Eleven (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bearshermark) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
westwhere2021-08-15 02:22 pm
bearshermark) wrote in westwhere2021-08-15 02:22 pm
I'm unable to breathe amongst the crowds of frozen people
WHO: Eleven & OPEN
WHEN: possibly the whole arc?
WHERE: Taravast, various
WHAT: A catch-all!
WARNINGS: Will be added!
1. Of The People
Eleven took swiftly to formal meditation. It was a bit like prayer, he reasoned, just with more inward focus and for considerably longer. The only problem being an inability to easily drown out any variety of distracting noise.
But during one of his many walks through the city, he came across a small, modest garden almost hidden behind a block of crammed buildings. It was little more than an arrangement of green shrubs, scant patches of grass, and a swath of overgrown vines creeping over the far wall toward a thin strip of canal on the other side. Squashed between two lines of buildings as it was, the garden found itself shaded over for most of the day, but for a few short hours.
And for those precious hours of sun, it was perfect. The hidden oasis feel of it let him shed his mask and local wear, stuffing the garments into the charmed bag Lily had given him and free to sit in the grass comfortably in his own clothes. Bare face tipped toward the sun and the grass warm beneath him, he breathed and peace reigned so exquisitely that falling into that quiet focus was nearly effortless. It only took visualizing the sun's gentle warmth and the breath of life in the grass soaking into him to banish those lingering, wayward thoughts.
After an untold amount of time that was surely more than the requisite hour, Eleven found himself relaxed enough to lounge back in the grass, very nearly dozing. Probably, he shouldn't nap here. He was due at court soon enough, but.. surely, it wouldn't hurt to close his eyes for a short spell..
2. Court
The masks, Eleven decided, were off-putting. It was difficult enough to recognize the people he knew through them, and made conversation twice as difficult. People's expressions hidden, the tone or inflection of their voice distorted by full masks.. as though he weren't already out of his depth.
Although his spiritual healing classes meant a little less time spent around court than most, it was still exhausting. Surrounded by people he didn't know and roped into hollow conversations while attempting to feign interest in a political cause he could care less about.. All for the sake of maintaining an image that he was beginning to suspect wasn't unique to just their group. Everyone was hiding; everyone wanted something.
Half-heard conversations washed over him, strung together with words that either meant absolutely nothing or were inlaid with a meaning that could only be divined with enough context. For the first time, Eleven found himself grateful for his conversations with Lan Wangji- at least he could discern that much. And, having adopted a basic level of formal functioning as the Luminary, he only hoped it would be enough to endure.
Presently, Eleven found himself harried by a handful of men peppering him with questions about horses, then having heated debates about his answers. It took some time to understand they only cared because of some bets they'd placed on a race. He'd attempted to dissuade further questions by insisting he wasn't an expert in all things horse-related, but it only served to conjure up debates about whether or not he was right, or how sure he was about things.
"Forgive me," he interjected with some emphasis once he'd finally drummed up the courage to recite the rehearsed line. "There's someone I need to speak to before we convene for the day."
Which, as far as excuses go, he hoped it wasn't terribly obvious that it was a complete lie. Wary of eyes following him, Eleven attempted to look like he knew exactly where he was going, increasingly desperate to find someone in his line of sight that looked even vaguely like they might be expecting him.
3. Library
On gloomy days, Eleven took his studies to the palace library, attempting to commit the information on the papers in front of him to memory. But surrounded by bookshelves holding what promised to be far less dry material, he inevitably found himself perusing the shelves and indulging his newfound ability to read anything and everything over his actual work.
Titles of various books pulled from the shelves often had some apparent link to religion, mystical flora, or life and death. And sometimes, they were simply memoirs of someone that sounded vaguely interesting. It felt like being at the Sniflheim Royal Library, but without the threat of monsters.
Pleased with his current selection, Eleven wandered back over to a desk, then paused to find someone else sitting there.
"Ah... mind if I join you?"
4. Courtyard
On pleasant days, the palace courtyard served well enough. Unwilling to bring any books outside, Eleven made considerably more progress in reading through his lesson material. He compromised with a half-mask to appease any locals drifting through as he sat quietly on a bench, half-lounging and only intermittently distracted by his surroundings.
That was of course, until an unexpected wind took the few sheets set beside him and scattered them a short distance away.
