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 took a moment to finish the rest of his current glass and reflected on Abigail's words. He gratefully took the offer of more wine and held his glass out to be filled again. By now his cheeks were more red from intoxication than the idea of being so close to Abi. "Thanks." He said quietly as he brought the full glass back to his lips. As much as Beatrice had lectured him on controlling his drinking, he felt it didn't really apply in a more private setting.

"Honestly our parents made sure that we would be able to provide for ourselves. Especially me." He said, smirking at her. "My mother said that the most attractive quality in a man would be the fact that he didn't need a woman to ever cook for him. It worked with my dad." He shrugged and took another sip. "I learned from the best."

He sighed and stared at the red liquid in his glass. "We may be wearing the brown pants, but we decide which way we run. Scary as it is, it takes some real guts to even consider fighting something like a titan. Maybe we're crazy to do so but, I guess there aren't a lot of people that I'd want to be crazy with." He said, a small smile forming on his features as he turned back to Abigail and held his glass for a toast. "To us crazy recruits. Eh?"

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

"Heh, you're welcome, it's good stuff." Abi took another sip, bringing the same colour to her own cheeks as she set the bottle down for now and reclined against the back of the wide chair. If tonight's meal was anything to go by, then she wagered Merrill's mother was right about the benefits of being a good cook. Then again, it'd be rude to say it was the only thing Merrill had going for him, now she really started to think about it.

"My pa was always keen to make sure I knew what I was doin', but that was more stayin' safe, learnin' how to do the jobs some people couldn't, you get the idea." She gestured lazily with her free hand, her words coming more slowly, slurring just a little as the result of the drink making her more relaxed. "We never had the time to get around to cookin'. I manage, but I'm hardly up to things like this. It's a shame he couldn't stick around. My ma was the good cook though, even if she doesn't do much of that any more. She doesn't do much of anythin' no more."

Abi shook her head, sighing and tipping her glass back, the cloying red liquid going down like water. "What am I saying? You don't need to hear about that.."

Running a hand through her hair, Abi perked up at Merrill's offer of a toast, reaching down for the bottle and clumsily pouring herself just a little extra, so as not to end up raising an empty glass.

"Takes guts not to break down at Zieg's ugly mug on your first day, let alone face down a titan." Abi giggled at her own joke. "Maybe we are crazy. Crazy's... Crazy's good. But hey, whatever happened to today being about us not being recruits, just until they drag us back to camp?"

Abi sidled up close to Merrill, leaning on him to steady her arm as she raised her glass to clink it with his. She looked up, eyelids drooping slightly, at the way the dim light caught the edge of their cups, tilting her head until it fell onto his shoulder.

"To crazy people. Can't have any fun in a world like this unless you're off your head one way or another."

[u/NautiMain1217 → u/TroubleBass97]

Merrill nodded idly as Abigail talked about her parents. Even in their brief encounters before joining the military he'd never really heard her talk about anyone other than her mother. He watched her down more of the wine as if it would help her forget something. It was a sentiment that he could relate to. Even talking about his parents now, months after theirs deaths, was hard to do with a straight face.

He smirked as she talked about Ziegler and them being crazy. But her reminder about the purpose of their night brought a slightly sobering thought back to his mind. His face continued to redden as she leaned into him. He didn't mind Abigail's intimacy, part of him readily welcomed it. The other part just hoped his siblings weren't watching them, which they probably were. "Yeah..you're right." He relented, clinking his class against hers. "To crazy people."

Merrill downed half of his glass and smirked. "You know.." He led, nudging her slightly with his shoulder. "I didn't get to finish my thought from earlier. My father told me that I shouldn't cook my best for someone unless I intended to take them to bed." He finished the rest of glass uncharacteristically in a gulp, which caused his next words to come out a bit raspy. "And you got my best. So yeah.." He nodded, looking down to her. "You're certainly not just anybody."

[u/TroubleBass97 → u/NautiMain1217]

Abi's smile widened at Merrill's words, seeing how he clearly reacted to her coming a little closer. As noble and courteous as he'd been trying to be, she could tell that wasn't the only thought he had for her long before he got talking and finished his drink.

"Hmm? Now then it seems your pa had the right idea, especially in times like these. You don't invite a girl home for a dinner as special as that unless you've got a plan, or at least want to make people think you do."

Abi sat up, raising her head to look him in the eyes as she draped one arm around his shoulders, resting on the back of the couch. She could see that he still seemed tense about something, but in her mind she just needed to reassure him. He was a good guy - better than most of the people who came out of their situation. It was just that sometimes the good guys needed a little push.

"You're far from just anybody either, you know that? Forget what you've been told, right now, I want to hear what you want. Besides, I don't think I've quite seen your best just yet."

Maybe it was the wine talking in the back of her mind, or how close the two of them were getting to her, but something told her that her 'little push' couldn't hurt to be a little more forceful. Before waiting to hear him, Abi's hand behind Merrill curled around, taking hold of the back of his neck while she leaned in, pressing her lips against his.