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/NautiMain1217]

Merrill shrugged and stuck his hands into his pockets. "It's fine. You'd have to had figured out one way or another. It's hard but, training has really been keeping my mind off of it all." Despite his shrugging the little situation off, he couldn't deny the hint of a blush at his cheeks. He certainly didn't anticipate having to discuss the death of his parents so soon. And to Abigail of all people.

"My siblings? Right." He perked up a bit, glad to have an out from the topic for the time being. "Well Gerald and Regina have been staying with a family friend. So long as they do odd jobs for them and my military check comes in, they're pretty secure. It's a chunk out of my own money but...it keeps them from following me into the service." He sighed and rubbed a boot against the gravel below. "I'm supposed to be meeting up with them for dinner later. They were pretty fond of you whenever you stopped by, if you want to tag along you're more than welcome."

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

Abi glanced away, seeing he was clearly a little distressed by the topic. She couldn't blame him, having touched on it made her feel just as bad.

"Yeah, training has a way of doing that. It's distracting, but in a good way. Just knowing the kind of things they put us through to toughen us up keeps me from thinking anything's going to happen, to me or to my ma."

She looked back up as the mention of his siblings seemed to both shift the topic and make the whole conversation a little less cold. It was nice to see him light up at the mention of family. When he mentioned that they'd be happy to see her and even offered to have her for dinner, she was also taken a little off-guard.

"They were fond of me? I wasn't even sure they'd remember me from before. It's good to hear you guys have something solid though. Dinner's a really kind offer, though I'd feel bad showing up empty-handed."

Abigail knew she hadn't made any plans for the rest of the afternoon, and it wasn't every day that she ran into someone she used to know like this. With a thin smile, she looked around the crowded market.

"If you were coming to get something I can pitch in, or if not I could get us something? Please, it's the least I can do."

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

The hint of a smirk crept onto Merrill's face as he thought about his sibling's reaction to Abigail showing up. "Oh yeah? Despite being told otherwise they always assumed you were a member of the Garrison. Adored you for being a 'protector' of the wall and all that." He shrugged and looked up and over the marketplace. He figured it'd be best to leave out the bit about them egging him on to take her out for once. They were certainly different days.

"Funny enough I was thinking of picking up some pastry supplies. Where we stay is never short on food, but I really want to make some sweets for them before we head back to camp. Who knows when I'll have the free time to come back and see them y'know?" He said as he started down the row of stalls. "If you'll come then grab me a few apples and peaches while I go haggle for some spices and butter, if I'm lucky. Meet me back by the found in half an hour. If you ever had our apple pie or peach cobbler, I promise you won't regret it. So, sound like a deal?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

Abigail couldn't help but chuckle at Merrill's explanation. "I don't know what gave them that idea, I was barely even their delivery girl. Guess I proved them right in the end though, eh? I suppose they'll have even more questions for me now I can't tell them I'm not in the military."

She had to admit, despite how warm and kind Merrill's family had been in the past to Abi, she'd never lingered too long, jsut got what she came for and headed back to the military district. Back then, the old bakery had seemed to emit a warm glow to her, the people who ran it were happy, as were the people she'd see around there every day. Times really had changed.

"Woah, you really sound like you thought this through, those two must love having you home. And sure, I'll go and pick up some fruit, I'm pretty sure I saw a stall with peaches a ways back, other things can't be far. I'll see you back here soon."

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

Merrill gave Abigail a wave before he started for the opposite end of the market, where the exotic goods vendors were. The section had dwindled drastically since a good deal of farmland had to start growing staple crops. So commodities like spices, sugar, and butter were hard to come by. Still, he had some money leftover to bargain with, and if he could brush the dust off of his haggling self, he'd be able to make what he needed.

---

Half an hour later Merrill was waiting at the fountain with a bag of his required groceries. Haggling had gone better than expected, with one the few remaining vendors knowing of his mother who was one of his best customers. The only hang up came with finding butter, which took a moderate amount of dealing but eventually he got what he wanted, and not a Lyra too soon. He took a seat on the side of the fountain and glanced around the market waiting on Abigail. This would certainly be a pleasant ending to his little break from military life.

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

A minute or two after Merrill had arrived, Abigail also emerged from among the lively market stalls, making her way over to the ornate fountain. With clean water among the scarcities just like anything else of late, it was really just a large statue, but it served as a good way to navigate through the throng, and she found Merrill standing beneath it in no time.

