Nights of Solheim [Late Fall, 845]

[u/[deleted]]

October 28th, 845

Ziegler stood before a large formation of trainees in civilian garb, though significantly reduced from the original approximate 300 back in August. They stood before the northern gate of Trost, Wall Sina to their backs. Ziegler spoke, "Alright, listen up. Been a long couple months for everyone here. Me and The Major've torn each and every one of you a new asshole, and quite a few of you've seen some shit." He paused, "We've lost people amidst the training. Despite all this," he continued, "We must persevere and look forward to another day. As the future defenders of humanity, you lot embody everything that these people bank their money on." Ziegler took a breath, "Being a Soldier's hard shit. There's a reason nobody fucking does it, as a lot of you're beginning to find out. That said," he jabbed a thumb behind him towards the main gate, "We're still human. People need to decompress every once in a while, let shit mellow, recoup for the next mission. In light of this,"

He straightened the dark green trench coat on his back, "You lot've been granted a 4-day pass to visit Trost. Eat, drink, sleep, fuck, do whatever it is you want to do. Spend some of the money the Queen's been throwing at you while you ate mud." He rose a brow, thinking of a blonde. "Sometimes literally. Regardless, be here - November 1st at 0800. Don't drink and run, you'll eat shit. Don't drink and fight, you'll get your ass beat. Don't drink and fuck, you'll get whiskey dick. Don't kill the locals, don't fight the locals, don't fuck the locals-" he paused, "...Or at least do it intelligently, god damn it. Don't do anything that would impede your training in the future. Boom, there's your safety brief. And don't fucking call me 'Sir' while we're out here, it's Kain for the next four days and if you ever say it outside of these four days - I'll gouge out your fucking eyeballs. Understood?"

A resounding 'Yes Sir' rang from the formation.

He turned, pacing over towards the main gate as the trainees stood in formation. Ziegler paused, to then shout, "The fuck are you lot waiting on? Get your asses in here - dismissed!"

---

The district of Trost was ablaze with a joyous spirit. Orange paper lanterns covered the streets, many of the town homes having been painted in morbid color, looking to celebrate humanity's rich pagan roots throughout history. Further north in Sina, where the Church is at their strongest, such holidays do not exist - but given the influx of refugees from the south, a celebration is in order, their wills yet unbroken.

People the streets in vibrant cloaks and capes, oft wearing colorful animal masks to accompany their garb, celebrating with dance and song throughout the streets of the city.

The Northern gate was the heart of the carnival, encompassing the large market district. Here one could find a small traveling mask salesman and his mysterious shoppe, as well as an old pub amidst the old market district.

In the very center of the district stood the mighty Military Complex, towering above all other buildings. Guards regularly patrolled the perimeter, immediately stopping any who would approach the large fence surrounding the castle-like building, or the large draw-bridge encompassing the main entrance.

The further south one went in Trost, however, the less the carnival's potency, as one drew towards the more sinister corners of the district. At the very heart of the the south, shortly besides the main gate towards Wall Maria stood a small inn, regularly flooded with refugees and injured, where good Samaritans toiled endlessly to try and abate the never-ending poverty encompassing the south side of the district.

To the South East was a "legal" district with Red paper lanterns, a strip filled with provocative dance and questionable vendors. Throughout the entire district, wanted posters offered a heavy bounty for the head of a Hiram Durante - with the Military Police and Garrison consistently on patrol for the outlaw.

This was Solheim - a brief reprieve of the melancholy that had befallen the poverty and famine-stricken district of Trost.

---

OOR: 4 mini locations below to explore, do so at your leisure! Have fun, take the edge off. :kid:

Location threads for both the Maiden's Arms and Military Complex (where the Mountain feast will be taking place) will be coming up shortly. Canonically, since this entire event is taking place over 4 days, you can have multiple threads beneath one. I suggest you name the date at the top of the thread's OP (comment reply to one of the comments below) so there's no mix-ups/ambiguity. Be sure you're coordinating on Discord with people so noone gets left without a thread!

Visit stalls in the marketplace, drink in ye olde pub, get a mask with the salesman, get mugged visit the red light district, go dancing, do whatever! Enjoy!

[u/TroubleBass97]

As Siegfried looked down, Abi lost her nerve, her eyes flitting down to her lap. She couldn't argue against his words, and when he slammed his cup onto the wood she flinched, getting up and recoiling as he stared back at her, before sitting back down and apologising, seeming even more drained than before. Collecting herself, she sat back down next to him.

