[Open, Major Event] 12 June 2066

[geistnet]

Over the course of the last week, you'll have likely noticed the buzz and excitement that's been building all around Metro Manila -- if you've been around awhile, you know what time of the year it is. If you're new: well, this is an experience you're sure to enjoy.

The festive mood surrounding Philippine Independence Day is hard to miss. Wander around the metropolis and you'll note that the streets are filled with tourists and locals; turn one corner and you'll see parades, turn another and you may be treated to performances set up on strategically placed stages.

As for Falner, the colors of the Philippine flag seem to be everywhere you look: the kids who live or study at the estate are mostly running around with their faces painted. If you wander down towards the Fair Grounds in the South District, there are a couple of booths set up offering anything from body paint and temporary tattoos to local delicacies. West District establishments The King's Rest and Liquidated also have special treats aligned with the theme of the day. There's also talk about the annual street party which will be held over at the Baywalk later this evening, and the younger initiates are abuzz over the yearly light show held over Manila Bay that showcase reenactments of all the major battles all the way up to the Darkest Vigil.

Independence Day is also not all that's being celebrated, because for Keepers of the Vigil and supernatural communities all over the world, today marks the second anniversary of Arcis Fortress City.

OOC NOTES FOR PLAYERS

Don't forget to mention in the subject heading if your threads are OTA (Open to All) or Closed, and the time in which the exchange takes place. Feel free to make a top-level comment of your own if none of the placeholders fit. For details on each of the locations found at the Falner Estate, here is a handy link!

Comments

[icarusalsoflew]

[ It's becoming harder, these days, to not wince a little when you pull the titles. It might be because it's difficult for him to view you as just one of his men, or even as a child he's taking care of until you're ready to stand on your own two feet. ]

There's an interesting story on why Rilea made it that way.

[lyall]

[ 'Rilea'. The Lady among the Kings with the hair like flame. ]

Will you share the story with me, my King?

[ Listening to you speak, never mind if she can follow what it is you say or not, is always a pleasure. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

Of course.

[ He'd give you the world if he could, but something tells him that you wouldn't take it the way that he hopes you would. ]

2012 was a bad year for Netsach. We were lost and alone in a pretty scary world.

[ It's best to start there, of course. ]

[lyall]

[ She's shifting around to face you properly. She's blinking as well, curiosity in her eyes.

'Lost' and 'alone' are words that make sense to her, even if she cannot imagine you feeling such given how surrounded you are by those around you. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[ Smiling down at her, and reaching down to tuck your hair behind your ear. ]

We had just left the Methuselah. They weren't out to destroy us, but... let's just say that they were different back then. Their cause was not our cause anymore, especially after some of the things they did to our own.

[ Himself included. ]

Rolled Intelligence + Composure for recall = 0 Successes (Dramatic Failure: 1, 4, 5, 1, 1)

[lyall]

[ She's trying to remember if she heard 'Methuselah' before, she really is, but all she's drawing up are blanks.

She's a little apprehensive to voice that out loud though, so she'll focus instead on the cadence of your voice... maybe she'll remember as you continue with the story.

( Were they another kingdom? If it was another kingdom, that... but don't the Kings spend most of their time here? She feels bad now. ) ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[ He's pausing, though, and watching those thoughts flicker over your face and around your Pattern. ]

Do you remember Elias? Tala's husband.

[ He had visited the Lightless Lands a few days after Lyall had arrived. ]

[lyall]

[ She's blinking up at you at that before nodding mutely.

She remembers Lady Tala's husband -- Lord Tagabigay, the Peacemaker. He was such a contrast to her King's first daughter, a man of quiet and warm smiles. She liked him. Especially when he addressed you as 'brother'. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

He's the one who heads the Methuselah now, little one. And Aidan used to head it before he gave it up to other people. This proved to be a mistake in the long run, for the people he trusted turned against us.

[ He hesitates for a moment, but he's never been one to lie to you. ]

Against me.

