entry + dec. catch all | ota

[shadowguardian]

« Who: Heismay and you!
« What: Smol bat, smol town, smol island
« When: late December
« Where: The Oak and Iron, the Docks, Fall's Promise Cemetary, Downtown, Outskirts of Town, Lockwood Forest
« Content Warnings: reference to death of a child, references to unhealthy relationships with alcohol

[ Drinking and People Watching At The Oak and Iron ]

It would not have been a good thing even a year ago, he thinks, to be housed somewhere with such easy access to drink. Thankfully, it has been some months since he was driven to take a bottle in claw for reasons other than enjoyment, but it does not feel that long ago. How time flies when there is work to do, and when one is among friends. That, of course, is another danger: he is alone now, once again, and there is of course the temptation as the bartender places his drink on the counter.

And yet the grip on him seems as loose as ever. Remarkable, really. Or perhaps, not so remarkable as all that. Even now, his heart is with his companions, and his work is in the name of his prince. It would not do to revert to the man he was before he knew him, to act as if the lessons he had learned with him disappeared as soon as he was out of earshot.

None of these things are true, he reflects, as he settles down with his drink and his food, his corner picked for visibility and a back against the wall (once in the Shadowguard, always in the Shadowguard) to watch those who are enjoying their evening with him.

Should you be interested in the new face in the room, he would be happy to chat with you. Otherwise, you may find yourself nodded to respectfully should you meet his eye.

[ Fishing at the Docks ]

He's got no particular interest in the boats there, but he has always traveled with his fishing rod with him and that means that he's going to do as he always has: supplement some of his groceries with fish. Despite his knightly title, he'd never exactly been flush with cash, so fishing was often how food was put on the table.

He's not the sort of fisherman who doesn't want company; he's happy to talk bait or fish or just chat while they wait for a tug on the line, but he won't be moving for a few hours.

[ Reflecting at Fall's Promise Cemetary ]

He is aware of the situation on this island, of course. And his people do not, generally, utilize cemeteries and graves as the Sanctists do. But this is a place to mourn the dead, and thus it feels only right to visit here with his son.

He finds a tree to hang in, to meditate in with one claw around his necklace, and that is where he will be for some time, at least until it feels as if he ought to go.

Perhaps it is surprising, but he won't mind being spoken to. His son is with him always, and he knows his boy would never want him to ignore the living for him. Quite the contrary.

[ Patrolling all Around Town ]

He has never done a proper 'patrol' but he is aware of them; usually, he was the one avoiding them, slipping around them, gliding over their heads.

But he is now one of those tasked with protecting the people of this place in the light, a position he has come to be more comfortable with since he emerged from that cave in Martira, and thus he will spend some of his time just walking around the town, all corners of it, to ensure the safety of the people here and deal with any threats that may arise.

It once more reminds him of how many elda- humans, they call themselves here, and no wonder, there are here. Don't be surprised if he looks towards your ears or temples, because the lack of horns and long ears is still something he'll have to get used to. Which isn't to say his eyes aren't sharp for threats; they most certainly are. But he can't help that this is weird.

Comments

the cemetery

[lovethyneighb_or]

There is a wraith in the cemetery.

Well. No, not really. But there is a figure, cloaked in severe black, sun-faded in complexion with silver hair and silver glasses, sweeping snow from the main footpaths as a lantern swings from his hip.

Spotting Heismay he stops and hesitates; the recent monster activity has him wary, but at some point he figures that this must be either a very strange local or another one of the come-from-aways. Tentatively, Father Mulcahy waves, if only to establish his presence as friendly.

Re: the cemetery

[shadowguardian]

The movement catches his eye (or perhaps his ears, it's hard to say which hits first) and the red eyes open and take in the wave. He will, to start, offer a wave with one winged claw. Then, noticing the hesitance, he will drop from the tree branch before gliding down to a graceful landing. Once he's on his feet, he will offer a bow.

"My apologies. I did not mean to disturb anyone."

Despite his size, that voice is deep, melodious, and formal. The faint French accent is probably a bit of a surprise too.

[lovethyneighb_or]

Oh, he does enjoy the air about this stranger. It almost seems to warm the frigid air around them.

"I'm only gravesweeping. I'd hardly say you were disturbing anyone." Mulcahy's voice is very American and light by contrast, but similarly melodic and formal. "Please, take your time here. This is a place of contemplation after all."

A brief pause. "Although I admit, it's a little rare to see newcomers to the town ending up here." Considering they won't have had someone buried here and all. Most visitors he bumps into are locals.

cw death of a child

[shadowguardian]

He nods to that as well. Of this, he has no doubt.

"I have been told that cemeteries are for the living as much for the dead," he says carefully, "though they are not the way of my people. And yet, it seemed the most appropriate place to speak to my son on our new home."