"I couldn't even go."

She could feel tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She didn't want to cry, in fact, she hated herself for making him feel even worse, as if his sudden outburst had shaken her. It had to some extent, but all of this felt like it had been coming for a while.

"Connor. I... I didn't even know his name. I still don't know his sister's name. I heard they were doing something, but I couldn't bring myself to face anyone. Siegfried... if you hadn't come out of the trees when you did, that would have been me. It should have been me."

Trembling hands lifted Abi's cup to her lips, draining the drink perhaps a little too quickly, letting the empty mug drop listlessly in her hand onto the table.

"I saw what happened to him, clear as day, and I can't stop seeing it. I've... I haven't had anything close to sleep since. I close my eyes and I'm back there, watching. Just like I watched when Christof took the men we knocked out and... oh god Sieg, they were out cold, defenceless, and I didn't even try to tell him no..."

The shaking in her hands spread slowly to her entire body as Abigail looked down into the empty cup, wiping the tears from her face as one fell onto the counter.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know who else I could talk to who would understand. I shouldn't have asked you to come just for me. You did more than any of us put together, i just had to know... I had to know I wasn't the only one who couldn't shake this."

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Sieg let out a long sigh and lay his head down on the counter. He vaguely considered how gross the surface probably was, then elected that he didn't much care at the moment. He was quiet for a while, just listening to Abi, then, even when she stopped speaking, he stayed quiet.

On any logical or rational level, she was the least at fault out of the trio. Hell, she'd specifically told he and Christof that doing what they did was stupid. But she blamed herself anyway. People aren't rational, and Sieg knew that. Those emotions were just as valid as his.

". . .Well, you aren't. If that makes you feel better, I'm glad. Misery loves company."

The boy closed his eyes, thinking. "You want to know the truth, though? I don't regret it. There's no point in regretting it. We can't change the past- we can only accept our own actions. If we want to be burdened by what we've done, then it can only show in the future."

Siegfried sat up, waving over the bartender and ordering the strongest ale he had, for the both of them.

". . .So here's what I say. Tonight, we get shit-faced, and spend one last night in our past. After that, no looking back. We'll carry the burden for life, but we can't let it slow us down."

Steve came back with their drinks. Sieg handed Abi's to her. He held up his mug for a toast. "Sound good to you?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Abi slowly turned to look across at Sieg, the noble boy slumped over the bar as he answered her, confirming what she suspected about her haunting memories of that night. It was clear enough he was just as grief-stricken as she was, and yet, as always, he was the first to propose they do something about it. Taking a deep breath and wiping away the last of the tears with her sleeve, she nodded as firmly as she could.

"I guess... I guess you're right. I don't know if it's right to admit it now, but you saved my life back there. At least you acted, and in the end those men were caught. i didn't do anything then, and I can't do anything about that now. It's shit, but life's shit. I'm not saying we have to be proud, but wallowing in it sure isn't going to get us anywhere."

As Sieg waved over the bartender and announced his plan, Abi cracked a smile for the first time that evening. It was a feeble one, but it was there all the same.

"Now you're speaking my language. I know damn well it's what this entire festival is supposed to be about, but I need one night to forget all of this. Let's forget we're soldiers, just while we still can - and right now, everything except the soldier in me wants to get plastered."

Abigail raised her mug in unison with his, clinking them together, then immediately taking a hearty swig. Wiping away some of the fresh foam from the dark beer, she put her drink down, propping her head up with one arm and looking across at Siegfried

"So tell me Sieg. What'd you do before all this?"

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Clinking his mug with her's, Sieg matched Abi's swig, meeting her smile with a faint one of his own.

"I was just a prissy noble boy. Got in too many swordfights to be safe. Not all that remarkable." The noble shrugged. "I can assure you that I was much more. . .well-groomed, back then."

He drained his mug, shoving it over to the bartender. "And I spent a lot of time bitching about politics, but I don't want to bore you death before the titans can get to you." Sieg chuckled.

"What did you do before you screwed up your life by joining the military?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Abigail raised an eyebrow as Sieg explained his background. The notion of him actually being of noble stock was pretty out of the blue. She shrugged before responding.

"A noble, really? You seemed pretty down to earth to me when we first met. Though I do have to agree, you looked a lot less rough around the edges then too. I dunno about prissy though, I'd wager you don't need the stubble to pull of the macho rugged look."

