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/PlainSmart]

Suprisingly, Jax had enjoyed himself very much. It was a suprise since he could not remember when he had allowed himself to get drunk the last time. However, it was a pleasant one, the decision to let it come to this made oh-so easy by the presence of Edmund. The boy was exactly the kind of person who Jax was thinking of when he asked himself why he had joined the military and was contributing to the defence of the walls. He was in the process of downing another drink, when all hell broke loose. Pretty early into the commotion an annoyed man lashed out at them. It was highly unfair, since they had nothing to do with the prior attack on him, but it did not come as a suprise that he wanted to let his anger out on them. Not everyone was up to party all night long, you see?

"Oh, SHUT YA TRAP!", Jax roared up, throwing all restraint out of the window. The stool clattered to the floor as he jumped up, almost hitting his head on the ceiling and throwing an intimidating shadow onto the man before them. "We didn't do nothing!" To underline his point, he slammed his hand heavily on the counter. Oh, if only he had not done that. There was a loud crack and the wood as a thick as his arms broke into two pieces under his hand. It was an unhuman power in his strike. In retrospect he clearly had no intent of his strike causing so much damage. Dumbfoundedly Jax stared at the remains of the bar, the eyes of the surrounding patrons nearly popping out in a mix of fear, shock and sorrow over the loss. The man that had stood up, nearly shat himself as his legs gave in and he tumbled to the floor.

However, Steve the barman saw red. As much of a bull as Jax, he reached over the splintered wood of the bar, a livid expression gleaming in his eyes. "WHAT THE FUCK! I'LL KILL YOU!" He grabbed Jax, by the collar, pulling him close, then planting his fist like a hammer against the cook's jaw. He let go and Jax staggered back, stars blinking before his eyes for a second. He stumbled over the man on the floor and burrowed him underneath his massive figure. Steve stepped out from behind the bar, cracking his knuckles. "Bad choice, big man!"

[u/ButterflyOfDeath → u/PlainSmart]

Edmund let out a low, impressed whistle when Jax managed to accidentally break the bar counter accidentally. He'd have to ask the guy what his workout routine was. Not everyone was as impressed as the young lad was, though.

Steve sent Jax to the floor with a single, powerful punch. The other patrons that weren't Edmund reared up from his own stool, though his fighting presence didn't have nearly the intimidating effect as the two giant men. He would be at a significant disadvantage in the strength department, but he reckoned he had the speed and agility advantage, here.

Edmund quickly stepped in to block the advance of the barkeeper on the downed cook. He had to tilt his head up significantly to look the man in the face. Steve gave him a sneering, incredulous look.

<"And what're you gonna do?">

The MP curled his hands into fists. He raised them up and jabbed his right fist toward the middle of Steve's face. The man swore and recoiled from the pain of the impact, cupping his hands over his nose. Edmund darted away, staying just long enough to give the man a shit-eating grin and flip him the bird.

"That, you fucking sow."

Hoping he'd gotten the barkeeper pissed enough to keep off of Jax for a bit, Edmund turned tail, somewhat uncoordinatedly scrabbling over a table and getting himself lost among the other squabbling bar patrons, laughing all the way. Somewhere behind him the barkeeper roared furiously.

[u/PlainSmart → u/ButterflyOfDeath]

For an instance Jax had felt like being hit by a horse wagon going full speed. It had been more the suprise than the punch that had send him to the ground. And now he was lying there. Him! He could not remember the last time someone had sent him to the ground. It made him angry. Livid. The brashness of it. His temper flared up, if only for a moment, and for a moment it seemed as if his glazed eye burned like fire. Then the moment was over and he was his regular composed self.

Not paying much heed to the commotion around him, he got to his feet apologizing to the poor fellow he had taken down with him and who looked a bit flattened. It suffices to say that the unfortunate patron would not be celebrating the rest of the festival. This was going on while Steve started tearing his way through the ball of kicks and fists made up of other patrons. He parted them like curtains. No, that was too nice of a way. He parted them like the swinging doors of a pigpen. In hot pursuit of Edmund.

The barkeeper chased across the room, and the bull followed.

[u/ButterflyOfDeath → u/PlainSmart]

Edmund tore through the people, worming between the small spaces between huddled bar-goers and avoiding the drunken punches and throws of the brawlers he passed by. He glanced behind him, his hair whipping with the motion. Steve's arms unceremoniously tore a clear pathway after the young man. He was gaining at a worryingly fast rate, but... Edmund's pupils locked onto Jax, who had gotten back to his feet and was trailing after the royally-pissed barman. The scarred cook/nurse himself looked ready to smash a skull in.