With a gasp, Eleven pursued them, snatching the sheets before they could drift too far away- or Goddess-forbid, fall into the fountain- then watched as one landed at a person's feet. He followed their figure up to a mask, feeling sheepish and not quite bold enough to reach for it despite his outstretched hand.
"..Sorry to bother you, but ah, that's my paper on poultices.."
5. Gondola by Night
Dressed down in a familiar coat only his former companions would recognize with a purple half-mask to match, Eleven rowed sedately through dark waters reflecting the night sky.
The gondolas were larger and the water deeper than what he remembered from Gondolia, but he took to his perceived role as a ferryman with far more comfort than he had the cloak of nobility. He'd even become reasonably good at it, and while he had coin enough, the tips came as a nice bonus.
Eleven glanced up as a passenger dismounted and caught sight of someone standing near the edge of the canal.
"Can I take you across the water?"
6. City Offerings
It wouldn't be a proper visit to a new city without trying out the various restaurants and bars on offer. And once he had two masks and accidentally acquisitioned something like a second identity, it was less stressful to talk to people without as much concern for reputation. The place he'd chosen tonight was busy, and tables were swiftly filling to the point of even pairing strangers together. Just as well; the bar was full and eating on his own was far less enjoyable.
Certainly, it would have been nice if he could easily enjoy the company of those he'd befriended despite political affiliation, but Eleven buried such concerns beneath a drink or two and focused on enjoying a delightful meal and buoyant atmosphere.
He raised his mug in a friendly salute to the person forced to join him.
"Hope you're having a pleasant night so far."
7. Wildcard??
[ooc: feel free to hit me up with anything adjacent to these prompts, or if you'd like to work out something specific, Eleven's plotting post is here!
Happy to adapt to action tags or prose!]
WHEN: possibly the whole arc?
WHERE: Taravast, various
WHAT: A catch-all!
WARNINGS: Will be added!
1. Of The People
Eleven took swiftly to formal meditation. It was a bit like prayer, he reasoned, just with more inward focus and for considerably longer. The only problem being an inability to easily drown out any variety of distracting noise.
But during one of his many walks through the city, he came across a small, modest garden almost hidden behind a block of crammed buildings. It was little more than an arrangement of green shrubs, scant patches of grass, and a swath of overgrown vines creeping over the far wall toward a thin strip of canal on the other side. Squashed between two lines of buildings as it was, the garden found itself shaded over for most of the day, but for a few short hours.
And for those precious hours of sun, it was perfect. The hidden oasis feel of it let him shed his mask and local wear, stuffing the garments into the charmed bag Lily had given him and free to sit in the grass comfortably in his own clothes. Bare face tipped toward the sun and the grass warm beneath him, he breathed and peace reigned so exquisitely that falling into that quiet focus was nearly effortless. It only took visualizing the sun's gentle warmth and the breath of life in the grass soaking into him to banish those lingering, wayward thoughts.
After an untold amount of time that was surely more than the requisite hour, Eleven found himself relaxed enough to lounge back in the grass, very nearly dozing. Probably, he shouldn't nap here. He was due at court soon enough, but.. surely, it wouldn't hurt to close his eyes for a short spell..
2. Court
The masks, Eleven decided, were off-putting. It was difficult enough to recognize the people he knew through them, and made conversation twice as difficult. People's expressions hidden, the tone or inflection of their voice distorted by full masks.. as though he weren't already out of his depth.
Although his spiritual healing classes meant a little less time spent around court than most, it was still exhausting. Surrounded by people he didn't know and roped into hollow conversations while attempting to feign interest in a political cause he could care less about.. All for the sake of maintaining an image that he was beginning to suspect wasn't unique to just their group. Everyone was hiding; everyone wanted something.
Half-heard conversations washed over him, strung together with words that either meant absolutely nothing or were inlaid with a meaning that could only be divined with enough context. For the first time, Eleven found himself grateful for his conversations with Lan Wangji- at least he could discern that much. And, having adopted a basic level of formal functioning as the Luminary, he only hoped it would be enough to endure.
Presently, Eleven found himself harried by a handful of men peppering him with questions about horses, then having heated debates about his answers. It took some time to understand they only cared because of some bets they'd placed on a race. He'd attempted to dissuade further questions by insisting he wasn't an expert in all things horse-related, but it only served to conjure up debates about whether or not he was right, or how sure he was about things.
