All this bad blood here: Open job post!

[showsnopiety]

Who: Caren and you!
When: After the War, 4/20-4/30
Where: Graupera, Gresser, Palamede
What: Job stuff, including getting yelled at, meeting Servants, all that jazz.
Rating: Pretty sure we got into Rated R for fetish talk and violent thoughts in the Gilgamesh thread there

I: Vessel of hope

[It was an unusual request, but she didn't think it would be one that she could by pass. While there were some parts of the order and the church that she held in contempt, she was a priestess, through and through. Her offering was a simple one, a plain boat with a puffin candle, white and sheltered by slender glass.

A touch of mana lights it with a murmured word. And when the sun goes down, she's there with the rest of the crowd. Her boat is set down, and she starts to sing.

It's a surprisingly lovely, sweet voice-and her singing is in Latin. They are hymns, songs of mourning and blessing, things that one might hear at a funeral.

Her eyes flick to anyone who approaches. She may cease, continue until she is finished, or start singing instead 'Amazing Grace' as an invitation for anyone to join her, if they so wish.]

II: A six pack is worth a thousand pictures

A

Ah. That would be perfect.

[She nods to herself, as she focuses with her camera. This is an odd thing to take a photo off...perhaps it is of a hay bale, a plate of food, or a child crying after falling on their knees and skinning it. Really weird pictures like that. But it's not the only things she's taking a picture of. See that fountain? She's pointing you, hero, to stand underneath it.]

If you don't mind? I'd like a picture of you under the spray. I think it would be very appealing.

B

[She's hungry, but she as to pay for her meal before she has to actually gets anything. She's frowning at the riddle she was offered. It's rather...well, it's not a bad one, but she doesn't want to give up either. It's down on a piece of paper, and she's staring at it, as if it will give it answers.]

I know the answer. Just...need a moment.

[She scowls down at the paper. The locals, at least, seem amused by her. She's intelligent enough, but mostly she's stuck. She needs some orange juice or something to get her brain working but noooo, stupid town rule won't let her have it.]

III: Rebuild Palamede!

A

[She had been moping, as the usual. She was not a strong woman as things went, but she could clean. She was used to it, as things went, but the fact that the local that was showing her around didn't want to come in here...she respected that, and didn't press, for once. Caren could be surprisingly compassionate to those in need.

Which did not mean she would be so nice to those passing by. If anyone tried to walk through her recently washed floor for example...all it would take was a twist of her wrist, and she'd fling mop water at their head. With the mop.

This is slightly better than having her try and recruit someone to help her clean.]

B

[Caren hadn't asked for this. Her face was impassive as the man in front of her-heavier by over a hundred pounds, taller than a foot, maybe more. His mouth was hitched in a permanent smirk on one side, due to scarring. And, he seemed, he didn't have anything to laugh about. People had been hurt. And these heroes, these people God selected were supposed to keep them safe! They were supposed to do better then this!

There was a crowd forming because of this. And while Caren had been singing hymns and other things earlier, she had been heading in for a break. But now...

She watched him, and slowly brought a hand up to wipe at the spittle on her face. She was smiling, a little. Maybe someone wants to watch or...try to step in before something terrible happens.]

Comments

III - B

[querella]

[ Her first real mission had been here, hadn't it? A convention of a sorts with food and fun... and pain. One could still hear the cries of children, the echoes long since gone. She could still recall prying a big cat's teeth out of the arm of a helpless man. The horrors that had broken out, and their dear leader's failure to have warned them to be on their guard. It had been a month now, she was sure, since that accident. And yet...

It doesn't end. The pain and suffering doesn't just up and vanish.

When One was but a child she had killed a warlord who had used the flesh of children to decorate his home. She had faced off against that lord's family, had seen her sisters mutilated, and the face of their curse. She was, more or less, accustomed to the worse aspects of war. But she was just one person, and her fellow heroes didn't share the same kind of outlook. Intoners had been called monsters, and other awful names before securing a tight grasp on the people.

And speaking of the people... ]

She had nothing to do with that day. I was here, I fought. And I was too late. [ One set a hand on Caren's arm, easing herself between the other woman and the scared man. ] So do not take your anger out on her.

[showsnopiety]

[Caren didn't know. She hadn't known a thing until she stepped into town and saw that it was fraught with pain and suffering. Even as she sought to do her work and ease the pain of those around her, her twisted heart found comfort and joy in all of the horror that surrounded her.

The pain, and anger was a balm to her. She could almost feel it double as One came to champion her, almost pushing her aside. What a leader. What a hero.

Caren could say nothing to this. She knew at this point, all she would spew would be inappropriate laughter and taunts, where she is supposed to be comfort and grace. So she tilts her head down, and rubs her mouth. The man is all too happy to cast his thunder cloud on him, his mouth set in an ugly grimace.]

