dualislogs | ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

WHO: The entire dang city.
WHAT: Dualis Days, a week-long summer celebration.
WHERE: Central Square Park and the rest of the city.
WHEN: June 17-23.
WARNINGS: Terrorist violence, likely some blood and injuries. Please warn in individual threads!

June 17; Central Square Park.

Every year for as far back as anyone can remember, the start of summer is heralded by the week-long festival known as Dualis Days. This celebration officially kicks off at midday in the middle of Central Square Park with a commencement speech by the current mayor. This year marks Marcelina Dubanowski's third term as mayor of Dualis; she is an average-sized, middle-aged human-presenting woman with blonde hair styled in a short bob and a plastic, toothy smile that never seems to turn entirely off.

"Welcome, one and all!" she begins, with the practiced cadence of someone who is quite comfortable with public speaking. She invites all citizens, new and old, to spend the next week indulging in festivities in all districts of the city and getting to know their neighbors a little better. This is a joyous time of celebration, and the crowd responds with enthusiastic applause as the mayor finishes her speech and introduces this year's parade marshall, Peshtigo Tengfei.

Tengfei blows a whistle six times to signal the start of the parade - and this is where the celebration goes sideways.

A loud explosion tears through the air, and it's followed by panicked screams and the sharp screech of microphone feedback. A bomb has gone off at the platform where the mayor was standing, collapsing the wood and tearing it to splinters and dust. Chaos erupts in the gathered crowd, and as the people shift in all directions to get clear of any possible additional bombs, a loud siren cuts through the cacophony, calling attention to the sudden crackle of video feed present on all television screens throughout the city, including those set up in the park to broadcast the mayor's speech for those standing far from the stage. The picture is plain, a black background and bold white block letters filling the screen:

WAKE UP
WAKE UP
DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES

The final image is an anatomical graphic of a human heart, displayed for about three seconds, and then the feed goes black again.

Confused murmurs sweep through the crowd as citizens resume tending to the injured and evacuating the area until official first responders arrive.

June 17-23; aftermath around the city.

Dualis Days continues as scheduled, though Mayor Dubanowski is unable to enjoy the festival, as she is spending the week in the hospital recovering from her injuries. A team of Iterations guard her door - no visitors allowed - but the news media frequently report updates on her condition. Nothing to worry about, folks! Return to your celebrations, and don't mind the increased visible presence of the Hand as Iterations are stationed every few blocks throughout the city. It's only for your protection, after all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well, I can say for sure that everyone's pleased that it was never me in charge of meals back in the village. I wasn't even allowed to cook for the first dates I had with Billy."

Death by food poisoning would have been horrid. So of course he's grateful to his brother, who will be receiving part of Nida's put aside pay check to cover groceries.

Seifer just snickered, yeah he's not surprised. No offense Nida but you're not great in the kitchen. "Good thing you still got me around, huh?" Just let him feel a little useful he's not good for much else.

Yes that would have been, and he'll appreciate the help with groceries. He's going to browbeat everyone who eats to pitch in for the cost. He'll cook, he just wants help covering it.

"I'll always want you around," Nida smiles warmly at his brother. "Now more than ever."

And he feels like it's a fair statement. Seifer just... accepts him. And calls him on his stupidity. And forces him to stay sharp in ways no one else does.

Not to mention people didn't understand what he'd gone through quite like Seifer could.

"Alright," He does look relieved, even offering a small though genuine smile. Nida should know by now he gets paranoid and a little wound up when he thinks he's being pushed out. They all have their issues. "Good. Well, then you guys have a good meal. Hope he calms down soon."

It's what he's there for! Glad to always be there to make sure no one's resting on their laurels when they could always be getting better.

And that, their shared experience, their traumas and life in Garden, they both understand better than most could what it is to have lived that particular life. Seifer had never made SeeD, but being a Sorceress' puppet is close enough.

Laurel resting would be bad for them both. So why bother doing it.

