END OF ARC 1: DAY 169-170 DOWNTIME

[asgardmods]

[The first battle is over, but the second will begin any time. For two days, the enemy forces will remain on the other side of the battlefield, working on strategy and tending to their wounded. Both sides have taken heavy losses, and the Arena is full of the hurt and dying.

The battlefield itself has turned to a bloody, muddy mess. The elves will be asking the Army Engineers group and anyone else willing to help them lay timber and gravel out to make the ground easier to walk on for the next battle.

What will you do in your breathing space? Keep working, mourn your losses, or retreat from the horrors of war?]


[ooc note: This log takes place IC on Days 169-170/Nov 4-7. Please be sure you've read the plot post and the battle log's starting info thoroughly. Make absolutely sure that you include the day/rough time in the subject line of top-level comments, as well as if your thread is open or closed.

In addition to the battle log, there is a full-event log for those hiding out in Folkvang here. If you have any questions, please direct them to the mod post so everyone else can see them!]

Comments

midday 169;

[bloodypocket]

[Naminé wouldn't be the only one interested in overlooking the city from the highest point of the arena. Pausing from his walk when she came into view out of the corner of his eye, Eyes quietly decides to turn on his heel and make his way over, until he was almost next to her. His gaze is focused on the aftermath of the first battle, which he was grateful to emerge from with few injuries.]

What do you think of it?

[lethechained]

[Naminé is not, perhaps, at her most rested and aware, and the company is unexpected besides, so when she turns upon realizing someone is next to her, her eyes are slightly wide. Not as much as they might otherwise be, however; she is too tired to react as sharply as she would on another day. She blinks up at Eyes, and upon recovering from her surprise - which doesn't take her long - she offers a small but warm smile.]

... It's a lovely view. Except-- I wish I'd found it sooner. When things weren't so... complicated. [By which she means when there wasn't a battle for there to be an aftermath of. The city itself, however, is much more welcome a sight.]

[bloodypocket]

You may still have the opportunity to witness this view, once this finishes. [He's never been the most optimistic person out there, but if there was a small trace of hope to a situation he would hold on to it tightly, even if he knows the odds.]

There is still much to be learned and discovered about this city.

[lethechained]

[Her eyes flicker up toward him at that. All this time, she's been trying to do much the same herself, trying to keep hoping.] Yes. I'd be very glad to have the chance.

Oh, very much, I think. It's amazing, how many people there are here, and how many different places and things...! I can't even begin to imagine how much there is that I haven't seen, that most of us haven't.

[bloodypocket]

Have you attempted to travel beyond the walls, if it intrigues you that much? [He had not gone yet personally, but the reports he had overheard brings to light just how little they've seen, confined within the walls as they usually are.]

There could be many other sights such as this one, that you may enjoy even more.

[lethechained]

Well-- I did go out there once, when the gate was first opened to us. [Not of her volition, though. She'll just keep that particular fact tucked away.] And I was making plans to go to Utgard when all of this started to happen, so I had to put it off. [No vacation for her, unfortunately.]

Mm-- I'm sure. Whether I'd enjoy them more, or less, or just the same-- I'd still like to see them. [Someone definitely isn't picky.]

[bloodypocket]

Hm. [Not mentioning that was probably a good thing, he's less fond of the idea of doing things against your volition now than when he was younger.]

For now, this will have to do until the battle dies and we are faced with the aftermath of it.

[lethechained]

[And she's still, as she ever was, not fond of the idea of saying anything that would upset someone unecessarily.]

I think it will. I'm grateful just for this, even if it does turn out to be only for now.

[bloodypocket]

And how long do you intend to enjoy it? Until the battle commences again? [She had been a healer of Sigyn if memory served correctly, thus it wouldn't be out of the question to assume she may have been here the entire time of the first battle.]

[lethechained]

... No. I have other things to attend to. I am a healer, and I have a duty to the injured. [His memory is right on the money, there.] This is just... a way to spend a break, for the time being.

[bloodypocket]

You aren't pushing your health too far in the process, are you? [He's already had to speak with a few of the medics and healers for exhausting themselves, and the battle hardly seemed as though it would cease anytime soon.]

[lethechained]

--....

[Well, after last time, she can confidently say,] No. I... learned my lesson about that. [She smiles slightly, blatantly self-effacing.] And there are too many people that make sure to remind me.

[bloodypocket]

How good for you. [He didn't mean to be demeaning, it would serve them all more if everyone came to value their health and safety more.]

They are doing the same now, and you for them this time?

[lethechained]

[Her smile widens, slightly guilty but glad nevertheless.]

Yes. I've got a lot of people to remind, too. I think we're all learning a lot about our limits.

[bloodypocket]

We can only hope there would be no need to exercise those limits again. [Someone here doesn't quite buy that this is the end of it, but it would certainly be relieving if it was.]

... Have you eaten today? [Eyes what is that question.]

[lethechained]

[... Sigh. He's not the only someone, but--] That would probably be better for everyone, yes.

...! [One that makes her blink at him, apparently. Give her a second to switch gears.] -- Ah-- yes, this morning. [... Which is kind of Too Long Ago at this point, but she isn't complaining.]

[bloodypocket]

[Too long indeed, he'll be sending her a questioning look that should ask if she plans to remedy that anytime soon.]

[lethechained]

[At which she has the decency to look abashed.]

... I'll eat something soon, don't worry.

[bloodypocket]

Please see that you do. [However...]

Would you rather I go find something for you?

[lethechained]

-- No, please, don't trouble yourself...! I can take care of it. [-- Pause. Socialization exp incoming.]

But if you'd like to get something for yourself, I wouldn't mind some company.

[bloodypocket]

[He actually wasn't planning to get himself anything to eat just yet, but if it could get them both to actually get around to doing it...]

Then allow me to escort you there.

[lethechained]

[Two birds with one stone, and all that. Here, have a little smile.]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[bloodypocket]

Shall we be going, then? [Though if she expects him to reach out his hand to take hers, he's not quite that level of gentleman with people he doesn't know very well.]

[lethechained]

[She doesn't; such things tend surprise her when they do happen, even from people who have done such things before. She stands on her own.]

Yes, let's.