You? You were there? What were you doing that day? Keeping your pretty white jacket clean?

[querella]

No, my jacket didn't stay clean. I was as blood soaked as anyone else. [ She could recall the heavy bright right blood soaking into her clothing. The thick coppery scent that had filled her nose. The loud screams that had echoed in her ears. One slowly released her grip on Caren's arm, letting her hand drop to her side. Her other hand flexed on the chakram she always brought with her. Her weapon, like her carrier, was rarely far from her side. ] And yet no amount of creatures I killed could make up for the pain you endured. I failed you and yours.

[ And yet, and yet for all she should have felt bad, remorseful or something, One didn't. She didn't feel like a failure. She didn't feel that she had failed them. Because that was war. People died, they were killed, the dead were buried. And she had moved on. As an Intoner, she was destructive force all on her own. She killed because she had to.

But One also knew how to appeal to the grieving. She knew how to put on a display, a show. And she hoped that she sounded and looked as genuinely sympathetic as this man, and others, needed her to be. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Caren could almost picture it herself. One splattered with blood, panting in exhaustion, trying to wipe her face clean. Screams in the air. Caren kept her face turned towards the ground, the fall of her hair hiding her face.

It's the best way for Caren to keep her mouth shut, and to look as if she's in mourning. But One...Caren can't be certain if it was a performance or not. Oh, the Intoner was good speaker, moving in and of itself. But a performance nonetheless.

But the man before her was not so easily satisfied. In fact, he moved closer, as if he could frighten the smaller woman.]

Yeah. You did fail. You failed me. You failed my family. So what are you going to do? Keep saying sorry?

3A, let's say before the concert stuff happens

[babbylon]

[Mop, mop, mop. Mop, mop, mop.

Let's just say that when Gilgamesh graciously offered his aid to Palamede, this wasn't exactly the sort of service he had in mind. He's been frowning for hours now, an impressive enough feat in itself, grumbling about mistreatment and how no King of Heroes should be reduced to the level of janitorial duties, and yet he continues to wash away. Maybe he's got nothing better to do. Maybe it's cathartic, in a sense, just swishing back and forth like that.

Or maybe there's something off about his company. About the girl next to him that he's been trying to discern on the sly. His red eyes occasionally flit over to hers, studying, until finally he decides the subtle approach isn't working and he may as well introduce himself in typical Gilgamesh fashion. So he marches over, opens his mouth wide, and...]

Woman, do I know you from someWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[...proceeds to slip and fall all over her freshly mopped floor. Whoops.]

perfect

[showsnopiety]

[Mop mop mop. Swish mop.

She had been going about the task without thinking too hard about what she was going about. Mostly, because it was soothing, and gave her a chance to possibly hear the screams and sobbing of people in the other wings, and sometimes even on the streets.

But Caren had known he was here. Her servant, her property. Not even coming up to check on her and seeing how she was. Just...peeking at her, like a little boy with a crush. And then finally, he makes his move.

Which is sadly typical of him. Caren stares down at him with a cool gaze, not caring that he was on the floor one bit.

In fact...she lifted her foot, and very deliberately planted it on his chest.]

I'm going to have to clean that again, no thanks to you.

[She's very clearly miffed. Hence why she presses down with her foot carefully.]

I like you better as a child. You might not be as powerful, but you're far more clever.

[babbylon]

[...oh. This is new. Gilgamesh, be it by instinct or by some buried desire for this sort of lasciviousness, stills beneath Caren's foot. He blinks at her, a bit wide-eyed, a bit cowed. He can already tell that despite her size she had plenty of attitude to make up for it, but it still manages to be surprising enough he doesn't bite back. Not quite yet, anyway. Instead, he asks again:]

Are we acquainted somehow?

[Very clearly miffed, sure, but Gilgamesh doesn't appear affected at all. Her supposed Servant was as oblivious to others as ever.]

[showsnopiety]

[Blonds have more fun, don't they? Or they're just...anyway. She's just going to enjoy the look on his face for a few moments.]

I would certainly hope so.

[She quirks her eyebrow at him.]

For Gilgamesh, king of heroes, is my Servant. I remember how you feel underneath my foot quite well.

[Pause.]

That's you, isn't it?

IIA ... stares at hands

[flirtations]

[ Jae-ha is wandering the area with a camera of his own, though he is stopped in his tracks by the sight of another hero taking a picture. It isn't just her beauty that stops him (though that alone would have given him pause), but the fact that she's just snapped a photo of... someone's discarded newspaper?

Well, okay, there was probably some artistic merit to that (or something). Not wanting to interrupt her focus, he's about to continue on his way, when she addresses him.