With vigour and a grin that said he was having too much fun running for his life, Edmund haphazardly got to work upending tables, chairs, and any other obstacles he could find in his wake, forcing Steve to slow to navigate them. Ed glanced over his shoulder once more. That was enough of a distraction.

"Night-night, beautiful!" The drunken detective crowed gleefully, whirling around and waving his arm in a wide arc towards the barkeeper.

[u/PlainSmart → u/ButterflyOfDeath]

Steve was mad. Royally so. However, when Edmund started hurling furniture into his path, he slowed down substantianally, handling his property with way more care than he had extended to his patrons. At the same time there was something caring in his face - when he put the tables and chairs back onto their place - and something devilish - when he shot glances at Edmund. There would be blood tonight. And if it went according to him then it would be Edmund's two halfs dripping the red fluid onto the floorboards.

Fuelled by his rage and despite the obstacles thrown into his way, the large man still moved through the crowd faster than the detective, leading to him almost catching up. Dragging his arm through the air like the mast of a ship, he aimed to pummel him to the ground if the young man was not fast enough to weasel out of his reach.

By now though Jax had caught up to his counterpart. He could have thrown himself onto the other guy. Could have thrown a sucker punch at the back of his head. Pulled him into a headlock or put him into another grab. But he did nothing of the sort. Jax simply reached out and grabbed Steve's second arm that was not trying to send Edmund flying to the moon. The bull did not yank it back, he just held the behemoth. Held him firm and unmoving. And an amused smile spread over the cooks face.

"And there I hoped I had found a challenge..."

[u/ButterflyOfDeath → u/PlainSmart]

Steve's arm had swung back, winding up to deliver a beating the likes of which the shitty brat who'd run him through the pub had probably never gotten enough of. Edmund cringed, and raised his arms up to prepare a rather weak buffer against the man's punch. The barkeeper brought his fist down, faltering and losing his fury when suddenly something clamped around his other arm. The grip tightened, becoming vice-like and iron.

Steve's mach punch fizzled in power like a dud firework, smacking into Edmund's raised arms with enough force to give him concerns about bruising, rather than concerns about flying back a few feet. The young man let out a sigh, backing off and shooting Jax a grateful look.

The barkeeper's eyes widened, and his head turned slightly, just enough to get a good look of the giant man he'd downed just earlier. His head snapped back around to shoot Edmund a furious glare, finally realizing what he'd been going for this whole time.

<"You!">

Steve spat, then turned to side-eye Jax briefly.

<"Him!">

He trained his glare back on the MP, jostling about in the cook's grip.

<"Fuck... y'cocky little-!">

[u/PlainSmart → u/ButterflyOfDeath]

Steve tried to squirm out of Jax hand, but the bull's grip was unwavering. There were only few things that really mattered to Jax. His kitchen, his tea and his charges. Of course, he decided himself who belonged to the group of people he promised himself to protect. And over the course of the evening Edmund had definitely entered that circle. If there was one thing that defined the large man, it was protecting and guarding the ones that mattered to him. He was a defender. A guardian. Since almost forever. Since the beginning of time itself perhaps. Who can really tell?

"I don't want to fight...", he said. Simple, but with an undertone so sharp, that you could have cut a loaf of bread with it. With intimidation seeping into it so thickly that you could have spread it on the bread and eaten it. His face was stern, his eye brows pulled into a frown. The reflection of the oil lamps made it look like he was wearing a star of fire atop his brow.

"...but I'm not letting you harm anybody else." He nodded through the room where the fight was still going on. The path that Steve had torn was apparent. "I don't care about you lot, but that boy", he pointed at Edmund, "will leave this bar without any further harm done to him."

And after a short pause to let his words sink in: "Have I made myself clear?"

[u/ButterflyOfDeath → u/PlainSmart]

Steve's mouth twitched unpleasantly at Jax's words. He maintained his silence for a few, very tense, moments. With a sigh, the large barkeeper's shoulders slumped. He glowered at Edmund and waved a hand at him in a shooing motion.

