crescentview | December Open Post/Catch All/Overflow

December Open Post/Catch All/Overflow

Who: Van Zieks and whoever
What: General catch all for bingos and other effects
When: December
Where: Various
Warnings: TBA

Something has gone terribly wrong? (December 9th)
[You are just minding your own business, walking on the beach, or through the wood, when you hear what is certainly an unfamiliar laugh. If you look around, you'll soon attach it to... van Zieks? No, this can't be him. He's smiling. He's barefoot and covered in dirt. His hair isn't immaculately combed back and he's simply wearing a loose cotton shirt with his tight lawyer pants, though he does have a sword now hanging at his waist, which is new. This cannot be van Zieks. Even the cadence of his voice is lacking his normal ominous grit, but the voice is certainly his otherwise.]

Oh, come here! I have something to show you.
[Seriously who the hell is this and what did he do with the real van Zieks???]

Nevermind, Uncle has the Depression Again (December 10th)
[The following day, van Zieks is back in his austere best, looking more glowery and somber than ever before, like he's making up for the time he lost yesterday. You may find him at his usual haunt in the darkest corner of the winery, OR if you're wandering around in the woods, you might find him surveying the plot of land on his farm, or rather, the chaos that the him of the day before wreaked, which is to say, something was done to the plots, but it's hard to tell if it was anything constructive because they're upturned earth everywhere. Van Zieks is leaning heavily on the shovel he's holding, looking tired.]

Let me know if you have something specific in mind for bingo
[Hit me up on discord or on plurk

agentmaine]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sylvando's smile brightens even further. Van Zieks' trust means a lot to him!]

We have something in common, then! Knighthood has been a part of my own family for generations- my papi even trains fledgling knights to-be.

[While talking about his father would be something of a sore spot not too long ago, their recent reconciliation has him speaking with the utmost pride.]

I can see why your brother would view law practice in a similar light. You are serving justice in your own way, are you not?

[It's admittedly not something he has a lot of experience with himself. Law is probably a lot more primitive in Erdrea anyway.]

Edited 2022-12-21 23:09 (UTC)

That is what I set out to do. To rid the streets of London of crine. But...

[He sighs loudly.]

This is a terrible topic of conversation!
[He has had ENOUGH. Wrong van Zieks is not a wallower.]

What do your duties as a knight entail, exactly?

[...but the curse of the reaper happened, Sylvando inwardly guesses. He wouldn't want van Zieks to have to talk about that dark road anyway, so he easily obliges with the change of topic.

He does give van Zieks' hand another squeeze before he gets into it, though.]

Well, I'm an unconventional knight in a number of ways. I'm not part of a military company, so I don't have the typical sort of responsibilities that you would expect from such a role. My way of protecting the people comes from protecting their smiles!

[It probably sounds a little corny at first blush, but:]

That is to say, I do whatever I can to bring light to the darkest of corners. Whether it's putting on a performance under a circus tent or rescuing a citizen from certain doom...as long as I can bring joy to others, there is nothing I won't do to make it happen.

Mm. I do recall you saying something of that extraction in the profile you filled out. I thought it ridiculous at the time, but...

[Well, even if he was his normal self... that explanation would almost have sold him. Wrong van Zieks, however.]

Well, it's certainly unconventional! But the world really can be so dark and dreary. I could never play such a role, but I can see the value in it.

See! You do get it!

[Sylvando can hardly believe it, but he loves surprises like this.]

I've had my fair share of nay-sayers, but I've never let it get me down. Every smile that I can bring to someone's face reminds me of how absolutely worth it this path I've chosen is.

[He swoops van Zieks' hand in a playful swing.]

That includes your own, you know.

[He blushes a little.]

Well... Until recently, of course, I wasn't much given to smiling, because of the path I chose, the mantle I chose to bear...
[of the Reaper. But he huffs.]

But is it really worth it? All that effort, all that hardship... Why do I have to suffer for the sake of the rest of London? You seem to be perfectly happy while still serving the people.

[And the reaper is the exact problem here!]

You shouldn't have to suffer. Protecting others should bring you joy, not misery!

[Let him make that painfully clear.]

From my understanding, that mantle was more thrust upon you than anything, was it not? I think that is where the biggest difference lies, and I find it very unfair that you had to be burdened with such an existence, no matter how much safer it made the streets of London. There was surely a better way!

... The better way would have been to uncover the real culprit. But of course I wasn't able to do that.

[Ugh!!! But again, this is lame to talk about.]

It's fine. It's been dealt with now. I just... I just want to focus on myself here. Is that wrong of me?
[Pouting again.]

Oh, honey...

[He does come down from that bout of indignation at van Zieks' request, though.]

Of course it's not wrong of you. I'm sorry, I just get so angry when I think about it. No one should be forced into something like that.

[The gloomy, pessimistic van Zieks that is NORMALLY in control wouls say he deserved it. He'd let anger cloud his judgment, and thus the forces at play pull the wool over his eyes, make him a pawn in their scheme. If he'd only been better, more exacting, like he is now, seen the inconsistencies... then there would never have been a reaper in the first place.

But he's NOT in control right now so Wrong Van Zieks dismisses the thought.]

What are you angry for? It doesn't have anything to do with you.

That may be true, but I'm angry on your behalf.

[...and he would also know a thing or two about being forced into a role that he didn't see himself fitting into. Almost, at any rate.]

Because you feel sorry for me? I know I strike a miserable figure, normally.

[Hmph!!! He didn't ask for pity!!!]