“After this I need to find Billy and Jason. You gonna be okay at this fair yourself? I mean, I need coffee and I know Billy is working a booth for that here. We can meet back up later?”

Not that he wants to abandon Seifer. Just that the last two days had sorta been a mess and all of his plans were ruined. Because of course they had been. Could he just have a week or two with no problems?

"What, you're leaving me already? I thought we were having a day out." Guess he was mistaken, and he sighs, gesturing for Nida to go. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine." Slightly surly, he's going to go find trouble to get into possibly. Or all the weirdest food to eat. Whichever happens first.

Dunno, can he? So far things had been surprisingly... not the worst for Seifer. Then again all this madness hadn't been that strange to him. Bombers, weird threats, police interrogations. Sure, whatever, they got Jason back that's the important thing. He's going to forcibly feed Squall, it'll be a good time. For now he just needed to settle in and find a rhythm, then they could start dissecting the mysteries of their new prison.

Dammit. Seifer's not wrong. But Nida's tired. He's tired enough that he's lost track of time. Is it still early?

"It's not... Listen, let me get coffee. Then we'll meet back up. See if we can wrangle some games to challenge each other in. Coffee, and then I'm yours until evening."

At which time he's going to slip into Seifer's room and collapse in his bed to sleep.

Saying he's not going to abandon him then following it up with abandoning him early isn't great reassurance for the validity of his words. It is still early, they've only just obtained one carnival food!

"Fine, sure, whatever. You forget about me I'm holdin' it against you."

He really is. Don't make promises you're not going to keep, Nida. No one has time for those. Even if he is still a little surly about being left to his own devices, he'll manage and entertain himself.

"Now Seifer, the only thing you should hold against me is your lovely body," Nida teases, before rolling his eyes. "Sorry. I had all of three hours of sleep. I think. Maybe. Stupid Squall and stupid shrapnel."

And a lot of PTSD. But he hesitates for half a second before moving in to wrap an arm around his brother in a hug. Then backs away quickly because strawberries.

"An hour, meet back here?"

Eyebrows arch high. What. Nida where did that come from? Seifer just snorts and shakes his head. Please. "Wait, hang on, Squall and shrapnel what?" Why didn't Nida tell him?

Ah! Hugging the contaminated. Seifer was forced to hold his plate and hand out of the way for the hug so Nida couldn't get one back, but he's smiling with he withdraws anyway. Alright, feeling better. A little.

"Yeah, I'll be here." Nida better be. Don't forget him.

Just fatigue, and his flirty nature that he's been holding back on for a while. Seifer's pretty much the only non-Billy person he can flirt with, because Billy knows Seifer is family.

"The explosion. Squall got a piece of wood through his side. And refused to get medical aid. When I came into my room he was still bleeding sluggishly. I had to convince him to get medical treatment. Idiot. Then I had to get him food."

Seifer hadn't really met it yet. How strange. Anyway, he just shrugged it off as Nida being Nida.

"Idiot," He hisses, and is that a touch of concern? Maybe just. "Shit, well, good fuckin' thing he's got you around to keep an eye on him. Damn it." They don't have Garden's facilities here and not enough people to make sure he's looked after. Dumbass would let himself die. Seifer just shakes his head, exasperated.

"I know. But I couldn't sleep after that. I was worried there might be bad side-effects. And the stress. I'm losing track of time. But I'll set a timer on this."

He waves his phone at Seifer.

"Side-effects?" The stress was fair, as was the rest. Seifer just nodded and waved him off with what was left of his poisonous strawberry treat.

"Alright, go have fun." He'll entertain himself. Alone. As usual. Sigh. He misses Dog.

"Traumatic memories," Nida shrugged. But really, like he needs to get into that now. They'll talk it out later.

"See you soon."

Later. Seifer just nods, mock salutes with the remaining portion of his pastry, and waves Nida off. Go on, go have fun.

"Later." He'll find his own entertainment, not to worry.

ya gotta wanna be a battering ram

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And he will be there later, promises

Seifer will be happy for that