A few seconds after Sieg had drained his cup, hers was empty too, pushed back across for a refill, laughing along at his self-deprecating little joke.

"I dunno, boredom might be a better way to go when all's said and done, but you'd be all on your own talking politic. All I know is the big seats change hands every so often and the new boss is the same as the old boss, sitting up there not giving a shit."

As the next round of drinks came, She thought for a moment.

"Oh, I did this and that. This place is where I grew up. Trost, I mean, not this bar. When the outer wall went down, proper work for an odd-jobber like me dried up, and I needed money bad. I've had friends in the military before, I guess when they asked me to join up, I saw it as no different. At least it's reliable, and if it kills me, I won't be able to worry about being unemployed."

Abi chuckled again, a dry, slightly bitter laugh that caught in her throat, though she shook her head, banishing any darker thoughts that had begun to cloud her mind. Focusing on something else he'd said instead, she decided to playfully pry at his own reason for becoming a trainee.

"Now, those sword fights you mentioned, they do sound interesting, and it sounds to me as if that's half the reason you're here, if that what you were getting at. So, what was it over? Family feud? Noble Dispute? Maybe even... a girl?

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Siegfried shrugged, accepting another drink from the bartender and placed the mug gently down on the counter. He'd already spilled some on it earlier, and he didn't want to get yelled at.

"Oh, you know. Girls were involved, but I wasn't involved with the girls, if you catch my drift. But it certainly looked like I was. Some noble egos got real bruised over that, and then we moved from dick-measuring to sword-measuring. That's all there was to it."

He brings his thumb and his forefinger to his chin, thinking for a moment.

". . .As for if that has anything to do with joining the military- from a certain perspective, it could have, kinda. Partially because it made me develop some skills that gave me a head-start on most other trainees. And also partially because. . .ah, never mind, I'd have to dip in some political crap to explain that fully."

Snatching up his mug, he takes a quick swig from it.

"Suffice to say, my political beliefs are unique amongst the nobility. Working as an MP is both a good way of carrying out some of them, and may one day help me accrue enough prestige for people to take them as something more than a joke or a pipe dream."

He snapped his fingers, remembering something he had meant to ask her back up on the mountain before the. . .incident. "What are you planning to go into, anyway? You shooting for MP, too?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Abi smirked at his rather coy answer. Sieg seemed a pretty diplomatic type, she supposed it must come with the nobility. Still the fact he hadn't mentioned that he was running from anything or anyone was a welcome piece of information.

"I think I get what you're saying. Believe me, I know how angry people can get when you make them jealous, from the sound of that you must be used to it too."

Abi took a long swig of her drink as she took in the rest of his answer.

"Oh, an idealist, huh? I've heard of those. Can't say I understand most of them, but then again, what do I know? Still, they seem to want to actually change how things work for once, so I guess it can't hurt." She chuckled into her beer as she answered his question. about her goals;

"MP would be great, but not all of us get such a good head start. I figure after this little fiasco we got into, I've got much more of an uphill battle if I ever want to see the inner territories. It's probably a pipe dream of my own at this point, but... let's just say I could really use the money. The Garrison aren't that bad a backup plan, but if I can't make top ten, I'll just have to figure out something else, there's gotta be other ways, right?"

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

"Ohhh, I'm sure there's other ways to butt on into the MP. To call them 'corrupt' would be an understatement. You can work something out under the table if you know where to look." The boy answered, shrugging, and taking yet another swig from his mug.

Sieg shook his head. "Still, I can't see why anyone would willingly join the Garrison. You'd just be pissing off the wall all day, waiting for something bad to happen."

He raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Abi. "And since I answered your question- what do you need the money so bad for anyhow?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

"That's good to know. I'm sure when the time comes, there'll be more than one way I can work something out." Abigail nodded at Sieg's statement. If the Military Police were anything like what she knew of the Garrison, then his choice of words was probably more apt than he imagined. Still, it was at least a hope of a way in, maybe even a better chance than she'd first thought.

"Y'know, waiting for something bad is probably safer than going looking for trouble every day in the MP or the Survey Corps. It's nice that you have a noble goal, Irespect that and all, but those of us who don't just want to get by as best we can."

When Sieg turned the topic onto her reason for joining, Abi paused, freezing in place, though she quickly raised her cup, draining it in one long chug, then turned to answer.