Appealing?

Well.

He brightens up, walking over to the designated fountain. ]

Of course not. I would be honored to serve as the model for such a radiant photographer.

[ He sits down right beneath the spray, putting his finger to his chin in thought. ]

How do you want me? Should I make it more... revealing for you? [ And is he.. ah, yep, he's already moving to unbutton his jacket, apparently before she even finishes.

Wait, is he actually stripping out in the open, in public?? ]

[showsnopiety]

[She couldn't find a plastic bag to dance with, so she went with the newspaper, with the war talk in the head lines. It made sense to her.

But hey. This might get her more colle, so she'll go with it.

...and she didn't even have to ask him to strip. Now this is something. If she didn't have her hand full of camera, she would have offered him a slow clap.]

...yes. If you don't mind being completely shirtless and in the fountain? That may work out best for both of us.

[....How does that work? No one knows.]

i never thought i'd actually use this icon

[flirtations]

[ That's... definitely not the anticipated response. It makes Jae-ha's hands pause mid-unbuttoning, eyes widening slightly. But, well, he's already committed to this, and if it helped her get more colle, why not? ]

As the lady wishes.

[ He finishes unbuttoning the rest, peels off his jacket and shirt, places them on a nearby bench, and calmly steps into the fountain. Nevermind that people are incredibly confused, definitely staring, and he's nonchalantly getting his pants wet. ]

It's a shame-- I'm not nearly as beautiful of a subject as you are, but I understand why you wouldn't want to do it yourself. The water's very cold. [ So cold... it's making him get goosebumps. How invigorating! ]

that's me, opening doors that weren't open before

[showsnopiety]

[Did he expect her to scream and cover her cheeks, blushing? No way. Besides, that'd drop a very expensive camera, and she isn't going to do that. She doesn't have the colle for that.]

Caren is fine.

[Since she's not a lady in the least. But she brings up the camera, bold as can be, and starts taking photographs. Even if people are confused, it'll still look good in the end. More or less at least.

But she'll be punching a few things to dust for him.]

If you want to take my photograph for the job, that's fine. Just use your own camera, or it may not count.

[She's still taking photos, BTW.]

Tell me if anything goes blue or if you stop shivering. I don't want you to risk yourself for colle.

2A

[yaoihand]

[ It's that girl he had met a few weeks before! Kija's eyes immediately pan to her leg, curious to see if it's been healing nicely.

He then takes note of her peculiar actions. Cameras are an oddity to him to begin with - the concept of capturing a picture onto a piece of paper without commissioning someone to paint it was simply mindblowing - and Caren was using her camera to ... capture the image of a frog on the pavement???

He's so bewildered by her actions that he forgets to greet her, and when Caren finally calls out to him Kija starts to feel a little rude for staring at her before. ] A-Ah --

[ There's a glance at the fountain. ] But how would that make a good picture? I would be wet and messy.

[ ????? Still, he does want to help her out, so he goes and steps under the fountain. ]

[showsnopiety]

That's the whole point of the excise. It seems that images of various heroes in favorable states of dress are popular.

[Kija you are a sweet summer child. And hey! She's pretty sure that kids love frogs, or something. And while she's certain he would love to talk about her legs, she...does not want to get into that. Because then she'll have to mention Sion, and that's how she'll get grumpy.

Or at least huffy.]

Is the water too cold?

[Click. She took a picture just as she asked. And she'll be taking even more. Oh my.]

[yaoihand]

[ So scandalous... He blinks after the flash goes off, making a surprised noise. Cameras were such strange contraptions! ]

...A little, but I will be fine. [ He wants to be useful!! Even if he still doesn't know what he's doing, exactly. ]

People in my homeland would often strive to look their best for portraits. I am not certain how being wet and messy is favorable.

[ Maybe he's too dated for this!!! The water appears to be drenching him completely, soaking through his white shirt and flattening his hair. To him, he's just a mess right now, so he's still confused about why this would make a good picture!

He's also starting to feel a little camera-shy now that she's taking more pictures. ]

[showsnopiety]

[They're very strange but look! She's not wasting time either. Especially as he starts getting soaked through his shirt...

Yup, this is going to get her so much money.

Click click click.]

People in your homeland are painted, correct? It's easier to stand still, and it is meant to last for the ages. Particularly if it's a wonderful artist.

This is...of a lesser degree. Could you push your hand through your hair for me?

[Caren also thinks that his blushing is going to help. Hence why she's still talking and taking photos at the same time.]

3b.

[tsyoon]

[ Either Yoon is often drawn to places like this, where people are down and hurt and in need, or perhaps he goes out of his way to try to help. To him, it's not an unfamiliar sight-- the debris and the buildings in ruin, the haggard faces with the sunken, haunted eyes, the distrust and the pain. It's not usually aimed at him, though. None of this is his fault, but still, his heart aches for them.