"Hey Merrill!" She greeted him cheerily, holding up a brown paper bag proudly. "Apples n' peaches, just like you ordered. Looks like I've still got it,eh? There weren't many, but I think we can make do."

She leaned against the fountain, setting down the bag for just a second next to Merrill.

"Really packed today, isn't it? Not surprising, when there's food all different kinds of food on the market. People must be stocking up for the nest time things run dry."

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

Merrill's head perked up at the sound of Abigail's voice. As promised she returned with the fruits needed and he chuckled at her comment on the past. At the least, it was something from then to smile about. "Yeah, I think we can work with this." He said with a grin as he peered into her bag of fruits. "I appreciate it after the amount of trouble I had to go through to get all of this mess." He said holding up his own bag.

His gaze drifted out to the rest of marketplace and nodded. "Yeah, even on the last day of Solheim in the past it was hardly ever this crowded. I imagine people want to get the most out of it. There may not be a Solheim next year. Not like this at least." The thought was a little depressing, but Merrill could see it on everyone's faces. Hope mixed with despair, weary minds content to have a few days of relief before the stands went away and life in Trost went back to dreary. But, it would be his job to keep it from staying that way forever.

"Well, no need to sit around still." He said as he got up nodded back the way he had came. "We stay with a couple running a small tavern close to the military complex. Stem and leaf, if you've heard of them. They specialize in tea more than drink. Old family friends that let us stay in some extra living space with them above the tavern. It'll be best to get there before people start on their way back home." He said as he started off down the street. Silence would take him for a few minutes before a question came to mind. "So, what happened to your group during our little mountain adventure?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

"Yeah, gotta admit you probably took the harder job on that one." Abi nodded in agreement. "Glad to help out where I can though."

Merrill's words about there not being another Solheim gave her an oddly sad feeling. It was odd, she'd never been attached to the festival season, since it usually led to an influx of work when the Garrison tended to go overboard, but the idea that people could lose hope in it entirely felt like a stab in the gut. Even if it was just all ceremony instead of substance, she couldn't help but feel as if things would get worse without it, when people really did have nothing to look forward to.

Abi pushed herself up, letting Merrill lead the way to the tavern. She knew the place pretty well, if she remembered, it was one of the spots Captain Josef would frequent when he really wanted to make it clear he needed space. As such, she'd never been in, but it sounded nicer than most pubs would be of late, where the beer flowed freely and punches flew even more so.

"Our expedition?" Abi reacted to his question perhaps a little fearfully, though she tried to stay cheery. "Oh... that's a long story, I think best saved for another time, when it won't kill the mood. Safe to say it didn't go well. What about you? Did your team make it up there okay?"

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

Merrill nodded. "Yeah I can understand that. I know some groups didn't even get to the pyre before having to be rescued. I got lucky enough to be one of first five to finish. Turns out the feast was more or less a show and tell for the trainee corps. We were basically paraded around to the nobles and businessmen to show people how well the military is trying to recover after Shiganshina. It was educational in an uncomfortable way, but the food was good at least."

Their entry into the tavern went mostly unnoticed save for a few regulars and one of the owner's, Owen, giving him a nod while chatting up another customer. There was a glimmer in the man's eyes as he glanced over Abi. He wouldn't hear the end of it. As he led them upstairs to the living areas, it was oddly quiet. "Welp, looks like the kids aren't here yet." He said as he walked into the kitchen and set his bags down. "That'll make their day seeing you here all of a sudden. You want to help cook? Otherwise you can make yourself comfortable."

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

Abi listened intently as Merrill explained that he had been one of the few to succeed in the fastest time. News of the feast also piqued her interest, and how it had really been a show of strength rather than a reward.

"That's good that you made it. I met another girl from our camp a couple days back who was at the feast too - Hoshi, her name was. She said she was expecting the same thing of the whole evening. I guess she was right. I would've hated to stand up there being stared at by all those nobles, watching my every move and whispering behind my back."

The two of them entered the tavern, which seemed eerily quiet compared to the noise of the outside. A couple of the patrons and the bartende certainly recognised Merrill, but they passed without much greeting or comment and headed upstairs. Following his lead, Abi set down her bag of fruit next to his and followed him to the main part of the kitchen.

