EVENT | SETTLING IN

[historiadores]

SETTLING IN

Initial quarantine period is over, but the newest arrivals in Llave, known colloquially as “Los Aparecidos” (The Appeared), remain largely restricted to the shelter for two primary reasons: one, as they are currently stateless, meaning they have no rights to citizenship anywhere, what to do with them continues to be debated; and two, it has become rapidly obvious that many have zero knowledge not just of the nation they find themselves in, but of the wider world around them.

The former has been explained to them via the lawyers who have taken their collective case, and further clarified by the prime minister, Rosario Alonzo de León, when she and several members of her government return to speak again with the arrivals. A highly intelligent and capable woman in her late forties, she makes a point of sitting with each newcomer to Llave to converse about their experiences thus far and what concerns they have.

As for the lagoons in characters’ knowledge, steps are being taken to address these.

Classes are being held now, in order to prepare the arrivals for whatever happens next. Characters will be taught a variety of skills, including but not limited to communication methods such as mail, phones, television, radio and the Internet; use of appliances, including basic lessons on modern utilities; and general safety rules both inside and outside the home. Characters can request specific classes or volunteer to help teach their companions. (And for anyone learning or helping to teach how to read and write, a reminder that the Spanish alphabet consists of 27 letters: ‘ñ’ has its place after ‘n’. And ‘ll’ and ‘rr’ have their own sounds.)

The woman organizing the classes has become well-known to the arrivals: Evelyn Burgos Peña was a clinical social worker before leaving her previous work to assume the duties of First Lady when her wife was elected. Aside from spearheading the new education efforts for the arrivals, she has also been working diligently with the Bajari Bara to establish the second change in the daily routine.

Due to the generally acceptable behavior during the Day of Heroes, characters are now sometimes permitted to leave the shelter to visit Old Nona. These group excursions are not every day, and last only a few hours. One of these excursions is tied to a class to which all are invited. Rather than make learning more about Llave itself a tedious lecture, on the week of November 22nd, the museum characters arrived at has opened its doors to them for a special exhibit on the island's early history. Characters are accompanied as they were during the Day of Heroes by a guide and an escort of Bajari Bara.

Characters are reminded being permitted outside is a privilege. Until the matter of their legal status is resolved, they have few rights and fewer legal protections. Behavior and curfew are both strictly enforced, and violations will result in the loss of this privilege.

Otherwise, the routine in the shelter remains the same. Caseworkers still check in daily and will refer those who present a need or who request it to the appropriate mental health professionals. Hot meals continue to be provided three times a day along with snacks. A projector was brought in and a different movie is aired every night (General Audiences only—remember, there are children present), with the shelter staff providing snacks to make it a movie theater experience. Entertainment items—books, games, sports equipment, art supplies, etc.—are available and can also be requested (though no promises are made that characters will get exactly what they want, especially if the item can double as a weapon).

Possession of weapons remains strictly prohibited and any visible weapons will be confiscated. Any who attempts to flout this rule, starts fights in the shelter or in Nona or attempts to break out will be swiftly separated from the rest by the Bajari Bara. Further violence will result in consequences according to their actions.

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THE MONTH'S HEADLINES

• Red chickcharney seen celebrating during the Day of Heroes.
• Tombs found disturbed in Nona's Old Cemetery.
• Santa Cecilia cattle farmers on high alert after cows, sheep found mauled.
• Unidentified flying object spotted off the coast of Bimini.

OOC PLANNING POST • NAVIGATION

Comments

[singlelogbridge]

It smells like salt and butter. [Just like the girl though, he reaches in for a handful for himself. The shape is unexpected, white fluff seemingly exploding out of some sort of seed. The lingering heat on the seed and in the bag tells him that the explosion was perhaps more literal than theoretical and he marvels at it just a little.

Taking one kernel between his fingers he offers it a soft squish and then pops the entire piece into his mouth.

It does taste like salt and butter. He likes it but—] This would be better with chili oil. Add a little spice. Do you like spicy food?

[wolfchild]

I'll eat anything.

[ helping herself to a rather large handful, she settles back into her seat, picking at the snack exploded kernel by exploded kernel, eyes turned to the image on the wall. ]

Anything's better than going hungry.

[singlelogbridge]

[Isn't that the truth. He huffs a little in amusement and nods, thinking back to a time when he'd eaten anything he could scavenge on the streets of Yiling. (And then, briefly, thinking to another time, when he'd—when he truly understood just what he was willing to do to survive.)]

That's true, but when you have the choice, which do you like better? I like spicy. The hotter the better. No one else I know likes it as much as me, they all burn their poor sad tongues.

[wolfchild]

[ her attention is drawn his way again, grey eyes blinking. ]

This is the first time I've had a choice.

