EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

[aionmods]

Sovereign Citizens

GODSBLOOD

At the height of the Sovereign's moon, Vaeka Lovenskol's execution is announced. Outside of the City Hall, a dignitary of Achamoth is flanked by an entourage of Kenoma, reading the words of Regent from an unfurled letter: Vaeka stands accused to conspiring against the Regent and abetting the fugitive menace known as the Pleroma. Though the details are not made public, rumors spread quickly, some far more wild than the actual truth. The full truth, after all, is something only the Regent's agents and the Pleroma themselves know, and even to them the manner of her exposure is unclear.

Though losing a proud daughter of an influential family, there seems to be little that the people of Godsblood can do besides accept it. After all, they are still a city of the Regent's empire, and for all the freedom they've enjoyed, there are limits. If she was truly aiding the Pleroma, the sworn enemies of the Regent - and in an organized manner, if the rumors are to be believed - can they truly object? Or would challenging the Regent's claim simply invite more death?

As with many things, the families of Godsblood are torn. Tensions are thick for the five days leading up to Vaeka's appointed execution by hanging, with everyone having an opinion and few wanting to go on record talking about it too loudly. As such, the people's frustrations come out in other ways. Bloodites are uncharacteristically unfriendly to strangers in this time, keeping to their own and treating everyone else with overt skepticism.

Those that have arrived as part of the Regent's official envoy, or seen guarding Vaeka, will receive a particularly icy reception. No longer are the Kenoma curious wanderers on personal business. Now, they are here as the hands of the Regent; few of the Godsblood citizens are foolish enough to challenge them outright, but they are ever an honest people.

Early on, the Kenoma and the rest of the Achamite contingent sent with them will be able to take over a jail in downtown Godsblood to hold Vaeka until her execution, clearing out all other Bloodite prisoners and employees in the meantime. This means they have a relatively secure position to guard their prisoner from, which is a good thing; after all, the Regent did outright invite the Pleroma to stop them, and Pleroma are nothing if not stubborn.

EXECUTION DAY

After five agonizing days of waiting and several high visible conflicts between the Pleroma and Kenoma, finally the hour of Vaeka's execution arrives. A gallows is set outside of City Hall, ready to welcome its newest victim, and a massive crowd has gathered in an spirit of anxious anticipation. Some worry that violence may break out in the streets, even without the Pleroma's agitation, but gradually the minutes tick by and the gallows remain empty.

First one minutes passes. Then five. Then fifteen. Slowly, it becomes clear to the people of Godsblood that Vaeka will not be arriving. Are the rumors true? Has she been saved? Have the Pleroma been successful, despite all odds?

As the hours pass and the crowds disperse, Vaeka Lovenskol is not officially reported as either living or dead. Fortunately, Godsblood is a place where information has a way of getting around, whether those in charge like it or not. Some are saying that she was seen being whisked away as if by powerful magic, following a bloody fight at the jail in which she was being held. Where did she go? Maybe her supposed connections to the forest people did her good, some surmise.

The days following Vaeka's failed execution carry a strange and uncertain energy. Where before there was tension and distrust, Godsblood now finds itself in a surreal reality where the Regent's word is apparently not absolute. Then again, do they really want a repeat performance?

QUESTIONS

What is the best way for Aions to travel to Godsblood?
For Pleroma, this is very easy, as they are likely to either already live there or be able to easy take Greentruth's portal. For Kenoma, they may come directly from Achamoth by boat as part of the Regent's envoy or arrive via Eustace's portal which is set up in a shed a fairly long jaunt outside of town. Once there has been some time to get established, Misa will be setting up another portal leading straight to the prison where Vaeka is being stored.

Are the Kenoma permitted by the Regent to kill other Godsblood citizens?
Though the Kenoma are authorized to kill any Bloodites that try to physically fight them, they are expected to keep things clean. The Regent prefers to only punish the guilty, and having the lines be clear will create less of a hassle in the future. Generally, Godsblood is not in a state where physical resistance is likely to happen unprovoked.

Comments

[lifespanned]

[ Even Gray and Ciel couldn't stop them...? It feels unrealistic, unfathomable to her. Of course, her scale for how strong others were in the field of magic and combat was limited, and it's not as if she ever has really seen the Pleroma at their best. But even so, she finds it hard to believe that things shook out this way. How could this have happened?

And what's going to happen to them in response? Misa does all she can to swallow that thought down, down, focusing on only the very seconds in front of her. ]

Get them out...?