His claw closes around a pendant around his neck; it would take closer examination to see that it is made from small bones, the last he'd had of his son. But the gesture does enough.

cw continues, cw war

[lovethyneighb_or]

The stranger speaks of a son. This stranger's story could have been anything, and yet even now, Mulcahy's first thought is of all those dead teenagers processed through the M*A*S*H after being shot and bombed to bits.

"The same could be said for any ritual we do for the dead." He sighs, a white plume rising to the trees as his gaze settles somewhere else for a moment.

Then back to Heismay. "I'm one of the priests for the local Temple. Father Francis John Patrick Mulcahy, though of course, you only need to call me Mulcahy." He gives a polite shallow bow, since he's not sure if handshakes translate here. "And... well, if there's anything we can do, whether that's setting up a new altar or giving you the means to perform a rite... please, let us know."

cw continues, cw war, cw religiouos trauma

[shadowguardian]

It is as he expected, and Heismay has had a long life of respecting the church greatly despite Sanctism not being the way of his own people or even a friend of them. It makes his first impulse a touch of wariness at the idea of sharing eugief ritual, but after a moment, he nods.

"Thank you," first and foremost, "such an offer is a great kindness. And speaks well of you and your fellows that you would offer it so freely."

He shakes his head.

"But there is no need. My son travels with me, his place over my heart. There is nothing else to it, I'm afraid."

And that wasn't exactly eugief ritual; he had taken his son from the urn, moved past the ways of his people to bring his son with him instead of finding a place to scatter his ashes. He has all he needs.

He does realize that he's been rude, however, and he offers a lower bow this time to the other man.

"I am Heismay Noctule. I am newly arrived to this place."

[lovethyneighb_or]

He smiles softly as Heismay gestures to his pendant. Undoubtably grim to some, but it reminds Mulcahy a little of an ossuary. “That’s a very beautiful tradition. And a very beautiful name of yours.”

He does mean it, too. “And I am honored to be one of the first to greet you here. Before I start explaining things that you already know, what have you already heard about the particulars of this place?”

[shadowguardian]

The comment prompts a warm smile: it is no tradition, or it wasn't until he'd decided to do it. But the idea that it could become one, give comfort to others, is a lovely idea.

But... to business.

"I assume that most are spoken to by the man on the boat, and in turn by the mayor of this town. From there, I signed up to be an Enforcer for the town, to assist in the protection of the people here, but have had precious little interaction otherwise. In truth, it is something I am used to."

He is eugief. His people were usually ignored and left to the shadows and sidelines.

[lovethyneighb_or]

(( ooc: sorry for dropping off suddenly!! this tends to happen, school and work and such u_u ))

"You may keep that peace if you'd like, but you might find the people of this place more welcoming and ready to help than you'd expect. The island's gotten rather used to being a melting pot of strangers."

He has a few years' experience with it already, for one.

"I'd recommend acquiring a radio for daily news and weather reports. We also tend to have regular... ahem, supernatural and dangerous activity occur, as well as significant interference from the workings of the Demon Princes and their Courts. Not too long ago the whole population was taken to a giant casino hotel for them to feed on our indulgence."

It's a lot to lay on a guy, he's aware, but better he get a heads up now than get snacked in the face with it later.

"And if you hear any gossip about the daughter of the town founder, Dahlia Leeds... do be kind and discerning. She's a strong woman, but also very much a victim of her circumstances."

[hereticofthewilds]

The cemetery is not one of her usual haunts, but as the days grow shorter she finds herself drawn to it. She used to come here to envision what her mother's grave might look like if it existed. She now knows her mother isn't actually dead but still... this is a place that is important. It will be important when the barrier finally goes back down.

Then, she senses someone nearby. But not among the graves. No, there, the tree. It's a bat! She speaks bat! She walks over and stands beneath him, looking up in a way that seems like it should kind of hurt, but she seems fine. "Hello. I'm Elsie."

[shadowguardian]

One of those big red eyes opens and he offers an upside down nod before dropping from the branch, twirling elegantly, and landing nimbly on his feet. He will offer a bow before he speaks.

"Good day to you, young lady. I am Heismay. Can I help you with something?"

[hereticofthewilds]

She claps with delight. What a graceful dismount. And, oh, the bat speaks her language. What a nice surprise.

"Help? Do you know how you wake sleeping trees?"

Cemetary

[unclenotapervert]

Well, it's not home. And he knows Chiyo's grave isn't here. But it was around that time to go visit. He's a bit saddened that he couldn't be with Chihiro to go visit Chiyo's grave. But maybe some spirit will hear him. He mentally apologises to Keiichirou, too. He hopes that Keiichirou will continue to help take care of Chihiro.

As he strolls through the cemetary, he looks over the names of the dead that he can manage to read. And it is near here that he looks up to see a bat hanging from a tree.

"...Strange. It seems to be holding a necklace..." He muses outloud to himself, taking a curious step closer.

"I've never really seen one quite like you. Although I suppose I'm not particularly familiar with bats in the first place," he smiles, not really thinking the bat can understand him.