[ a lie. umma the cook always had them well-fed at the temple. filleted fish rolled in crushed nuts. leopard crabs garnished with onion, carrots and celery. braised eel in a thick wine sauce. as a treat, rarely, she would even cook with saffron and the food would acquire a subtle, sweetly earthy taste.

supper was her favorite time, but lunch was equally good and they broke their fast every day with warm crusty bread, freshly churned butter, fruits lowered that very morning from the ships in the harbor.

but no one knows of her time in the temple. only gendry has seen her in her robes, and gendry doesn't know it for what it is. even if he did, he would not say. ]

[singlelogbridge]

[She's older than he was when he was on the streets, which means she's probably been on them longer. Well, fuck. One of his hands clenches out of sight but he doesn't show his anger otherwise. What good would it do her, especially here and now where things are different? That's the way of the world, isn't it? Everything else depends on luck and chance.]

Then, [He starts, smile bright even as he wants to steal her away to somewhere warm and cozy where she will never have to beg for food or steal scraps from dogs again (he doesn't have a place like that to offer and she's safe here anyway)] You will just have to try every delicious thing here. And some spicy things too.

I'm Wei Wuxian, if you are ever hungry, come and let me know. Although, it seems everyone here will work very hard to make sure that doesn't happen.

[wolfchild]

Yes. [ she looks around at the people and the staff, some watching the movie too, others busy scooping more of the odd snack into bags.

she takes another handful. ]

They're very kind. [ a little beat. ] I'm Jory.

[singlelogbridge]

They are, aren't they? [He's rather fond of them himself, especially when he thinks of how such an occurrence might have been handled in the cultivation world. They'd have believed them suspicious at best and demons at worst.]

A pleasure, Jory. [And then on a whim, because it's proper but mostly because he wants to—] The naming conventions of these other places are very different from where I'm from, but please call me Xian-gege.

[His smile when he makes his request is soft and warm. He knows not to expect anyone here to know the forms of address he's used to, but the girl is so young, it would break his heart not to hear her use gege.]

[wolfchild]

[ jory screws up her face in concentration. ]

She-on-guh-guh? [ an attempt was made. ]

[singlelogbridge]

[HIS HEART. MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE! ABORT ABORT ABORT!

Somehow, he manages not to clutch his heart, fall over, and die, but he does smile brightly at her and nod, offering only a grin of approval.]

Yes! Exactly like that, Jory, you're a natural!

[wolfchild]

[ shame on you she-on-guh-guh. ]

[wolfchild]

[ pleased, she sits up straighter. ]

Do you know Lan Wangji?

[singlelogbridge]

Do I know—[Jory, you're his favorite, first calling him gege and now bringing up Lan Wangji? His smile brightens even more and his eyes seem to sparkle.]

Lan Zhan—Lan Wangji—is my dearest friend and favorite person in the entire world.

You've met him?

[wolfchild]

[ proudly, ] He’s teaching me. In three days, I’m supposed to show him how I’m doing and get new instructions.

[ someone in front shushes her again. this time, she sticks her tongue out at them. ]

[singlelogbridge]

[Wei Wuxian follows suit sticking his tongue out and then turns back to Jory with renewed enthusiasm, an only slightly exaggerated expression of awe written across his features.]

Then consider yourself one of the luckiest, Jory! Where we're from, Lan Wangji is known as one of the bravest in the whole land, and one of the best most skilled warriors.

He won't tell you any of this of course, he's very modest, but in our world he's acquired the title of Hanguang-jun. given to him by the people, not the nobles. It means the light bearer, because wherever he goes, he spreads compassion and justice.

[wolfchild]

He's done all that?

[ she sounds surprised—though perhaps not for any reason Wei wuxian could guess. ]

It's not easy being a good man. In any world.

[singlelogbridge]

[She isn't wrong, but it's a startling thing to hear from someone so young. Is there anyone who's ended up here who has lived an easy life? He knows all lives have hardship, but why must they be so hard on so many that are so young?]

Mm, all that and more. [He pauses then and when he speaks again, his voice is soft with affection.]

Lan Wangji is the kind of man who does good for good's sake. I am very happy he's taken you on as a student, Jory. [Pause.] But if you ever get bored with his meditation and need a day off, come and tell me and I will distract him for you!

[wolfchild]

[ her eyes narrow in offense. ]

I don't get bored.

[ a lie. she was plenty bored in the temple. but as then, she will not show it.

lifting her chin, she returns to the movie. bored. she's not going to fail her lessons before they even properly begin. ]

[singlelogbridge]

[With a grin, he holds up his arms in surrender.]

Of course not! Of course. forgive me for suggesting such slander.

[Of course Jory has already returned to the marvel that is movie night by then and he laughs to himself as he pictures Lan Wangji teaching her sword forms. What a pair they will make, he will absolutely have to come by and watch her lessons.]