[ She goes willingly (or as willingly as she can in her limp state) into Ciel's lap, weakly threading her fingers through hers, truly longing for any sense of comfort she can grasp at - this is by far the worst injury she's had in her life, after all. And, she wonders, if she holds on as she is, if she might prevent such a scary sounding medical procedure. Her voice is timid, small, when she asks - so far away from her typical boisterous and confident antics, strained with exhaustion and tears alike. ]

I-It's just the one there... [ The one Ciel can already see. Misa gives a big sniffle. ] And in my left leg. I tried to dress it...

[ The way Eustace had shown her before, though the supplies she could use as bandages were limited to cloths she stole from the schoolhouse nearby - it's long since bled through. Her spirits are (minimally) lifted by Ciel's instance that they have to go back together— that Misa can even go back together with her, because that must mean she's not going to die right here, right? Not that she's afraid of it. Actually, what seems far, far more frightening is Ciel's proposed surgery - her mind immediately goes to films she's seen of people getting bullets taken out of them in a middle of some terrible battle, how grotesque and agonizing it looked. She swallows, thickly. ]

Do you really have to do it right now...?

[ She trusts Ciel to know— Misa's ignornace to the field of battle aside, Ciel is probably the most capable among them when it comes to handling war-like situations like this. She's glad that the person who found her isn't in a panic - her calculated, efficient words go a long way in keeping Misa from fully tilting into freaking out at the prospect, or simply pleading with her not to. ]

[expiera]

[...Frustrating.

Ciel wishes she could do more. She wants to treat Misa's wounds immediately, so the pain can start going away, so that she can start healing rather than continue bearing injuries and burdens far beyond what any normal girl ever should. She just needs to focus, she can do this here with limited strain to the smaller girl's already depleted stamina as long as she remains mindful. She would like nothing more than to resolve this immediately, post-haste.

And she can recognize it in herself, that she is being impatient—maybe even overbearing. Taking in a quiet breath, her hand at Misa's back slowly moves upwards until it is resting lightly against the back of her nape. Her other hand continues holding onto the smaller girl's, and she gives it another gentle squeeze to further assure her she's still here.]

I'd like to. It's no good to leave those wounds as they are, but... I'm getting ahead of myself too, I apologize.

[She dips her head somewhat sheepishly, and her eyelids droop.]

What would you like to do, Misa? You're already strong for enduring so much, but you don't have to, not by yourself anymore; you're not alone. We can go back to Achamoth together and have you treated properly on a clean bed, I can at least stop the bleeding and help you manage the pain for now. What do you think?

[Almost as if asking which pair of shoes Misa prefers the look of at the store, or which shirt has the better "casual day at the Citadel" vibe. Right. Losing Vaeka and seeing Misa in such a state really did make her act rashly, Ciel needs to calm herself down and help Misa calm down before moving on to anything else. Getting agitated and panicky would do neither of them any good. They're also equals, partners, so she has to both support Misa and respect the opinion she has every right to express.

The portal isn't that far. Ciel can't promise as sturdy a trip as she would like because of her own leg, but she is confident that she can carry Misa back despite her own injury, it'll hurt but she won't trip or fall. She'll heal, it's only a matter of time, and it's all the more reason why Misa now takes priority over all else.]

[lifespanned]

[ She shakes her head once at the implication that she's strong for enduring how she has— to the contrary, she feels she should have endured much, much more. Though, she's sure Ciel feels the same way, so she doesn't comment on it, simply swallowing down her own guilt as previously instructed.

Then, her mind sets to weighing the pros and cons of the two paths Ciel has laid out for her. To travel back to Achamoth? Now? It feels so— sudden, and scary, to be (figuratively) carted there and then be handed off to strangers. Her eyes slip closed, her expression troubled, before she clasps onto her hand a little tighter, hot tears streaming down her smudged cheeks. ]

I don't know if I want to go...

[ Misa confesses, laying her head heavily in her friend's lap - the trip to the portal feels like a herculean feat at the moment, Ciel's assistance or no. It's what she's said, too— that it's not good to leave the wounds as they are. While she's apprehensive about the procedure, the prospect of having to travel, and then be treated by total strangers makes her feel even less at ease. ]

I'd rather you just do it...? I trust you more...

[ More than the people at the Citadel, who's she sure are fine doctors. But she'd rather rely on someone who has healed her in the past, even if it was a one time thing before they even really knew each other. She has faith that Ciel would have her best interests in mind, and would be able to handle things calmly, analytically, unlike the Achamites who can often become nervous in the presence of Aions, and quite alike the person she used to feel most at ease around, when the Earth was still spinning. ]

[expiera]

[Misa is strong. She came from a normal world, lived a normal life. She wasn't a soldier who had to weather the front line for one reason or another, she must be pushing herself right now to cling onto consciousness despite the dizzying amount of pain she's probably be in. She's trying so hard to be brave and to keep going, does she really think it doesn't matter, that her efforts can be so easily overlooked? Ciel can't in good conscience wish things didn't have to be this way, either. She encouraged her, trained with her. With how they were separated to play to their strengths on this assignment, there was no way she could keep watch over the other girl even if she wanted to. Logically, Ciel knows this isn't her fault. But as she's told Misa before, she's human, and whether it's her Legacy or something else, it's... hard, to not feel responsible in some way. Indirectly, she did lead Misa here, to this deplorable situation they're in now.