[lyall]

[ Against... you?

Forgive her if she takes a while to reply. Her brows are knitting together, there's a downturn to the corners of her mouth. ]

Then it is true that Lord Tagabigay is a kind man. I would not be so kind if I were in his place.

[ It is true that all she had known under the old masters was suspicion of others, of acts of kindness. But it has been nearly six moons since you walked into her life and she is learning that the people allied with you are different. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

You and I both.

[ In some matters, anyway. ]

We formed Netsach together with other Keepers who were disillusioned by what the Methuselah - and, subsequently, the Vigil - had become. Later, after defeating Nyx, Rilea decided to make this fountain as a constant reminder of the solidarity between the Malice Kings. We view each other as family and fight for each other in the same way that we hope all blades of Netsach will. We would also like to show everyone within our ranks that we're always watching.

[ For better or for worse. ]

[lyall]

[ Her eyes are going to stray back to that statue now, look over each of those replicas and smile. If she lingers on your replica for a little bit longer than the rest... well.

( There's a quiet wistfulness to the way she does, by the way. You mentioned 'family' and 'fight for each other'. She does not know if she will find people such as that. She is content as she is to be one of yours, to have the honor of serving you and those you love. ) ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[ Observing her yet again, and noting the look on her face. He knows her thought process pretty well. ]

This place can be home for you, you know. Many of these people can be like family.

[lyall]

[ She's looking over at your voice, it doesn't take much really, on your part to prompt the light in her eyes to shine.

When you mention though that others can be like family... the light in those eyes dim. ]

But my place is with you, my leige.

[ ...isn't it? ]

[icarusalsoflew]

You can be with me and be with other people at the same time, Lyall. Besides, sometimes serving me also means getting better.

[ Being less broken.

But he can't communicate that to you effectively just yet, can he? Maybe when you're a little older. ]

[lyall]

[ There's that moment of '...oh' on her face before she's nodding contritely.

'Getting better'. She's already thinking along the lines of getting stronger and learning more. She has seen the junior oni-tsukai and how skilled they are, how disciplined and elegant. Some of them are her age, others, younger; but they are all well-versed in the ways to aptly serve you. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[ Have a reassuring hand running through your hair again. ]

You don't need to rush it, but I do hope that you don't keep to yourself forever.

[lyall]

[ And her shoulders relax when you do that, even if she is not quite sure what it is that she can answer in response to your words.

( You are her everything, you see, even if she was simply one of many at the time. You liberated her from a life of suffering that could have only ended with death and gave her the freedom to choose to serve willingly. ) ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[ That's enough for him, at least for now. ]

Have you gone around the grounds today? There's a lot to see right now.

[lyall]

[ She shakes her head up at you, once she turns her eyes shyly back to yours.

She isn't showing any indications of moving though. She will go where you go, stay where you stay. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[ Making an amused sound, and then reaching out to tweak her nose. ]

You should go. If you stay with me, you won't get to see anything.

[ Since he intends to hunker down until more pressing matters drag him off, if anything even comes around at all. ]

[lyall]

[ That gesture makes her blink and she finds herself staring at your hand a little longer than expected. When she turns her eyes back to yours though: ]

It is alright, my King. I would like to stay.

[icarusalsoflew]

Did we not just have a conversation about being with other people?

[ Gently, Hikaru Shinta. This isn't about making her feel useless, or that she isn't doing enough. This is about teaching her the right way. ]

[lyall]

[ You did. She just thought it didn't have to be Right Now. ]

Yes, my King.

[ Soft and contrite. She did not mean to insist.

She's picking herself up now, chin tucked a little and eyes turning to you before she awkwardly mimics the bows that the junior oni-tsukai have done in your presence. ]

Is... is there anywhere that you wish me to go?

[icarusalsoflew]

I want you to go wherever you want to go. Satisfy your curiosity.

[ Smiles. ]

Tell me all about it when we see each other again.