[Open]

[heavenly_earth]

Characters: The Watch & OPEN to everyone
Location: Death City
Time: May 10th-13th
Rating: PG-13 for now
Warnings: Potential violence
Summary: The city is in chaos and the Watch is trying to do their job, but it's a little more than they can handle on their own.


The civilians have taken to the streets in a formal march of protest, holding signs both insulting and critical; some simply vulgar while others call for action- for change. They come from everywhere and don't stop until they reach Shibusen's stairs to rally with a growing mob of protesters. Shibusen agents gifted with Calming Wavelength stand by to allow attempts at mediation, but while they aren't violent, the protesters remain unyielding in their convictions.

In other parts of the city, trouble-makers work tirelessly to disrupt or sabotage businesses, paint graffiti over any untouched wall of known guest establishments, and harass the unusual-looking passerby. Don't go out alone, or you might find yourself cornered by these troublemakers with unpredictable temperaments.

The Watch is on the move in every district, working to protect its citizens and try their hand at peacemaking, but they're stretched pretty thin...


[OOC: Coordination post is here and as always, feel free to make your own threads!]

Comments

[itsfondue]

[Steve has been doing temporary shifts in the Outer Residential Quarter ever since the uprising has started. But this is the first time that he's encountered Alphonse on the job. It seems that he's been able to drive away the protesters, since he's currently cleaning the graffiti now.

But Steve walks over to him, for once being shorter than someone. Huh. Haven't felt that in a while.]

Mr. Elric? Would you like some help?

[armorbound]

[Taller yes, but quite younger and while Alphonse might be a hard sight to miss he's certainly been busy lately. Then again compared to most people present in the city and within the Watch he doesn't exactly need to sleep or rest like normal people. Needless to say he moves around a lot, especially with the way things have been escalating recently.]

Ah - yes? [He sounds surprised, but he's not used to being addressed so formally.] You must be Mr. Rogers and just Alphonse is fine.

[itsfondue]

[Alphonse sounds like a rather young person, even if he's a foot taller than him. But Steve doesn't mind, important thing is if a person has good character and all that.]

Nice to meet you, Alphonse. [He gives him a polite smile.] And Steve is fine. Neji informed you about my temporary shift here then?

[armorbound]

All right then, Steve, and yes he did! I've been pulling extra shifts myself these days to help out as well.

[Considering he doesn't need to eat and sleep, he's been keeping busy on all ends to help maintain what little balance he can.]

Thanks for your help with the Watch. I was just about to clean up the mess here if you want to help.

[itsfondue]

If I deserve a thanks, then you deserve one as well. [But he grabs a sponge and applies detergent before starting to wash the graffiti.]

Dealt with these type of crowds before? Seems that you handled them well.

[armorbound]

I honestly have nothing better to do so it's not a problem, besides I'm happy to help.

[Like so many others he's stuck in this world and while he doesn't agree with how the Academy handles things he isn't about to let innocent people be hurt while he's around to help.]

You could say that. Most of them are just kids...

[Probably ones around his age, which is strange to think about and in the end makes him sigh as he pushes the edge of the long mop against the wall and begins to draw it up and down to clear the paint and horrible writing away.]

[itsfondue]

[Steve smiles a bit.] I'm not much of a busy guy either.

[He also doesn't agree with how the Academy operates, but he wants to do more still.]

It'd be ideal if we can disperse all of the violent groups without attacking them.

[armorbound]

A lot of them are just scared.

[He speaks in a knowing tone of voice and from personal experience. He's had his fair share of moments where others have screamed and shot at him when they learn he's just an empty suit of armor. Many can't be bothered to listen when he tries to get them to calm down and it usually only ends badly for the other person involved.]

I just wonder how many of them realize a lot of us just want to go back home, it's not like we asked to come here.

[The mop against the wall comes to a sudden halt as he pauses. His words came out much more harshly than he meant them too.]

[itsfondue]

[With a war lasting this long, fear would be a common reaction among the people here. Seems that they're fed up as well.

Steve looks over at Alphonse when he pauses, but he soon continues with his own work.]

Because of their fear, they don't realize it. But we still need to continue in trying to help.

[armorbound]

I know.

[He admits with a tone of guilt, sometimes even his emotions could get the better of him.]

You're right though and this isn't the first time I've done my best to help people who act like this.

[Though even Al has to admit the situation now wasn't exactly the same.]

Hopefully, with our help things will calm down soon and become peaceful again. To be honest, I don't really like all this fighting.

[itsfondue]

[People volunteering and taking extra shifts in the Watch... it's nice to see others so dedicated.]

I imagine that most people don't enjoy this fighting. [Small pause.] Honestly I'm surprised that the Witches haven't used this opportunity to attack us. [Course there's the chance that they don't know about this.]