"Forgive me," he interjected with some emphasis once he'd finally drummed up the courage to recite the rehearsed line. "There's someone I need to speak to before we convene for the day."
Which, as far as excuses go, he hoped it wasn't terribly obvious that it was a complete lie. Wary of eyes following him, Eleven attempted to look like he knew exactly where he was going, increasingly desperate to find someone in his line of sight that looked even vaguely like they might be expecting him.
3. Library
On gloomy days, Eleven took his studies to the palace library, attempting to commit the information on the papers in front of him to memory. But surrounded by bookshelves holding what promised to be far less dry material, he inevitably found himself perusing the shelves and indulging his newfound ability to read anything and everything over his actual work.
Titles of various books pulled from the shelves often had some apparent link to religion, mystical flora, or life and death. And sometimes, they were simply memoirs of someone that sounded vaguely interesting. It felt like being at the Sniflheim Royal Library, but without the threat of monsters.
Pleased with his current selection, Eleven wandered back over to a desk, then paused to find someone else sitting there.
"Ah... mind if I join you?"
4. Courtyard
On pleasant days, the palace courtyard served well enough. Unwilling to bring any books outside, Eleven made considerably more progress in reading through his lesson material. He compromised with a half-mask to appease any locals drifting through as he sat quietly on a bench, half-lounging and only intermittently distracted by his surroundings.
That was of course, until an unexpected wind took the few sheets set beside him and scattered them a short distance away.
With a gasp, Eleven pursued them, snatching the sheets before they could drift too far away- or Goddess-forbid, fall into the fountain- then watched as one landed at a person's feet. He followed their figure up to a mask, feeling sheepish and not quite bold enough to reach for it despite his outstretched hand.
"..Sorry to bother you, but ah, that's my paper on poultices.."
5. Gondola by Night
Dressed down in a familiar coat only his former companions would recognize with a purple half-mask to match, Eleven rowed sedately through dark waters reflecting the night sky.
The gondolas were larger and the water deeper than what he remembered from Gondolia, but he took to his perceived role as a ferryman with far more comfort than he had the cloak of nobility. He'd even become reasonably good at it, and while he had coin enough, the tips came as a nice bonus.
Eleven glanced up as a passenger dismounted and caught sight of someone standing near the edge of the canal.
"Can I take you across the water?"
6. City Offerings
It wouldn't be a proper visit to a new city without trying out the various restaurants and bars on offer. And once he had two masks and accidentally acquisitioned something like a second identity, it was less stressful to talk to people without as much concern for reputation. The place he'd chosen tonight was busy, and tables were swiftly filling to the point of even pairing strangers together. Just as well; the bar was full and eating on his own was far less enjoyable.
Certainly, it would have been nice if he could easily enjoy the company of those he'd befriended despite political affiliation, but Eleven buried such concerns beneath a drink or two and focused on enjoying a delightful meal and buoyant atmosphere.
He raised his mug in a friendly salute to the person forced to join him.
"Hope you're having a pleasant night so far."
7. Wildcard??
[ooc: feel free to hit me up with anything adjacent to these prompts, or if you'd like to work out something specific, Eleven's plotting post is here!
Happy to adapt to action tags or prose!]
no subject
Pushing her mask up she seemed to be on the verge of saying something else about her night when she paused and narrowed her eyes at him instead.
"Wait. Why are you sailing a gondola?" Did he own a gondola now? How cool!
no subject
"I've taken a job as a ferryman in the evenings," he said, though that was something of an overly simplistic explanation of what had been a mistaken assumption. But what had been a lie then was more or less the truth now. No one had yet accused him otherwise and night by night, he grew more familiar to the locals.
"There was a town by the sea where I learned and I'd always found it enjoyable, so here we are."
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"And you're studying healing, aren't you? You've become a local."
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"I'm trying," he hedged, eyes on the water and watching for nearby lamps as they glided sedately across the river. "I've just decided to do this because it's relaxing, but I'm hoping to learn a few things while we're here. Are you doing well with yours?"
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Lily turned in her seat to look at Eleven lifting her mask to frown at him. "Have you learned enough about the city to know where the late-night chicken is? I'm famished." And still a little tipsy, but hunger took precedent.