He'll help where he can, offering remedies and advice to those who will listen, cleaning up where he can.

Yoon had actually caught sight of Caren a little bit ago, listening to her sing while he rested for a few minutes. It was a soothing melody.

When she pauses to take a break, Yoon follows, meaning to greet the familiar woman and say hello-- but he doesn't expect the confrontation. Or the aggression. Seeing someone treat Caren like that when she'd clearly only been trying to help makes him mad and prompts something defensively indignant inside him. It reminds him with a sudden, aching pain of Ik-Soo and the people who would hurt him and take advantage of him for being too kind.

Before he can think better of it, Yoon has stepped in front of Caren to face the sneering man. ]

Hey.

You're being rude. That's no way to treat a girl.

[showsnopiety]

[Yoon would find himself staring up at the large man, with a grimace and crooked teeth. "She's not a girl! She's a hero. Some hero she is, needing other little girls to help out-another scum hero to boot!"

Caren covered her mouth with her had, hiding her smile for a few moments. While she planned to step in, this wasn't the right time. Not yet. And she needed to wipe some of the spittle from her face too.

And, truly she could go for a cup of tea too. She had been singing for long enough that it made her throat ache.]

[tsyoon]

[ Yoon doesn't seem to take the slightest offense at being called a little girl, or even a scum hero, but... He is starting to realize what he's done and that he's somehow stepped in front of this mountain of a man without thinking and oh shit.

...too late to back down now.

He straightens up, squaring his narrow shoulders, hands on his hips. ]

She didn't do anything to you. I get that you're upset. You feel let down by the people who were supposed to protect you.

But harassing them for trying to help isn't going to do anyone any good either.

[ The last thing Yoon wants is a fight, though. He just didn't want Caren to get hurt either. He backs up a step, reaches for her hand. ]

Anyway. We'll be going now.

I

[avantguard]

[ A while ago, Kaito had mentioned that he wanted to hear her sing in order to cast chants for magic. Back then, she told him (vehemently) that she would not sing. She had plans to stick to her word, too. Humming in a bath doesn't count.

And yet, listening to the sad melody coming from the girl's lips as more boats are added in she finds herself wanting to join in. It's a beautiful but morose sight to see the specks of light from the candles settled inside. It's even more melancholy to see children participating.

The girl is singing alone but once she hits a song Asuna knows in "Amazing Grace" she can't let her go on solo anymore. Although she starts off humming along, eventually Asuna's gentle singing voice joins Caren's from just a few feet away. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Song might work here, or at least for spells. Caren hadn't thought of the idea. Usually, she preferred to play her music, not singing it. But with its lack, she had little choice in the matter.

It was mildly surprising to find another able to join in the songs she knew-or at least with Amazing Grace. Maybe it shouldn't be. Such things, be they song or otherwise, could certainly cross worlds. Maybe.

Slowly, they came to a close together. Caren had to swallow; her throat felt dry.Her fault for singing so much.]

I'm surprised. I didn't know others knew the song.

[Asuna...is not of her world, she thinks. Servants, least those she knew, were more likely to be pagen, and or think the Church song something to tolerate at best and not join in. Magi tended not to be churchgoers for good reason.

Caren's golden eyes swept over the young woman, curious as to who she was.]

[avantguard]

[ Asuna sighs at the end, deciding that singing in public isn't nearly as bad when you're doing it with someone else. She looks sheepish regardless, offering a shy smile and rubbing at her arm. ]

I'm as surprised as you are but you sang Amazing Grace very well. You have a lovely voice. Um, sorry for joining without asking.

II-A

[burlyheart]

[Photography is supposed to practically be an extension of landscape drawing, so Potemkin had figured this job would be both decent practice and usage of his skills. But after a few pictures the rustic atmosphere of the town had taken hold of him and he found himself like it's a day at the petting zoo. He feels delight at how he's managed to get goats and ducks to eat from his hand. Then he ran into Caren.]

Are we allowed to disrupt public fixtures like that?

[showsnopiety]

[He's got goats and ducklings, and it looks like there's a bunch of them that are just...well...are ready to crawl all over him. But his objection only has Caren blink at him, slowly.

Potemkin, you're about to find out what a terrible person your room mate is.]

People don't seem to care. And if they do, they won't once you've taken off a few layers.

[As an afterthought, she adds:]

Too bad it isn't a video. We might get more colle if you flexed.

[burlyheart]

[W-w-what?!]

Isn't that public indecency?!

[Potemkin will manage to find an ordinance that makes this illegal somehow if you let him try.]