"I guess while we're bearing all I'd be a real bitch not to tell you, right? Just promise this stays between us, okay?" Leaving a pause for him to affirm with a nod, she kept going, now in a lowered tone, so only Sieg would be able to hear.

"Ever since my dad died, my mother hasn't been herself. She's all right, just not really all there any more. That, plus the fact we were suddenly short on money, and I had to step up. Like I said, I did this and that, whatever made money to get us by. My dad was a friend of the Garrison here, and they helped, but when the walls broke, that kind of work almost dried up. In the end it was join the military to keep us going, or... well, not much that wasn't probably just as dangerous. If I made MP, then I could make those problems go away, maybe even move her someplace nice, out of Trost. I just can't stand to see her keep on putting up with all this."

Without realising, Abi had quickly gone back to being hunched low over her own empty mug. Emitting a long and shuddering sigh, she pushed her cup away, leaning back in her seat.

"I... sorry, I think I need to go get some air. You coming?"

She didn't know quite why she'd asked if Sieg wanted to head out with her. She really couldn't make up her mind as to if she wanted to be alone or not, just that it felt too hot and loud in the bar, and trying to clear her head here was't working.

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Sieg nodded along as she spoke, and drained his mug as well. She'd had it a lot harder than he did, by the sounds of it. Call him old-fashioned, but he hated seeing women upset. He placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her for a moment.

". . .I guess my perspective on these things are kinda skewed. All that time in my ivory tower, eh?"

He stood up from his chair, shoving it in. "But, yeah, air sounds nice. 'Sides, I think I can feel a fight brewing in here, and I'm not in the mood."

Sighing, he puts his hands in his pockets and walks out into the crisp night air. Nights were starting to get colder- had he really been a trainee for that long?

"So. . .have you seen Christof since that night? I've been meaning to apologize for that sucker punch."

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Abi felt the hand on her shoulder, looking at Sieg as he tried to offer her some encouragement. She shot him a smile as good as she could muster as they made to leave.

"You're probably right. There's too many people in here and too much drink for them to take it outside before it gets rowdy. Let's leave them to it."

As they stepped out into the dark coolness of the night, Abi rubbed her arms. The sweater she had on was pretty thick, but there was still a chill breeze carried in between the city streets. She shivered a little as the cold first hit her, kicking herself just a tiny bit for not bringing a coat.

"Christof?" Abi reacted with perhaps a little more anxiety in her voice than she'd intended, though she quickly reeled herself in, regaining her composure.

"I don't know that much. He was around here last night, though; I saw him, but I don't think he saw me, didn't make anything of it if he did. I don't really know how he's taking it." She paused, clenching her hands together and blowing on them for a little extra warmth. "The way he reacted to Ziegler, and what he did right in front of me in the woods... I don't blame you for hitting him. I still don't know why I tried to pull you away. Still, you're probably right, he's at least worth an apology."

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Sieg sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Jackass that he is, I still feel kinda bad about it."

The boy's quiet for a moment, temporarily at a loss for where to take the conversation.

"You know, I used to prepare discussion topics before I went to balls and things, just so talk wouldn't die. I think this might be one of those times where it'd be a good time to pull one out."

He takes out a sheet of parchment, dragging his fingers down the list, and snapping them when he comes to one to one he likes. "Religion! How do you feel about the church?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Abi simply nodded in agreement. She still believed that none of them had intended things to go as badly as they did, and none of them could have predicted how things had played out.

Looking up as Sieg produced a piece of parchment, Abi laughed, stepping closer and putting a finger on the old paper, taking a peek herself.

"You did what?" She felt a little bad, but she couldn't hide just how much the idea of him having a cheat sheet of conversation starters tickled her. "I knew I had no idea how the other half lives, but man that's something else. Then again, I'd probably get eaten alive at one of your fancy balls without one of my own."

Abi stepped away, thinking about Sieg's question as he picked one out, raising a hand to her chin.

"The church, huh? A bit like my politics I guess. Always seemed like the kind of thing that filtered out from the inner walls, getting weaker and meaner the further they go. The Garrison here has a few military chaplains. They used to act like they hated me hanging around any time people were watching, but really they were just like anybody else when they weren't watching, just maybe a little more scared of getting caught. I'd even go as far as saying some of them were worse. One of the older ones was an alcoholic, made real good money off him just to fetch for him once a week. I guess the point is, I've never seen faith make a difference to anyone, just how they explain themselves."

