we stand shoulder to shoulder (veteran's social)

[theydrewfirstblood]

Who: John Rambo (theydrewfirstblood) & The Pumpkin Hollow Veterans' Association
What: Leveling up veteran's poker night with a barbecue
When: post-Blight
Where: Baker Ranch
Warning(s): General warnings for John's canon: violence, police brutality, PTSD, torture, etc., and likely similar for many other veterans here, check for further warnings throughout

(NOTE: Treat this as a gathering, but I personally will be backtagging into this for the duration of September, so don't be a stranger!)

Poker Night is something John looks forward to every month, but he got it into his head that it could be fun to do a little more, so he talked to a few people, did a little extra work...

...then the damn Thatcher's Blight hit and everything went to absolute shit.

Fortunately, the whole thing's blown over now, and once he's sure everything around the farm is as clean as it's gonna get? John goes through his stores and decides he's got enough food and drink for all--and tacks up a notice on the bulletin board just below that for the regular poker night, with a date and time as well as his phone number and address.

VETERAN'S SOCIAL, BAKER RANCH--BBQ & DRINKS, POTLUCK OPTIONAL

The event starts a few hours before dusk. John's set up a ways from the house with some tables, chairs, and blankets for those who want to go full on picnic style. It wouldn't be a veteran's night without poker, so there's a game going at one of the tables while another holds plates of food--regular game coming off the grill, along with a few other pieces of meat he picked up for those who aren't fans of game.

And, because Co is around, there's no visible chicken on the grill. Ever the pragmatist, there's a couple casseroles of simple baked chicken on the table, alongside some sides John's put together or any offerings that come along as part of the optional potluck. There's not a lot of alcohol, but John's got the last bottle or two of his little dandelion wine experiment available, as well as a couple other things. Mostly it's water, tea, coffee--tamer offerings.

Speaking of the animals, John's turned loose the ones he treats as pets: Sam the rooster spends the whole night chasing after and trying to wrangle Co, who makes no bones about harassing newcomers for adulation. Those she knows, if they sit still too long, will end up with a happy chicken nesting in their lap...one that will remain quiet only so long as you offer the bare minimum of scritches and pets. Dare to ignore her, and angry clucking will ensue. John's mare, Helga, can also be seen grazing around the goings-on, shy but not unfriendly. If a hot breath puffs on the back of your neck, she's just curious--if you pet her, she'll swish her tail happily and move on.

There's also a newer member of the family, whose only just getting big enough to let socialize: Bao, a female cottontail rabbit whose still young, but no longer too much of a baby to keep isolated. Though she spends a good portion of the night in John's arms when he's not busy, she does hop around loose, sticking close to John and to Co, who can be found very rarely nesting in a patch of grass with Bao tucked against her feathery side, gently attempting to "preen" Bao despite her lack of feathers.

And while this is, ostensibly, the veteran's social, any of Baker Ranch's varying degrees of resident are invited to the party, so if there's new faces about? Relax, they don't bite--unless you have food, then watch your hands. They're probably teenagers, and they don't discriminate when it comes to their appetites.

Comments

[blindwatchersees]

A faint smirk forms on his face.

“I suppose I wouldn’t oppose a little conversation, given the quality of discussion you’ve already offered. Or at the very least, I’m not so socially inept that I would answer that question in the affirmative.”

There’s something about his tone that suggests a dry amusement.

“I suppose there’s something to be implied by the fact that Sheogorath, out of all the Princes, has chosen to manifest here.”

[spaghettification]

"I wonder if Mortanne brought him here to counter or subvert the local demon associated with misperception and insanity?"

[blindwatchersees]

"Yes, about that... what exactly are these 'demons?'"

[spaghettification]

"Entities opposed in energy and purpose to the local goddesses. A father and his princely sons, who represent ills in the world."

[blindwatchersees]

"Ills, and ills alone? Interesting. And these goddesses, are they wholly benevolent?"

It's not something he can really ever believe in, but he's curious what the local opinions are.

[spaghettification]

"So it seems. Or at least, all are well-intentioned. They visit sometimes, the goddesses. Each in her season, only."

[blindwatchersees]

"Curious."

So-called well-intentioned entities playing an active hands in the lives of the people? Couldn't be his Tamriel.

"So, you believe Sheogorath- one of the most notoriously capricious of the Daedric Princes, if not THE most capricious- would play a hand in opposing these demons, in favor of the goddesses?"

[spaghettification]

Siebren looks sidelong at Mac. "I do believe he would. There are people he cares about within the community."

cw: doom and gloom and damnation talk, also slavery mention

[blindwatchersees]

"You must forgive me if I have my doubts. In my experience, there is little mercy in this world, and what pittance we have is eked out through blood and pain. The gods have offered me little sanctuary in exchange for my service, and so I do what I can to find the closest thing to safe harbor before the tide comes in. It's futile, of course. My soul is cursed, bound for an eternity of suffering in the slave pits of Coldharbour."

"But you do not strike me as a fool, even as a man who puts his faith in the Madgod. I'm intrigued."

[spaghettification]

"What if you could stay here in this world, instead of returning to your promised damnation?"

He holds out a hand, as if physically offering a handful of hope.

[blindwatchersees]

He hesitates.

"I... would be missed. There are others worth returning for. Others that I ran away to try to protect in the first place."

Macaelius is visibly torn.

[spaghettification]

"Ah. Well, it's not something you need to decide on today. Today is simply being in a community of peers." There's a gesture around them, implying both the ranch and the island.

[blindwatchersees]

"Indeed. And... perhaps there's something I can do, for the people here, while I'm here. It would feel better than hiding out idly for fear of my nature being discovered."

[spaghettification]

"It is hardly as though you'd be the only one here who'd been seen as a monster."

He means this in the most gentle way possible.

[blindwatchersees]

"My main concern is whether or not the people who do perceive me as a monster will take my life."

[spaghettification]

"They could, but they couldn't keep it, on this island."

This is, for legal purposes, a joke.

[blindwatchersees]

"I suppose that's a fair point. Though... that doesn't absolve me from giving the sun its fair share of caution. Temporary death or not, burning alive is not something I want to experience."

He sighs.

"I don't have the heart to tell John that the rabbits aren't enough."

[spaghettification]

"Do you think he would judge you, for having greater needs?"

Siebren's posture shifts slightly. Not to lean away in fear, but almost to crane his neck closer.

[blindwatchersees]

"It's more that I don't want to guilt him into giving me more than what he's already so graciously offered to me."

[spaghettification]

Siebren's quiet for a long moment, watching Macaelius with a mild expression on his face.

"Well. What if someone else offered something more than rabbits?"

[blindwatchersees]

A look of exasperation crosses his face, and then he laughs. He laughs and he laughs and he laughs. It's cold but genuine.

"If I'm understanding what you... gods... what am I doing that keeps attracting thralls?"

[spaghettification]

Sigma reacts to that word as if he's been slapped.

"I am not some mindless thrall, nor someone who is coming to you out of a sense of self-loathing."

[blindwatchersees]

Now it’s his turn to stammer.

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean… I… it’s, er, it’s a bit of an in-joke. My husband, he… calls himself my thrall as a bit of a tongue-in-cheek. I apologize, this is not the right circumstance for such a remark.”

[spaghettification]

"I've been controlled enough that I don't take the accusation kindly."

Siebren glances aside, shoulders tensing.

[blindwatchersees]

"Again, I apologize."