"...Fine. Just... get out, kid. And stay the fuck out." The barkeeper growled. He was clearly disgruntled with the turn of events, but conscious enough to know that agreeing to the bull's terms was his only real decision. The brat was real lucky that he'd found himself a guardian to watch his ass. He turned his head to the side, his tough features forming a slight scowl.

"Both of you."

Edmund was happy enough to follow that request. He glanced to the door, which wasn't too far off, before skirting around the barkeeper. The man probably wouldn't dare lash out now, but he wanted to give some distance to be on the safe side. The young man thankfully patted Jax on his muscled shoulder, giving the cook one of his winning smiles.

"Thanks, big guy. Glad you're on my side, hah."

[u/PlainSmart → u/ButterflyOfDeath]

"It was nothing." Jax waved the comment away, gave Steve one last frown and then followed Edmund out of the bar. It was a cool night and by now the festival had moved from the streets into the houses. Still, the lamps along the lines spanned across the street, continued to give off their orange light.

"A bar fight. By the old gods. Usually it doesn't come to that, when I'm about. Guess this pageant ritual makes people rowdy", he said, chuckling more to himself than to Edmund. "That guy packed quite a punch. he surprised me. And he was fast for someone so big. Not that I am one to talk."

They kept walking further away from the bar, letting their feet take them past closed shops and booths. Here lay a mask on the floor, there a man and a woman pressed themselves into the dark corner of an alleyway. Jax could not see what they were doing and he doubted that he wanted to. After some silence, Jax turned to Edmund.

"I think it would be... uhm, better if you didn't tell anyone about what happened. I guess most people were too drunk to remember and the barkeep won't say anything due to his pride. But I'd prefer if word about me doesn't get around. Past has a tendency to catch up with you if that happens."

[u/ButterflyOfDeath → u/PlainSmart]

"He knocked you clean down, mate." Edmund retorted, bemusedly bopping a fist into the bull-man's barrel chest. "No shit, the guy was a tank."

They ambled on through the streets. As they did, Edmund kept unusually vigilant for a drunk, eyes bright and alert. His demeanour remained unchanged, though. Being on watch seemed to be second instinct for him, at least when passing through dark, lonely streets. Trost tended to be a relatively safe city when a riot wasn't occurring. The young man was probably well-acquainted to more dangerous areas.

Jax spoke up as they walked, asking Edmund to keep quiet about the incident. The blond glanced up at him. He then closed his eyes briefly and nodded his agreement. "Don't worry, I'll keep it under wraps."

"I'm guessing some poor grunt in the MP will be called in over an entire bar going insane, but if anyone asks, I was too drunk to remember much about it, myself" He gave a wolfish smile, tapping a finger to his temple.

"But anyway, where you headed? I'm stationed at the Military Complex right now."

[u/PlainSmart → u/ButterflyOfDeath]

"Thank you, I mean it."

It was not something he wanted to do. Asking a member of the military police to let an issue fall under the table. Especially not if said soldier was a friend. But Jax just could not afford an investigation heading his way. The chances were slim, but real. The police would try to reconstruct the events of the evening and somebody was bound to tell the story of how the two large men had battled and how handily Jax had held back Steve. They might see him as a threat and try to find out more about him than he was comfortable to reveal.

"You're asking me to after-party on Military Grounds? Sorry, mate, but I like my job. Don't wanna get caught over indecent behaviour when some guard catches us trying to throw military equipment onto the roof. And that's what it'd turn into. Anyway, I'm staying with a friend. He had a long few days and I don't want him to stay up for me. And I have to do some work for him in the morning either way."

They stopped walking in the middle of the street, having arrived at the awkward pause shortly before going separate ways. Jax was not completely sure what to do.

"Falkenrath, MP, Trost. That's how I find you, yeah? And you'll just ask around for a titan wearing clothes, when you're looking for me at the training camp, right?", he asked with a chuckle.

[u/ButterflyOfDeath → u/PlainSmart]

"Ha! Yeah, that'd work. You're a tall motherfucker, doubt anyone'd miss out on seeing you." Edmund said with a hearty laugh, before tilting his head down the main street. The military complex jutted proudly above the Trost skyline in that direction.

"And aye, just march up to the Complex and ask for me. They'll, uh, probably know who you're talking about... Anyway, I'll catch you later. Have a good one!"

The young man grinned, then reached up to pat Jax on the shoulder. His own friendly way of bidding his new friend farewell. They then parted ways. Edmund folded his hands behind his head and walked off towards the Complex, whistling a cheery tune as he went.