Ah-

[That kind of smacks him right in the face. After a moment of silence, he lets out a sigh and shakes his head.]

I'm sorry, honey. You caught me red-handed. It's, ah... It's not an unfamiliar subject to me, is all. But it's not fair for me to compare our experiences either.

[Ok but this actually surprises him enough to bring him out of his sulk a little.]

You had to deal with something like this?

W-Well, nothing quite that severe...

[Now he just feels awkward, but he does explain.]

My Papi, he- He was set on sending me off to be a world-class knight just like he had been. The traditional kind. But I found my true calling with the circus, and things became very difficult between us for many years because I refused to follow the path that he had chosen for me.

Edited 2023-01-03 05:32 (UTC)

[It's not an issue he specifically relates to. He'd had no such issue with his father or of course his main role model, Klint. He'd followed in his footsteps out of admiration and a shared passion in the cause. There was little he was certain about, but that he would have somehow found himself in the judiciary even if he hadn't had Klint, he was sure of.

But he's seen the issue happen to others plenty of times. He can understand it on paper. And as Sylvando had suggested, he understood the stifling feeling of having your path chosen for you.]

You say it in the past tense... have you reconciled with him now?

[With a nod,]

I have, though I don't think I could have ever worked up the courage if my friend hadn't been there by my side as moral support.

[Imagine it: Sylvando needing moral support! But it's true.]

It's actually very silly how it all turned out. Back when I had chosen my path, we argued and argued...to the point that I simply ran away from home. I thought he would never see the merit in pursuing knighthood in other ways and that he would think of me as a failure, so I was terrified to ever return. But when I finally did...I learned that he never stopped believing in me as a knight, even after what happened.

[He smiles brightly. Sylvando is going to be the only one who truly understands if it ever gets out that van Zieks used to be called the "little darling" of his family. When he's not being all doom and gloom he really has a radiant smile ]

That's great! It would be a shame if you lost your connection to your family over a difference of opinion.

[In any case. He points just ahead.]

Is that one your farm, Sylvando?

[Wow... Now that's a smile that could make even Sylvando's heart skip a beat. Who could have guessed that van Zieks was hiding it beneath the shadows?]

Thank you, honey. I feel the exact same way, which is why I felt so silly at the time! I really could've afforded to be a little less stubborn about the whole thing and save myself a few years of worry, but I suppose I inherited that quality from my Papi along with his swordsmanship.

[When Sylvando sets his mind on something, everyone better get out of his way, seriously.]

Buuut that's all in the past now, right? Papi is back in my life, and he's already proven to be a marvelous tío to my little soldiers!

[All's well that ends well. Hopefully Rodrigo doesn't mind looking after the Soldiers of Smile for just a little while longer while Sylvando is here on the island...

-ah! But he can worry about that later. The farm is in sight!]

That's the one! It's not much just yet, but some sprucing up did wonders for it all the same. It's a charming little place to call home...and to have people over!

I'm sure it's perfectly pleasant! I haven't... really done much with mine. I wouldn't even know what to do. It's a bit embarrassing, but I'm really not used to living without staff...
[He is really just a pampered little rich boy, which explains why he's so good at pouting.]

Plus you're right near the water! That has to be nice.
[Now that the conversation has shifted back to something lighter, he's cozying back right to Sylvando's side.]

Heh. It's not embarrassing at all. It takes a lot of getting used to, but I think you'll find surviving on your own to be very fulfilling.

[Words of encouragement from a former pampered little rich boy. He believes in van Zieks!]

Oh, it is! It's one of the many things that I missed about my home while I was away for all those years. The sea adds a layer of beauty that you just cannot get anywhere else.

[After a stroll through the fields, they reach Sylvando's farmhouse where van Zieks had found him earlier. The interior of it is simple, but it's clear that Sylvando has already made his mark. It's neat and tidy, with bright fabrics as accents to liven the place up a little. A pleasant floral scent wafts through the entryway as he escorts van Zieks to the living room.]

Welcome to La Casa de Sylvando, Barry darling. Please make yourself at home.

Hmph, well, I don't really want to be on my own!
[He knows it's two different ideas of being on Your Own, that they're talking about, but. Still.

Anyway he takes those instructions easily, disengaging from Sylvando to flop onto the furniture, loosening the top buttons on his shirt. He still is on a very transparent mission.]

So, when are you going to tell me what you had in mind?

[And all that is going to get is a suffering sigh, but he's confident that van Zieks will come around to existing without servants. For now though, he'll provide what he knows van Zieks actually means in this context: some companionship.

It still feels a little surreal though, seeing van Zieks like this. He expected a more...proper display? He's certain that something has to be up, but he's not sure just what. Maybe it has to do with the Goddess...? Wouldn't that be something.

Well, van Zieks isn't going to just lie there and let him inwardly ponder this, he's sure.]

Aren't you eager?

[He teases as he slides down beside van Zieks. A hand drifts up to the other man's broad shoulder.]

You were very tense, last I saw you. I imagine that's hardly changed. What do you say to a little massage, hm?

[Oh. He wasn't expecting that, and it's plain on his face. But then... well, Sylvando isn't wrong. One day of acting different isn't enough to undo a decade of tension. And beyond that... well... this isn't entirely off course.]

I-That's something you know how to do?
[Despite his boldness, he does seem a little flustered at the more specific mental image being presented.]

[The minor nerves are noted, and Sylvando remains gentle in the face of it. There's nothing to be afraid of, after all!]

I'm no professional, but I know a thing or two.

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