moving a kid's riding toy. A gentle thud afterwards, Ayame leaves with a smile and wave to the awestruck driver, who drops his phone and jaw as he watches Ayame begin to leave. But not without a few words from her ]
I suggest changing your tires to something more appropriate for winter. Please take care. Good night.
[ She bows politely, crossing the street and back to the sidewalk she was on. Once she feels eyes on her, she just returns their looks with a calm glance of her own ]
Fayren;
Should you choose to arrest this particular woman, you would be making a grave mistake in this situation. She is not the perpetrator you're after.
Fayren;
But after seeing Liam's example, the other merchants started speaking up. A couple of the whinier ones complained about how their shop got messed up in the fight, but the overwhelming majority of the bystanders were in full support of Ayame. Calling what happened "extraordinary", with a few mages confirming that no magic was used, and started applauding. If the people were content, then so is the captain. With a simple gesture, the guards and the reinforcements sheathe their swords and attend to those who were affected by the tussle, getting a stretcher for the boy. The captain nods to Liam.
"So it would seem"
Then looks to Ayame with an appreciative expression.
"You've done Fayren a good service. For that alone, I can spare you a night in the dungeon. But what business brought you in between those dastards and the boy?" ]
The boy was being forced to join their group, as a seller of illegal substances.
[ Ayame responds, straight to the point ]
I overheard their squabble at that alley. When the boy managed to have limped his way out onto this street, they followed him. That is when I have gotten myself involved.
[ The captain hums in thought, looking at both Liam and Ayame before he decides to let them go. He's really got no time and energy to deal with this.
"Very well. We shall take this matter on from here. Should you get involved in policing matters again, I will have to ask you for a fine. For now, you can help with mending the damage done here. That will be all"
The captain waves his hand, visibly exhausted despite how much he maintains his facade of being in-control. Ayame just nods and complies. It's the least she could do, she thought. So after the guard captain leaves with his men, Ayame looks to Liam ]
That went better than I thought it would be.
[ She quips, almost amused. She notices the pendant that Liam wears, bearing a different color than the one she wears around her own collar. ]
But we could have met under better circumstances.
no subject
It's almost amusing how they decide to threaten an arrest this time, and yet never get themselves involved in the other affairs that require their attention.
[Not that he's surprised. Picking on who they believe is the little guy is what Cipher expects out of humans at this point.
He glanced over his shoulder at Ayame before he turned himself fully to face her. He shook his head.]
I have met others under far worse circumstances. This is nothing.
no subject
Watching him face her, Ayame straightens herself up and gives a nod ]
Very well. I'm grateful for your support just now. Had you not intervened, I would be locked in an argument with that captain.
[ A sheepish half-smile follows. ]
Though things may just be in a flux. A new Guardian has stepped in for Fayren, and the rules may have changed.
no subject
I doubt a changing of the guard would play any part. I would not doubt that he was aiming to make an arrest, regardless of whether it was the correct one or not.
[Needless to say, he doesn't look for the good in people. Or at least, not those with some sort of power.]
But it would seem I have much to catch up on in this realm since my return.
no subject
[But then Ayame beats her to the scene, taking out those thugs with ease. Liora lets out a small sigh of relief and then watched the woman's skills in awe. But now the authorities want to arrest her for defending herself and that boy? Liora can't let that stand.]
No!
[Without even thinking, she dives from the rooftop, landing between Ayame and the guards, spreading out her arms as if to protect the woman.]
Don't hurt her! She was trying to protect the boy who was beaten by these beasts...these humans! They were the ones who attacked first!
no subject
"Is that true?" the captain asks.
Liora's intervention gave the on-lookers the courage to speak up about what they saw, with the majority of them singing praise of Ayame's act. All while Ayame stands there arms still up, looking at Liora, and feeling the heat of the spotlight on her that's beginning to make her feel slightly uncomfortable. She just wants to go home and relax. ]
Yes. I only intervened to spare the boy from further harm.
[ Ayame continued on to explain what she overheard the men say to the boy, and why they were after him. The guard captain nods, sighing and letting Ayame off with a warning should she find herself in this situation. He did ask Ayame to help out with the clean-up of the stalls that got damaged ]
Those terms are acceptable. I apologize for any distress I have caused the people of Fayren.