But there's no use crying over spilled milk, as the saying goes, so she has to focus on what's ahead of her, make sure to double back every ounce of faith others have seen fit to invest in her. The enemy is gone, Vaeka is gone. Well, so be it. If the Regent really wanted that woman dead, they could have merely assassinated her instead of going through the trouble of all these dramatic motions. If the Regent wanted their show to proceed smoothly without interruption, they could have simply surprised Godsblood with this public execution and get it done in a single day, instead of giving the Pleroma so much advance notice to plan a rescue. This was all pageantry for both sides alike, it was a logical conclusion to draw if anyone gave it some thought.

It's part of why Ciel isn't particularly fussed over their failure, though it does sting to have their quarry slip right through their fingers. And it's all the more reason to stop caring about the mission entirely, especially with a wounded ally—Misa—who needs help, right here.

Closing her eyes, she takes in a small and quiet breath as she tries steadying the younger girl more in her lap. "Trust". Mm. This is no time to dwell. Misa has voiced what she wants. All that's left to do is to act.]

Okay. Then let's go back to the building, we can lay you down in one of the rooms with a clean cot and take care of your injuries there. May I numb your body temporarily, first? It should stop the pain, but it's going to paralyze most of your body too, you'll only be able to move above your neck. It should go away after a few hours though, would that be okay?

[She'll carry her there herself, of course. It'll take more than a mere leg injury to stop her from getting towards where she needs to, the bone fragments have already begun realigning anyway.]

somehow i lost this notif IM SORRY

[lifespanned]

[ There's a small, belated nod at the suggestion, despite the fact that she remains looking quite concerned over the ordeal. She's sure Ciel wouldn't suggest anything she wasn't actually capable of doing, because that would only increase the responsibility and pressure on her shoulders. But still, getting paralyzed temporarily...? In words alone, it sounds risky, though logically she knows it's probably only as dangerous as it is being given an anesthetic. Being unable to move is something of a past stressor for her... ]

As long as it comes back, okay...?

[ Misa gives a verbal affirmation, her breaths coming slower, more ragged. Any attempt at trying not to burden Ciel has gone out the window, since she's focusing all her energy on keeping her eyes open, which leaves her head heavy in her lap. Even her grip on Ciel's hand has relaxed a bit to conserve, the blood sticking between their palms. ]

It won't hurt too much...? Your leg?

[ No, she can't see the injury directly, but she saw a glimpse of it - enough to know she's hurt. Perhaps if she could see the extent of the damage, she'd be more afraid of burdening Ciel so much, still not entirely used to seeing gore and bone as she is. And yet, Misa still manages to show a dose of caution for the other woman's well-being; perhaps because this feels like a mirror image of their first meeting. Ciel with a far worse injury, being forced to tend to someone like her. It isn't right. ]

it's ok! gently throttles dw

[expiera]

Yes, I promise.

[Were Ciel a full fledged healer wholly dedicated to support, she may be able to handle this differently, more cleanly, more assuredly. But she's not: she was taken in for her ability to destroy, not protect, and holding back wasn't something she ever needed to think about. She lacks finesse, she can't do better than the entire neck down if she's to use thaumaturgy in a bid to replicate the effects of a potent anesthetic. Sorry, Misa. She really should practice, once all this is over with.

But for now, she'll go forward with what she knows. It starts with a static jolt, like maybe your scarf rubbed against your sweater wrong in the winter and it ends up giving you a little jump instead. The ensuing trickle is quick and painless, the tingling numb a downward wash until Misa truly can't feel much of her body anymore, can't feel the warmth or the strength in the hand that's still holding onto hers anymore. It'll be most obvious once Ciel begins shifting her body to make her face upward, scooping her up in her arms like how all fairytale princesses are traditionally carried. She can only hope the relaxed and hypnotic lull of her blue eyes can be some measure of comfort for the smaller girl to look up to; it's going to be okay, there's no need to be afraid.

Suggestion isn't fair at a time like this, a power almost akin to brainwashing that has normal humans with no magical resistance believe in almost anything she commands. She used it extremely freely back in her world, to convince an entire school she never attended that she's not only enrolled, but also a very upstanding and reliable third year senior everyone actively counts on. It may not work as intended here, especially as they're both Aions, but Ciel is quite willing to do anything in her power to make this as smooth and painless as possible for Misa. She's endured enough.]