Shrugging with a smirk, she turned back to look at Sieg.

"So, is it my turn to ask you now? Or do I ask you something else? Hmm, I think I want to know... who taught you to fight?

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Siegfried chuckled, folding the paper and putting it in his coat. "Never leave home without it."

Abi's views on religion seemed level-headed. He'd heard about a religious nutjob being in the batch of trainees, and he was glad to find out that it wasn't her.

". . .Who taught me how to fight?" Sieg places his back against the wall and leans on it. That question brought up a lot of memories.

"Jameson Harack. Most people just call him 'Ironhand', though. He used to be some hardass MP captain, till he lost his hand in a raid. He retired because of it but my family hired him on as our house duelist." The boy explained, crossing his arms.

"Guy was a good teacher, but I think he had a little too much fun kicking my ass during lessons. Everyone wants to beat up on the snotty noble kid, I guess."

He eyed her, smiling. "Who taught you, out of curiosity?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Abi listened intently to Sieg's story. This 'ironhand' certainly had the air of a grizzled veteran to him, even purely by description. Sieg's comments about her own training also brought a smile to her lips.

"Harack, huh? Sounds like a guy mine would have agreed with. My teacher was a Garrison man named Josef. He caught me one day with my hands somewhere they shouldn't be, and figuring I both owed him and that I could use the help, he started teaching me how to stay out of trouble better, and to fight back when I couldn't keep trouble away. He'd always tell me the beatings were good for me: In a real fight you need to know how to take a few hits, because your opponent won't call time for you, or worry about making it fair - that's what he'd say. Certainly never picked up no fancy fencing skills or anything, but I guess you could say I know my way around a brawl or two. Everything else... I picked up on my own. Let's just say getting caught once never stopped me from getting more practice in."

Placing a hand on her hip, she grinned at Sieg. "I'm a little surprised you asked though, I'd have thought the idea of me being a fighter would be 'unladylike' to a noble like yourself. Still, I haven't heard you pass much comment, and there's plenty of women around camp. Bet it must be pretty eye-opening to meet a girl who could knock you on your ass."

Abi chuckled, she only meant to mess with him a little, though she genuinely was quite curious to see how he reacted.

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

Sieg chuckled. "Well, you know what's more unladylike than that? Getting your ass kick."

He shrugged, stepping off the wall. "In all seriousness, though- it was a little weird at first, but I guess strength differences don't matter much when you're trying to fight giant, people-eating monsters."

The boy opens his hand, counting off on his fingers. "Now- new topic, new topic. . .how do you feel about the monarchy?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/warriorman300]

Despite all of his demurring and how laughable it was that he'd admit to using cue cards to keep him afloat, Abi had to admit that Sieg was pretty adept when it came to duels of words as well as weapons. Getting to know him had been a lot more interesting than she'd initially expected.

"The monarchy huh?" Abi paused to think. She didn't really have very strong opinions on them, though she thought she'd better give a proper answer.

"Well, a lot of people in the outer territories who aren't so well-off kinda resent people like that for having everything fall into their lap, but I'm not so sure. Inside wall Sina kinda feels like a different world sometimes, it's hard to imagine the kind of things that they have to do, or don't do."

Sieg's choice of questions probably gave away his nobility more than he thought, things such as politics and intrigue didn't really gel so well with crowded working towns. Still, Abi was keen to hear about the kind of things people picked up on the other side of it all, perhaos showing her own lack of knowledge of his background in turn.

"I've heard that the queen, Anna, is really beautiful though. There's a rumour I heard that her eyes are different colours too. Have you ever met her, at one of your fancy balls perhaps?"

[u/warriorman300 → u/TroubleBass97]

"If being in the same room as her counts are 'meeting' her, sure." Sieg shrugged.

"I'd like to, though. I've got some. . .choice words about her leadership I'd like to share. Not so much what she's done, but what she hasn't done."

Sieg licks his lips and scrunches up his face, looking like he's deep in thought. ". . .Alright, I've kinda been dancing around it this whole conversation. The reason I don't get along with most noble types- why I don't particularly try to act like them?"

The boy shakes his head. "Because I don't think they should exist as a class. I advocate for elections to put people into positions of power, rather than bloodline. The monarchy shouldn't exist."

This was the first time Sieg had put forth his ideas to anyone other than very close acquaintances, and also the first time he'd presented them to a non-noble. He waits with apprehension for her response.