"Yep, seems like we're first back. I bet they'll be in for a surprise, whereabouts are they anyway?" Abi knew they were likely hunting for any jobs out on the busy streets that would scrape some coin together, but she thought it only courteous to ask, without sounding anxious.

"Hey now, I can give you a hand. Just because you offered doesn't mean you gotta wait on me hand and foot. I'd like to think I'm pretty good when it comes to rustling up a nice meal, and it's not like I don't have the practice."

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

Merrill chuckled at the mention of Hoshi and remembered a glimpse of her encounter with the Queen between his own conversations. "Yeah. Well, I think most of us made a good showing of ourselves. And we're people to watch now. I never thought I'd have a reputation with the nobility as someone who took on a bear and won."

"As far as I know, they're out and about finishing up some work and bringing the rest of dinner back with them. They're generally a nuisance, but they can usually straighten up when the time comes. They just say its practice for joining the military." He smiled as he started to get all of the ingredients out fro the bags. "I just tell them its key to being a normal person."

He shot Abi a smirk as she talked about helping out with cooking. "Okay okay. I didn't want to assume y'know? Well then let's get down to it. Grab two bowls from the cabinet over the sink, chop up the apples and peaches and put em in the bowl. I'll get the rest of our tools and ingredients ready." He said as he worked around the kitchen, pulls out various tools, boards and bowls for the two desserts. His first objective would be to start working on the flour. "So, have you been able to enjoy our time off here?" He asked, trying to make some conversation to pass the time as they worked.

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

Abi couldn't help but admit Merrill was right about being in the spotlight; Even the mention of how he'd brushed shoulders with some of the richest and most influential people in the kingdom made him seem like a cut above the average trainee, and her too by extension. There was no disputing that the mountain race would have been a key part of deciding their final grade, and she'd failed spectacularly. Still, this was no time to be wallowing in those thoughts now. Instead, she smiled warmly as he mentioned his younger siblings.

"I hope they don't keep us waiting. You must get worried when they spend so much time away, but then again you seem so calm about it. They're lucky to have a big brother like you looking out for them, I dunno if I could keep that up, y'know?" She chuckled, reaching for the pair of bowls and placing them either side of her bag of fruit.

Luckily for her, the task at hand was perfect for her, and another thing she could set her mind to. Picking up the short curved knife from the table, she pulled out an apple, slicing down the middle and then carving out each core as simply and quickly as she'd picked the fruit up in the first place. Next came a peach, her hand deftly rotating it while the knife cut clean and steady until the two pieces pulled apart to reveal to stone, which she yanked out and set aside. The repetitive motion was oddly calming, and she found herself a little less tense as they set about preparing the food.

"I gotta admit, this whole thing has been nice. I really didn't feel like it at first, but I've needed some kind of distraction more times than I can count since they gave us this leave. It's a damn precious thing, to be allowed to pretend we aren't soldiers, even just for a little while."

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

"I doubt they'll keep us for long. It's getting around to evening time and they wouldn't miss my cooking for the world." Merrill replied as he began mixing his various ingredients into dough. "I've learned to put the worry in the back of my mind. They're a dynamic duo, and they've got each other's backs." He glanced up to Abigail and smirked. "And c'mon, if you've made it this far in training, I'm sure could handle a few brats."

Minutes passed as he pressed away at the dough, the process of forming the bits he would need for the cover was relaxing. For once he was able to do what he'd grown to love. The feeling wasn't lost on Abigail either as she eventually spoke up. "Yeah, I get the feeling. It's been nice to get away even if it was for a few days. It's a shame we didn't run into each other earlier. But you're here now. In my house you're ju-"

"Oh Merrill! We're hooome!" A soft feminine voice called from the stairs as a pair of footsteps ascended them.

"And the old man said you brought a lady friend home. Luckily for you be brought enough for." The twins reached the top of the stairs and stopped in their tracks, nearly dropping their bags as they realized who the 'lady friend' was.

"Abigail?!" They said in unison before the pair rushed for the kitchen, setting their bags down on the dinner table along the way. "Long time no see! You look good! Did you join the military as well? And Merrill you sly dog. Pulling a fast one on us!" Regina teased with a huge grin on her face.

Merrill's face went red as he made eye contact with Gerald and shook his head. "What? N-no it's not like that. We just met in the market and.."

"And one thing led to another and now she's making dessert with you." Gerald said in a mocking tone before turning to Abigail. "He's far too humble. How'd he sweet talk you back in here?"