[ The captain replies with a few words, and nods before taking his leave. Ayame finally lowers her arms and looks to Liora. ]
Thank you, for standing up for me.
no subject
[Liora lets out a sigh of relief.]
I'm glad it didn't get any worse... I think that's the first courageous thing I've done...
[Well, beginning the Passage took a lot of courage, but this was different somehow. The idea of standing up for someone not knowing if the guards would retaliate with harsh words or violence was nerve-wracking in its own way. Perhaps it was because Liora had almost seen herself in the boy's situation, being surrounded and captured by the Beastclans, that had compelled her to defend the one who had saved the boy.]
Were they really going to punish you for defending yourself and that other person? It just doesn't seem fair...
no subject
[ First courageous thing she's done? Those words lingered a little in Ayame's mind before she sets it aside. She'll ask about it when it comes up again ]
Human societies have a lot of rules. What I did was essentially vigilante justice.
[ Ayame walks to the nearest disheveled stall, picking up a basket to return the fruits on the ground that were once in it ]
I'm not a town guard, or even a Deputy. So in the eyes of the law, it wasn't my business to intervene. And I did ruin this stall in the process...
[ She's used to the rules back in her world where that would be the case. Emotional distress and destruction of property at least. But in Fayren, it's different. While she is given a warning, that's more for show to the others to not go causing random ruckuses against these dangerous men, now that the citizens know them to be far from invincible. ]
no subject
...But how is that a bad thing? I mean, I know there are Guardians in charge of protecting the cities, but they can't be everywhere at once. We need to help each other when we can. That situation would have been far worse if you hadn't intervened.
[It wasn't like Reiko, Kitty, and Brenna had any business rescuing her in the Waterway. They only came across her by chance, and Liora is grateful that they chose to free her and take her in. Liora's not sure if she likes these laws, even if they're intended to protect the people.]
no subject
[ She took down the group's "alpha" as a way to demoralize them. But that only pissed them off more. Perhaps it's difficult to be intimidating nowadays when she's looking fancy and lost her figurative claws ]
But that's in the past now. It doesn't matter to me as long as the boy is fine, and I get to go home for dinner. I trust the new Guardian of Fayren enough to be apprehend the criminals here in due time.
[ Ayame sets the basket on the nearest rug where the shopkeep of the stall she ruined was placing their wares on. ]
How have you been? Found a place to call home yet?
no subject
[Even if that's easier said than done if one isn't trained to fight.]
I'm glad he is fine, too.
[But the last question gets her to look away slightly.]
Not really. I'm used to sleeping outside though...in the trees. I can never stay in one place, but I do like Fayren more than the other cities...
Was gonna edit out the errors in my last comment, but this is fine.
[ Ayame helps with the last bits of clean-up. She didn't have much to do since the other citizens have piled on to help her out. She gestures to them in appreciation for their help, with them doing the same. ]
I'd stay here if I can tolerate the lack of modern amenities...
[ Finally, after a small wistful sigh, she smiles softly. Ayame fixes the sling of her purse on her shoulder, which she has on with her while she fought those men. With high heels too. Speaking of things that are worn, she notices the jade disk on Liora. ]
You don't have prior business here, do you? I have money to spare, so I can treat you to something as a token of my appreciation. Besides, we haven't spoken in some time. I'd like to reacquaint.
[ She's seen Liora's network posts, but didn't get to respond to them. She couldn't think of a way to. ]
no subject
Well...I don't have anything going on. But just insects would be fine...
[Although she hasn't seen insects for sale, nor does she know if humans have ways of catching them. Liora rests her talon on her chest, accidentally brushing against the jade disk.]
Oh...thank you for this gift, by the way. It's been...comforting to wear.
no subject
[ Ayame looks away down the street and breathes a sigh of relief, gesturing for Liora to follow her, while constantly being distracted by the accolades and stares of the merchants on their way to the fish market. ]
I don't know if there are any insects for sale here. Given it is Fayren, I wont be surprised if there are some, hidden among the rest. Can't you eat anything else aside from insects?