It won't, it's already healed up by a lot. It should be done rewinding completely in a few hours, we could both maybe finish recovering at around the same time, actually! So please chin up and hang in there, okay? I'll stay with you until we're both back on our feet, Misa.

[...Hup. (--Ow. Minor strain; she can easily power through this.) Her bone's already done reforming, she just needs to bruteforce the strengthening of her injured leg to ensure that her steps stay steady. It's a short walk anyway, back inside to the cell with a clean cot they repurposed into a rest and supplies room for the length of the Kenoma's stay. Misa is willful and bright, she'll definitely pull though.]

[lifespanned]

[ Something... something doesn't feel right about that response, but Misa can't put her finger on exactly why, the more she looks up at Ciel herself. Her brow twitches with the effort of trying to decipher it, knowing that something just doesn't fit right. As calm and collected as Ciel acts, it's almost a little unnerving at times, how easily she's able to discard her own struggle, and how easily she erects this image of a reliable, dependable class president type, even in these dire situations.

Because yes, it feels like an image, at times. Perhaps it's Misa's own nature, and her own attunement towards being cognizant of such subtle changes in others (it's the only way to survive in her trade) that makes her question it, from time to time. Still, under the thrall of Ciel's ability, it remains only a blip on her radar, passing her by without the further applicable will to investigate. There's no need to be afraid. ]

Oh, yeah, I'll hang in there... but even if I died, it'd be okay.

[ Misa lays limply in Ciel's arms as they make their way inside, unable to look away from her, though her stare seems a bit more vacant than usual, her words more characteristically light, careless, than how weighed down they'd been outside. She's right, there is no need to be afraid. The slight hypnosis loosens her tongue, reminds her of all the reasons why she hadn't been afraid of dying in the first place. In her day to day life, yes, it's fun to make people worry over her or be at her beck and call. But the truth of the matter is when push comes to shove, her life isn't something she's scared of losing in this conflict - it'd really be fine if she died here. Actually, it wouldn't be scary at all: Ciel's there to take care of things, isn't she? She's in safe hands, no matter what. ]

Don't feel bad if I can't hang on... [ With her body limp, and her eyelids heavy, it makes death feel all the closer, even though she's just the same as she was a few moments ago. ] It wouldn't be your fault.

[ It isn't her fault that she's here like this in the first place - she hopes Ciel knows that. Perhaps she wants to offer her own piece of comfort to her friend. ]

[expiera]

[...Silly. She's struggling with such grievous wounds, yet she finds herself thinking of other people. Misa only needs to concern herself with her own well-being, it's not like Ciel is going anywhere. They'll have plenty of time to talk after in Godsblood or Achamoth, so let's not get distracted over meaningless things.]

Don't say that. You're working so hard because your wish is so important to you, so you of all people should hang in there until the end to see it come true.

[She responds softly, finding herself blinking once and glancing back down at Misa's casual admission that she doesn't mind it happening to her, dying. She's serious, and she means it. It's a similar sort of simplicity to how she'll do anything for the cause, she really believes in this with every fiber of her being. Geez... Death is just painful and lonely, honestly can't recommend it at all (outside of some very specific and complicated situations, but still). Not that Ciel can guarantee the truth in her own encouragement, what the Regent promised them may not end up being that at all. Or rather, it's something they have no means of verifying, but it's a goal they're mutually working towards, so they can deal with the consequences results together, whenever that may come.]

I'll still do what I can. Let's talk more once you're better, Misa.

[So rest for now. it'll be okay. Dream of something nice, you won't be alone when you wake up.

In hindsight, her company really may be the "best" thing she can offer her: Misa won't be by herself, that's the one promise Ciel can abide by. She still intends to do everything in her power though; making an incision, extracting the bullet, and cauterizing the cut shut should take a few seconds at most per bullet wound on her reflexes, she can call Emet-Selch after too for additional healing and stabilizing of her vitals. Laying Misa down on her stomach, she then gathers all the equipment she needs before beginning, at which point she's hopefully unconscious anyway from both the Suggestion and her own fatigue. Anything they have laying around in this room that can be useful, Ciel will put it to use.

...

Give it a few hours. Misa may feel weak and sore when she wakes up, but the scary and unpleasant details will be over by then. She's bandaged and changed in regular and clean threads a bit big for her, and Ciel is seated in a chair right next to her, with her eyes closed and arms crossed over her chest. If she suffered a wound on her leg, it's no longer visible at this point.]

...