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"My lessons aren't anything interesting, yet," he assured with a grin. "But I think I can show you to a place that I've heard offers an impressively meaty leg as a meal in itself. I can't promise it's chicken, but it's from a bird of some sort. I'd planned to use tonight's fare to try it."
no subject
"And if I bribed you with the wine I've got on me, would you finish your rounds and come in search of meaty legs with me?"
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"I do enjoy wine," he said with a small smile. "And good company for a meal. I suppose I could be convinced."
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"Can you? I've heard I'm wonderful company, not that I'd want to twist your arm. I'm perfectly capable of navigating a meaty leg on my own." Oh, she could hear it that time.
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"Sorry," he said, glad it was just Lily rather than a local. He worked to steady it once more. "But yes, I- ah, that sounds nice- if you want."
no subject
"Course I want to! It's been a lovely evening, your meat and company could only make it nicer." Stop talking Lily.
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"No," he wheezed, "I really- really think I do need some wine."
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"Did you swallow a bug?" She held the wine out for him while looking on in concern. Was it like flying a broom where that was a constant hazard?
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"Yeah," he said hoarsely, then tipped the proffered elixir into his mouth in an effort to soothe his throat. It would take considerably more to take the edge off his mind, but not choking anymore would do for now.
"Sorry," he said, handing it back and straightening with a breath. "..Thanks."
no subject
Lily held out her hand for the wine, taking a healthy swig from it once he'd passed it over to her. "At least regardless of how much we drink, I'm certain you'll get me back to my room safely. Are we there yet?"
no subject
"Almost," he assured and took in a deep breath of cool, night air to calm himself. His face finally felt like it was beginning to return to a normal, healthy temperature. "We'll enjoy a nice meal, drink, and then I promise I'll see you safely back."
With the added hope that he'd manage to survive any further accidental innuendos on Lily's part.
no subject
"And I promise the same," she said, slurring slightly as she continued to watch the city drift past the gondola. "I'll have you safe in bed, your honor unbesmirched."
no subject
He veered closer to the bank and padded the water to pull the gondola to a gradual halt along the short pier. Eleven offered Lily a hand up, assured she made it out of the boat without swaying under the wine's influence, then once the boat was secured, followed after her.
"I think that's it," he said after a minute of walking and peering about. The building in question had its doors flung open, spilling light and a tempting aroma out into the streets. He swallowed as his mouth swiftly watered. "Goddess, I don't care how big they are; I'll eat one whole."
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"Do you think we'll need our masks?" Lily posed the question over her shoulder, already walking towards the warm glow of the eatery's open doors, eager to get her hands on decidedly not tiny, substantive food.
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"I'm just a gondolier," he demurred, which felt true enough in the evening hours. But he glanced about, spotting the odd worker without a mask and shrugged. "You'll need to eat without it anyway."
They were rather far out from the district the nobles liked to frequent this time of night, and the casual atmosphere and promise of filling food was wonderful. Still, he worried a touch about Lily's cover if she was trying to maintain it.
"Would you rather eat in, or out here somewhere?"
no subject
"Would you charge me an extra fare if I suggested we eat aboard your ship, oh humble gondolier?"
Maybe this wasn't the best place to be seen, much less without a mask, and his apparent hesitance had given her a moment's pause to consider that fact. It would do no good to fall out of favor with the lady she was meant to be supporting.
no subject
"For a lady so fine as yourself?" he returned in an exaggerated mockery of the nobles he'd seen proffering such shows of flattery in the richer districts. "Perish the thought."
Eleven shook his head on another laugh, settling with a smile as they approached and the prospect of food inched closer. "That sounds nice, though- eating on the river. I could row us out to the middle of the water."
no subject
"Come on then, before anyone notices an elegant lady like me skulking about." Lily flashed a grin at him before pulling her mask down and ducking inside the wonderful smelling meatery.
no subject
"We're full, dears," a serving lady informed them.
Eleven laughed, undeterred. "I can see that. We'll take ours outside, if I could get a leg and some ale- and whatever the lady here would like."
no subject
Lingering by the door they'd come into, unwilling to get lost in the tightly packed crowd, Lily stayed close to Eleven while they waited for their food. "I think your impromptu career move might have been a stroke of brilliance El, this is far more interesting than any of the parties I've been to so far."
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